Evening star., 1921-04-17

thought you wouldn't mind"
mo. l don't mind. What brought
you back to life. as you put it?'
She did" He spoke as II there
world. 1 judged him to be of that
rare type for whom eventually and
fatally there is only one woman in
the whole world. Had Sylvia with
her fine sensitiveness subconsciously
felt and responded to this?
why not, then. play the mans part
and
"Ah, but. you see, I'm not man.
I'm a derelict. Unless, I find some
thing to take me out Of myself. it
seems to be a choice between drugs
been be cursed cursed With Wit s Yhe d damnation Of
insomnia suppose this must sound
like childish whining to you
DO you care to tell me about it,:
I asked.
LIE told me. A terrific war expert
I ence of desperate wounds and ex-
posure had left him in such condition
that, although his forceful body had
reconstructed itself. some subtle In
jury to the spirit had left him not
only an insomniac, but with certain
infringements upon his will power.
I'm a coward" he said. I'm afraid
of life now. And anyway, | don't care
for life. or didn't until" He broke
off. There was no need for him to
conclude.
How much of this does Miss Glenn
know?'
"a good deal She did nursing in
psychopathic ward during the war:
So she understands and sympathizes."
Understanding and sympathy-are
YOU sure that's all?'
He turned a ghastly face to me. 1T
must be all. / give you my word of
honor I've never for an instant
tried to make love to her"
"It seems to me-" said l. gently.
that you've never done anything
else, with every look you turn on her
and every tone Of your voice when
you speak to her
rs that true? Then I've got to go
away. Id be worse than a black
guard. things being as they are with
me- to take even the ghost of risk
of her caring. But it isn't OF myself
that 1 wanted to talk. but OF Delano
Do you think she's-she's interested?"
swered. positively.
They're a great deal together"
Natural enough. They're nearly
Of an age. He's always pressing her
to go in his car or play games. or
one thing and another. and to be
charm"
II hope you're right" he said. But
when go, I'd like to leave some evil
dence in your hands to be used in
case you think it wise"
Behind young Peters back" l said,
frowning. II don't quite like that"
Not behind his back. He knows
I've got it. I've told him."
What did he say?"
Threatened to kill me. Made such
4 iofi IN
him"
Were you a coward them"
"Oh, no." he answered. with his dim
smile. I'm not particularly afraid
Of death. It's life that scares me:
But he didn't really mean 1t. He'd
been drinking. l think.
"Once or. twice I've suspected him.
Where does he get it?"
There's always moonshine in the
turpentine camp up the road between
here and Doom river. and he's quite
chummy with some Of those chaps;
they go OF on fishing trips together.
A tough lot-crackers and poor
whites. Well. I'm going back to bed:
sleep now"
community in upon itself, intensity
ing the internal hostility which was
now manifest to the point of maxi
ing me uneasy. Both Delano and
Hecker lost no opportunity OF show.
ing their hostility toward Sherwood
licked cub. grossly and abusively. the
latter through sly attacks and half
veiled slurs. Charlton bore it ad-
mira bly-though perhaps indiffer.
emily would be the better term. All
his thought was for Sylvia Glenn.
week So. as I figured it, he was
giving himself his last taste of hap
piness.
Thursday broke brilliant and crisp.
So many were the invitations and
requests focused upon Sylvia that to
avoid discrimination she organized
walking party for all those able to
GO Peter Delano flung away In
hun, and we heard his car roar out
through the gate as IL 1t. as well
work OF. Our leader took in sew.
en-mile jaunt. the second stage of
which skirted Doom river as far up
as the Hanging bridge. a picturesque
rope swing. single-path crossing.
and swerved east east to- to bring Ing ,,nou us out
tine camp. At the roadside stood
Delano's dark-green car.
The pettish youth. looking now as
if his equanimity were quite restored.
was seated on a log with two of the |
turpentin hands. lunchine. for it was
panions. tallish. sallow man. who
limped on a peculiarly twisted foot.
hastily retired as We came in sight. i
and. 1 thought. concealed something
in a palmetto clump. Noting young
Peters high color and rowing eye. l
had a shrewd guess that the meal
had not been a totally dry one. Upon |
learning that we had been near
Doom river. Delano asked:
Didn't see any wild turkeys about,
did you:"
Nobody had. "I've heard there was
though" said German Gardner.
Sylvia Glenn's eyes sparkied. I'D
love to have 4 wild-turkey fan" she
Of. shot?"
Charlton spoke up at once. Il
you one
DETER got up from his log and
came forward. not quite steadily.
He pointed finger at Charlton.
"you keep out of this" he said in a
voice thick with anger. This is
my game: heard about those tur-
keys. That's why I asked II any
body's seen 'em. fou keep out Of
those woods IL you know what's good
for you
The threat was gross. sylvia's
swift color ran to her cheeks. Charl-
ton Strengthened up.
T go where choose" he began
hotly; but an imploring glance from
the girl checked him.
The suave voice of Hecker cut in:
LAS Mr. Delano had first news of
the flock. II is his right to get the
first chance"