Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-01-17

II !. second. When 1 regained my desk
md saw the papers there, l renem-
sered that 1 was bound in honor to full
Al my obligations. My chief had no
doubt, gone too far. but that did not
re. case me Before l took any further
steps Elust first complete my WORK.
There Was not much wanting to fin
Sa my report Gu the Canadian frontier,
alt0 1 Cid it out OF hand. I.en | sent
/, In 10 the Chief and prepared to tackle
IN. second set OF papers, which proved
70 be u scheme. marked strictly conf
1cmtial," fer Il combined attack upon
New York by sea and land. (Our po.ili-
al relations ut that particular mo.
nent weic greatly alrained. There
we're rumors OF grave disa greement ii
nothing werse) liGt no~ | noticed the
word speak, AID l knew that must
.alie verbal Instructions before L set
10 work. l mist face my irrascipe
chief again, and | had 10 great fancy
tor it. However, 1T must come sooner or
ater, so l scrubbed Il few words on u
Isheet of fooisc:.p and went in.
the general WIS q t his standing des,
he Sc dom sat DOWN pouring over my
otfci rcpcrt, but he looked round rs /
entered and nodded p PRESENTLY. Bright
sunshine had already succeeded the al
ways fugitive stcrn.s in his tiisty tenn
'peralrent.
This viii 90 first rate. Wood. There
are oniy two poi.;s that need alnp.il-
alton" ard we went over the items
together.
Then / asked him about the other
matter, and soon heard all wanted to
know. l can sci down nothing OF this
Eere, fer tic Whole affair WAS very Sc
cret and partiou'ar-cf vital interest to
Two great oountiies-and Sir Charles
Impressed upon me very earnestly that
the paper and plans must on no ac-
count pass out Of m3 possession.
You Eiay have to work on the
Feheme ut Your own diggings, for it
must &c in by the end Of this Week.
But pray be most careful Lock UP. the
papers in your dispatch box at night
and keep the thing entirely private.
1T is just possible that you may
wish to give the Job to someone else.
general, as | shall hardly be here to
complete IT." said, rather stiftly., and
with that | harGel Kim the sheet of
foo.scap which contained my resigna-
tion
WHY, Wood, hang it all. YOU don't
mean this sufe:s? cried Sir Charles,
ag.ast. You can't have taken Of
Tense at what l said this morning?
was a tiitie put out, perhaps, hut
never meant it seriously. No no; take
this Eeastly thing bacl. or let me tear
1t up This Will never do. Forgive and
forget, my boy. There's ny hand on
1t. L beg your pardon and i know
you won't be late again"
| fastened to explain that my resig
nation was In no way the result of
piquc and that / was ON the point of
sending in my papers to retire from
the service altogether.
81 fact is. that have come
into money, SRA good bit of money!"
| explained.
How, much, If it is a fair question?
ask because you may have a good
enough income. a deviish fine income,
end yet II would be wiser for you to
stay here. The discipline of any reg
u'Gr routine work is good for indie
pendent men Believe me. you'd soon
eiclsen OF being entirely your own mas
coats and go TO the devil hands down.
What is it-two, three, four thousand
q Year,"
cit is far more than that. Sir
Charles, l answered. II believe / am
a millionaire two or three times over.
Will you please read tlis?" and I
handed Kim my lawyers letter.
"Whew." He whistled several bars
of a popular street melody (Nery much
out VI sLileJ, lc.etu ai ti!e l.ttef, HaH2-
ed it back. and then. looking me
straight In the face, said with SOW,
kindly emphasis:
by George, Wood, pity YOU"
1T was not quite what l expected
from this experianced. lcng-headed
man of tie world, and he read my dis
appointment In my face.
Doesn't Please you. CHI? You think
yourself TIE most fortunate chap alive?
But you're all wrong. Vast riches are
n nutsanee--thcy arc worse
He threw up both his hands and be-
gan to slowly pace up and down the
room.
- nuisance! a tyranny. indeed.
They will weigh You down and worry
ycu perpetually. Lord, Lord. the care
&C ell this money, the use Of 1t, the
defense Of it. The whole world. Wood.
is made up OF two classes those who
have Money, and these Who want to
take IL from them. You via soon have
g. niuch poorer cpiaion OF human na-
ture, With their continual cry of Give.
give 6u let's talk about yourself
What do you llaean to dog
'i!oaestly, Sir Charles, I hardly
know. l am still too much bewiidcred
and taken ahacls by what happened.
Will you advise me, SIR
Its not so easy, my lad. II depends
SO much upon youise!f-upon youi.
principles. your tastes and predi,ec-
lions. OF course you will marry, and
I've q shrewd notion which way your
fancy lies. know her We'll -Frida
Fairholme, that little mink. Miss
Flida. will lead You Il fine dance.'
Tut, Sir Charles, i have never
spoken to her. | have no reason to
suppose that, il did. she would ac-
cept me.
TRY her." said the general dryly.
You have three n!l'ions and otid-new
and strangely e,cquent nelson's for
convincing her of your worth" .
She is not that scrt at ALL Sir
Charles
Then Eve wasn't her ancestor. I've
known her from a child. She's pre.t,.
enough, III admit. but. b. the living
lingo, I'd rather you married her than
l. BY George. she's handful! At an;
rate she Will give you plenty to do.
Miss Frida will set the money to NOV
ing, and YOU, toe. So much the better.
perhaps"
Then You advise me to leave the
service sir?''
roared with sudden fury. What? A
captain in the army with hundred
and fifty thousand a wear! It's out of
the question. But don't be in too Great
hurry, Wood. Suppose this windfall
proves fraud, where arc you? You
can have leave-aitaough don't know
how / can spare you with all this so
ing on
Leave was a weak point with Sir
Charles.
Put" lie went on, III you must, you
must, but not for day or two, please.
And. Wood, my dear chap, don't neg
lect this New York business. am re-
lying so much on you for it. You've
been out there and know all the ropes"
So / stuck to the papers for tho rest
stred tho r,oesconrar ia ce,.d fl,nr,, ~,