Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-21
CHAPTER XIX.
IOHNS "rNPTIEa HTS HEN

JOHNS "EMPTIES HIS HEART"
w WHILE we were waiting for
n Prof. Johns I strolled over
wv to one of the bookcases and
began a study of the titles
My championship of Caro-
line was the only shadow of excuse
had for being in the room and wanted
to make myself as inconSpicuous as pos
sible.
Monsieur has the ample choice, eh?"
Flique inquired with chuckle But
did not tell you? Now it is this Prof.
Johns. Next 1t will be--that admirable
Lum We perhaps"
why Lum We?" Samuels demanded.
Come, my friend Did not M. Pa
radios forbid Lum We to burn incense
to his ancestors"
do you call that motive?"
1T may be the strongest we have yet
discovered, M le Deputy. China lives
for her dead That Prof. Johns has an
excellent alibi"
I'm sick of alibis," Samuels declared
wrathfully. They don't mean a thing
in this house Not that think Johns
did it, in spite of what that dough-
faced female said-my money is on An
nersley and the Brent girl-but I'm
going TO get the truth of that quarrel
out of him"
Some Is minutes had passed when
Prof Jahns appeared. His rather
pinched face was anxious, but his trans
forming smile banished the look I did
not see how even Manning could be
afraid of Prof Johns
"Mr.-Samuels. isn't it?" Prof Johns
inquired diffidently, loking at the dep
uty My memory isn't so good as it
used to be- he continued. Il think
know what you are after. 1t must be
about that affair / had with Mr. Pa
radios several months ago. The girl was
in the hall. l remember She probably
heard something Well it was only
right that she should tell YOU"
1T would have been better if you
had told me yourself" SamuelS said
chidingly.
Yes, very likely I should have. The
truth of the matter Is Mr. Samuels,
was so distressed by the affair that 1
did not wish to revive it. And then.
with Mr.. Parsdos' passing yesterday, I
was less inclined than ever to bring it
up. But I realize now that was mis-
taken Prof. Johns fiddled nervously
with his glasses. 1T is going to be
difficult to make you understand what
that old fort has come to mean to me-"
The fort was the cause of your
Didn't the girl tell you?"
mo. She didn't get much out of It.
Just a word here and there"
"Ah These half impressions are
dangerous. But how shall 1 make you
understand my point of view?"
This fort, NJ. lie Professor" F'lique
said gently, 1T means much to you?"
Does II mean much to me, you askP"
Emotion strangled his utterance. MY
friends, that old fort and my work are
my whole existence. My work was done
there-my career came out of it, 1t is
the very bone and blood of my body!
The fort also has an historical signifi-
canoe. 1t is one of the very few land
marks We have. dreamed of having it
restored-Parados promised me the
money And then-four months ago
Prof Johns pressed his hands to his
forehead His stricken eyes pierced my
heart. Even Samuels was touched
Four months ago Parados informed
me that l could pack up and get out!
After 20 years and all my dreams, gen.
tlemenl He said he was going to pull
down the fort =. brick from brick
-. until there was nothing left Of
1t. And why?" Johns flung his
clenched hands into the air Because
1t spoils his view! And because he was
going to bridge the Gut and use the
grounds it stands on for part of a golf
counsel"
That love of old things which makes
a man give his life to buying and SELL
ing them and to boarding as many as
he can afford was in my blood The
despair in Johns voice was a knife
driven into my own flesh
Il talked to Parados like a mailman.
Yes, confess 1t! I told him his life
was evil, that he should not destroy me
and my work as he had destroyed
everything and everybody that had
stood in his WaY He listened with a