Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-02-26
HE Man had a strong. broad
face. upon. which the fingers
of thought had left their Inn

deep cafIperS IN the aggressive chin,
taken the slack Of the wide forehead
and plated it into five welts of con-
centration that stood up between the
heavy brows.
Around the corners OF the mobile
mouth caution and firmness had
worked with tiny etching tools
thorough work, yet IN spite Of all
their efforts a sweet. whimsical soft
ness hid like a dryad in the little
criss-cross lines which they had
drawn through the years. The eyes
we're soft. conremplative. a little
dreamy. They were brown eyes with
little dancing thrones of light on
which laughter climbed at times and
sigualed to the whimsical sprite that
lived at the corners OF the judicial
mouth.
A splendid face. A face to lead
a nation. 4 face that in it's strength
and sweetness made one think of the
face of Horak Ben. the hermit who
was kissed by God.
The man lay upon an enormous bed.
his head upon caressing pillow. The
room was packed with the thick 81
lence of tragedy. silence larded by
the thin threads Of sound that came
from a clock upon the mantel.
4 queer clock The very wide and
very white dial had its width and
whiteness accumulated by the very
thin and very black hands. a minute
dial in lower center suggested. with
its one foolish hand. a medusoid
mouth that nibbIed unrelentingly at
the seconds.
Beside the bed sat brown-bearded
doctor, head thrust forward. elbow of
right hand on knee, the half-opened
hand supporting the chin: the age-old
picture Of bafiied medical skin.
The Man spoke. Don't worry.
Richard. 1t was a queer thing to hap
pen. but-well. it has happened"
Are You in pain nowr' asked the
doctor.
"A little. 1 wonder could smoker"
oh yes"
The doctor brought a cigar box
from the dressing table. struck a
Man pulled.
Il feel fool" said the doctor
meekly. I'm so Internally helpless.
Why. IL feel like child"
The Man smoked quietly for a mo-
ment. then put a question in q soft.
even voice: do Herlon and Fiaschi
agree regarding the examination"
Yes"
NO points that admit of discus
sion:"
None"
A GAIN the silence stitched up the
rents made by the questions and
answers, leaving the clock its only
enemy. From far down the street
came the dreadful keen Of a running
newsboy whose lips were drooline
tragedy. The doctor hurriedly closed
the window to the street. but he was
too late. A few words Of the wretch
ed dirge. outstripping their unimpor-
tant conjunctions. flung themselves
into the room and rioted like the dis
jointed sections Of a serpent, till the
silence stamped upon them. Auto
mobile accident -: Broadway {.
10fuooS 4~VySA NSsAS
The clock licked louder. The dis
jointed words acted as an emollient
to the brassy voice. The eyes of the
Man were upon the lonS minute hand.
1t became q huge tentacle, wrapping
itself slowly around the hours, drop
ping them one by one into the abyss
of the past.
The quiet stirred the Man ITS
queer" he said, his voice clear and
distinct, very queer Two hours ago
I was on my way down town think
well, Richard. what's the result Of
the consultation? Let's have the
truth. No false hopes, or anything
like that"
The doctor moistened his lips, pair
ed the fingers Of his white hands and
leaned toward the pillow. I'm
afraid" he said softly. I'm much
afraid. They say-well. they give no
hope" e
How long?,
II can't say :. I've sent for your
Jack and your daughter Anne. Rey-
nolds has gone for Miss Marjorie"
Then it's a matter Of hours?''
'Tm-rm afraid So"
\ y x
CAM. the partner. was the first to
- arrive. Poor Sam! When he re-
csived the news of the accident. the
future, always an indecently strong
and terrifying thing to Sam, had
taken a grip of his nerves and pulled
them till he had a vision of thou
sand little devils hauling at them,
in the fashion adopted by the candy
pullers at Coney.
The Man steadied the rush which
Sam made from the door to the bed
side. He knew Sam. They had been
partners for twenty-seven years.
.'Now, now" he said. "No fuss.
It's all right, I-oh, damn it! Poor
old SAM"
Sam. his eyes swimming, wanted
to do things. The Man gave him
little tasks.
Get me the two photographs from
my desk, Sam. The wife's and Mar
tories. That's the boy! Put them
here on the table. Fine picture OF
Marjorie, isn't it. Sam?"
Sam couldn't answer. He nodded
his bald head and tried vainly to
control himself The Man regarded
the two photographs with loving
eyes.
you can hardly tell them apart"
l.. ,,,.o,,rad After 4 0auSe. he