Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-06-15
BY special Arrangement With ID
Chicago Tribune 6yndicsre)
IN TWO PARTS-PART TWO

- ltdI MN SDOhCll VI rs q bNNANSs
ret why2 Only genius ever gets its head
.bove the herd. And all genius treads
he borderland of insanity. A great
,rook, such as the Asp, has genius plus
t lops over, upsets his equilibrium. He
las without doubt been diverted from
lis natural channel, which is construc-
i've; caught in a destructive cross cur
'ent and one foot has gone over the dan
line"
l had never heard the captain talk as
( he were thinking, instead Of playing.
Naturally, I knew he must have this side
70 him. but he didn't obtrude it. You
/ reminded him, that the Asp's
for the spectacular was both his
weakness and the proof of his genius"
you misunderstood me. l didn't say
It was proof of genius. We all have a
5neaking desire to stand out above the
,rowd. The most mediocre criminal who,
above all others, should avoid publicity
has h same love of publicity which
makes Mrs. Hicks of the Ladies' aid in
.icksville like to see her name in the
paper and the Black Hand gang leave
It's mark on a victim. We are all>spec-
Some of us manage to hide 1T
for reasons Of modesty or prudence. But
we all like to leave our mark. It's the
for individuality. The cleverer
are, the more we crave 1t; the more
determined and daring we are in acquir-
1t.
What I said was that in this fair for
the spectacular the Asp displays his gen.
Jus. He is not only a dramatic artist in
his line but he has q sense of humor
rivals and menaces his very success
Also, 1t shows the two-in-one of the
genius mind. A nan who is a great
actor is almost sure to have a near great
talent over which he is more vain, more
fatuous than over his greater gift. He's
apt to be childish about 1T, inclined tc
show off. The Asp isn't satisfied to give
a clean cut dramatic performance. His
companion talent for satiric humor must
be gratified, though he knows full well
1t may prove his downfall. He's toe
clever not to know that sooner or later
he will get himself caught in a trap de.
vised by his own vanity. Yet there 1t IL
to stamp his personality on each Of his
performances. Do you see what 1 mean
A man of undeniable cleverness proves
himself an undeniable fool. And hi:
painstaking righteousness to give the
reporters a new laugh each time marks
him as a genius"
Knowing her as I did, I should have
given 1t to her then n there, anc
caught the next train for home. But or
hates to give away approximately a mil
lion dollars. SO I merely said, "Wha
would you do with 1t. Ethel?"
do with 1t? Why, my name would b.
on every lip!" Her blue eyes blazed a
the thought.
There are so many rich widows" I OBJ
jected, that you'd have to do a bruta
murder, Or"
Cor trace a bandit to his lairi" shI
said, dramatically. Think of the pres
stuff Beautiful young widow devote
vast fortune to bring criminals to jus
ticel'
I sat down on a log to wait for Toodles
and Ethel trotted away with the captain
who wanted to get some views further uI
I wasn't at all surprised when tn
sandy haired man appeared with Toodle
in his arms. In spite Of polite laughte
I maintain that the sandy haired mai
h~ypnotized me and hat I was In no wa
responsible for what happened.
His inevitableness and silence fasci
mated me. I couldn't keep my eyes Of
him when he was near, and when h
wasn't I began to wait for him witt
that curious illness in the pit Of tn
stomach and smother which one call
foreboding. He had made no effort t
get acquainted-a thing he might hav
done easily just by cultivating the cap
tain, who appeared never to meet
stranger and had been with us contin
ually since the Pixies Peak excursion.
He came near being III down by
car" The sandy haired mans Daniel-in
the-lion's den expression broke up in tn
most engaging smile 1 ever saw as he pu
Toodles in my lap. He did nothing tina
anybody else wouldn't do in returning
rescued dog to It's mistress: but he di
1t with a manner, as Ethel would sa,
He didn't say: Lady, beholdl A man c
breeding n culture stands before you,
But even his clothes chung to him as
they felt honored by his presence insid
OF them. His voice was low and mellow
"A voice and smile to make New Yor
bankers open up the vaults" ! though
THANK you for saving him." / said.
He held Toodles while I snapped on h.
leash. When I looked up, those cold eye
were fastened on my necklace.
Pardon me-" he said, but don't 20
think you are reckless to wear a Walt
able string Of pearls in the woods?"
TITS just a string OF beads such 6
everybody's wearing every day now"
lied.
His eyes fell and I knew that ma
knew pearls. However, he pretended t
believe me, remarking casually, 1.-THE
make marvellous limitations nowaday
don't they? May I sit down? I've bee
wanting to know you ever since ! al
rived. But for some reason it's next I
impossible for me to address a strange
first. I'm English on one side. 1 sur
pose that accounts for it."
yet you did speak first"
"Oh, Toodles furnished the pretext
needed" He was so frank and charmir
that / thought maybe he had merely fe
1 was imprudent and ought to |
warned. Anyway, a bandit doesn't wal
his victim.
Did Toodles tell you his name?"
smiled.
He chuckled. rive been keepir
Toodles' mistress in sight for three da,
u couldn't very well help hearing h
name. May p"
He indicated the seat on the log b.
side me.
I nodded. We weren't very far fro
the Holel ana cars ana pedestrians we
constantly passing. Besides, as / sa
before, you couldn't look into that mar
eyes when he was smiling, listen to h
engaging voice, his frank speech, al
distrust him. He was, I discovered, We
read, travelled and had q whimsical viey
point, which l found entirelv delightfl
He wasn't joyous like the captain, b
he had a lightness Of expression whic
made one smile eve when he said ser
Gus things.
I was sorry when I heard Ethel's shr
laughter coming down the hill. To u
surprise he rose at once. Il heal 20
| friends coming" he said "and Two ,