The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-12-10

hV1C WOl IAulliCo at
tervals as If the world were filled
with a sudden storm of white
feathers, but no weight of snow
fell; the air had sweet GOODNESS
as one inhaled it, yet was as mild
as December twenty-fourth might
be and not be pusillanimous,-a
well-behaved winters day; there
was not the ghost of reason why
the 1:05 local from Barchester
should be two hours late.
The handful of passengers at
Blenheim Junction wandered aim
lessly, afraid to go away lest the
belated train should make up
time; now and again they drifted
together and exchanged pessimis-
tic surmises as to any ones
chances of getting anywhere for
Christmas. The shifting human
atoms might be classified as four
bunehes: the small-boy bunch,
three women circling about stolid
and annoyed boy; the tobacco
bunch, four unshaven men; the
parson-black of clothes, pallid,
yet strong of face-and his friend,
a prosperous business man by the
lok of him; and, the fourth divi-
sion, solitary individual. This
last was young, and so strongly
built that muscle was the first
impression on looking at him. His
.listless movements were powerful,
his face was cast in a virile mold,
but it was strength and beauty
gone wrong. The face was lined
with unhappiness; the eyes were
dull; swinging walk lapsed to
lurch; his coat collar was up and
his hat brim down, his clothes
were shabby. The hypothetical
observer would have seen that the
man avoided with some effort the
clergyman and his friend.
As they came toward him down
the long long platform, walking
earnestly together, he watched
them from under his shadowing
hat-brim, turned his back as they
neared him, and disappeared be-
hind the station. His hands in
the pockets of his overcoat, he
stared out at the fields with re-
sentful eyes. He came to stop
in front of a bench, and, dropping
into it, drew out a letter. The
thin envelope fell open as If read
often before.
Dear Carl" the writing ran,
II saw Peterson two days ago
and he told me you were playing
in bad luck. There's an opening
here in my business for a person
who knows several languages, and
you came to my mind. Would
you care to take it? You would
have to put up thousand or two,
and that. beyond travelling ex-
penses, would be all the money
necessary. I think you would
like 1t. The business is going to
be a big one, and we are making
money now. There is plenty of
work, but plenty of play also of
the kind you're good at-tennis
and polo and that sort. And
there's the certainty of a fresh
start in life with every chance of
a solid career.
Pm sure you know what
pleasure 1t would be to me, be-
cause it's always been pleasure
to be with you since the first
days of Groton. Think it over and
send me line by New Years so l
may know during January. I re-
peat that l want you and that l
hope you may care to come"
The letter was dated from Hong
Kong.
care to comet" The man
Tapped the paper with a gesture
of despair, and at the second
door creaked mournfully behind
him, opened halfway, and the
clergyman's clear-cut speech
sounded through 1t.
You don't mind the draft?" the
voice asked. Its close in here"
The man outside, the letter
clasped against his knee, did not
stir; he listened intently. The two
within sat down without seeing
him, back to back with him, the
wall between. Every word they
spoke came out to him distinctly.
why didn't you put that bag on
the floor? You hold on to it as If
1t were treasure" the pleasant,
easy tones of the parson con-
tinued.
The big mans answer came
after a seconds pause. at is
treasure" he said briefly.
do you mean-Sidney, you're
II L
with the mems wages?"
"No, not alone. Tomlinson
meets me-"
"Tomlinson! He's nothing.
That is-he's god coachman, of
course, but the mildest ruffian
could do up Tomlinson with one
hand. A great protection!"
II don't want protection, the
|slow voice half laughed. "I can
nrotect myself-and Tom1inson -