Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-10-07
css Stcryette
WHY MURcHIsoN WENT BACK,
BY Maurice VelIor.

Aou ever udpp6u6u " u11u hoo pNOH
the result of some extraneous and ir-
resistible force.
Sometimes he felt as if he had been
compressed into a mold by circum-
stances; sometimes buffeted from pill
lar to post by cruel accidents.
Captain Robert Arnim was almost
the last person likely to be in his
mind. There had been nothing in all
these years to cause Murchison to re-
member him, and he was never more
surprised in his life than he had been
when, looking up from his bookkeep-
ing, he had seen Arnim before his
desk.
II say, Jim," Arnim had said hur-
riedly, 81 want to speak to you. Can
you give me few moments?"
Certainly" answered Murchison,
slipping down from his stool. Here
take seat"
Your wife's well?" said Arnim. as
he sat down.
- 90 yes-very," replied Murchison,
in perplexity Hester is in the coun-
try nova little place where run
down and join her on Saturday. And
your wife?' he went on tentatively.
That's just it, said Arnim, bending
forward and putting his hand on the
arm of the chair on which Murchison
was sitting. "She isn't well, and I've
got to send her to a place where she'll
get better while I am away
You're going away?" said Murchi-
son
I'm going to India. I am to join
my company at Aldershot, and I've got
to start at II tonight to do it. You've
never seen my wife. Here's her pic
ture.''
Murchison saw the photograph of
pretty young face-only the cheeks,
which should manifestly have been
healthiIy rounded, were little sunken.
1T was taken just before came
away You understand, the baby's
just been born, and she isn't strong,
and I've got to go. l can't leave if I'm
not sure about her, and can't be I'M
less I have money We men in the
army get out of touch with business
and with men who have it, and you
have got to lend it to me-"
Il assure you" Murchison began.
WELL you must have something.
shouldn't say anything about it at any
other time but this is 2 matter of
more than my own life and death to
me. You know, 1 got you this berth
here, and turn about is fair play
After his fathers failure young
Murchison had walked the streets
with nothing but the clothes he wore.
1t was then, in his wanderings, that he
had met Arnim, who had befriended
him and found him a comfortable
berth.
Murchison had worked ever since,
advancing in position as the years
advanced, for he was an accurate,
mathematical machine, and marrying
for he had his moments of being a
mantle sister of a fellow clerk.
Il tell you, man, I've got to have the
money!" said Arnim, in sudden excite
ment. you've got to lend it to me!
Three hundred will do
It was just the sum. 1t had taken
years to save it. and the next day
Murchison knew that he was going to
double t-treble-quadruple it. There
was the "sure thing" about which he
had much INSIDE information" And
now he was asked to give it up. 1t
was too provoking.
You've got that, surely?" demanded
Arnim.
"Yes-O, yes, I've saved that" said
Murchison YEARLY.
Well, give it to me, and swear
you'll have it again within the year.
Can have it now?"
Why said Murchison, instructive
ly following his nature, and delaying,
Il might give it to you this evening.
The money is in bonds, and | shall
have to sell them"
Il could come to your place" ex-
claimed Arnim joyously.
Murchison gave him the name and
address of the house where the flat
was.
That's just the thing. I'll stop on
nv way to the train. 1t will be early,
for 1 can't miss it; for, money or no
money, I've got to 60"
Then Arnim had gone, and Murch1-
son had slowly taken his way back to
his desk-thinking.
Arnim meant to repay what he bor-
rowed; he believed that he would pay
it. But could he?
He was crossing a small park on his
way home when he finally realized
what he was thinking, and had to sit
down upon bench to pull himself
together Not let Arnim have the
money! The idea came to him as
daring possibility, hardly to be enter
tanned. And, after all, why not?
Money or no money, Arn1m must
fake the train at II o'clock.
All arranged itself so perfectly.
Hester was not at home. If she had
been there he knew that he could not
have DON it. Hester was romantic
as he sometimes called it.
Just then he was passing a rather
famous place where he knew that ne