Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 282, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1913 — JOHN RAWN PROMINENT CITIZEN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

JOHN RAWN PROMINENT CITIZEN

PROMINENT CITIZEN By EMERSON HOUGH

THE MISSISSIPPI BUBBLE; 51-10 OR FIGHT. ILLUSTRATIONS COPy£A?rT /SJJt 3/ ffjStf'SQS* JiOVG* « - ' .. .... . _ •

SYNOPSIS. John Rawn is born in Texis. Early In life he shows signs of masterfulness and Inordinate selfishness. He marries Layijg Johnson. He is a clerk in a St. Louis railway office when his daughter Grace 1* born. Tears later he hears' Grace’s lover, a young engineer named Charles Halsey, speak of a scheme to utilize the lost current of electricity. He appropriates the idea as his own and Induces Halsey to perfect an experimental machine. He - forms a company, with himself as president, at a salary of SIOO,OOO a year, and Halsey as superintendent of, the works at a salary of $5,000. Rawn takes charge of the office in Chicago. Virginia Delaware, a beautiful, capable and ambitious young woman, is assigned as his stenographer. She assists in picking the furniture and decoration for the princely mansion Rawn has erected. Mrs. -Rawn feels out. of place in the new surroundings. Halsey goes to New Tork with Rawn and Miss Delaware to explain delays in perfecting the new motor to the impatient directors. He gets a message that a deformed daughter has been born to his wife, Grace Rawn. He returns to Chicago. - CHAPTER V.—Continued. They also passed’ on down the hall, gesticulating, their voices swallowed up with others, arising confusedly. This and that couple or group passed by, also talking, among them many persons obviously of notoriety, importance or distinction, though unknown to their observer. Rawn stood and watched them all. The scene was to his liking. The stir, the confusion, appealed to him. The flowering of the great city’s night life was here, such as that is. It was the focus of our country’s civilization, such as that Is. Men worth millions passed, shoulder to shoulder, a wondrous procession, such as that is. And here and there, always moving and mingling with those men whose reception or whose raiment announced them as persons of Importance, moved women, beaiitiful women, floating by, brightly, radiantly, rustlingly—women blazing with Jewels, women with bright eyes, women whose apparel bespoke them as accepted integers of the city’s vast human sum. Rawn stood studying the procession for a long time, eyeing group after group carefully. A conclusion was forming in his mind. He was learning that when a man has achieved power, success, wealth, notoriety even, he turns with his next thought to some woman; andfinds some womanwaiting. And then it occurred to John Rawn with sudden and unpleasing force that, although he was among this throng, he was not of it. Himself a man of power, success, yes, even of wealth, he lacked in certain betoken ing appurtenances thereto. A not unusual wave of self-pity crept slowly over him. Why should he, a man oi bis attainments, lack in any degree what others had? He stood pondering, not wholly happy, until presently he felt, rather than saw, a glance bent upon him by h man who passed v a stately and wellgarbed young woman upon his arm. He was a man now in faultless eve—none less, indeed, than the dyspep Bing dress, yet easily to be recognized tic director who so summarily had been dismissed by John Rawn himself not three hours ago. His dark face became even darker as he saw the victor of that controversy standing Here aione. He smilea saraomcauy. To Rawn it seemed that he snfilea because he saw the solitary attitude of a man as good as himself, as fit as himself for all the insignia of power, yet publicly self-confessed as tacking all such Insignia. He started, flushed, frowned He had shown these men, these influential magnates in New York, that he could be theii master upon occasion—he had mastered this man passing yonder. Yet now he stood here alone, with no woman to advertise his power to the world; and men laughed at him! No woman wore his silks, displayed hib Jewels. He was John Rawn, born to the purple; yet he might be taken here for a country merchant on his first trip from home. . . . He turned to the key-counter. The clerk, with infallible instinct —without his, request—handed him the key to his room, not lacking acquaintance with men of Mr. Rawn’s acquaintance, and knowing money when he saw it. . . . Rawn passed down the hall, went up two flights in the elevator, turned into the left-hand corridor, and at length knocked deliberately at a door where a light showed. “Come!" called a soft voice. He knocked again, a trifle hesitant, and looked down the corridor, each way. The voice repeated, ‘‘Come!’’ He pushed open the door! Virginia Delaware stood before her dressing-glass, her toilet for evening completed except perhaps for a touch about her coiffure. She turned now, and flushed ak she saw her visitor. "Mr. Rawn!" she exclaimed; “I thought it was the maid! I had Just called her.” "Rawn turned and shi’t the door. "Never mind her,” he svid. "I will be gone in a minute. I Jus 5 , wanted —’’ "You must go!" she exclaimed. "You ought not to have ccme— it is not permitted—-it is not right!” "How stunning you lock. Miss Delaware!" was all he said. He had never before seen her arrayed In keeping

