The All-Story, March 1914 — page 140: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE SMOLDERING PAST. He grinned cheerfully. - Paul, smiling in turn, thrust out his hand. ' “It's a bargain, and I know I can trust you, AIr. Burke,” he said. “ We are really working together on this hing, and it is to our mutual advan- tage to work quietly. Now, when I ‘feed you where shall I writer” Burke extracted a card from his ‘card-case and handed it to Paul. The fatter read: GOTHAM AUDIT COMPANY Southbridge Building | A.J. Burke New York City, N.Y. “Oh,” cried Paul, astonished, “you're from New York! Ive heard a lot about that city since I’ve been here.” “Ves, ours is a big company, and the men we send out audit books all over North America. We've been dearing up some regular bank work in St. Tohn, and the home office sent us over to examine the books of the branch here. Mr. Boughton, whom I have met before, asked me in to see your work, and that is how you found me in the store.”’ When Burke had gone and the aft- emoon trade slackened so as to give him a free moment, Paul pondered long and deeply upon what action to take. This extraordinary interview and the possibility of the future that t held out had fired him with a fresh ambition for conquest and success, and in a larger field. The fish-stand investment lost its attractiveness in one short hour, and he never thought of it again. “Tll keep that two thousand as it is’ he told himself soberly. ‘ There may come a time when it will be the one thing on earth that can save me. It may not be mine, but I'll risk it at the last ditch and take the conse- quences if there is no other way. Ah, there's Boughton free at last! Tul 613 strike for more money while Burke’s praise of the store is still warm.” Boughton capitulated. CHAPTER IX. ECSTASY. THE effect on Paul Baird of the tremendous emotional upheaval he had experienced that March night when Betty had met him on the road might be likened to the raising of a sunken vessel. Pressed down by the inconceivable weight of circumstances, helpless in the grip of an unyielding environ- ment, he was immovable, useless—an encumbrance in the channel of life— potential but impotent. Lifted, forced out of this by his love for Betty, he gradually ascended from the mental and spiritual sands that had held him and rode the open sea, strong to speed of his own power to the haven he had formerly blocked. The period of acquiescence to fate had passed. He accepted his misfor- tune at its true value as a misfortune and refused any longer to be its broken, helpless victim. He rose su- perior to it in his own mind, and, amid the delicious sense of rest and peace this action brought, knew tliat henceforth he should dominate his own life. Betty, seeing him daily, and spend- ing long hours in the evening reading with him in Mis’ Shannon’s musty dining-room, felt the change that had taken place. The grave, solemn Paul who had declared his love for her was gone, and in his place was a man of keen, active mind, of serious self-con- fidence, and gentle humor. And what a lover he was! His ten- derness and devotion seemed natural attributes rather than manners as- sumed merely until his end should be attained. His care of her, his little attentions, his playful names and inti- mate happiness fell gratefully upon her starved, eager soy) eo ake com