Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-04-26
CHNpTER Nv


Claud Tyars had taken up his abode
in residential club in London. This
change had been dictated by motives of
economy. He said that he found cham
bers in the Albany too expensive for Il
man who was seldom in London. No one
to whom he made this statement was
posted as to the extent of his income,
and the excuse passed readily enough.
He was certainly freer in his new
Quartcrs--free 10 come and go when the
spirit moved LIN, and to some extent he
took advantas of his newly established
liberty. His absences were frequent, but
he was seldo% away from London for
more than II ut. or two. He frequently
ran down to Glasgow, and once to Peter
head, where be spent two nights.
One morning in early December he was
partaking of a very hearty breakfast at
the Wanderers Club, where be had tenn
pOrarily taken rooms, when Matthew
Mark Easton was showu in. The Ameri-
can was also member of this club, which
was, slngularly enough. composed of mem
hers of some university or another, duly
qualified by the power and means to sat
isfy the cravings of a roaming spirit.
Without a word he threw down upon
the breakfast table a letter, of which the
envelope had been torn. Tyars was quite
equal to the American in quickness of
thought Preserving the same stole ST.
lence. he tossed across the table another
envelope identical in every way, and adj
dressed by the same hand Then he con-
tinued his breakfast. Easton spoke the
two words:
Wednesday week
YES Wednesday week.
The night" said Easton, that we
fixed for Guy Fawkes.'
YES. We must have the meeting on
Tuesday night We must so to this
Tyars laid his hand on the lettel The
Americans quick little eyes were dane
ing over his whole person, even to the
tips of the quiescent brown fingers.
Must WEI" he inquired.
Tyars looked up sharply.
II do not believe" he said, that you
appreciate the Importance of Oswin
Grace"
Coco sailor man." answered the
American, but too many women folk
They will give us trouble"
Grace is worth it. He is something
more than good sailor. | cannot de-
fine il. but he has something which makes
him just the man l want
Eastou was silent. He had great re-
spect for his big, calm Englishman; the
sort Of respect that one has for anything
larger than ones self in the way of an
animal.
We'll. then" he said, I'VE Will go. l
shall call the meeting on Tuesday week
at my rooms as before. 1t is the last full
meeting we shall ever have
With that he rose and held ont his
hand. When he was gone, Claud Tyars
turned TO his breakfast again He spent
the morning at the docks. and in the af-
ternoon returned TO his rooms tired and
rather dirty, In few minutes all signs
OF fatigue and work were removed, and
he set off on foot to call at Brook street.
one ,of the best dressed men in Piccadilly
There was a sailor-like frankness in
the way in which Salter. the admirars
butler. opened the door when the visitor
was fortunate enough to find any one at
home. The formal threshold question
was dispensed with by the genial welcome
or the heartfelt sorrow expressed by the
mans brown and furrowed face
He welcomed Tyars with special grin
and an ill-concealed desire to grab at
forelock now brushed scrupulously back
Salter had always endeavored through life
10 adapt himself ungrudgingly to circum-
stances, and he succeeded fairly we'll in
remembering on most occasions that be
was butler, but his love for all marin
ers was a thing he never fully managed
TO conceal. Land-lubbers he tolerated
now, and he liked a soldier. but his hon
est, dog-like heart went out to all who.
like himself, loved a breeze of wind and
the sweet, keen smell of spray. There
was a bond in mutual love, whether it be
of dog or horse. of sport or work, of land
or sea, and Tyars always felt an inelina
ton 20 shake honest John Salter by the
hand when he saw him.
To these feelings of sympathy must be
attributed the fact that Tyars forgot to
inquire whether the admiral were at
home. That some one was to be found
upstairs in the drawing room was obvi-
Gus enough from Salter's beaming coun-
tenance; but the maritime butler omitted
TO give particulars.
Thus it happened that the surprise was
mutual when Tyars and Helen Grace
found then elves face TO face alone in
the drawing room.
She had been seated at small table
near the window and she rose TO receive
him, without, however, moving toward the
door.
He came forward without appearing to
notice slight movement of embarrass-
ment on he part, and shook hands. Most
men would have launched into unneces-