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Show Iwontlnued from Last Week.) Copmsht b the DeTln Adlr fotnpuiy (All Rlrhti r.r- rvr.i ) (CHAPTER XIV Continued ) ,TF you don't apologize no , I I will thrash yon " Nick raised hie flat for a ,H smashing blow I am sorry." said Rosenbaum very quickly. He retreated a lit-tie lit-tie to the mantlepiece. and said: "I did not mean to be so brutal Tour mother knows that my tongue tometimes gets between my teeth." He laughed nervously, and then took out a cigarette and tapped it on the mantelshelf Kitty's voice came across the piano. "In another moment there would have been a lifeless corpse, oh. Nick, you looked splendid in vour wrath Like a young god What a pity Rosenbaum Is a coward and ate his words! What a drama spoiled!" 'v Roscnbaum turned round 6avag-X 6avag-X lv at her. "Shut up!" he said. "Oh, dear! I wish everybody wouldn't be so violent!" said Beauty "Nick, darling, you have given me quite a turn " r.-in.. r i i . m Imtig Duryiuiia laugncu quite gaily "Wonderful rorld I Wonderful ROople!" Then her husband eutered. with his monocle screwed in his eye and his fat smile on bis face He ignored ig-nored his wife, and went straighi over to Beauty and raised her band to his lips. "How goes it. fair ladv "I'm going anyhow," said Roscnbaum. Roscn-baum. in his most sullen way. He strode out of the room, without sa ing good by. Baby Burpham raised his blonde eyebrows so that his monocle fell "Has Rosy got the hump or something? some-thing? Thank Heaven for that, if it relieves us of his most objectionable object-ionable presence." "He means well," said Beauty. "He's been very good to me." Burpham gave a queer laugh, and stared at Beauty so that a wave of color swept into her face. "In expectation "of favors to come," he said. Beauty flung a cushion at him, which he caught with his left hand In time to save his head. "Oh, Lord!" cried Kitty. "Xow we arc going to have Baby's flow of original wit, his brilliant gifts of repartee, his subtle innuendoes. Nick, save me, lest I die. Take me to the theatre, or something." "Yes," said Beauty. "Take the child to the theatre, Nick, it will do you both good " "III pin." said Baby Burpham, taking out two sovereigns from the silver purse on his watch chain, and flinging them across the piano to Kitty. Lady Burpham grabbed them, ; I and made a face. "They seem precious glad to get Tid of us," said Kitty. "Don't thev, Nick?" Burpham grinned. ' W B B6fl too much of each other, even for such a loving couple as ourselves. Take a rest from me, Kit." ! "Thanks," said Kitty. "1 will. Come on, Nick." Nick went unwillingly, cursing himself for a weak fooi. Yet he was glad to get out into the fresh air, and glad to escape from Baby Burpham, whom be hated worse than Roseubaum. Outside of the hotel Kitty stuck up her umbrella and hailed a hansom han-som cab. "Drive round," she said, "anywhere "any-where Claphara Common, or Wild West Kensington. Keep going, that's all See'" The cabman touched his hat. He had heard of such things before be-fore "I thought wo were going to the theatre," said Nick. I "It's too deadly," said Kitty. "Same old plays, same old women, same old jokes. God! I couldn't stand It to-night . . . Settle yourself down. Nick How cool and sweet the air is! ... Look at the stars twinkling above the housetops. Let's go beyond the lights of the streets. Into some place of darkness where there are only stars. The commons are not far away ... 1 feel pagan tonight to-night I want fresh air. solitude, pace the smell of the earth, the song of ihe stars. . . Ever feel like that, Nick?" "Often." They were silent for a time Nick listened to the klip-klop of the horse's feet, the jingle-Jangle of its bells. He stared at the lights as they flashed by. at the vague, white fares of hurrying people But all the time his thoughts were with Beauty. He wished to heaen he could persuade her to get rid of Rosenbaum and Baby Burpham. He would ask her to come away Into the country with him. After the run of her piece she might like the idea, and it was coming off quite soon to-morrow, now he came to think of it She would be free then for a little while, and they could have a holiday alone in some old country Inn among the fields and the flowers. It would be cleansing to both of them It would cleanse them of this Lon-don Lon-don malady, this fever-stricken life "Nick." said Kitty, "you and I are twin souls, strange as it may appear." "Think, so?" "I know it I am like you, Nick good at the heart. All my swear words don't mean anything If I could get away from Bab 1 should get dean again It is he who smirches me, who puts the devil into me. He is a beast of