The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-12-01

look AT Nudinah country mouse.
where the thing had happened
IL was on an isolated forest ridge
Of the Bcrkshlrcs. no human soul
within a dozen miles OF ita conn
Portable stone house In the English
fashion. There was a bits drawing
room across one end OF a.
Rodman used this drawing-room
for workshop. lie kept it close
shattered and locked Not even this
big. yellow. srrvile creature who took
exclusive care OF him In the house
was allowed Go enter, except undor
Rodman's eye. What he saw In the
final scenes Of the tragedy, he saw
looking IN thru crack under the
door. Tho earlier things he noticed
when he put iogs on the fire at dark.
Time n hardly measure for the
activities OF tho mind. These refiec-
tions winged by In scarcely per
ceptihlo interval 81 A. They have
here. but they crowded past while che
blg Oriental was speaking In the
pause between his words
The print" he continued. was
the first connrmatory but u was
not the first irdlcatory sign. doubt
n the Master himself noticed the
thing az the beginning"
lie paused
Tho Master was sunk In his la
bor. and while that enveioped him
The first advances Of the lure would
have gone by unnoticed-a the
tension OF tho pressure But the
day was at hand when tho Master
was receptive lie had got his work
completed; tho formulate. penciled
out. were on his table. knew BY
the relaxation. or all periods this Is
the one most dangerous 10 the hu-
man spirit
lie sat silent for a moment. his hig
fingers moving on tho arms OF the
chair.
Il knew" he added. Then he went
on: but II was the ono thing
against which could not protect
him. The test was 10 BE- permitted
He turned sharply toward me. tho
folds Of his face unsteady.
"ExccIicncyi" he cried - would
have saved the Master. would have
saved him with my souls damnation.
but Il was not permitted. on that
FIRST night In the Italians tent I
said all could
Ills voice went into a higher note
Twice. for the Master. have
been checked and reduced In merit
For that bias ! was myself enctrci.d.
! was IN nm agony % spirit when
knew that the thing was beginning
10 advance. but my very win 20 aid
was ne the time enxironed'
Ills voice descended
He sat motionleus. as tho the whole
bulk 81 him were devftaiixed. and
maintained i,s outline only by the
inciosing frame % the chair.
ut began. Exc-lisncy. on an
August night. There I. a chiii In
these mountains a. sunset I had
put wood into the fireplace. and
lighted u. and was ahou, tho hou-e.
The Master. as I have said. had
worked out his formulas.
He was as leisure. could not
see him. for the door was closed.
but the odor Of his cigar escaped
from the room. I, was very silent.
was placing the Masters bed
candle on the table In the hall when
heard his voice. You have
read II. Excellency. aa the scriveuers
wrote u down before the Judge
He paused
1T was an exclamation OF sur
prise. OF nstonishment. Then I heard
the Master get up softly and 60 over
20 the fireplace. Presently he
returned. He got a new cigar. Excel.
lency. clipped II and lighted IL. I
could hear thu blade Of the knife on
the fiber Of the tobacco. and. Of
course. clearly the rasp OF the match.
a moment later ! knew that he was
In the chair again. The odor Of iguit-
I'd tobacco returned. n was some
time before there was another sound
I'm the room: then suddenly heard
the Master swear His voice was
sharp and astonlshed. This time. F.x-
celiency. he got up swiftly and
crossed the room to the fireplace. I
could hear him distinctly. There was
the sound Of one tapping on metal
humping II. az with the fingers"
He stopped again. for a brief mo-
ment. as In reflection.
1T was then that the Master un-
locked the door and asked for the
hauor." He Indicated the court rec
ord In my pocket. Il brought Il. n
goblet OF brandy. with some carbon
ated water. He drank II all without
putting down the glass. His face
was strange. Exceilency. Then
he looked at me
Put log on the fire. he said.
II went In and added wood TO the
fire and came out.
The Master remained In the door
way; he re-entercd when I came out.
and closed the door behind him.
There was a long silence after that
then 7 heard the voice. permitted 10
the devocation. thin. metallic. offer
ing the barter 20 the Master. n be-
gan. and ceased because the Master
was on his feet and before the fire.