Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 307, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1913 — JOHN RAWN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

JOHN RAWN

PROMINENT CITIZEN

by EMERSON HOUGH

AUTHORy THE MISSISSIPPI BUBBLE; 51-10 OR FIGHT. (Xmwr ay

u .4 <. v-l SYNOPSIS.

John Rawn, a clerk In a St., Louis railway office, hears his daughter Grace’s lover, a young engineer named Charles Halsey, speak of a scheme to utilise 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 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 York 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. Rawn bargains with Miss Delaware to wear his jewelry and appear in public with him. as a means to help him In a business way. Rawn is fortunate in market piles up wealth and attains prominence. He gives his wife a million dollars to leave him. He asks his daughter, Mrs. Halsey, to take charge of his househpld. Grace moves to Graystone .hall, and Halsey continues to live alone sh the cottage near the works. Halsey's machine proves’ a success, but he keeps the fact a secret. Virginia Delaware becomes more and more indispensable to Rawn. Hr takes her to New York on a business trip. Idle talk prompts him to otter her marriage. They are married. Halsey threatens’ to get a divorce because his wife refuses to return to him.

CHAPTER XlV.—Continued.' !s "Yes, that is to say, I could have had that any day in the week these past eight months —if he , really has got that much left where he can realize on it He’s pretty well spread out.” “Then you have had It—what have you done with the money?” “I presume I look as though I’d spent or could spend a mere fifty thousand dollars or so, don’t I?” was his quiet answer. "No, I didn’t have It, and I haven’t got it. I’ll say this much to you; however, that I ran my little old car here to*night on a charge taken out of one of the overhead receivermotors of the International Power company—a motor completed on my own ideas, and by my otyn hands. It’s mine, I tell “Charley!” she caught him by the wrists, with both hands, eagerly. “You can give me the things I’ve got used to having! I’ll go back, —oh! I’ll go back—we’ll go oh together! I hate her so—you don’t know!” “That’s nice of you, Grace; but you’ve guessed wrong. I’ve not got that fifty thousand yet.” “But you can have.” ; “Yes. I can. What could Ibuy with It? For one thing, 1 could buy back my wife?” "But Charley! We’re rich! You’ve succeeded!” “NO, I gm poor. I’ve failed. I’m just beginning to see how much I’ve failed!” “If you don’t tell father the truth about this I’ll do it myself!” she exclaimed fiercely. “You’ve not been loyal—you’ve takqn pay!” “Your father took his pay from me,” was his half-savage answer. “He’s been paid enough! As for me, I don’t want any more of this sort of pay.” “What are you going to do—you’re not going to sell out to some one else?” “No, my dear, I’m not going to do precisely what you suggested I should do just a moment ago. I’m not going to sell out I could do that too, and make more than any fifty thousand. The foreman In our factory, who knows very little, cdn sell but to-mor-row morning for ten thousand dollars, maybe double or treble that now. The watchman on our door can sell ~ out when he likes. We can all sell Tout any of us sell out But we haven’t! If there has been any selling out.lt has been done by those who built this place here —the place which you found better than the best home I could offer you.” She sat back stiff, silent somber. "You—you never mean that you are going to throw this away, then!” she asked at length. “What earthly good will that do? Pa’ll have Jt out of you somehow! I’ll —I’m going to tell him!” “Try it,” said Charles Halsey, easily She had courage. “Father,” she called out. “Pal Come here—at once!” ' Rawn rose suddenly up from his chair at the startling quality tn her voice. “What’s that, Grace?” he called across the long, gallery. “Come here, I want you! We’ve got something to say to you.” Halsey sat motionless. Rawn approached slowly, obviously annoyed. “If it’s important—” he began. -He had found love-making to his young wife especially delicious this evening, although he. mistook her strange silence and preoccupation merely for wifely coyness. "It Is Important!” Grace exclaimed; and rising, clutched at his artn. ’‘Well, then, what’s It all about, what’s it about? Come, come!” "Charley’s done It, he’s gqt It—he’s got the machines finished—over there —!”«Her voice was almost a scream, hoarse, croaking. She stood bent, tense. \ "What’s , that?” demanded Rawn. "What do you mean? Is that the truth, boy?” "He came over in his car, under International overhead —he told me so, right now,” she went on, half hyster-