beasts. Away from him I should be a decent de-cent thing I have good instincts. I love the beauty of things I love ilie souls of things Understand, Nick "" "Perfectly." She wan silent again for a long time, until the cab took theqj out of the crowded London streets into the quieter suburbs, and presently Into a road alongside a great open space where there was quietude and darkness. It was Clupham Common Kitty put her hand through the trap and said "Stop!" "What a rp you going to do now?" asked Niek "I.et walk about a bit." She Jumped out of the cab. and after some words to the driver, who seemed anxious about the fare, took Nick's hand and walked on to the Common, until they were be yond the light of the gas lamps and in the shadow world of treefl which loomed out of the blackness. It was a warm night and the air was very still The sky was strewn with stars They were reflected in the mirror of a pond as though they were floating there "If 1. inn.l t kMa ' ..1,1 Kitty. "This is better than the theatre with its glare of lights, and stench of women's perfumes and scented hair. Pah! The beastliness beastli-ness of civillred life! The rottenness rotten-ness of it all'" Suddenly she began to crv a little. lit-tle. "Will's the matter"" asked Kick He felt horribly ill at ease He had a 6ense of danger. Kitty's tears made her more dangerous to him than her swear words "I'm so beastly lonely!" she whimpered. "I feel always alone in the great desert of life." Then suddenly she came close to him, and put her arms about his neck, and her face so close to his face that her breath was warm upon his lips. "Nick, you've been a pal to me since I knew you I love you, Nick, rant we cut and run together? We could be as happy as kids, you and I. I would teach you how to love. I would put my arms round you like this, and kiss vou like this!" She kissed him a dozen times, clasping him so tight that he could not struggle from her. She clung to him with a kind of desperate strength He Jerked his head back, and cried out: "Dont! For Heaven's sake, don't! Are you mad, Kitty?" "Yes, as mad as a hatter. I am mad for your love, Nick, because you are such a boy and so good in your heart You would make me less sick with the world. Wo could make a great game of life. Oh, my dear boy! My pretty boy! I want you so badly. Kiss me, Nick Kiss me!" He managed to get his arms free from her clasp, roughly. He held her by the wrists, 60 that she could not cling to him. "This is horrible!" he said. "Behave "Be-have yourself, can't you?" He spoke brutally, savage with her for this abandonment of self-respect self-respect In the darkness she seemed to him witch-like. Ho could see the whiteness of her face, and her burning eyes. She was panting like a wild creature. "Don't bo a prig, Nick Be kind and human. Don't you understand? You and I want each other. We are made for each other. T am your mate woman. God made me your mate. Nick " She thrust her face forward again, and tried to cling to him again. Her lips were kissing the air. Her eyes had a greenish light, like cat's eves. But he still held her wrists quite tightly, and kept her away. "Be quiet!" he said sharply. "You are a married woman. I "A married woman ? That's a lie. . . . Burphams beastliness made me free of him I owe him no loyalty But I would be loyal to you. Nick; loyal to the death, in big thiugs and little things. Surely you won't be angry with me because I am ready to give you all the best in me AU that is good in me would be yours. And If you like you cin throw me awav when you are tired of me. Chuck me away like an old boot I won't make you pledge yourself. When you are sick of me I'll take the hint. You can send me off with a nod and a 'That's enough" But for a little while. Nick, for a few months, a few weeks, we could be as happy as kittens. We would play at love together, and make believe, be-lieve, and I would bo as good as gold." "Good''" said Nick. "Oh, Lord! You don't understand the word. You speak like a vile creature. You . . . you make me shiver." "Do I?" she said. "Do I?" All the pleading in her voice changed to a sudden shrill rage, and she Jerked her hands free from his grasp. "Why. you are Hkc the rest of the men; as cruel as devils I thought you were kind " She laughed with hysteria In her voice. "Lord God! I thought he was kind!" Nick was scared flow. This scene in the darkness of the lonely common com-mon was fantastic and horrible f i r iiitf ; opened by her maid. The girl seemed sur- V ' - ' y , : v ity. .' prised to see the two i v, ' isltors, though both j f ' of them had been to ' jLg Beauty's rooms much later In the night. She stared at them curiously. curi-ously. iV'.; : r "Your mother went out with his lordship," she said to Nick. "I packed some things for her. She wore her motor coat." She glanced toward Kitty and Hl"'' i aid: "His lordship was going for a midnight drive. I thought perhaps , you knew." Kitty Burpham looked at Nick, but did not speak. He stared at i his mother's maid In a dazed way. and as he cald nothing she resumed re-sumed her monologue, standing . quietly at the door. "I think there Is a letter for you, sir. I saw it lying on the writing ' :L ? I table" Nick strode through the door Into the sitting room. Kitty followed fol-lowed him. They were alono to- The J-rOneW gether in this room, where the y chairs were littered with illustrated Ladv Had papers and sheets of music, Just as 7 they had left It, The stump of one Her Arms of Burpham's cigarB was lying on a silver ash tray on a little table About Him. "My Poor Nick, you look like a ghost. What has happened to you?" "Let's go back," he said "The cab Is waiting for us." "Go back where?" asked Kitty. "Are you in such a hurry to go back to a mother who Is playing the wanton with my man''" Nick cried out in a voice of horror, hor-ror, "Kitty!" "Oh, I won't spare you now," said Kitty. "I will tell you what I wanted to hide from you. because I thought it would hurt you. Hurt you0 I want to hurt you. I shall laugh to hear you moan like a wounded thing when you know the truth. Haven't you guessed the truth about Beauty and Baby Burpham, Bur-pham, about Beauty and Rosenbaum0 Rosen-baum0 You shut your eyes to the truth. That precious mother of yours! Beauty! The mother you worship with your eyes. Why, she is rotten to the heart. Baby Burpham Bur-pham is her lover, with Rosenbaum, the Jew Don't you know that, poor innocent? Don't you know-that know-that she and Burpham. my baby-faced baby-faced husDand, are as guilty as two devils? Oh. you groan. Because Be-cause you know I tell the truth, mm . g "0 and the truth hurts But it Is tit for tat You hun me, didn't ypu? Called me a vile creature? Yes, but not so vile ay that lady mother of yours, who sends us out together to-gether so that she- ui;i be alone with the man she belongs to. Go ba k to her now, and ask her whether I He. She will swear 1 lie. but you will see the guilt in her eyes. Why, I knew it months ago I can give you dates and times. But I said nothing I laughed. I taunted Baby with it, and laughed .Hgaiu. I laugh now If is a rare joke, and I hae a pretty sense of humor " She laughed In the darkness, and Nick shuddered at the sound of her witch-like laughter, so shrill and horrible. "You had belter go back," ho said, quietly. " will take you to your cab." She walked a little way behind him. because h strode. ,' swiftly across the Com 1 I mon. I1T1 could hear the J swish of her dress I across the grass, the 1 tinkle of her bracelets, f On the edge of the Com- I mon the cab was waiting tor them. "Get in," he said. She put her hand on his sleeve for a moment j and said? "I'm sorry that I told you the truth. You had' to know." "Get In," he said. She climbed Into the cab and huddled herself Into the corner "We will go back," said Nick, "and I will ask you to say before my mother what you have said to me. If what you said was false, perhaps God, or someth.ng. will teach me how to punish you." Ho gave the address to the man, and took his seat in the cab. They drove back in silence. Kitty Kit-ty Burpham cried part of the way, and then was very still Toward the end of Uie Journey she spoke his name very softly in a pleading way, but he did not answer her. His face was as hard as though carved out of granite. As the cab rattled into Ihe hotel courtyard Kitty spoko again. "It Is tho truth, Nick. I swear to Cod it is the truth. But I'm sorry." Big Ben struck twelve strokes as Nick fumbled in his pocket and paid the cabman. The door of Beauty's flat was Dy me Biae or the tirepiace. Ou the writing table was the letter whir-h the maid had seen. It was addressed to Nicholas Barton, Esquire, Es-quire, at the studio in the Fulbam road, but It was unstamped. Nicholas stared at it, and then opened It Blowiy. Kitty watched him from a little distance, like a woman fascinated by a poignant scene in some problem prob-lem drama, by some excellent piece of acting. The letter was not a long one. It contained just a few simple words. Dearest Nick: I have gone away with Burpham. I tried not to, hut you know how weak I am. He would not wait any longer for me. I suppose the devil has something to do with It. Oi course. I hate myself, and I know you will think the worst of me. I was born bad If only I had been born good! You see, I blot this paper with my tears. Your father will say they are sham