The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-11-13

hESlklItlNE bmins' slowly ]
~ opened my eyes I yawnrt g'o-
riously. drawing tecn down into my
lungs the winclikc air. I RAISED my
hands over my head and stretched
until ms toes touched the f1ol ~ the
hcd I Was conscious o. my silk
paiamas. the linen sheets. the si.ken
coyerlct. Thru the open window
oould scr. IN the distance, the grccu-
clad mountains: closer I could Oh.
serve the seventh grren q the gOif-
course. ! rolled over on ono side,
huryinE my face Ia the downy pillow,
% hide from the ohscQuious waiter
ths sudden mlTth that had over
Whcimed me.
The ufling. 10 minutes ago. % tho
telephone that stood on a table b.
my bed. had been enough 90 wake
into activity not merely this man.
but half a dozen others. an ~ whose
energies and thoughts had been a.
recicd toward the satisfaction % my
wants. on. tell you. ! who have
known dircst poverty that luxurious
ease Is worth the sacrifice % any
principle
And ] should know Had I not fol-
lowed tho path Of honor across a
bloody field IN Francs, 20 learn that
honor Knocked meF Had I not ad
hsred 90 an those righteous rules
which the strong have laid down Tor
the cnslaycment % the weak, and
seen that adherence lead me from
the boarding, house 20 tenement. from
tenement 20 Stun. and from stun 20
the edge Of the graveg
Honor had brought me starvation
What cant would term dlshonor had
brought me fun stomach. Wen.
had done with cant. Tho world had
is rules: one must b productive or
constructive. said the world There
was no place for those who belonged
In neither class And yet the lying
world gave rs best In place. IN es-
TEEN. in what Il terms success. %
those outside those rigid categoric..
Steal. and be Jailed: but steal enough
and be honorod Kill. and be hanged.
hut KIN sufficiently and be cnthroned.
The rules were made FOR the herd:
but I. John Ainsley. was no lamb TO
be shepherded. I was the wolf who
prcyed outside the fold. and had
tasted meat No more. while rascnls
stuffed themselves. would so hun
CRY. had destructive brains. I
would use them
Yet I would use them as n gentle
man must always use his strength.
for tho ! discarded morality. breeding
could never leave me. Not upon the
lambs. nor upon tho shepherd. but
upon the beasts OF prey who lurled
outside. would feed,
And was savoring now the luxury
Of my first kill. In New York. the
famous jsweler naFagon--a cur al
heart-mourncd the loss OF bauble
wherewlth he had hoped 10 force a
woman to his viii. but with which !
had forced the world 10 my M Here
In this resort hotel. I rallied forces
that had been exhausted by months
OF suffering when I had played the
game according 10 the silly rules that
now derided.
For n moment or two. after the
waiter had gone. I merely looked a;
my breakfast. There was n certain
Joy. not explainable 10 those who
have never starved. In looking at the
iced grapefruit. the yellow omeiet
and the golden toast And then eager
appetite mastered me. laughed as
found myself reaching for a fifth slice
Of toast. I must remember that times
had changed and that II was not nee
ezsary for me 10 overeat: as lnevita-
bly, as the hotel clock struck one. 80
would I lunch. Last year. when the
scanty, coarse meal before me must
DO me u day, or two days. or even
three. II was all very well. even vi
tally necessary. that clean the
plate. But now could permit my.
self a daintiness forbidden not ~
long ago And as I replaced the toast
upon the dish, remembered that
had promised 10 be on. the first tee at
10 O'Clock. looked at the clock on
the vail. found that | had but a
half hour in which 10 dress. and
leaped from the bed. was shaved
and bathed. and nttired with GER
tain correctness possible only 10 a
gentleman born. and was al the ap-
pointed place, exactly on the hour
Ny opponent was awaiting me. watch
in hand
Thought you might have changed
your mind. Mr Ainsley." he said Il
rne.
Am later asked.
He grinned offensively. "oh. you're
in plenty Of time" he answered FOR
a beatingr' he added.
! looked at him tall. burly man,
with protruding blue eyes. and thin
@9f@@>