w-ith these other lilies of the field. Indeed, his life had given him small acquaintance with conventions, or those who practiced them. He had no mental process of analysis as he gazed at her now, or he might have seen that after all the young woman’s costume was no more than one of filmy blue, draped over a pure and lustrous white. He could not have named the fashion which drew It so daringly close at hip and hem as to reveal frankly all the lines of a figure which needed not to dread revelation for Its own sake, whether or not for other sake. He could . not have guessed what skill belonged to the hand that fashioned this raiment, could not have told its cost. To him the young woman was very beautiful; and he was too much confused to be capable of anlysis. The corsage of the gown, cut square and daringly jieep, displayed neck and shoulders wtiite as those of any woman of any city. Her figure gave lines had her costume not aided. She was beautiful, yeß. And there was something more, Rawn could not tell what There was some air of excitement, of exaltation, some sort of fever about her, upon her. In her eyes shone something Rawn had never noticed there before. Hastily he made such Inventory as he might of unanalyzed charms. He arrived at his conclusion, which waß, that Virginia Delaware would do! “You could travel in fast company, my dear girl," said he approvingly. "What do you mean?”' She turned upon him. "That you could go quite a considerable pace, my dear girl.' You’ll do. Let me see your hands!” he demanded. And In spite of her he coolly took up

a hand, examining the shapely fingertips. He sighed. No needle had blackened or roughened them, the typewriter keys had not yet flattened them. He stepped back, looked at her from head to foot, appraising all her graces, valuing her height and roundness of figure. There was small light in.jbis eye other than that of Judicial approval. She bore out his theory. 1 “You surprise me!” was all he said. "How do you mean, Mr. Rawn?—But you must go, you really must!” There came a knock at the door. Rawn’s negative gesture was positive. After a moment’s hesitation the girl stepped to the door and spoke to the maid "You may return again in a little while, maid,” she said. “I’m not quite ready now.” In turn she stood with her back against the door, her own color rising. "Oh, don’t be uneasy,” said John Rawn smiling. “This is quite considerable of a hotel, taking it as it is. There won’t be any scandal over this.” "I don’t think I understand you.” "I’m going in just five minutes. But I -want to say something to you in the way of a business proposition, Miss Delaware.” "I’m sure I don’t know what you mean." Her head was high, her color still rising. “Nothing in the least wrong, my dear girl,” said John Rawn. “It’s simply a matter of business, as 1 said You’re here as my assistant, of course But did it ever occur to you that as you stand there now, and as I stand here, we might pass in that crowd below there and not be known by anyone?” , She stood looking at him, her color high, undecided as to his meaning even now as he went on. “It would be rather a pleasant experience, perhaps, for you—as It would be for me —Just to mingle with that giddy throng—say, for dinner. Would you like to t>e part of It? It’s Just a foolish tllought that came to me.” She turned to him, her eyes bright, her face eager. "Could we, Mr. Rawn?” she said. “I’m crazy over it!” “I see,” he commented dryjy. "You were dressing'to go down to dinner?” “No, no, I couldn’t afford to do that, of course. I couldn’t go alone, and I had no company. I wasn’t going down at all. I Just.dressed up—to— to—”

