Evening star., 1933-09-07
NsTALLaENT XIV.

A BITTER smile twisted Curt
~ lips as he gaSed steadily .,
~ the man he had hated Will
4 \ every fiber Of his being foz
40 years. Dr. Sawyer saw thl
venom In the sick mans eyes. It va
amazing that man could hate an
other so much. Finally Curt was abll
to speak He smiled sarcastically:
II Just learned from my nurse thai
an old friend had been waiting fol
days to see me. couldn't keep an ole
friend waiting"
Curt was rather taken back when Dr.
Sawyer walked over and sat down be.
side his bed calmly. His manner wal
quite professionals though he had
come to see at patient.
"Yes," Sawyer said cody. "I've beer
wanting to have . little talk with you
for 20 years-Tom Smith,"
The sick man smiled again-bitterly
Its been a long time since any one
has called me Tom Smith. prefer
being called Curt Little. Do you think
we really have anything to say to each
other, Sawyer? Isn't it bit too late?'
The doctor sat back In his chair and
folded his hands.
Its never too late to make amends
for being q fool. You're still q pretty
young man. Thirty-nine, believe"
"You always were clever, Mansfield.
imagine you'd be able to think up q
pretty good alibi for making love to
. mans wife-in 20 years."
DR.. Sawyer showed the drst signs
of anger. He half rose from his chair
Then he sat back again.
You're sick manor I'd knock
your head of. But guess any one
that lives 20 years full Of poison and
hatred and the burning deside for
revenge in his bosom is his own worst
enemy"
Curt opened his mouth to speak,
but the doctor went on:
you've almost broken my heart, too
and you've ruined your wife's life
and other people that could mention,
but can't ind 1t In my heart to hate
you"
Curtis lips curled contemptuously:
"Your Christian charity = almost
touching, my oh-friend.
portant things that he had wanted ia
find out In the excitement " meeting
Mansfield Sawyer face to face. He was
trying to bring himself to ask who
Thomas Curtis Smith, jr., was when
DR.. Sawyer leaned toward him.
tom. you're going to be the sickest
man alive when get through telling
you what I've wanted to tell you. Now
don't open your fool mouth to say any
thing more you'll be sorry for. have
q long story to tell-and won't be in
terrupted- II I have to gag you"
Curt was 50 excited he remained
silent-eyeing the old doctor with the
same sarcastic, twisted smile that had
been on his face since Sawyer entered
the room. The doctor began slowly:
If you wanted revenge, you've got
it. My only child Is behind bars. crying
her little heart out-tn disgrace and
sure she can never face the world again.
I ought to want to kill you. But
don't.
There never was . finer woman in
the world than your wife Gloria. She
Is everything that womanhood should
stand for. She ought to hate you.
But she doesn't. All her life she has
stood up for you-led to keep people
from knowing the truth-worked her
fingers to the bone sewing day and
night-in wheel chair"
Curtis lips moved. but no sound came
Gloria-his radiant. young, beautiful
Gloria tied to q wheel chair.
DR.. Sawyer leaned toward the dck
man gently:
II guess I'm hurting you, Tom-but
you've got it coming to you. Yes, Clio
ria has been an invalid for 10 years
Ever since But I'm getting ahead
Of my story. That can all come later.
while you've had millions your wife
has been living all these years In the
most pitiful need-and she hasn't stop
ped loving you through 1t all. The
neighbors and people for miles around
have bought her fancy work and given
her their sewing to do, whether they
needed it done or not.
For 40 years you've thought I was
the lover Of that pure, good woman
One day you came home and looked
through q window and found me there