Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-14

room and talk seriously to him Of political mat
ters
The noble Earl had every hope Of winning over
ms promising recruit to the Conservative cause.
Before Holme left Heatherstone Hall they had
come to closer understanding, and Hoime had
definitely promised his support against any po-
lltical doctrine that threatened the existence Of
free trade
The young man, IL is only fair to say, was not
entirely disinterested in thus promising his allie
glance to the Earl Of Heatherstone. During
his three weeks Of sickness he had thought much
OF his own career, and the unpleasant conviction
mad come to him that he was wasting much pre-
cious time.
He had not been an idle man since he had
been in Essex. He had the past to blot out
and that meant work. He did not want' any
spare time to think over his life as a sailor
lie wished also, in some measure to atone for
many wasted hours. He had a small income
and was not Obliged TO work for his bare susie
nance.
30 he had thought that he could not do better
than fling. himself heart and soul into the right
ing OF social wrongs, into the alienation of dis
tress among the poor, into schemes which would
raise the worlingman socially and morally from
his slough of dependency.
The seafaring folk had always been near his
heart, and he had narrowed down his general
theories to this particular class He had gone
among them one Of themselves and worked
necessarily in their behalf
The sphere of politics offers more to an ambi-
tlous man than any other in the whole world.
And Lord Heatherstone was still power in the
political world
Home saw that under the patronage of this
somewhat pompous but intellectual aristocrat he
might rise to great heights and do much good
1t is no shame to him that he resolved to take
the opportunity when il offered itself
Lord Heatherstone was n good as his word,
and before Holme had left the house he had
given him a start in life
The oystar-fisheries of the district were az
that time under a cloud. Several cases of ty-
phoid had been traced to the beds which Law
up one Of the Essex creeks, and the public be-
gan to institute silent but indiscriminate boy
colt of the oysters of the whole county An in.
dustry which supported many hundreds of hard
working and capable men was threatened almost
with extinction. Their outcry would never have
reached the ears of Parliament, which had many
matters of more Importance to discuss, if it had
not been for the voice of Lord Harry Guy
lie moved for a commission to inquire into the
cause Of typhoid in the creek in question, and
to suggest some means of purifying the water
and restoring public confidence in the Essex oys-
ters. After some haggling, it was resolved that
a committee be appointed. II was composed of
two doctors, two members of Parliament two
sanitary inspectors two bacteriologists, and Ar
| thur Holme.
| With the prospect of this promising entry into
public life, Holme resolved to start on a three
weeks druise on the Rover, hoping that the air
of the sea would restore him to perfect health
and vigor
Lord Heatherstone said Goodbye" to him
with genuine regret, and promised him the en-
tire Heatherstone support if he would stand for
the western division of Gloucestershire at the
next general election. Lord Heatherstone owned
large estates in this county and in his own per-
son represented the balance of political power
The Rover, with two hands on board, for
Holne not yet sure of his strength, was
anchored off the park wall 1t was a bright,
frosty morning, and, as they glided down the
narrow creek, Holmes thoughts reverted to the
night when he had run, as it were, into the very
Jaws of hell.
In an hours time they passed the place where
the Red House had once stood.
| A bare hill, naked and ugly in the sunlight,
was all that William Jordison had left behind
him.