tears. But there Is salt In them. Good-by, doarest Nick. Your loving lov-ing BEAUTY. P. S. Tell Kitty I'm sorry. Nicholas read the letter very slowly and then crumpled It In his hand. His face was deadly white, and a mist came before his eyes. Kitty, who was watching him, saw that ho swayed a little, as though .overcome with faintness. But he turned round to her and held out the letter "You told the truth," he said. "And you were right. It hurts. . . It hurts." The girl went down on her knees before him as he Mt on the sofa, with hi, H forward. & his h4 dto2 "Nick, dear Nick and I arc together n'tv.." have both chu a th,. jjj. Oh. sweetheart lot ,, . M- She poured out a mtt ords, fondling h!3 lIE o h)m. uaV (tJB' For a little while he ismJ I unconscious of her. Im h1 'Utcrly unconscious 0DftH 'ng only of Beauty, -.v,"97,' him again.' who had tl doned him. twc tiSI Then he srood up ?tTy ltAU and spoke in a quiet, holfrtjM "Yoi, are a. vi! as bMWt have tne same kind of' h23 btaiB You and my Pro ty pair: I don.t , ch.womenasyou are She s'lll rin(r to his ftn) J he thrust her off violent?' strode out. of the room andrntSl the passage On his wy door he had knocked overniBL fable, but was like a man bllnjSH deaf, so that ho did not imH it fall. In the streets of' Jl5l 1 ;" 'he suburbs bWndulfl walked for hours, until tie M came and then the day, 'aggred home to his nudio yB war through the mornlnr vSmK man who had traveled a l05r jM with despair. Yet he was quite calm vhaljB spoke to Comyns, who had flattS breakfast and was lolling bic the cane arm chair, readlu ful Hterary column of the HoniS Comyns was less caia bM seemed to shirk Nick's ejes, tM to be restle93 and ill at tivl gS flung the paper down and :J up and down the room cigarettes, smoking them im whiff or two, then flinging i Into 'he fire grate. , "Anv breakfast boIiutT asbjl NIca He busied himself irttTB I gas stove and boiled up tae kH I and made himself some tea. Ifcfl was famished, and hunger fatigue dulled the sharp HcmS the pTin which had throbbed tiB his brain through the night S9 he felt strangely calm and w composed, like a drugged man, about the head, with all bli edB tions blunted. romyns stared at him c:c? erl twice whn ho was not loohfl r and made some random residiS which Nlek answered ihonB Then he whistled a muslc-hitl afl ody over and over again u stood with his hands in hlspocHlB staring out of the wlndox HuflMH he swung round on his heelabrqH ly and said "Nick, old man, I think sfaA have to dissolve partnanhlj.B have been thinking things or(B and I have decided not to (3 with this art game. I shan't ifH this studio any more." j Nick sliced off the top of hbaH "I thought you wouldn't stick tH 1t. Going back to Grwesm Square?" Comyn3 laughed rather Vfm "En passant, perhaps. WlM shall set up elsewhere, after I squared the governor" J "A now hobby?" asked NIefcjB He wa3 really not curlcaa- BjM was only wondering wherkH find a cheap studio far k!sif- He would have to get the rhiapi placa he could. Perhapi, wrjM It would he good to lite without Jack Comyns, who MJB time waster. He wo'ild "J'4?! more time. He would wore twM and late, to make up forlMtaM Duilng th-) night he had tH over a new leaf. After tie grief and agony of the nlht, H his motner s tieirayai uiu "T'7.w the wo;ld beneath his fett J become sane with the daylight JJ1 had seen things then witl i $g white vis'on He jraifed Gel after his accusations of all TJjH hood, after his condemnation c M mother, arraigned before toe J- ment bar of hi conscience. the sickness and loathing w hich the thought of KUlT ovm pham had made him 6P,rIfL3B his faith In virtue., which w c l shipwrecked, was saved W W memory of Joan He clung w ideal of Joan like a drownW He clung to his love for hfft s;uing grace In this wild atyj his soul. And then be PjfJB wav back to old ambition lighted again the old m. had burnt out in his heart . would work to win her. HB J work as a man Inspired by hope of a great prize- " , bt r failed to gain the tf L with the help of God he om y fail to gain the hear of J which was of purer gold. JJ Work, that would hea JJ V Work, the great spiritual t, W He would work to earn a u u bv art. There were men o- older than himself who & f ing good money a5 designers, ; aud-whlte men. neP f r , -He would learn the tricks trade and force his way s open market. With lu j itwasthenthatbolookdDP L Comyns and saldr "A new hobby?" (Continued Next Pf -"w i from Preceding Page.) Tsjts then fi.T ! r n.vircl ook of embarrassment jComne, a shrinking ,nd laughed a&ain. and th a queer attempt at , Hi upon what yon rail ettling :: "''J Efc of plunging Into !b W jnatrlnion Qffjv 1 KrUed 11 Bgtaon for his i r i.