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THE MAN HIGHER UP By HENRY RUSSEll MRIER Copyright. 1910. by hkk Mar rill Co. "M&cPhorsoir-BOO poum-a to m, crowded gallery—-you set- that crowd li ^OKV OCT OV THIS If 1 were to give the Word they would tear you to picces. That crowd means badness. I won't give them the word, bat unless you go, and now, I'll throw yon out. I won't answer for what happens after that" MacPberaon began what wag meant to be a defiant reply. "You dare lay one finger on me"— He got no further. He saw Bob's big band shoot out toward him. felt a grip like a steel vise clutch his shoul fer. MacPhersou turned tall and ran. •linking out of the hall amid unbroken alienee. Bob turned to the councilmen. "Now. then, beat that ordinance." he •aid quietly. 80 the ordinance was defeated 8ome days later a new ordinance, drawn up under Bob's direction, was Introduced. In due time it passed, was signed and accepted by the gas company. The night after Bob's victory 50.000 of the' Steel City's best citizens pa raded before bis home and cheered him as the next governor. The cheering thousands marched on. leaving the quiet street to return to Its wonted dingy calm. Kathleen, proud and rejoicing, Bought "Uo Bob in his library. The man in whose honor a great city had made holiday sat before the fire in an attitude of complete de fection. "Bob," she cried tremulously, "what la itr "Nothing. Kathleen," be said in a tired voice—"nothing that matters much. 1 haven't meant to trouble you with my moods." "And tonight, with ail these people showing you their love and pride in you—when you have deserved it so well—when you should be only proud and happy—1 find you here—so!" Her voice almost broke. "Don't!" He shrank from her praise as he never shrank from a physical blow. "That's what hurts tonight. 1 have not deserved their kindness. I have done so little—nothing!" "Nothing! It means nothing to you to have stood between nearly a mil lion people and injustice?" "But 1 didn't do that." be insisted. IWlth weary patience. "What has been done the people did themselves. All 1 did was to veto a bill any clever poll tlclan would have vetoed as a matter of policy and to pall off a shallow, theatrical trick that, after all. proba bly wasn't necessary. They forget all the evil and remember only the little good. But 1 can't. And tonight they have made me feel small and mean." •'Small" and mean! Bob,1 will you never learn to know yourself? I"— bar voice broke .In a little laugh that fras "near to tears—"I'd like to shake frar He smiled. "1 wish you would. Kathleen. That's the only way 1 can learn. It seems, by having the truth shaken, pounded, into me." ?Tears came to her eyes. "Ah, don't think I don't know what this long year has been to your* she said pityingly. "Too were always cruel to yourself, driving yourself mercilessly. Haven't I seen your heartache? I know how yon have counted on finding Paul and (•making bis life and how bitter the disappointment has been. And," she rushed on, though she knew his sou. was writhing at being thus laid bare, "1 know about ber. Bob. give ovei your self inflicted punishment Go to her and take happiness—for both 1 you." "Not that," he said sternly. She knew rhat the sternness was for the hope within him that would not die. "That can never be.' yv yo*" yon suppose 1 coma seen unpin- heas while Paul Remington's life in •polled because I drove him Into temp tations be couldn't resist? 1 might have made bim strong, a good IUUH, but never by word or act did I teach him anything but selfishness and by pocrisy. If I were to shirk my punish ment I'd be a contemptible coward My punishment is just—exactly the penalty a just God would devise. I'm not shining." "You poor, elemental child!" she ex claimed pityingly. "What are you— what is any of 11s—in God's scheme of things that our punishment should b» so important?" Bob looked at ber, even in his fa natical self torture startled by the now thought. She rose to leave him. "Duty ought to mean happiness, and you got noth ing but a useless misery out of It I thought you had found yourself. But you haven't. You have still one les son to