Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-06-21
WOye'S s~%%%
IL Masquerade
Nv Tdah Mo3lone Gibson
Or. Miltom's Story

Cdu DOd0tJ VI AfAAOs ~ANNAeS~Nb
swered Clavering. "She knew
Doris GleEdening. You remember
in her letter she spoke OF Doris
coming to her studio apartment.
II l remember rightly Harry told
me that she was the only woman
that Doris had never been really
Jealous OF in any way.
81 think Doris only met the
American Beauty that afternoon
at the tea, and l know that Mrs
Milton knew none of them"
Sometimes 1 wonder, Jim, If
most of US would not be very much
surprised If we knew how much
influence our acts, our speech or
even our thoughts have upon
those Of whose very names we are
ignorant"
With this sage comment, Davis
left the room to visit Doris Glen
| dening.
Clavering had hardly lighted
another cigaret when a message
came from DR.. Milton saying that
he would like to see him as soon
as he could make 1t convenient.
Ciavering started at once.
On arriving at the hospital he
was ushered into DR.. Milton 8
room and was greeted by MS
| friend with:
"You see, there is only a mo-
ment between life and death,
jim"
"Thank God, you have not
reached 1t yet, Milt. You're alive.
Tell me about it."
well" said DR.. Milton, there
is a lot to- tell. After l rushed
out of the club 1 was lucky enough
to get taxi Immediately. When
| got to the hospital l was told
that it was impossible to rescue
any more of the patients in the
right wing of the building.
IL knew my wife was among
them.
Jim, that last speech / made
to you and Dave rang in my ears.
You'll remember that | said: II
were free I'd go to Margaret
, Earle immediately Because l had
thought this and said it 1 knew
: that | would be a murderer in my
own mind If / did not try to res
cue my poor wife from horrible
death.
81 determined to make the ef-
fort-desperate as it was-eVen
if.I had to die with her. Without
further reflection l made a break
for the right wing.
/ 'Herel Are you mad?' de-
manded the police guard. Don't
you know you can't go in there
) The place is doomed. Nothing car
be done
"I pushed him aside, and he al
most knocked me down trying te
: bar my way. Meantime, jim
. confess it-I was thinking, I an
free. / am free! At last Fate has
set me free
/ THANK God, Jim, my mind re
r turned To u6CeuCy HAOSAN "
ter. and with strength 1 never
knew / had l thrust aside thu
2 guards who were trying to res
, train me, and rushed into the burI
ing building.
"I'll never be able to tell, ever
: myself why 1 did mot succumb t.
, my cowardly fears and stay out o
that burning building. Just wha
!. 1t was-physical or mental-tha
i urged me on. do not know, bu
q 1t was something which ruled m.
inclination.
t "Jim, | am lying here toda'
0 paraphrasing to myself old Johl
. Bunyon: But for the grace o
God, George Milton, you woul'
q be walking the streets today, self
branded as a coward and a muir
= dered by an act of omission"
= "You could never be that
Milt," replied Clavering, claspinl
the hands Of his friend. 9TH
years of quick decision and tn
5. which Won have answered S
e srland,div IN vour surgical wor,
: mape ~ imnossible for YOU to d
, diffaran.lv than Won have done.
q only wish 1 was sure that woul
&c bava resnonded as we'll"
/ Mi,ton held nm his hand 70
ie clavaring to desist
"cod ia GOOD ;, he said. "Yo
soo nv bords have not been hun
-S