Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1936-05-29
G@t}sE
WOMAN
REX BEACH
SIXTH ~INSTALLMENT

SAAS6
she went on a moment, "but i
takes more than well, it take
something pretty dreadful to shoe
a girl who has lived the way Nv
had to live. There's one thing tn
theatre teacher that's charity
Your mother, whatever she is now
was a brilliant artist in her tim
and we must remember that. Il
the theatre that counts for a grea
deal. There are people endowed
with such blazing genius that ordi
nary conventions don't, can't bin'
them. The fire of it burns ava!
their bonds. Yes, and how a 20,
judge right and wrong? They'r'
such words. Circumstances are 81
powerful. She told you what price
girls sometimes have to pay for sue.
cess"
. "You angel" breathed the boy
cts only good, clean women like
you who can be truly charitable
"No, no! We're all pretty much
alike. Only some of us are differ
emily placed. What we actually do
is of so little consequence as against
what we are-or what we become.
She had no right to stand in your
way, of course; that was wicked
and cruel; it was hideous of her to
tell you this thing; but-how many
geniuses are quite normal? Any
great talent throws the scales of
balance"
Gerald had somewhat recovered
himself by now. Gently he kissed
Hazel full upon the lips; quietly
r~everently, but with a throbbing
earnestness he said: YOU'RE the
truest, sweetest woman I have eper
known and you've brought back
all my faith, all my courage, all my
self-respect; you've made a man of
me. If you can think charitably
of my mother, then surely | can.
Yes, you've done a wonderful
thing, for you've made me more
ashamed IF myself than of her"
g.. 1t was late when the lovers man.
aged to tear themselves apart and to
exchange the last kiss. For some
time after Jerry had gone Hazel
stood where he had left her, gazing
meditatively at nothing and with
the faintest quicker between her
brows. She pulled herself together
when she heard a sound in the ad-
journing room and inquired:
els that you, jacob"
: "Yeah! l been waiting till Jerry
went home. l wanted to talk to
you"
Hazel returned to the dining
room. "It's pretty late"
= "I know but-there was a
couple of fellahs at the theatre af-
ter you left. A couple detec-
tives."
, Miss Woods turned startled eyes
upon the speaker. detectives?
W-what for? What about?"
1.-THE Etheridge case, of course
They asked a lot of questions: how
often he was used to coming here;
did he ever come after the show,
when you was alone; was you ever
out to his place; what kind of
friends was you and him? All that
kind of stuff"
. "I sec. And what did you tell
them"
"I told 'em what the Book says:
The wicked man shall fall by his
own w.ckedness. He shall he
shared IN the work of his hands.
Amos Etheridge was an abomlna-
ton unto the Lord and the Lord
Slew him with the edge of the
sword"
eBut surely that didn't answer
their questions, Jacob"
"Oh, l told 'em he came and
went here, like a lot of others
him owning the theatre like he did
and you went out to his place
once in a while when he was giving
a party or something. About him
being here that Thursday night
"They asked about that?"
rThey were awful particular
about the right he was killed.
said if he'd been here I'd Of seen
him, sure, and I didn't. l didn't
see his automobile standing outside,
either. Iswore positive to that"
There was a moment OF silence,
then Miss Woods murmured with
an effort. mo doubt they are
questioning everybody. I knew
Mr.. Etheridge well; he was very
kind to me. He treated ali of the
company we'll, for that matter.