-n 4 i lbs- Perhaps he Kg." He :- great. IgpjjMUnt. He was easting mind to t!unk ' h" ibe VgHK, It was nol easy to VPiBps nad illa'r'd T So man' cirls arf t!fu" v jtc' models, old man9" ilEre him tliree guesses, )MT it him " : he or-;tCyea. or-;tCyea. bil N: k tried jjtarns uttered a vemark-V vemark-V ogue, with wtrkfl his usual Tu Dt with strange hesita VsErkwarri pan YWto hae ' secret p-OJsomc time 2d It wo :M !.": bo play- , itralght . . si. I116 prom: -. . ,! The t; ! i, i m . 1. . we dt.lted into It. V Alt took us both by sur- fou know i jj. .'!.! ttenlng ,;i n m. . Twri -miiI:-. ( -1 Ing Jrtber. meeting, mingling, HMnendous -h. v, pink I c . u i 1 r. 1 . that. Tied clean ofl my Kfid it was only afterward Of you. and ri .mi. M to a blue funk. . . Old ch.,;. . . K I should hate ou to my of no Tii. fortune of know Kk- . . hit had In. q y0u by the hand and wished the beit. Nick, old man, IllVthI .loan vlK?' finish his speech. Be-Jllhd Be-Jllhd got to the end of It A IP nBen to his. There yhtened look In hla eyes l "'Er b wai,m5 breath r'Ri man wal,W for sen-Vj,Ufe sen-Vj,Ufe or deaih. When wLfli "J,,;:n ;,,oj fJm 88 tnough struck bv a He raided hi;, arm u. JuMithen his hand dropped Bide. I"1 you?" he, said in a Cper "What do vu i Po and you?" I ff8 love each other." I F-8;, And tben as though WPHtrieken by the -k-Li rBr- r ald. "I'm sor A l'm - -bttullv sot rv. ' Ujfrain, both , Ve"ry at eacn other, search-other's search-other's face. For mo-tted mo-tted as if gurue tremcn-Pon tremcn-Pon was surging into llftfC85 thou?ii SomHihlng ZlFWmt up irom heart to -!uteh at his throat. But h Btood 'i lite Btill, gripping the back of a cane rhalr. and presently the flame faded out ol his cheeks and the fire out of his eyes, leaving him tired looklnc, dog tired, and done "It can't be helped." he said. ' Nothing can be helped. Ono has to face It." A little while later Comyns left the studio and when he had gone Nick sat at the table with the litter lit-ter of breakfast things about him, his arms folded across the plates, his head down on his arms. It was an hour later when b raised his head, an older man than when he had put it down, and listened to a knoeklng at the door H took a deep breath and went unsteadily across the floor and opened the door On the threshold qtood xj two old friends -the Lonely Lady und the .Merman. They stood there, hand in hand, smiling at him. ESdward Prampton the Merman was ho disguised that Nick hardly hard-ly recognized him. He wore a glossy silk hat and a black morning morn-ing coat, and pepper and salt trousers trou-sers over white spats and patent-leather patent-leather shoes. He looked ten years younger than when Nick had last seen him, and had ken, clear eyes, and a cheery air of self-confidence and strength. "Nick," he said, "I have brought my wife to see you. Have you a welcome for us?" Edward Frarnpton's wife tho Lonelv Lady had her arms about him, and her eyes were radiant. "My poor Nick, you look like a ghost What has happened to you?" "Nothing" said Nick. "Nothing that matters." And yet when Frampton went away on some excuse, leaving hla wife behind. Nick had to confess that something had happened which mattered a good deal. "I have lost faith in lifo,,r he said "I wish to God I were dead." He put his head into his hand3 and wept. . . . After all, he was very young. And the woman who had been the wise noman of his boyhood, who had helped to form his character, char-acter, and who had given him his first ambition, used all her wisdom now to help him. She did not ask to know his story, but sho told him hers, and laid bare her heart to hlni, and confessed con-fessed to him some of its agonies and some of its doubts, when sho, too, hud wished she was dead. "Do not lose faith in llfo Nick," she said at last "For hope is stronger when it is born of despair, and faith more certain when it fol lows doubt, and success moro precious when it has been taught by failure. . . Look at mc, Nick! I have won through after so many years of Rropin, so many weaknesses, so many futile das. I have won a man our of the depths. Edward Frampton has escaped es-caped through mc. He is my miracle. mira-cle. on understand? . . . Nick, my poor boy, you see it Is too early for you to lose faith In life Why, lifeds all in front of you, and thero is your work to do " : .... he was like I man who had gono forth from beneath his father'. roof-tree In search of adventure, with high hops and a buoyant heart, and ideals Klimmorlng with a white light before bim, but had been waylaid by enemies and had bi i a oeaifn and battered, and then had lost his way in a dark wood with no llKht at all to guide him, until be bad struggled