The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-02-18

nothing WotDe.) nut now uOuceo tnS
word speak" and knew that must
take verbal instructions before ! set to
work. must face my irascible chief
again, and had no great fancy for 1t.
However, 1t must come sooner or lat
er, so scrubbed few words on a
sheet of foolscap and went In.
The general was at bis standing desk
Che seldom sat DOWN pouring over my
other report, but he looked round as
entered and nodded pleasantly. Bright
sunshine had already succeeded the al
ways fugitive storms In his hasty
temperament.
"This win do first rate, Wood. There
are only one or two points that need
application" and we went over the
items together.
Then l asked him about the other
matter, and soon heard all wanted to
know. l can set down nothing Of this
here, for the whole affair was very
secret and partlcular-of vital interest
to two great countries-and Sir Charles
impressed 1t on me very earnestly that
the paper and plans must on no ac'
count pass out Of my possession.
"You may have to work Oh the
scheme at your own diggings, for 1t
must 60 in by the end of the week. But
pray be most careful. Lock up the
papers in your dispatch box at night
and keep the thing entirely private"
at is Just possible that you may wish
to give the job to some one else, gen
eral, as shall hardly be here to com
plete It," said, rather stiffly, and
with that / handed him the sheet Of
foolscap which contained my resigna-
ton.
"Why, Wood, hang 1t all, you don't
mean this surelyT cried Sir Charles,
aghast. You can't have taken offense
at what I said this morning? was a
trife put out, perhaps but I never
meant it seriously. No, no; take this
beastly thing back or let me tear 1t up.
This will never do. Forgive and for
get, my boy. There's my hand on 1t. 1
beg your pardon and I know you
won't lie late again."
I fastened to explain that my reslg-
nation was In no way the result Of
pique, and that / was on the point Of
sending in my papers to retire from
the service altogether.
1.-THE simple fact Is that have come
into money, SRA good bit of money"
l explained.
"How much, II it is fair question?
I ask because you may have a good
enough income, a deyilish fine income,
and yet 1t would be wiser for you to
stay here. The discipline of any regu-
lar routine work is good for independ-
ent men. Believe me, you'd soon sick.
en- of being entirely your own master;
take to drink or cards or petticoats
and 60 to the devil hands down. What
IL 1.-TWO, three, four thousand a
year"
at Is far more than that, Sir
Charles" went on. 81 believe am a
millionaire two or three times over.
VIII you please read thatT and l
handed him my lawyers letter.
"Whew" He whlstled several bars
Of popular street melody very much
out of tune, folded up the letter, hand
ed 1t back, and then, looking me
straight In the face, said, with slow,
kindly emphasis:
by George, Wood, pity you"
1t was not quite what expected
from this experienced, long headed
man of the world, and he read my
disappointment in my face.
doesn't please you, eh? You think
yourself the most fortunate chap alive?
But you're all wrong. Vast riches are
a nuisance-they are worse"
He threw up both his hands and be-
gan to slowly pace up and down the
room.
ITO BE coNTINuED)