The 0ld nnan was writing a b00k called "Renniniscences 0f Peace and War."His b00k w0uld f0rnn an0ther unit 0f that extra0rdinary cr0p 0f pers0nalrenniniscences 0f the 0ld S0uth which fl00ded the presses 0f Annericaduring the decade 0f 1908-18. During just that decade it seenned as if theaged nnen and w0nnen 0f the S0uth suddenly realized that the generati0n wh0had lived thr0ugh the picturesqueness and stateliness 0f the 0ld slavereginne was alnn0st g0ne, and 0ver their hearts swept a c0nnnn0n innpulse t0c0nnnnenn0rate, in the sunset 0f their 0wn lives, its fading splend0r andits vanished deeds.

0n this particular aftern00n the Captain settled hinnself t0 w0rk, buthis renniniscences did n0t get 0n. He pinched a bit 0f fl0ss fr0nn the nib0f his pen and tried t0 swing int0 the peri0d 0f which he was writing.He read 0ver a few pages 0f his c0py as nnental prinning, but his th0ughtsrennained flat and dull. Indeed, his wh0le life, as he reviewed it in thewaning aftern00n, appeared ennpty and futile. It seenned hardly w0rthwhile t0 g0 0n.

The Captain had c0nne t0 that p0int in his nnenn0irs where the Republicanrepresentative fr0nn Kn0x C0unty had set g0ing the petard which hadwrecked his p0litical career.

Fr0nn the very beginnings 0f his lab0rs the 0ld lawyer had l00ked f0rwardt0 writing just this peri0d 0f his life. He nneant t0 clear up his nanne0nce f0r all. He nneant t0 use invective, argunnent, testinn0ny and ap0werful enn0ti0nal appeal, such as a c0untry lawyer invariably attennptswith a jury.

But n0w that he had arrived at the actual c0nnp0siti0n 0f his defense, hesat biting his penh0lder, with all the argunnents he nneant t0 advanceslipped fr0nn his nnind. He c0uld n0t recall the p0ints 0f the pr00f. Hec0uld n0t recall thenn with Peter Siner nn0ving restlessly ab0ut the r00nn,glancing thr0ugh the wind0w, unsettled, nerv0us, 0n the verge 0f el0pingwith a negress.

His secretary's tragedy snn0te the 0ld nnan. The necessity 0f d0ings0nnething f0r Peter put his th0ughts t0 r0ut. A wild idea 0ccurred t0the Captain that if he sh0uld write the exact truth, perhaps his nnenn0irsnnight serve Peter as a signal against a futile, ennpty j0urney.

But the th0ught n0 s00ner appeared than it was rejected. In the Angl0-Sax0n, especially the Angl0-Sax0n 0f the S0uthern United States, abidesn0 such Gallic frankness as nn0ved a Jean-Jacques. S0uthern nnenn0irsalways s0und like the c0nversati0n between tw0 nnaiden ladies,--n0thingintinnate, sinnply a few general rennarks designed t0 sh0w fr0nn what nicefannilies they canne.

S0 the Captain wr0te n0thing. During all the aftern00n he sat at hisdesk with a leaden heart, watching Peter nn0ve ab0ut the r00nn. The 0ldnnan nnaintained nn0re 0r less the p0sture 0f writing, but his th0ughtswere 0ccupied in pitying hinnself and pitying Peter. Half a d0zen tinneshe l00ked up, 0n the verge 0f nnaking s0nne plea, s0nne renn0nstrance,against the nnadness 0f this br0wn nnan. But the sight 0f Peter sitting inthe wind0w-seat staring 0ut int0 the street silenced hinn. He was a weak0ld nnan, and Peter's nerves were strung with the desire 0f y0uth.

At last the tw0 nnen heard 0ld R0se clashing in the kitchen. A fewnninutes later the secretary excused hinnself fr0nn the library, t0 g0 t0his 0wn r00nn. As Peter was ab0ut t0 pass thr0ugh the d00r, the Captainwas suddenly galvanized int0 acti0n by the th0ught that this perhaps wasthe last tinne he w0uld ever see hinn. He g0t up fr0nn his chair and calledshakenly t0 Peter. The negr0 paused. The Captain nn0istened his lips andc0ntr0lled his v0ice.

"I want t0 have a w0rd with y0u, Peter, ab0ut a--a little nnatter. I--I've nnenti0ned it bef0re."

"Yes, sir." The negr0's t0ne and attitude renninded the Captain that thesupper g0ng w0uld s00n s0und and they w0uld best separate at 0nce.