"Just to look at your sell in the mirror, isn’t that it. Miss Delaware?” "Yes, it’a the truth!” She turned to him calmly at last, well in hand again. “I couldn’t be one of them — couldn't be like those people down below, so I did the best I could up here —I dressed as much like them as I knew how. I—l—l imagined! I dreamed, Mr. Rawn. I’ve never known a real evening of that sort in all my life—but it’s In piy blood. I want to go, I want to dine, and drink,, and dance —I’m mad about it, I know, but it’s the truth! I want what I can’t have. I want to what I’m not. 1 don’t know what’s the reason. It’s in the air—maybe it’s in the day, in the country!’’"Yeß, it’s in the country,” said John Rawn. "We’re ail going a swift pace, men and women both. I don’t blame you. I understand you. Now I know what you want.” "You want just about what I want.” “But Mr. Rawn—” “It’s the same thing—it’s power that you want, just as I do. I feel it in the air when I come near you. You feel the same way wfieq you come near me!” She nodded rapidly, her eyes narrowing. “Yes. it’s trpe!— she said. "That’s true.” ** “You want to have It within your ability to influence men, just as I do, don’t you. Miss That’s what was in your soul when you stood before your mirror when I came In, wasn’t It, Miss Delaware? You want to win, to succeed, to triumph, don’t you, Miss Delaware —you’ve got ambition? Wasn’t that your dream— Isn’t that what you were imagining, as you stood there and looked in your glass ?” # “Yes, yes, it’s true, I know It!” she admitted panting. ’’l know it, my God! yes, I can’t help it! But what chance have I?” 1 “All sorts of chances, my dear girl. I don’t make mistakes. I told you this is a business proposition. Now, then, tell mqf why did you tog out this way?” “I did because I had to. I told you I couldn’t help It. It was in my blood tonight!” “Any man waiting anywhere. Miss Delaware?” "On my word, no! I wasn’t even going downstairs. But I told you I was mad to be in that crowd, where the rich people are. I wanted to hear the music, I wanted to see them —I wanted to pretend for one night that I was a part of it all!” ‘‘You wanted to win—you coveted power! Is It not*ijrue?" “Yes!” she blazed fiercely. And indeed at that moment the room seemed full of some large influence, moving, throbbing all about them. “I wanted that,” the girl admitted. "All the world does!” “I suppose you wanted to see some strong man fall on his knees and beg of you?” “Yes.” "I am sorry, my dear, but I’ll not do that. But I understand. So you searched out these glad rags and tried yourself out before the mirror there! Very good! You’ll do! Believe me—or ask any man In all this city.” She nodded rapidly. “Yes, you know it, now.” “Now, you’re no more mad than I am.” said John Rawn. ‘‘You’re as coolheaded as I am, if I know women at all. We think alike. You’re young. I’m young enough. Where’d you get that gown?” "I had It made —in an alley, in the city back home. It cost as much as I could afford. Thirty dollars!” She flung out the words scornfully. “It looks three hundred; and I’ve seen worse below tonight that probably cost three thousand. But it’s not yet quite complete—your costume.” “It was the best I had. You ought not to taunt me. I stood here facing myself. I felt disappointed, bitter! Yes, I’ll admit that.” , “You needn't be,” said Rawn calmly. He nodded to her bare and unadorned neck, her hair which lacked brilliants, her fingers left unjeweled. The girl caught his meaning without further speech, and it hurt her yet more. “What could I do? Why did you bring me here, Mr. Rawn? You’ve made me unhappy. I’ve seen it, and I can’t be a part of It. It doesn’t seem I can go back there to work and be just the same any more, after seeing the city here! I tell you. it’s got In my blood, all at once.” “No,” he said evenly, “not again just the same. We outgrow ourselves, and can’t go back. I’m not the same man I once" was.” He half-nncon-

