Evening star., 1922-02-12

others fail-himself. And Ramssys
spirits rose as he remembered that
he possessed the great and rare gift
of being a good listener. 1t was
really the secret Of his rather wide
popularity.
Here was the string. Ramsey felt,
on which he must play. But would
he evoke the response: That was the
question.
II am going to say something that
may surprise YOU" Wallace slipped his
Scotch and soda refisctively. "odo,
isn't it? But II any one had told
me that my adventures would termi-
nate in this way I should have oeen
overwhelmed with horror. Yet now
that the wors. has happened, that
am actually in my last ditch. my only
sentiment is one Of intense curiosity
in regard to you. I've studied you
rather carefully. you sec, and
I'm sure you have" chuckled Aeni-
son.
And yet" Ramsey went on, you
remain to me an unSolvable enigma
Again and again l have asked my
self why you, holding 80 much ana
winning 80 easily by . sort Of divine
right the things men struggle ana
fight for, should deliberately choose
the crooked road to danger. with Its
tremendous odds Of detection and dis
grace"
Achison gave a slight shrug OF the
shoulders, but made NO answer. His
expression was inscrutable As he
lighted another cigarette and sur
yeyed his captive through the smoke.
Ramsey tackled and opened IRE
from another angle. He wondered II
perhaps he had managed either by
words or manner to give some intt-
nation of his purpose.
Just what is your philosophy OF
life, anyway" he asked. I'VE all
have q philosophy whether We are
conscious of it or not. and We live by
1t. too"
smile-wrinkles showed about Achi-
sons eyes. The answer that rose to
his mind was so apt that he could
not resist giving 1t voice.
II csn define my philosophy easily"
he said, and it 10 singularly appre.
pirate to the present occasion:
II thank with brief Thanksgiving.
whatever gods there be,
That no life lives forever.
That dead men rise up never.
That even the weariest river.
Winds somewhere safe to sea-
He reeited the lines beautifully in
his rich, full voice, and, having gone
so far, could not resist the tempta-
ton to 60 farther.
Most men, who have cleaned the
facts about me that you have" he
said slowly. would insist that in my
nature there runs . strain OF ab-
normality, but do not 80 analyEe
myself. am, you must agree. gifted
beyond my fellows. All persons of
unusual powers are complex. Every
strong nature IL made up Of NUM-
Der Of personalities. These, take
it, are moro distinct and dinsren.
tiated in me than In most men,"
LIE was leaning back in his chair
now. talking as II thinking aloud
and absorbedly. He would 30 on
thus for q time. II he haGEed he
must be spurred by artful questions
or driven by argument to further
exposition. Some way, any way. he
must be kept going. Time was pass.
ing and Ramsey only asked m hour.
God keep his brain nimbls! He was
stalking his life on his ability to hold
the other mans attention that long.
For instance" Achison was pro-
ceeding, "thSre is that side Of me
which delights in my profession, or
in supplementiaE my knowledge Of
courtroom ingenuity. Quite distinct
from that is the personality Of the
connoisseur. Of the man who 70 for.
ever haunted by his vision Of beauty.
and who must surround himself with
lovely and precious things. And
then, Ramsey. there 10 the person
ality which you have tracked - re-.
lentlsssly, the one that demands the
excitement OF big gamble. The
mere playing for money has never
appealed to me. The stakes must be
higher. the haxards greater"
He paused. The habitusl bon
homie, even the intellectually. had
vanished from his face. It was
sharpened. cunning. ruthless. Tho
contorted smile upon his lips was
gloating. and eviily triumphant
Then. like = shadow. it passed.. but
not wholly.