The evening world., 1914-04-11

ness. Look here, Paul. I'm not go
Ing to beat about the bush. We've
got a whopping big contract from
the Chinese government. and we
need a man to take charge. a man
who knows and understands some-
thing Of the yellow people. How
about q salary Of ten thousand a
year for two years. to begin In &C.
tober7"
Warrington twisted the check.
Work, rehabilitation.
Gould you trust me7" he asked
quietly.
Understand, Paul. there's no philan-
thropic string to this offer. You've
pulled through q devil Of q hole.
You're Q man. should not be hold
ing down this chair II couldn't tell
q man at . glance. We were together
two months in Peru. I'm familiar
with your work. Do you want TO
know whose portrait that In up there7
Well, It's Gen. Chetwood's, the found
er Of this concern. the silent part
ner. Tho man who knew kings and
potentates and told 'em that they
needed bridges in their backyards.
This building belongs to his daugh-
ter.
"she converted her stock into gran
tte. About q month ago I received a
letter from her. II directly concerned
you. II seems she learned through the
consul general at Singapore that you
had worked with us. She's like her
father, a mighty keen Judge OF hu-
man nature. Frankly. this offer comes
through her advice. To satisfy your
self you can give us a surety bond
for fifty thousand. It's not obligatory.
however"
Elsa Chetwood. She had her faith
er's eyes. and II was this which had
drawn his gaia to the portrait. Chet-
wood; and Arthur had not known
any more than he had. What irony!
Ten years wasted for moth
ing! Warrington laughed aloud. A
weakness seized him, like that OF
man long gone hungry.
"Buck up,' Paul" warned tho good
Samaritan. .':All this kind Of knocks
the wind, out of you. ] know. But
what I've offered you IL in good faith
VIII you take t7''
Eyes," simply.
'"That's the way to talk suppos-
Ing you 20 out to lunch with me3
We'll talk II over like old times"
mo. I haven't seem +"
ITO be sure! forgot. Do you
know where they live, your mother
and brother?'
mo. expected to ask you"
Tho vice- president scribbled down
the address "I believe you'll find them
both there. though Arthur. ] under
stand, Is almost as great traveller
as you are. or course you want to
sec them, you poor beggar! Tho
Southwestern will pull you almost up
TO tho door. After the reunion. you
hike back here, and we'll got down
to the meat OF the business"
"John." said Warrington huskily.
you're man..
"Oh, piffle! It's not all John. Tho
old man left word that II you ever
turned up again to hang on to you,
You were valuable. And there's Miss
ChetwoOd. If you want 10 thank any.
body. thank her" Warrington missed
the searching glance, which was not
without its touch OF envy. You'd
better be off. Hustle back as soon as
you can" Gilmore offered his hand
now. Cad! but you haven't lost any
of your old grip
"i'm a bit dazed. The last six
months have loosened up my nerves"
"Nobody's made Of iron"
'Td sound hollow II ! tried to say
what I feel. III be back week
from 70 day"
"T'n look for you."
Az the door closed behind War
rington the young millionaire ga I
uoWn, scowiing NJ IA cubbyholc in ms
desk. lie presently took out IA letter
postmarked Yokohama. lie turned "
about in his hands. misinrly, WIN
out reading It (for he knew its con-
tents wellD nc thrust 1t back into the
cubbyhole. Women were out or ms
sphere, lie could build n bridge
within a dollar of tho bid: but ne
knew nothing about women beyond
the fact that they were always de-
sirable.
A few monosyllables, sentence or
two. and then. good day. The aver
age man would have recountcd every
incident OF note during those ten
years. He did not admire warning.
ton any the less for his reticence. ~
took a strong man To hoid hii,seIt
together under all these blows FROM
the big end OF fortunes horn,
He had known the two brothers at
college. and TO Paul he had given a
froshman's worship On the neld fhui
had been the idol. and popular not
only for his feats Of strength. but Tor
his lovabieness. lie recalled the af-
lection between the two boys. Arthur
admired Paul for his strength. fau'
admired and gloried In his brother
learning. Never would he forget that
commencement WIFI wv ~
boys in their mortar boards. thelr
beautiful mother between them, arm
In arm, walked acros the green OF the
campus. II was an unforgettable pic
ture.
Paul waa a born engineer: Arthur
had entered the office as makeshift.
Paul had taken eight thousand one
day and decamped. Arthur had re-
funded the sum and disappeared. FL
morcSEpuld not understand, nor could
his faNNer. Perhaps some OF the truth
would now come to light. Somehow
PAM, with his blond beard and blondcr
head, his bright eyes. his tan, big
shoulders, somehow Paul was out OF
date. lie did not belong TO the times,
And Elsa had met him over there
practically ordered though she had
no authority that he should bo given
start anew: that, moreover, she
would go his bond to any amount.
Funny old world! Well, he was glad.
Paul was a man, "A big man. and that
was the sort needed In the foreign
bridge building. lie rolled down tho
top OF his desk and left tho building
He was In no mood for work.
Tho evening OF the third day found
Warrington In tho baggage car, feed
ing dilapidated feather noting