I Conquered""

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right young day. It broke in on his lazy contemplation, wiped out the indulgent smile, and made the young face se

been aroused by only a scant variety of happenings from the time of a pampered childhood up through the gamut of bubbling boyhood, prep school, univ

ecause Lenox senior had a world of the stuff. The driver of his taxicab-just now whirling away-seemed surprise

at the cars zipping past between him and the high river embankment were stragglers in the morning flight businessward; but

n added impulse to keep smiling with careless amiability. It might be commented on behind fans in

ng mattered. He

seriousness, that sent him up the broad walk with swinging, decisive stride, his ey

m its many black-rimmed windows. The heavy front door shut behind him with a muffled sound like a sigh, as though it had been waiting

ged bow tie, and with an impatient jerk unbuttoned the soft shirt at his full throat. Of all things, from conventions to collars, Danny detested those which bound. And just now his th

the figure of a man stooping over a great expanse of table, fumbling with papers-fumbling a bit slowly, as wit

glitter of desire in his dark eyes softened quickly. He threw back his handsome head with a gesture of affect

wn the long, dark, high-ceilinged hall, and his step hesitated. But he put the impulse off,

ed into th

it's a good m

remained bent over the table, one hand arrested in the act of reaching for a d

ing from behind, and dropped a hand on

w g

uttered, would have expressed disgust, perhaps-even loathing! And on Danny was turned such a mask as he had never seen before. The cleanly shaven face was

g until a corner of it was between himself and his heir. Then the hand

at seemed to him the certain answer to the strangeness of this r

and a smile broke through his c

anny had seen it used twice before-once when a man of political power had let his angered talk rise in the Lenox house until it became disquieting; o

as cold and hard, almost b

, and breathed twice loudly, as though s

om his hips and wrinkled his fac

d out the word. "

will you t

hill strength narrowing even the thought which

go?" repeated Danny. "How

dge, became a trifle muffled, as though the emotion he had breathed hard

to go away from here? Away from me? Away fr

the gray-haired man protruded slowly as the younger drew nearer a

her; one in silent, mighty rage; the other with eyes widening, quick, confusin

away from New York-fro

n on his emotions increased. His body sagged forward and the hands on the table bo

y-why? Why

r of a frightened child; in his eyes so

ask m

on with something that had been a laugh until, driven through th

" he repeated. "

whisper; then, anger carry

my idea because of the poison you have forced on it, because of the stultifying thoughts you have let occupy it

nger at the face of his son and with pause

to force a dry throat through the motions of swallowing. On his face was reflected just

was unable to plumb the depths of its significance, although an inh

lder man w

own the gems of your opportunity before your swinish desires. You have degenerated from

the table, his eyes held on tho

dad-" he trie

raised, comm

ideration to things about you and to your future; suggested, when a normal young man would have

hoped once that all the trouble you gave us was evidence of a spirit that

t even a good athlete! You managed to graduate, but

sted them! You had your polo string and the ability to play a great game, but what came of it? You'd rather s

e gone, you are now wasting the last thing that belon

ey were a year ago; you don't think as quickly as you did when making a pretense of playing pol

not one act or thought of your experience has been w

ow step backward, and a flush

nning the movement slowly and ending with a savage jerk. "You never sa

the stinging conviction that

ng before-not like this. You smiled away whatever I suggested. Nothing mattere

and higher; he comme

k yourself. Yours is t

pes people have had in you. I planned, years ago, to have you take up my work where I must soon leave off-to go on in my

now harder than ever, but with the stench of your misdee

alf-gesture of pleading, but

ve no more faith in you. If I thought you could ever rally I'd give up everything and help y

e cold normal sent a stiffness into the boy's spine. H

y will you tak

g slowly, with his hands behind him. He came to a stop before the boy, slow

w m

sulted in a blow strong enough to send the book sp

under his ears, and the rush of blood made his head roar. Be

as he spoke. It was hard and cold-somewh

t of a peculiar, unreal effort. "I'll get out-and without your help.

at with brisk motions, merely sai

he big front door sigh when it closed as though i

He was boiling, blood and brain! At first he thought it anger; perhap

ry body-witness the anguished wrinkles on his brow-and his molten consci

, and in that spoken thought was the near

ess that grew up in the midst of conflicting impulses. The look in his eyes changed f

a quickened stride, he passed into the hall, crossed it, and en

alfway up the neck, and as he reached for it Danny's lips parted. He lifted the receptacle and clutched at a whisky

hand held the tumbler under its gurgling mouth. Half full, two-thirds

e morning light; his breath quick, his eyes glittering, Danny Lenox poised. A smile

that it spilled some of the liquor; came gradually down from its upraised posit

He turned slowly from the buffet, the aroma of whisky strong in his dilated nostrils. After

t been worth

entered the hall, snatched up h

sighed again, as though hopelessly. The future seemed ho