learn—faith. If I had not faith 1 shouldn't want to live. 1 couldn't be happy." "Yes you are happy. And yet," be said slowly—"and yet I have some times fancied that you have* bad your heartache." "Yes 1 am happy," she said. ami her face glowed. "1 am happy. I hate to be so small as to be unhappy merely because God basn't arranged everything to my liking." She left bim. "If only 1 could find bim—if only could find bim!" he cried to himself CHAPTER XXVI. THE PRODIGAL. A OBAKBnt!" WESTBOUND express train was rattling down the moun tains. It was early spring even among the bills. A man on the train, dividing bis attention be tween the panorama without and the fretful child on bis knee, to bis sur prise discovered in a flickering inward glow a feeble response to the life with out lie was going home, with fear and little hope in hts heart, yet be caught himself counting the mileposts with growing eagerness as the train swung around the hills. "The eternal witchery of spring." he murmured to himsplf. "tilling out hearts with life and hope—false hope sometimes." The train stopped. A uewsboy cauue aboard, crying the evening papers. A passenger who occupied the seat in front of the man with the child bought one. "I see lfurchell's dying." be remark ed to his neighbor across the aisle. "A big loss to this state!" "Not so big as if we didn't have \1 Adoo," returned the other. "That's true They're turning their guns on hina already too. Revived that old nomination story. For my part 1 don't believe it." "1 do believe it. but 1 don't care. I'd have done the same under the circum atances. A tot of people will care, though. Funny about us Americans the occasional slip'up of a good man cuts a bigger figure with us than the continual crimes of a really dishonest one. He'll be governor, though." The train started, and the man with the child lost the answer. He shrank back in his chair. "How can 1 go back How can they let me? O God. keep my courage alive!" When the train stopped be aligbted. quaking inwardly. He took a cab, fearing tbe curious eyes of the street car passengers. He need not have feared. The people of that city had long since cast bim out of their mem ories. They turned into a familiar, quie* street. The prodigal's limbs were shaking so that be could hardly hold the child. His heart beat painfully Wild thoughts of leaving tbe baby on the doorstep and fleeing rushed through his brain. The cab stopped The passenger, shivering, got out. He walked slowly up the gravel path leading to the porch. He could see into the hrigbtly Righted library He knew every M1 little detail of that room. He remembered that once in that room he had sworn to be true whatever might come. To the long French window came a woman, her figure silhouetted against the bright light of the lamps. He recognized Kathleen. She was looking out at him.. She opened the door, gazing gravely at the bearded, sallow faced man who stared at her strangely. "Do you wish to see Mr. McAdoo? He's out of the city Just now." "Kathleen!" be cried in a strange, croaking voice. "Don't you know me?" "Paul!" Doubt, amazement. Joy. voiced themselves In tbe word, and welcome shone in her eyes as a har bor light to the storm driven seafarer bring you a responsibility, Kath leen." He held out the child. "We welcome responsibilities here." •he answered happily. Sbe held out her arms for the baby. "Wait! Sbe is my sister's child. Her father's name I don't know. She has no right to be in the world. She is carsed from her birth. Will you take her?" "All tbe more for that reason!" She took tbe child from him. cud dllng it close to her heart. "Come In. Paul! Don't stand there! Don't you know you have come home?" He followed ber Into tha library The warm, cozy room seemed to en fold him, to welcome bim. He sank Into a chair, burying bis face In lite hands. "Kathleen, I can't help It. 1 don't want to leave—to run away out Into the loneliness again. Do you think he will let me stay?" "Have you any doubt?" She faced him proudly. "Then you don't know ear Bob!" "It wasn't easy. Kathleen—1 was so asnnmeo—Dtit it was very loneiy "But all that Is ended. Paul." Sometimes life throws tbe prodigal