Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-29

LANDING in his doorway Malcolm
Southern locked at the telegram given
him by an old prospector passing up
the trail with his Winters supply OF
food His gaze turned from aStonlsh-
ment to anger for he had long been
lost to his world and wished to remain lost
Now this slip of paper telling him his where
abouts had become known. His sister.
Jacuueline was seeking him out-with Helen.
He turned to find his friend, whose shack
was farther on, watching him with an amused
smile.
You do not seem pleased" said Iran
Campbell-Slim his friends called him.
II am not Why cannot I be left alone? I am
out of that other life. Do not want to be
reminded of it. I have come through travail
to peace That is what I sought. Surcease
from emotion from the tempest in my soul
that rode me like ten thousand devils" His
voice choked with a passion he had not known
for years
7 have often wondered what brought you
here, kept you here, Mac Sometimes 1t does
one good to talk-if one can"
Talk! Man. one can suffer, endure in silence
hoping for forgetfulness. Forgetfuness. That
is what I came for. I thought it was mine
But this'-tearing the telegram into bits and
tossing it to the wind-'this has shown me the
fallacy Of such hope. My sister Is on her
way here With her is the woman I once
thought would be my wife She left me for
another man-left as I waited at the altar
for my first glimpse of her coming through
the church door,"
There followed a silence in which he
struggled for control. As he gained SEM
blance of his usual self he said more quietly
How did they find me? I thought my trail
was lost-wanted it lost" In spite Of his
calmer words turmoil was in his heart taking
the place of his hard-earned peace. This he
resented with the force OF man who has
won one fight and conquered Could he go
through that again and claim victory?
"You will have to meet them at Red Deer,
Slim. I cannot. I must have time to adjust
myself. This has come too suddenly out Of
a clear sky
TOR some moments the other said nothing.
His pipe had gone out. He refilled It,
tamping in the tobacco carefully. When he
spoke his voice was thoughtful.
"Just before leaving Montreal last Spring I
met Mrs. Brainard, a widow. She told me
she had once known you and would like to
meet you again. incidentally, I learned her
the one you speak off"
Il never knew her married name until
recently. Did not wish to know it. She had
0assed entirely out of my life
IAN attractive woman"
And now comes here trading upon that
y
again gripping him.
You have received blow, Mac. But meet
the issue squarely Go yourself to Red Deer,
or is it Calgary, and meet your sister and Mrs.
Brainard. You were man enough to fight it
out before. What you have done once you can
do again"
He spoke with unusual earnestness. At the
back Of his mind was a qualm of conscience.
Unknowingly he had delivered his friend into
the hands of the enemy, for it was he who
had told where Southern could be found. At
the time he had no thought that it would
mean more than letter from Mrs. Brainard
recalling herself and asking Southern to return
with him to Montreal when he went out for
the Winter. Now, this telegram the result. It
was situation not to his liking.
Malcolm said slowly. II am afraid there is
no fight left in me. Even my manhood was
taken from me- else would have picked up
my life again and made the most of it. There
must have been cowardly streak in me and
it is still there, for afraid. Desperately
afraid of what is before me-" Turning quickly
he plunged down the steep side Of the
could be heard the sound Of the stream that
ran through it. When he returned to the
cabin Iran Campbell had left for the rail-end
and Red Deer.
1--WE years before, the length of Sixteenth
] street in Washington, from Lafayette
Park to K street. was lined with 1imollsines
with here and there a taxicab. The beautiful
windows of the old fashionable st: Johns
Church glowed with mellow radiance and
across the dignified, pillared portico, diplomats
cabinet ministers, judges Of the Supreme
Court and members Of the most fashionable
and exclusive families Of the city hurried into
fairyland
fortune IN flowers extended On elta,er