Evening journal., 1922-12-04
CHATTER IL

genius was the common property Of
the world. The American govern
F. ment could not, even with the ver-
dict Of 2 trial court. let Rodman's
death 90 by under the smok e-screen
ofssuch a wierd, inscrutable mystery
: q was 10 meet Jonquelle and come
hare with him. But my train into
New England was delayed. and when
] arrived az the station. l found that
Jonquelle had gone down to have
book at Rodman's country-house
where the thing has happened.
II was on an isolated forest ridge
OF the Berkshires. no human soul
within a dozen miles OF it--a COM
forts BILE stone house In the English
fashion. There was a big drawing
room across one end OF H.
Rodmsn used this drswing-room
for a workshop. He kept il close
shiittered and locked. Not even
this big. yellow. servile creature who
took exclusive care OF him In the
house was allowed to enter. except
under Rodman's eve. What he saw
In, the final scenes OF the tragedy
he saw looking In through a crack
under the door. The earlier things
he noticed when he put logs on the
frr al dark
Time is hardly measure for the
ACTIVITIES of the mind. These renec-
ions winged by In scarcely per-
ceffible interval OF IT, They have
taken me some time to write out
herr but they crowded past while
the big Oriental was aking-in
the past between his words.
THE print" he continued. was
the first conhrmstory but II was
not the first indicatory sign. I doubt
II the Master himself noticed the
thing at the beginning"
He paused.
The Master was sunk in his la I
Dor, and while that enveloped him. |
The first advances OF the lure would |
hsre gone by unnoticed-and tn.
tension of the pressure. But the
day was at hand when the Master
was receptive. He had got his work
conlpleted: the formulate. penciIed
out, were on his table I knew by
the relaxation. OF all periods this ie
the one most dangerous to the hu-
man spirit"
He sat silent for a moment. his
big fingers moving on the arms Of
the chair.
y knew" he added. Then he went
on: But Il was the one thing
against which I could not protect
him. The test was to be permitted.
Hs turned sharply toward me the
folds OF his face unsteady.
rExceilsncy" he cried. Il would
have saved the Master, would have
saved HIM with my souls damnation.
but It was .ot permitted. on that
first night in the Italians tent 1
said all could"
His voice went into higher note
sTw.ce for the Master, I have
hesn checked and reduced in merit.
For that BIAS I was myself encircled.
! vas in an agony OF spirit when
knew that the thing was beginning
10 advance, but my very viii to aid
vas az the time environed."
His voice descended.
He sat notionless, as though the
whole bulk OF HIM were dsvitalized.
and maintained its outline only by
The inc'osing frame OF the chair.
fIt began, BxcelleDcy. on an
August night. There is a chill in
these mountains at sunset. had
put wood into the fireplace. and
l-ghted it and was about the house. ,
The Master. as ! have said, had
Torked out his formulae.
y
seA. him. for the door was closed. .
ort ithe odor OF his cigar escaped {
ron he room. 1t was Very silent. I
7 was placing the Masters bed J
a ndle on the table in the hall. when {
teard his voice. You have
'est il. Excellency. as the scriveners
wrote It down before the judge
he paused.
II was an exclamation OF sur
prlse OF astoniehment. Then
heard the Master get up softly and
20 over 10 the fireplace. Pres
enuy he returned. He got a new
cigar. Excellency clipped it and
Lighted it. could hear the blade
OF the knife on the FIBER OF the
-obacco and, Of course, clearly the
ASP Of the match. moment later
krew that he was in the chain
again. The odor Of ignited tobacco
returned. II was some time before
tAsre was another sound in the
rootn then suddenly I heard the
Maeter swear. His voice was sharp
and astonished. This time Ex-
,eltency he got up swiftly and
CROSSED the room 10 the fireplace
/ cpuld hear him distinctly. There
wss the sound Of one tapping on
m sal. humping it, as with the
HeNstopped again, for brief mo-
nent. as In reflection
1t was then that the Master un-
ocked the door and asked for the
.qucr." He indicated the court
'eccrd In my pocket. 4 brought It,
goblet of brandy. with some car
,oT1ated water He drank il all
without putting down the glass.
F7is face was strange. Excellency.
Then be looked al me.
Put 2 log on the fire, he said.
J went in and added wood 10 the
Ire and came out.