a line In Paul'a case the line was his sister, another astray under the curse of inherited temperament, whom he had found dying and bugging to ber heart a child of passion. "She died. But 1 made those last Weeks easier for her. 1 think. That should count for something— do you think so, Kathleen?" "That should count for a great deal. Paul "If only I could be of some use to bim! I'd like to be." The humility snt strangely on Paul. "Ah. I see you don't understand. He needs all the help nil of us can give For William Murchell is dying, and Bob must take his place." "He has risen high. I am glad." And she saw that he was sincere, tie sat up suddenly, with a despairing er.v: "Kathleen, it's not possible! 1 can't stay. I can't help him. I can ouly hurt him. Don't you see. I'll be a re minder to him and to every one of what must be forgotten—that thing bis shame?" "But you don't understand," she cried. "What others think doesn't count. He has never denied it. part ly. I think, because he wouldn't shame you before the people. As for him. it wasn't bis shame. He wasn't guilty." "He— wasn't—guilty!" Then to tbe bewildered Paul sbe told the story of tbe convention as sbe bar! had It from Haggin. It was long before he answered. His hands and face twitched continuous^ Evidently his nerves were gone. It was not easy, tbe thing required ot him. At last he opened his eyes. "It's the only thing to do." She guessed wbat was in his mind "He would uerer ask it. Paul." "Let us call Haggin and do it. Now —tonight—while my courage lasts." Carrying the baby, sbe left him alone in the library. When she re turned. after many minutes, sbe had left tbe child asleep in the motherly arms of Norab. Paul was lying in the chair in the same attitude as when sbe bnd left him, his eyes closed. He opened his eyes and looked up at ber question lngly. "They are coming now," she an swered. Then she added abruptly, al most sharply. "Paul, it's only fair to you to tell you that—that Bob and Mrs. Gilbert"— Sbe atopped as ab ruptly as sbe hnd begun. He made no answer, aud after awhile sbe continued gently: "Is there any reason why they shouldn't be happy— as men and wo men want to be happy. Paul?" Again it was a long time before be anawered in a voice that was very tired: "There is no reason. All that Is dead. It has no right to live. Kath leen." In her heart she was crying jealous ly to her secret. "It's the last thing 1 can do for him!" Aloud sbe said: "You must tell bim that too." He did not notice that ber voice was sharp and constrained. He was watching tbe tires of a real suffering burning out the last vestige of tbe self that bad been Paul Remington. When Bob came bome tbe two men met quietly. Wbat was said then need not be set down here, but a new footing was established. Thereafter many things were ignored by tbem. Paul went on tbe staff ot Bob's news paper. Tbe Bugle's editorials are often quoted in other newspapers of note. Many have often tried to imitate them in vain, perhaps because tbey breathe a spirit tbat cannot be simu lated convincingly. He is no longer a public figure in the Steel City. Few now remember his sensational dis avowal of McAdoo, fewer still his equally sensational amende. Some times there have been struggles with a burning appetite. At such times he has fled to Kathleen. He tells her it is she who has conquered. Botb Kathleen and Paul are happy At least tbey have achieved content. The train that whirled Paul toward tbe Steel City was passed by another bearlng Mayor McAdoo to the death bed of a man who had come very clone to him. Bob saw much of Murchell during tbe two years following tbe Steel City roayorality election. He came to feel a mighty admiration and affection for the great general wbo bad created a new political era, wbo bad shackled a nation to rhe service of a vast, vora clous system, who had lifted at least one nonentity to the presidents chair and who in the last years of his life was straggling to undo tbe work of bis prima. "When a man reaches hia threescore years and ten." Murchell said to him one day, "he has learned that tbe evil ar good a man does concerns himself leaat of all. The balance muat