Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-09-11
THE
FULFILLED
MISSION
BY M. J. NEWMAN
20 by Short Story Pub. Coz

is mission was nearing Its end.
- Here, In this wild and woolly
i i part Of the West, land of rat
tier and the ghosts of men vio-
emily slain, he was at last to meet the
man whom he would rather meet than
any one who had done him good or
evil.
Mason's trip to this gambler-ln-
tested Nevada village was not inten-
tional. He had been on his way di-
rect to Frisco. when friend advised
him that Norton had been a resident
Of H, New, the past year-a min
ing engineer with taste for gam
bling. Mason spent q couple of days
in Salt Lake City, then changed his
route.
Unable to sleep, now the sun was
throwing its rays full blast Into his
window, he lay in bed and thought
Of how Norton had continually
crossed his lifes path. Ten years be-
fore, Mason was In love with kitty
his one real love. Mason was In the
lead for her hand and heart until Nor
ton came into the game. Then, when
the game was ended, Norton, not Ma
son, was Kitty's husband.
Then five years passed before Nor
toms ominous shadow once more dark
ened his path. Three years before
Norton's second advent, Mason had so
far put aside his love as to lead Eliza
beth to the altar. And with her he
lived three years, until Norton came,
with his wonderful way with a maid,
or matron, for that matter, and
Norton and Elizabeth disappeared.
He lost track of them as completely
as though the earth had sucked them
up.
From his bed he looked out Of the
window, over the mountains. Here
and there was top covered with
snow, although 1t was midsummer.
Some tops were bare. At the base
Of one Of the mountains a river
flowed. Here and there, cabin
perched part way up.
He arose from his bed, pulled down
the shade, and dressed. Modesty here
seemed an uncomfortable pretense,
as there were few women in the vii
lage. H was headquarters
where men, fresh from the ranches
and mines, would stop off to buy
store buds" as an outfit before 60
Ing to Frisco or Los Angeles with
their many months Of Accommodations
to paint" the town, returning shabby
and WORKOUT from return journeys
by rail, unsanctioned by the ticket
sellers Of the railroad, and after a
continual game of hide-and-seek with
the brakemen.
Mason put up the shade, put on a
clean collar, then took view OF his
nearer surroundings. Across the
street was the "Palais de Chance" a
hosiery where roamed hours whose
Idea of their mission In life was to
separate man from his roll, In com
petition with the games that ran In
the Palace" These ladies' with
missions In life made their appear.
ance only after eight, these summer
days. One would hardly believe that
this miserable, dead, pale creature
Sinking down the street in a wrapper,
would in a few hours be metamor-
phosed into the lovely girl who would
he pal for the evening, or as long as
money lasted.
But the day was beautiful. Wild
flowers were not afraid to grow In
the vacant spots between the houses.
The flowers and the grass lent a fra
GRANGE to the air as II blew across
ones face in torrid gusts. The trees
on the mountain sides suggested n
refreshing shade.
Mason looked at the "Palals de
Chance" II was In such surroundings
that one might look for man OF Nor
toms qualities He was not surprised
He felt that before such a meeting he
would do well to eat a hearty meal.
He took, up his revolver, examined the
cartridges, placed 1t In his pocket, and
sauntered down the stairs.
In the shabby dining room, he could
see nothing Of the man he wished to
meet. Neither of the two women eat
Ing leisurely at far end Of the room
was his wife. Not being much OF
wOman's man-his experience having
sOured him-he paid little further at
tentIOn to them.
The walter-a burly man who might
have served better as a prizehghter
or longshoreman-as him for his
order. This was beefsteak, and II
soon came-generous to extravaganza,
and tasting fresh and pleasant to him
WHO had eaten the "lady's meals" that
the dinlng-car walters had placed be-
fore him. This seemed more Of
mans world. He made a leisurely
meal, his eyes on the alert, but his
expectation of seeing Norton was not
gratlfied.
All men are procrastlnatOrs. He
felt that, having waited five years to
meet this man who had stolen two
women from hlm-One the dearest, the
other the nearest--he could wait few
hours longer He returned to his room
and tried to read a magazine, but the
heat made him llstless, then utterly
lnattentlve, and, finally replacing the
magazine In his suitcase, he decided to
take stroll.
Obtaining some sandwiches from
the waiter, he set out for the noun
taIns. A short cut took him out Of the
village and onto dusty road leading
thereto. After a hard h9ur's walk,
during which he met no one, he arrived
at spot that promised shade. He
looked at his watch. II was nearly
one o'clock.