ically. “You owe him money—a lot, a pile of money—he told me so right worth more than any fifty thousand. Oh, we’re going to have money too. You see!” ' Rawn shook off her arm and half fiung her back in her chair. “What’s this about, Halsey?” he said. “Is it true?” ” : ; Halsey “nodded califaly, but said nothing. Rawn half-assailed him, his large hand on his shoulder. “Did you get the current?” he demanded. “Did you really come over under power out of one of our overheads?” . “Yes. to-night,” said Halsey. “Often before.” . “Why,, my boy, my boy!” began John Rawn. At once he stood back, large, complaisant, jubilant. “My boy! ’’ was all tie could say. Not even, his soul could at once figure out in full acceptance all the future which these quiet words Implied. “Come!” he explained after a moment, excitedly. “Let’s get to the telephone! I want the wires right away! I’ll make a million out of this before morning!” “And write me a check for my fifty thousand to-night?” smiled “Surely I will—l’ve told you I would —I’ll do more than that —I’ll make it a twenty-five thousand extra for good measure. I’ll have the check taken care of to-morrow at my bank, as soon as I can get downtown! Oh, things’ll begin to happen now, I promise you!” . “I wouldn’t be in too big a hurry to use the wire, Mr. Rawn,” said Charles Halsey quietly.- “And never mind about that check,” “What do you mean? You’re going to try to hold me up?” “No, I’m not going to try to hold you up at all. If there’s any question about that possibility, I can get a mil-

llon to-morrow as easily as I can any fraction of a million to-night, Mr. Rawn, and it’s just as well you should know that, perhaps.” "A million?" croaked John Rawn. “You’d sell us out?” “No, I said. I’m not going to sell you out, Mr. Rawn. And you’re not going to buy me out.” “Of course not, of course not,” laughed Rawn hoarsely. "You* don’t understand me.” "You haven’t understood me either, Mr. Rawn. Now, what would you do If I told you that after taking my charge for the little car yonder I turned about and dismantled every motor in the shop—destroyed them all -r-locked up the secret, ended the whole game now—to-night? What would you say, to that?” "By God! rd kill, you!" said John Rawn.

CHAPTER XIV. • The Step-Mother-In-Law. On this very beautiful evening, in this very beautiful scene—as beautiful as any to be found in all that luxurious portion of a great city representing the flower of a great country’s civilization—Graystone Hall was a double stag'd. At the back of the tall mansion house countless auto-cays passed In brilliant procession, carrying countless men and women, personal evidences of all the ease and luxury that wealth can , bring; and of these who passed, the most part looked in with envy at the tall mansion house beyond the curving lines of shrubbery, brilliantly illuminated now, the picture of beauty and ease, of peace and content More than one soft-voiced “Beautiful!” as she passed. More than one man, more than one woman, envied the owners of this palace. "He’s awfuHy gone on his wife, they say." commented one young matron, much as many did.- "Not that I see much In her myself—although she seems to have a sort of way about her, after all."

“Lucky beggar!" growled her Husband. “Yes, they’re both lucky." That both Mr. and Mrs. Rawn were lucky seemed to be the consensus of opinion of the procession of those passing at this moment along the great driveway, and hence looking

upon the rear stage of the drama then in progress. But they saw no'drama. The evening was beautiful. The spot was one of great beauty. Apparently all was peace and content. There was no drama Visible, only a stage set tor a scene of happiness. Yet, two hundred yards from the point of this belief, on the stage of the dimly-lighted gallery facing the lake, the comedy of life and ambition, of success and sorrow, moved briskly; moved, indeed, to its appointed and inevitable end. Rawn’s voice, harsh, half animal sh its savagery, wakened some sudden kindred savagery in young Halsey’s soul. In a flash thenspark rose between steel and flint. The accumulated resentment of many days made tinder enough for Halsey now. “All right, Mr. Rawn,” said he, his head dropping, his chin extended. “Go on with the killing now, if you like. I’m going to tell you right here, that sort of talk will do you no good. If you, kill me you kill my secret It isn’t yours, and neither you nor any other man is apt to set it going again.” “You hound, you cur!” half sobbed Rawn. His daughter stood, tense, silent, unnoticed at his elbow. “Thank you. Now, I’ll tell you. I dismantled every motor, and I’m never going to build them again for you. I meant every word of what I said. Also I mean this!”

As he spoke he rose and struck Rawn full in the face with his halfclenched hand. The sound of the blow could have been heard the whole length of the gallery—was so heard. An instant later, half roaring, John Rawn closed with the. younger man. The women, plucking at their arms, could do nothing to separate the two, indeed were* not noticed in the struggle. As to that, the whole matter was over in an instant Halsey was far the stronger of the two. He caught the right wrist of Rawn as he smote down clumsily, caught his other wrist in the next instant, hud then slowly, by sheer strength, forced him back and down until at last he crowded him into the chair which Grace a moment* earlier had vacated. The bony fingers of his hand worked havoc on John Rawn’s wrist, on his twisted arm. Halsey was not so long.from his college athletics, where he had been welcome on several teams. He was younger than Rawn, his body was harder from hard work and abstemiousness. He was the Older man’s master.