back, inglorious, in-glorious, bruised, shamefaced, to his sire. The doo. wjt opened by Polly, 1 ssfo The Girl Went on Her W I Knees Before Him as He Sat Down Heavily on the Sofa, with His Head Drooping Forward. fhere was a long silence In the room, and then Nick looked up and took a deep, long breath. "Work." he said, "yes, thank God for that. A man can always work." CHAPTER XV. THE PLOT OF LIFE. I 'HE little housemaid who was polishing the knocker of a house in Redcliffe road did not know that Fate stood on the steps next door by the side of a young man who had hesitated outside the gale before he thrust it open. She saw only a good-looking good-looking young man. in shabby clothes and a dump hat, with a big sketchbook under one arm and his right hand gripping a heavy portmanteau. port-manteau. Sho did not see that he was being watched b the vigilant eea of eternal curiosity, that he was being touched by the invisible hands of a guiding aplrlt, that he was the unconscious servant of a masterful force, which some men call Fate, and others Luck, and others In humble moments God-Nicholas God-Nicholas Barton himself was unaware un-aware of the guiding hand upon his shoulder He was aware only of a tragic depression of spirits, of a Kray world, robbed of its sunliKh',, und of a duty to be paid. The duty was to his father. He knew now how right his father had been, how terribly right. But he had abandoned this man. who had been his comrade, for the woman who had betrayed both of them. Now the least he could do was to return re-turn to pick up the old threads which had been broken by Beauty hand, to say ''Father, I have come back." Those words rose to his hps as he lifted the knocker "Father, I have come back " He felt like the Prodigal Son. Yet he had eaten no swine's food. Ho hac". kept blmielf clean. Rather t and he spoke to her in a queer, jaunty tone, se that the sound of his own voice rang queerly in his ears "Hulloh, Polly ... I have come back " She gave a little cry of joy and clasped him in her arms. But a moment later she unclasped her arms and raised her hands to her bosom and looked at him with a strange fear in her eyes "Oh, Master Nick'" He was startled. He had known his old nurse's face since first ne had seen any face, but he bad never seen it so drawn with grief, and with such a sharp anxiety in the eyes. It seemed to him that she spoke to him of tragedy, though her words told him noihing. The abrupt way in which hei h tV cry of Joy at his home-coming changed into that lament of "uh; Master Nick'" made his heart full with a kind of thud. Ho Btam-mered Btam-mered out a question. "The governor? Is he . . . ill?" Polly shut the ball door and grasped him by the sleeve and led him Into the dining room. Sho spoke Incoherently, putting a trembling trem-bling hand to her head and thrusting thrust-ing a cap sideways. "I'm fair worried. Master Nick. Your poor dear pa has been out all night, walking the streets, I expect. It's been the same these weeks past. No sleep. Pacing up and down, up and down, In the bedroom, bed-room, and now and then a groan like a wounded thing. Then out at night, and mo scared to death, and a look so sad to make any 'eart bleed, when he comes buck before toe milkman But never so late before. It's ten o'clock, and he's not home yet and all the bacon burned to a cluder, and my 'ead liko an empty larder with a mouse running about inside. I have a fear gnawing In my 'ead like a mouse. Master Nick, if you can take what l mean " "A fear?" said Nick. He also had a fear. Those incoherent inco-herent words of Polly's gave him a tragic picture of his father, of his father's sleeplessness, of hla lon ly night walks, of his wretchedness. wretch-edness. Like a wounded thing," Polly had said, and Nicholas knew that Beauty and ho had dealt the man his wounds. Beauty had - 7 I I f tabbed first Nick had driven the knife deeper in. "A fear?" asked Nick. Poll whispered to him: "E's a bit queer," she said. "Queer?" Nick spoke in a kind of hoarse whisper also. "Oh, Master Nick!" said Polly, "'e's not the same man since 'e came to town, so glad to think 'e would set up 'ouse with you again. He camo "ome one day quite changed. There's a 'unted look in 'Is eyes. 'E speaks to 'lmself. After them lonely walks 'e comes back so moody and so broody I could cry my 'eart out at the sight r,t 'in, presently Polly left Nick alone. She had her work to do. she said, and somehow those words were a lesion to him. In 6pito of her feara and her troubles she "had hei work to do." He heard her go Into tho kitchen and shut ' the door, and. standing in his father's sitting room, Nicholas Barton made use of the worla spoken by his old nurse and hla father's servant and said: "I, too, have my work to do." He unt to the window and stared into the street. 