Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-05-03
The Eagles Call
He Answered Ii and the
Call OF Honor
BY cLARISSA r1AcKIE

carly dawn and enjoyed his cold tub 10
the bligh.ins presence OF the disap
proving bath boy. Later clad Ia slni
less white. he ate his breakl4si 10 %,
cool shade of the north veranda
The first rays Of the rising sun were
gliding the top Of the compound wal
when the gate opened noisily and ad
mittcd Chinese ia the livery OF III,
consulate servants. He approached
and delivered a parcel into Forrest
outsirctched hand
Forrest weighed the long. Hat paca
age IN his palm for a thoughtful mo
mcnt Every time he received an uu
expected letter or parcel he was con
scious Of u throb Of expectation ,hat
he was TO bc called back to prove biz
mettle Something had happened sey
cral years ago. when he had been ii
the war department. that resulted IT,
his resignation and immediate depar
ture for foreign country II was the
matter Of neglected duty which ter
minated lii the loss to the department
Of $4,000 Forrest was young in thps,
days aud his NIrgimian hot blood Was
more engroSscd in the scattering OF
wild oats than IN the careful execution
Of his duties
The chief Of the department had
been a friend Of his dead fathers ano
he had talked to John Forrest rs o
parent might have done Il can't save
you from the consequences Of your
carelessncss. my boy he had said sad
IT, NO one but Yourself can do that
and II may take years 10 re.cstablish
confidence in your ability You better
accept that clerkship with my broth
er's banking house IN Shanghai ant
some day when You can make good
come home again
Il don't like the idea Of being ban
ished." mutiered John sullenly "Canf
work and pay back the money: or IL
the government lost that sum through
my carcleSSuess perhaps | nigh, ~
able 10 save loss some time
his hand 10 tue table with sharp
smack some day not nov. .lohn
You 20 ahead and take this berth In
Shanghai aud give you my word ~
honor that If ever see the opportunity
whereby won can step in and make
good on that mistake OF yours I'll send
you message because of my posi-
ton | cannot write you or commit my
self IN any way but you will under
stand when the message comes that
your country needs your services and
that your opportunity to make good
has come at last. Have patience arG
wait"
Very good. sir John Forrest leap
ed TO his feet with new light In his
young eyes. I'm sail next week on TN,
Cathay from san Francisco. You wont
forget to send for me. sir?'
ION my honor. John. and yon VIII
leave everything and come my boy"
Involuntarily John raised his right
hand as he spoke gravely Il win
come whenever you call. sir" And 81
II was settled.
That had al happened years before
and still John Forrest was waiting foi
the call of his country 10 make rcSiifu
ton TO her for the amount which hnd
been lost In the meantime. soliercd
by his bitter experience In the clpiin
OF his country. he had worked night
and day ~ his new situation IN Shang
hal In TINT gay city on the Hwaugrr
river there were many opportunilic-
for money making. and John Fnrres'
was beginning to see where he might
some day be financial power In the
great treaty port nf the east when 'hi
hot summer morning the message
came
He knew rs soon rs he had opened
the package All the box contained
was n long bronze feather from the
pinion 81 an eagle and brief scrawi
on a slip 81 paper. "The eagle calls
Then came moment Of temptation
10 the man He knew that very lal
steamer sailed for Sar Francisco
II he missed sailing today u meau'
that his tourney would be DELAYED fni
three tlNA~ " Nv ViI sill fhNAA lN'-f
interests which had occupied his mind
lately and which would come to III
max TO-DAY wnuld 20 10 the wall far
lack 81 his manipulation II he ennid
have only onr more day here his ~
turr aillncnrc would De assured III
going today meant financial ruin
An 40 once Tee seemed 10 81. the inS
uriouS "quipment ~ the chiefs private
office and heard his own voice slyina
earnestly - viii come whenever Won
call sir" His Tilted chair crashed -
the floor and he sent servants tyiug
IN q do2en different directions
4 brief note 90 one ~ his partner,
conveyed the Information that ne was
Summoned home AZ once and ihnt thu
deal must he put through without hlW
II pnssihlr lie inclosed u power of NJ
tornev and thus washed his hands -
the matter An hour later found him
4. "a