The Washington times., 1937-02-05

! those demanding eyes to tell the
story straight!
do you have any theories-you
/ surely must have Some-about
EndiCott's reasons for-for letting
you DOWN." asked the Dean when
Paige had finished.
Newell shook his head.
MY sympathy is all with you,
Dr.. Paige. Perhaps, if 1 were in
your place, I might find it very
difficult to think of any eXtenua-
ton Tor your chief. But it seems
to me that this case calls for q
great deal of calm and impartial
understanding Endicott had
been building reputation Tor
many years; had come to the
height of his powers; couldn't
afford to have anyone think he
was capable of a mistake. Bad
state of mind, to be sure, but not
unique. It's an old mans disease.
I think it quite possible that If
YOU hadn't left town that day his
spirit of decency and good sports
manship would have prodded him
into doing the right thing But
you were gone-and he put 1t Off
and the fact that you had run
away made it seem so obvious you
were to blame. So-he never got
up the courage to tell the truth.
I dare say he is a very unhappy
man. In fact-I know he is"
There was a long silence. The
cathedral clock tolled noon. Paige
became suddenly aware that he
was imposing on Dean Harcourt;
had monopolized the whole morn
ing. He rose to his feet.
Just moment" The deans
gesture commanded him to be re-
seated. Before you leave I have
something further to say to you. I
want you to know that I am not
a stranger to the problem of frus-
tration. 1t has not been my Gus
tom to speak of my own dilemmas,
but you have right to benefit
by my experience. Whatever I
have been able to achieve-in per-
sonal poise, stability, adequacy
has come to me by way of the
obstacles I have met. This has
always been true of men-Since
the dawn. Emergencies have al
ways been necessary to mems eVo-
luton"
The timbre of the deans voice
habitually low and resonant
seemed to have changed markedly.
His tone was vibrant as he pro-
ceeded:
For your comfort, my son, let
me tell you that I have laid hold
upon a truth powerful enough to
sustain me until I die! I know
that, in spite of all the painful
circumstances I have met, my
course is upward! I know that
the universe is on my side! 1t
will not let me down! I have
been detained at timeS-but even
tually l go on through"
Paige stared, almost tranSfiXed,
and listened breathlessly to the
mounting crescendo of Dean Har-
courts voice as the mastery, pain
battered prophet leaned farther
forward over the desk, the deep
eyes radiant with some inner light.
Supporting himself on his elbows
and outSpread hands, the Dean
seemed actually rising from his
chair. He was all but on his i'm
potent feet now.
Il go on through" he repeated
earnestly. Il have suffered-but l
know that I am Destiny's darling
You have suffered-but you,
too, can carry on through!
Take it from mel I know! In spite
of all the little detainments, dis
appointments, disilluSionments-I
got the lucky breaks! I get the
signal to go forWard I have been
delayed - long - long -long-but
at length-I get the GREEN
LIGHT"
1t was very quiet in the room
for several minutes. Dean Har-
court had sunk back into his chair,
quite spent by his eXertion. Newell
Paige had an aWeSome feeling that
he had witnessed a dramatic cpl
Sode of which very few people
would have suspected possible of
the calm, self-possessed Dean of
Trinity Cathedral. He had heard
men and women casually humble
their I-believes. Today it had been
his high privilege to See-in active
operatiOn-the dynamic that pro-
PEELED a majestic soul. 1t stirred
him to his depths. His voice
sounded very unlike his own when
he lmpulsiVely broke the silence,
eXclalming, hoarsely, "God!-I
wish I had that"
Newell had taken his departure
through the Cathedral nave, and
was seated on a bench in Madison
Park, waiting for the clock to
strike the second quarter. Then he
would 60 back for Sylvia.
TO Be COntinued)
(CopyrIEht, 1887. by Lloyd C. Douglass.
Distributed by King FeatureA
Syndicate. Inc.)