'Work'" thought Nick. "That's the saving grace." Then suddenly, aa he stood at the window staring out upon the street, he saw his father's face. Bristles came across the road, slowly, with Ms head bent down as though his eyes were searching for something In the roadway. He hesitated outside his Iron gate. Jist as Nick had hesitated, wont past it. seemed lo falter uncertainly, came back again, and put his hand upon the gate and glanced up first at the bedroom window. It was in that moment when he glanced up that Nick seemed to feel an icy hand upon his heart. For his father's face was stamped with tho imprint of tragedy. In his eyes there was a look of dull despair. It was a face like a mask of pain. And the uncertainty with which he had hesitated before his own gate this faltering, as though he were afraid to come home, this strange, furtive glance at the bod-room bod-room window, filled Nlek with a horrible uneasiness He stood quite still listening acutely as a key turned In the lock of the front floor. It turned very quietly, as though the man were afraid of being heard. The door was shut analn with extraordinary quietude, as though by a thief In the night-Then night-Then Nick heard his father's foot-Bteps foot-Bteps passing with a stealthy tread across the hall, like the steps or a man creeping on tiptoe. A moment mo-ment later a stair creaked slightly. A door was opened on tho landing above, and shut again almost noiselessly. noise-lessly. Tho ceiling of tho sitting room shook a little with a heavy tread. Thon silence. Nicholas Barton stood with his head raised, listening. He listened as though his soul were In his ear6. He did not like this silence. Ho hated it. It put a terror Into his mind, the terror of some unknown un-known horror. What was his tather doing' ewiiy didn't he walk about upstairs open a drawer, make some kind of noise? Was he standing quite till there. In tho bedroom, with those despairing eyes? What was he doing? thinking, preparing to do9 Nicholas Barton listened. He held his breath to listen. 0 8 l 1 And In that moment some great Force seemed trying to draw him away from TPhcre he stood, motionless, In the center of the carpet. Something Some-thing seemed to be calling to him, urging him to hurry out of tho room, to rueh upstairs, to burst open the door of that bedroom where his father was so quiet. A tremendous Impulse stirred in Nick's brain, like some enormous and passionate instinct. Swiftly he strode across the floor. Panting a" little, he took the stairs three at a time. He was trembling in every' limb when he grasped the handle of tho bedroom door, turned it, and stood inside tho room. Then ho knew that tho instinct had come from some Outsider. He had been called in time His father stood In front of a looking-glass. He held a blunt, black thing in his hand He had raised it to his forehead when his son stood inside the room. "Father!" cried Nick. With that shout he strode across the room, gripped his father's shoulder and swung him round. The blunt, black thing fell out of his father'.-; hand to the caipet and spoke with a terrible shock of sound A brick In the w-all crumbled crum-bled and fell on the carpet, with a little cloud of dust. Bristles stood very, still His eyes met his son's eyes, then drooped. A wave of color swept into his face, and then left him white. "I'm sorry." he s-ald Nicholas swung round and wei.t to the door again. Polly was thpre. Sho had come scrambling up. anyhow, any-how, in a kind of ueap "It's all right. Polly. There's nothing the matter." He shut the door and locked it. and turned round again into thu room. "Father " he said. "Good God.' Not that!" Bristles sat down In the chair clos.! to his drcseiug table. He wa? trembling a little. "You came just In time, Nick," he said. "In another moment" He gave a deep breath, like a man recovered from n trance, and the color ebbed back into his face again, and the glazed look passed from his eyes. "It was the hand of God," ho said. The pistol still lay on the carpet, a spent force There was no danger In It now. Nick was leaning lean-ing against the wall, with his face in his hands. All his heart had broken into tears. Bristles went over lo him and put his arm lbout nlm. "Old man," ho said, "you have paid mc back now for everything. I'm In your debt I'm in God's debt. If my life Is any good to you I must make amends." ' l ather." said Nick. "I've como back. You and I are together again. Wo havo both been smashed Let's help oach other to pick up the pieces and go on." These two men, father and fn, B