ng the throng of
teams and motors that were surging by. She had evidently attempted to
cross, but had hurriedly retreated owing to the tremendous crush of
traffic. The gleam of the large electric light nearby brought into
clear relief a face of more than ordinary charm and beauty. But that
which appealed so strongly to the young man was the mingled expression
of surprise, fear and defiance depicted upon her countenance. It
strangely affected him, and he was on the point of springing forward to
offer his assistance when she suddenly disappeared, swallowed up in the
great tide of humanity.

For a few minutes the young man stood perfectly still, gazing intently
upon the spot where the girl had been standing, hoping to see her
reappear. He could not account for the feeling that had swept upon him
at the sight of that face. It was but one of the thousands he daily
beheld, yet it alone stirred him to his inmost depths. A few minutes
before he had been walking along the street without any definite aim in
life, listless and almost cynical. But now a desire possessed him to
be up and doing, to follow after the fair vision which had so
unexpectedly appeared. Who could she be, and where was she going?
Should he ever see her again, and if he did would he have the slightest
chance of meeting and talking with her?

These thoughts occupied his mind as he continued on his way. He walked
erect now, with shoulders thrown back, and with a more buoyant step
than he had taken in many a day. His blood tingled and his eyes glowed
with a new-found light. He felt much of the old thrill that had
animated him at the beginning of the Great War, and had sent him
overseas to take his part in the titanic struggle. An overmastering
urge had then swept upon him, compelling him to abandon all on behalf
of the mighty cause. It was his nature, and the leopard could no more
change its spots than could Tom Reynolds overcome the influence of a
gripping desire. Ever since childhood thought and action had always
been welded in the strong clear heat of an overwhelming purpose. It
had caused him considerable trouble, but at the same time it had
carried him through many a difficult undertaking that had daunted other
men. It was only the afterwards that affected him, the depression,
when the objective had been attained. So for months after the war
ended his life had seemed of no avail, and he found it impossible to
settle comfortably back into