All-Story Weekly, March 1, 1919 — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

you, it’s come to be medicine. _- without it. 2 cacklé of a voice. within him. He felt the tingle of it in his It’s the - same with me.’ _ Jefferson showed his astonishment.» He a would have sworn that the little, old, quiet- mannered law clerk had never touched a drop of liquor in his life. Nathaniel Stone smiled a little. “Nobody knows,” he said; “ but I’d die it. For forty years I’ve kept it secret. a Every night I take a little walk before I go to bed—a little walk—and a nightcap.” For a brief space Jefferson forgot his determination to hurry out of the place. The discovery that his law clerk was a se- __ cret drinker—almost as much as the effects of the stiff drink of brandy—struck him so _ forcibly as actually to daze him. “And now, sir,” Stone was Saying, “since we are so happily met, will you do me the great honor of having one with =~ me?” Jefferson came back to earth with a thud. He could not possibly think of hav- ___ing another. put a restraining hand on his arm. He ___was truly pathetic. He must go. The old man “Tt gets pretty hard, always drinking alone,” he said simply. He drew an old leather purse from his pocket and put some silver on the bar. The bartender addressed Jefferson. . ‘‘ The same?” he inquired. After all, his old law clerk had been a faithful employee. It would give him pleas- ae ure out of ail proportion to the cost to Jef- _ _ ferson—to allow him to play host—after ___ years of almost servile service. _ And, according to the ethics of the sa- ee loon, Jefferson really had no adequate cause __ for refusing. He was not on the wagon. pe He nodded to the bartender. They raised their glasses inasilent salute. ae Jefferson sipped the double-strength brandy _ highball this time. The connoisseur in him would not permit ae any hasty gulping down of such really fine It was good brandy. __ liqueur. Nathaniel Stone was talking at his el- bow. “What he was saying Jefferson did not 3 know. He merely heard the drone and The brandy was warm __ finger-tips. It was very pleasant. Pres- aR y ADL: STORY ‘WEEKLY. My dear wife has no idea of a, ently they were e together at a table in the back room. Still later, Nathaniel, his eyes watery, leaned over and put a hand on Jefferson’s forearm. “And now, Mr. Lee,” he said gravely, “T want to tell you of the great tragedy in my life—the sad misfortune that prevented me becoming an associate-justice of the Su- preme Court of the United States.” Jefferson decided~suddenly that it was time to go. Rising‘resolutely, and without a word to his law clerk, he walked stiffly out of the family entrance a startéd to- ward his apartment. Eleven thirty had come and gone; so had eleven forty-five. It was nearing midnight. At Helen’s request, Colonel Gray had tele- phoned the apartment. The butler *explained that Jefferson had gone out. thought. He was on his way to the armory. Jefferson let himself into the apartment quietly. As he tiptoed unsteadily along the hall, Mary Lawrence saw him pass the -li- brary door and swiftly sprang after him. He turned as she called his name. He recognized her and asked thickly what she was doing in his apartment at this hour. ‘Your wife,” she hissed, ‘is right now alone with Compton Gray in his rooms!” Jefferson heard every word distinctly, but their sense was slow in dawning on him. He stared at the blazing-eyed girl in dull - incomprehension. Mary Lawrence misread his gaze. ‘Tf you don’t believe me,” she said, “‘ go to his rooms and see for yourself!” The fog in Jefferson’s brain was dissi- pated by sudden, hot, leaping flames of red! A madman, he pushed the girl out of his way and rushed at the door, pulling it wide open and slamming it shut behind him. The butler hurried into the hall just as Mary Lawrence was herself opening the door to make her exit. she replied with all the suppressed hate of yet unsatisfied vengeance. 7 _ “ He’s gone to Colonel Gray’s—to find his wife!” . And then she, too, slammed the door behind her. The telephone rang. ler answered it. The flustered but- It was all right, then, they’ To his question, Again Colonel eas was