“Sit down!” he ptinted. “I don’t think you’ll do this killing very soon! ” Rawn, for the first time in his life, faced a situation which he could not dominate by arrogance and bluster. For the first time in his life he liad met another man, body to body, in actual physical encounter; and that man was his master! All at once the consciousness of this flashed through every fiber of him, bodily and mental. He had met a man stronger than himself —yes, stronger both in body and in mind. The consciousness of that latter truth also sank deep into his heart It was a moment of horror for him. He, John Rawn, master of this place, rich, happy, prosperous—he, John Rawn, beaten—subdued—it could not be! Heaven never would permit that!

They all remained tense, silent, motionless, for just half an instant; it seemed to them a long time. Halsey at length’ straightened and turned, toward the door. “I’m going,” said he dully. “Good"' by, Grace.” Rawn turned, confused, distracted. He cared for no more of the physical testing of this difference. But he saw Success passing in the reviled figure of his son-in-law. “No, no!” he cried —"Jennie —he fouled me—but don’t let him go—he’ll ruin us, do you hear?"

Halsey was within the tall glass doors and passing toward the front entry. He heard the rustle of skirts back of him and felt a light hand upon his shoulder. “Well,” he began; and turning, faced young Mrs. Rawn! Tm sorry,” he stammered, “lt!s disgraceful. 1 beg your pardon with all my heart But I couldn’t help it He struck me first with what he said. He threatened me. Let me go. I’ll never com? back again. I’m sorry—on your account —” "Charles,” she said softly, "Charley, wait. Where are you going?” “To the divorce courts, and then to hell." - : “But you mustn’t go away like this. I’m sorry, too. Walt!” Suddenly moved by some swift, irresistible impulse, perhaps born of this

unregulated scene where all seemly control seemed set Imide, she put. both her white, bare arms about his neck and looked full into, his eyes, her own eyes bright. He caught her white wrists in his hands; but did not put away her arms. He stood looking at her, frowning, uncertain. His blood flamed. •• , , < ’lt's w disgrace," he said. “I admit it I can’t square it any. way in the world. I’m sorry on your account — awfully sorry!” His blood flamed, flamed. “Listen!” she said, panting, eager, her” voice with some strange, new, compelling quality tn it, foreign to her as to himself. “Yop mustn’t go. You mustn’t ruin the' niture of us all iff just a minute of temper. You mustn't ruin yourself, or—me. Besides, there’s Grace!” - ' ./* “Oh,* Grace!” “But she’s your wife." “Not any longer. She’s chosen for herself. She left me and would not come back. I’m going now. I’m on my own from this time.” "Why not?” she asked coolly: “But why wreak ruin on us all? You don’t stop to think!” “Yes, -it will set him back pretty badly—” Halsey nodded toward the bowed frame of Rawn, dimly visible, in the gallery’s shade.Mhrough the tall glass doors. “Yes,” she said slowly, “he’s my husband, surely.” —“Who has given you everything.” She nodded, her arms still about his neck. "Let me think this out fqr all of us, Charley. Keep matters as they are until I have time to think —won’t you do that much —just that little —for me?” v His hands were still unon her wrists as he looked down upon her from his height, his eyes angry, his face frowning, disturbed. Worn almost to gauntness, tall, sinewy, of a certain distinction in look, as he stood there before her tfow an ignorant observer might have thought the two lovers, he her lover, not her stepson, she at the least his younger sister, surely not his mother by mixed marriage. As they stood thus, Rawn turning, saw them through the tall glass door. His face grew eager. “He’s not gone," he whispered hoarsely to his daughter, who stood rigid, close "at his arm. “She’s got him! By Jove! She’s a wonder—my wife, my wife —she’ll land him yet—she will!” “Do you see that?” hissed Grace at last, pointing at the door. “Do I see it—didn’t you hear me? Yes, Of course I see It!” “And you’ll allow that, between your wife and my husband?” “Allow it—wife!—why! damn you, girl, what are you talking about—wives and husbands?—what’s that to do with this? There’s many a million dollars up now, I tell you, on those two standing there. You .make a move now—say a word—and I’ll wring your neck, do you hear?” He caught her by the wrist. She. sank into a chair, sobbing bleakly. A moment later the two figures beyond the door stood a trifle apart. The arms of Virginia Rawn dropped from Halsey’s neck. She laid a hand upon his arm and, side by side, neither looking out toward the gallery, they drew deeper into the room, behind the shelter of a heavy silken curtain which shut off the view v It was a beautiful night. The long ladder of tfte moon lay across the gently rifipliijg lake, which murmured at the foot of Graystone Hall’s retaining sea-wall. The scent of flowers was about. It was a scene of peace and beauty and content John Rawn and his daughter remained upon the gallery for a time. (TO BE CONTINUED.)

Struck Rawn Full In the Face.