remain heavily against me. 1 must strive not to atone, but to make the way ready for other men who will ando what I have done." Marchell's lofty self Ignoring gave Mm an example that he strove to emu late. Many other things of less abstract kind he learned from the master Marchell revealed to him the secret Intricate inner workings of tbe vast machine tbat gripped the state as in a vise. It was not all pretty. More than once be saw rebellious bosses en ler tbe presence of tbe master to leave thaklng. stunned by the knowledge that they were inextricably in the power of a man wbo seemed to know everything. Many things Murchell and Bob did of whicb tbey said naught to tbe gentle Dunmeade that tbey might save his heart from burning. Gradually Bob came to understand, too, why the secrets and sources of Harebell's power were revealed to him. He was being prepared to take 1 1 ir.ace. up?a ... Dunmeade, tbe master's mantle was to fall. And now Murchell was dying. Bob knew as the train bore bim f^ftly to tbe east that be was going to assume that mantle. Years before "1 will be master of the state before I die!" ambition bad cried. Now he said. "1 am not yet forty, and I am master of the state" Master of tbe state: He had dream ed of power Now power, tremendous, farreaciiing. almost unlimited power, would be his if be could retain what Murchell would very soon place in his bands. "I can: I will!" His tcetb clinched, his muscles tightened in tbe stress of bis determination. "I will be true to my trust. I will use my power for the good of this people. So help me God!" His words were a prayer, not an oatb. There was no exultation in his heart neither was there humility. Self was forgotten. His task loomed large before him. self obliterating, tilling bis horizon as he hurried toward tbe gov ernor's mansion. In tbe library some one was playing the piano very softly, tbe gentle, soothing chords lingering in tbe air. Thither the servant show ed Bob. On tbe threshold Bob baited sharp ly. Death, power, battle, were in an Instant swept from bis mind. His heart leaped convulsively. The player's back was toward him. Sbe did uot notice bis entrance. He did not move, lest be might disturb ber. Then her voice rose, full and clear and plaintive in a song that not all the street pianos in the world can rob of its appeal. Bob listened in rapt attention. Once before he had heard her sing that song, on the night when, on that very spot, he had dealt her the crudest blow a man could give a woman. At the last line her voice shook slightly once it faltered. "To kiss the cross, sweetheart—to kiss the cross.' The last long quivering note died away. She turned and arose to face him. For a long minute they regard ed each other unwaveringly, it had been two years aud more since they had met. these two whose lives had 80 strangely crossed. They bad been constantly in each other's minds, in each other's hearts. Each saw that fhe years had wrought changes in the other. Bvery time he had seen her her beauty had struck him anew. It was so different from that of the few wo men he knew But be bad loved best to remember her as be had last seen her, when she had come to him in the days of his sickness How often, dur ing tbe long months, in the secrecy of his room he had opened tbe book of his memory to look upon her stand lng there before him. her startled eyes answering the love in his. Now. in this sudden meeting the picture be had carried seemed to him woefully Inade quate She was even more slender than before, yet less fragile Her face To KISS if-1,' THE CBOSB—SWEETHEABT, TO KISS THE OROSSI was marked by a new gentleness, a new patience and withal a new strength that made her to Bob's eyes beautiful beyond dreams. She. too, saw a change. He was tbe same stalwart figure aa before, yet a slight stoop bad come into tbe big shoulders. Streaks of gray were iu his hair. The thin, strongly marked, ascetic face was the same and yet not the same tbe bold arrogance, the look of the all conquering viking, was gone. In its place bad come tbe quiet matured strength of tbe man wbo has proved himself and tha great kindli ness of a Btrong man who haa Buffer ed without