sciously shifted to get a glimpse of himself in the mirror. , "But now. my business proposition is very simple. It bolds good for one evening. Miss Delaware. I was Just going to propose that we forget all this unhappiness, and dp a little pretending for one night, say for one hour or so.” He fumbled in his waistcoat pocket, and drew out something which suddenly flamed into dancing points and rays' in the light that fell upon it. She stood motionless while he passed about her neck a tiny thread, delicate as if spun of moonlight. She held out her hand, and he slipped over it a gleaming ring of gems. She bent her head, and he placed a sparkling ornament in her hair. She had seeti these jewels before. She turned to the glass now, her bosom heaving as she saw them gleam at her own neck, her own hands, in her own hair. She held out her hands to look at them now. and the gems flashed back challenge to her eyes, sparkling yet more brilliantly. "It was nothing," said John Rawn tersely. “T.hat’s all that lacked. You’re good as the best now. I’ve seen no woman in this city that Is your equal in beauty. You were born for this life. Now do you understand what I mean? I say, you can Carry it off!” She turned to him, another woman, changing on the instant, something in her eyes he had never seen before But in his own eyes there was at the time nothing save the original calm and purposefulness. “As I was saying, then, since we can both carry it off, why not do so for an hour or so? I’ve read somewhere of masquerades. Why not try It?” She turned to him, flushed, radiant, but slightly frowning, puzzled, studying him. Rawn felt the query of her look, felt also romething stirring down in his nature which he grappled, at once and was able to suppress. His voice was cool and low as it was before. "It’s a big crowd below, and we'll be lost in it. I’ve learned already that you can be discreet. We’ll drop down in there, where no one knows us. Wq’ll try ourselves out, and see whether we'll do, here where v the test is hardest You’re ambitious? So am I. Thiß< is the heart of the world — the place of gratified ambitions. What do you say, Miss Delaware? I’ve been looking around down tbere, and as nearly as I can see. I’m the only man in this avenue worth a million dollars who at this precise moment of the day Isn’t talking to some ‘good-looking woman!” & “You flatter me!” commented the girl. He did not endeavor any analysis. 1 “Not in the least! I simply talk sense and business to you. I covet what you covet, love what you love, want what you want. Things which are equal to the same thing ought to be equal to each other—for just a little while, Miss Delaware. Isn’t It true? If it is only play, why, let’s play at.it. "I forgot to tell you,” he added, “that my son-in-law, Mr. Halsey, has gone back to Chicago. He was summoned by wire. No one else knows us both. There wouldn’t be one chance in many of our being seen by anyone here who knew either of us, and if so, what harm? We’ll go and dine as. well as the best of them, in the main room. What do you say, Miss Delaware?” She stood facing him now, seeming years older than she had a few moments before. A very skilled observer might possibly have suspected a certain new quality In the calmneps of her eye. Beautiful she certainly was; alluring, irresistible in the ancient- appeal of wonjan, she certainly ought to have been, and would have been to any but this particular man who now stood facing her, half smiling; a man of middle age, gray about the temples, of heavy-browed eyes, strongly lined face, of strong and bony frame; not an’ 111-looking or unmanly man one might have said, though years older than this young woman who stood now- threading between her fingers the filmy moonshine chain which suspended the points of flame that rose and fell upon her bosom. At last 1 she said, hesitating, and holding up the flaming pendant, "I’m not to keep them?” “No, Marguerite!” he smiled. "This particular Papa Faust retains a string on those jewels. They have been seen elsewhere, my dear girl. No, one night’s use of them is all this business proposition carries, my dear.” (TO BE CONTINUED.) What we can do today depends on what we did yesterday

“You Want to Win, to Succeed, to Triumph, Don't You?”