The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-27
THE FOOL
BY Charming Pollock.

winch OIL US Is the rlcn man 7!
But If everybody lived your way"
Goodkind protested feebly, what
would become of the worlds work."
Living that way is my contribu-
tion to the worlds work." said Dan
iel. Another mans might be SELL
ing shoes. or writing plays, or dig
ging bitches. Doing his job doesn't
prevent any man from doing his bit.
From every man according to his
ability. to every man according to his
needs. And every man who giy1s
his best must find his happiness"
"I'm afraid there wouldn't be
much progress-living your way"
said the other, unconvinced.
Daniel turned on him. Il"
"That's the second time you'vd
spoken of my way. It isn't my way.
It's the sum total of all that has
been learned and taught. You and
Jerry and the others have called me
eccentric, and fool, because I'm
trying to walk path trod hard by
countless feet"
He rose and drew closer.
WAS Christ eccentric? Was Con-
fucius fool? And how about Bud
dha and Mohammcd? What of St.
| Bernard, and St. Teresa, and st.
Francis of Assisi-of Plato, and
Zeno, and Lincoln, and Emerson, and
Florence Nightingale, and Father
Damien, and Octavia Hill, and all the
J. saints and scientists, and poets and
: philosophers, who, have lived and
died in complete forgetfulness of
| self? Were they fools, or were they
wise men and women who had found
the way to peace and happiness?
Were they failures, Or were they the
great successes Of all, Time and Eter-
lnity?" /"
"God knows!" said Goodkind, per-
picked 80
The. door opened. Slowly bent
figure made its way into the room.
One might have found it hard to
recognize Jerry in the man. Deaths
slow approach was written in his
deeply lined face. He dragged his
legs with difficulty. But his eyes
still bore certain cruel alertness.
you've been the devil Of a time,"
he said petulantly, turning to his
father. What's been keeping you?"
"Mr. Gilchrist," explained the eld-
err Goodkind.
"Hello, Gilchrist," Jerry said
!crisply to the figure that came to-
ward him..
How arc you, Jerry?" responded
Gilchrist cheeri1y.
"Not so damned we'll" said the
other, cringing bit. "But ri BE- all
right in the spring. Clare's looking
after me. Clarc's good sport. What
II need now's a run down to Palm
Beach," He looked around the room
! patronizingly. 80 you're reduced
Ito this. are you7"
! EYES," said Daniel, smiling.
"Going to take my job :"
NO." said Gilchrist.
"Why not?"
u "Your father understands" said
Gilchrist.
II "Ycs--so do l." Jerry snecred.
Didn't I always say you were
nut. That's it, nut" And his de-
risive laughter turned into a parox-
Eysm of coughing That almost topplcd
him. ~.
"Comc, jerry said his father,
starting for the door. 1t opened be-
fore he reached it and Mary Mar
garet came in. Jerry scrutinizcd her
closely with leer.
who's the girl?" he asked Of Gill
christ. d,
"Your fathers waiting" said Dam
icl, cvadins the question. ~
"a right" said Jerry, good-na-
turedly enough. He hobbled toward
5 the door, but not without turning for
;. final fling. "Somc failure you've
made out of lifc," he said contemptu-
n ously. He lifted an unsteady hand.
d described a circle or two about HIS
8 head. "Wheels-by God. Whecls!"
d. Goodkind! looked sadly al, Gilchrist.
81 wonder whether you're, the
o / failure, after, ALL, he said softly, as
d he took Daniels hand. Then he fol-
d lowed his son through the door.
Gilchrist took his pipe. from his
pocket, filled it leisurely, and the
n flash OFF, match revealed his clear
cut face in the dsrkening shadows.
n From far away in.. church spirc
pointing heavcnward there came the
It sound of chimes. Daniel walked to
che window and Threw it OPEN. He
d looked up at the sky, Mary Mar
garet watched him twonderinely. She
huddlcd and drew her new furs
Tightly about her, as though taking
# refuge in them.
Y, Gilchrist's gaze fell to the great,
jagged skyline silhouetted before
J. him. Chimneys poured no murky
smoke into the. world now. All was
quiet, all was calm, all was peace.
IL Was the day coming when mems
souls would be as quiet, as calm. as
n. peaceful as this dusk-this eve Of
s, shepherds, manger, child.
s.. The girl came toward him slowly.
1t She found his arm akimbo, and she
le tucked her head beneath it auA
+ nestled to him. Her eyes looked
Of above the skyline to CLEAN of
= sheer light in the blue.
'r "Mr. Gilchrist," she said softly.
ct "Is that the Star Of Bethlehem
or He looked up at it.
ID, II WONDER" he said.
1T But he didn't. He knew.
XII
tn Play copyrighted, 1922, in the
or United States and England. Novel
lied version by special permission OF
the author, and Of Brentano's pub
IN fishers Of the play.
tot THE END,
"A emit 4, &. Lo>J h s. 30