hardening. Under bis steady regard sbe trem bled. She tried to take ber eyes from his. but could not. She knew that in that moment of silence they were sny 'Jig wbat must not be said. She tried to speak, to break tbe aped. To ha eoattnned. MONEY to LOAN On fame and on city homes. We also invite savings and checking accouats QRANT 8. YOUMANS, Mgr. Savings Deposit Bank Look (or tha bit rad genuine sale to tha and R. Clotting 1 J. '-1 aft tha ft. Greenliaf, Bradford & Nash Attorneys at Law John Ehr block Minot North Dakota F. B. LAMBERT Lawyer. Fair Block. MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA PALDA, AAKER & GREENE Lawyers. OFFICE.- Halvor L. HaWerson Paul Crnm HALVORSON & ORUM LAWYERS Citisens Bank Block MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA CHATFIELD & FAHEY Lawyers. Offices in Temple Court MINOT. N. O. A. M, THOMPSON Q. 8. WOOLBDOR THOMPSON & WOOLEDOE ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW Office .Telephone 181 Offlcsl Suite 1, Suodeld Block MINOT, N. D. P. J. ENCESETH ATTC HMY-AT-LAW Looai Collections a Specially Soofleld block Salt* 8 MINOT. NO. DAK. M. F. SCHOOLER D. H. TfiUMRLK EQUITY REALTY CO. pTmoek PROFESSIONAL CARDS ATTORNEYS PHYSICIANS. MINOT. N. D. Jas. Johnson, .. ..ATTORNEY-AT-LAW.... Fiial Proofs uri CosfcstJ Pefealei. MINOT, N. DAK R. A. N E ST O S ATTORNEY-AT-LAW C. A. Johnson block onr Cltizin's Bank MINOT, N. D. DORR H. CARROLL LAWYER Lit blk. MINOT, N. D. CLARK HOVEY Attorney at Law, Room 5, Lee block MINOT, N. D. E. R. S I N E Attorney-at-Law Lee Block MINOT, N. D. MIKOT, N. D. List roar property (or Sale or Rent C. Woodruff ARCHITECT Post Office block MINOT, NO. DAK. Modern Woodmen of America Meets every Sscaa4 sad Hearth WdMidtjr la each Moath Tke Royal Neighbor meet* every Fint and Ukird Tneetaj sash montk. Ia the Old K. ot P. Hall. Auoot wishing information as te transfer eacaa or anything of interest to Woodman, eall an C. B. DAVIS, Clerk. T. MOEN Sidewalk builder and all kinda of cement work. FIRST-CLASS WORE GUARANTEED MINOT. N.D. S A 1 4 Dr. ARCHIE D. McCANNEL Practice Llssitei Eye, Ear, Noae and Hiroar (SceMeld Black MINOT, NO* TH DAKOTA J. D. TAYLOR SUMMON MEAT NHRTMFRN RAILWA* OOOO Main Street, Minot, N. D. Phone 183 J. T, NEW LOVE J. w. M«WLQ?B Dr». NEWLOVE & NEWL0VE PHYSICIANS AND SURGKONS Offices in the Fair block Telephone 19S Telephone 188 Dr. KERMOTT, JPhysician and Snrgeeu Qreat Northern Railroad Sarg Ottce aLdhesidsnce o»er P. P. Lee's store Minot, N. Dale. A. J. McCANNEL, M. B. Physician and Surgeon Office over Branch Store. Residence, 121 W 6th 8t. Suraeen for See Railway MINOT, N PRANK I, WHKBLON T. TBAMS Ort. WHEELON & THAMS Roell-Blakey block 8 7 Dr. J. R. PENCE Physician and Surgeon Room 14 Office and residence Lee Block I Phone 17 MINOT, N. D. O I N O announces the removal of his office and residence to 331 SOUTH MAIN ST. (Robbias' Block) I N O N J* D. VanPLEET UNDERTAKER Successor to Chas. J. Weagant 221 £o. Maia St. Minot, N. 1). Phnn« £a* cali IlOIie Bight call 289H H. J. HECHT Pficlicil AnetioMif "••iOT.H.D. PABM AND8TOOK ftALBS A SPHOIA&TI handle yoar sale oall on me, .W. QUI UU DA, ?'jaatesjcan had at the jadependentotfiee, or at ths union National Bank of Mi- Residence Phone No. 12 Paone or wire meat my expanse .. AUG TIOINEESRe, All classes of Bales cried. Farm stoolc and taaohinery a specialty. Satisfaction guaranteed. For rates and dates oall at this offloe. J. f. STEELE A'SETS,. lint, N. II. I N O ACADEMY OF MUSIC STUDIO and OFFICE in Roell Blakey Block Phone N®. 174 MINOT. N. D. Full and complete course in Piano forte, violin and voice culture. Spacia1 coarse in Theory, Harmony, Uistoty and Compoeitionand Brace Band. Mra. D. Jessie FlnleyRiiey us Olreetar. Phone No. |f4 MONEY to LOAN On farms and on city homes. We invite savings and checking aecouata GRANT S. YOUMANS, Mgr. Savings Deposit Bank You will look a good while you find a better medicine for and colda thnn Chamberlaln'a OM^I Remedy. It not only gtrea carea. Try it when yon hare a or coW, and yon are eertatn to to pleaaed with tin prompt onra wfclefc it win affect, vtr mle fcy all iealM. 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