with the pistol on the floor between be-tween them, stood with God's eyes on them Their ouls were naked. I They wre like shipwrecked men I on ono plank They spoke things which men do not speak untM they stand, as it were, on the Up of B eternlt7 r Hour after hour they -poke, and 'ho rather hid nothing from bid son. nothing of all the agony of his despair, nothing of all the tynji-tatlons tynji-tatlons of the devils in his brain, nothing of his cowardice. Twice he had been broken on th" wheel of fate, by two women, and w hen one of them had robbed him of the son who had been the last straw by which he clung to life, he had thrown up his arms and gone under Then Nick told his tale a talo of disillusion, of failure, of horrb. hie doubts, of broken hopes He!' 1 too, had been twice smashed. Father and son looked Into each other's souls. There was no gulf Kll between them now. No ghost divided di-vided them And sometimes one or the. other gave a passionate cry aealnst the cruelty of things. Sometimes Some-times the boy flamed Into anger against the mother who had borne hlra, against all women, against life itself. Sometimes the man spoke in a kind of strangled way at the remembrance of his agony, as mougn uie oiacK nevus were at him again. But it was tho boy's passionate grief, his bleeding wounds which gave the man new strength, wh'ch filled him with tho spirit of fatherhood For the boy'u sake he must think clearly, speak bravely, get back to sanity nd self-respect. Nick'" he cried, "we have paid Gods price for sin My sin, olu nian, let me not hide that from you." "Your sin?" "My sin, partly Lord Cod: I see now that it was half mv fault. Perhaps more than half. Who can weigh these things in the scales.' Your mother was right Poor child wife' Let us be fair to her Nick. Let us face the truth of things, now. with that thing lying there on the carpet. If I had been more patient with her I might have kept her straight, at the beginning, and so at tho end. If I had been more kind to her 1 might have called her back when she first went astray. I called her a liar to you. Bu- I was a liar, too. when I justified myself, when I fought for you. I see now I was hard on her I Si seo It all in a white light. I was hard hard hard." Nicholas thought of his mother H when sho struck the deal table Bf with the palms of her hands and said: H "Hard! Hard' Hard!" "And at last," said his father. m "I chose the Devil s way, which is Si called Divorci " He leaned forward and touched W Nick on the hand fjl "When I dlvoiced your mother I rf obtained damages from the man Bftl who had betrayed her. But who paid, do you think? Who pays IM always, always? Good God' It is BI the child who pays. The man and If the woman go their way separately-. Bfl and lorget, or stamp on the head nl ol remembrance. They find new If interest in life, stifle their con- Rj science and find new love. For 1 good or evil, their characters hare fftl been made They do net alter f ""-u. m. lskjji am iim Hom 01 men i ri, own childhood. But how about the j ft, child who Is Just beginning life, M who needs both mother and father, (flj who needs mother love as well as , jLu father love for the foundations of belief, for faith in the essentials ct of life, for guidance in the begin-nlng begin-nlng of the Journey? You know, Nick, you knon, old man It is you ill! who have paid the price to th IM full every' brass farthing of it. in My poor old boy! How can I rfl square up with you?" in Now that Nick had paid In agony and tears, now that he had como sj back to his father with the gift SU of life, the older man was very 9lJ humble, and in the presence of tho 4fl Spirit which had drawu him bai ' f H from iho great precipice, when he &n had almost lurched Into the depths, AH he made a vow to dedicate this ffH new life which had been given to fijlj him to the boy who had suffered ijwt for the sins of his begetters. it "Life is all lu front of you, H Nick," he said. "If you will let fl me I Will try to pay back something SK of my debt, by comradeship, by a frH father's service, by the wisdom, IJJI perhaps, that has come to me out sll of my folly. And with you, with 5m your friendship, Nick, old boy. 1 Vf will grope my way back to youth, jjfjl and got a little stock of new hope, U and pick up my work again. Is it lil a bargain''' mU Father and son clasped hands ) on It. jM When they went out of the room nlm arm In arm. Polly, who was stand- ing at the foot of the stairs, heard hor master's words: "Why. Nick," he said, "it will be qulty like old tinie '. "I must settle dow n to work." said Nick. "In tho old style, eh, But both of thom had begun a new chapter In the plot called Life. THfc END. |