The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-23
CONTINUED

over there. IL they'd only let us smart
chaps in to dig II up. Now. old man.
i want you to wipe the slate clear Of
these ten years, Wen call II bad
dream. What are your plans for the
future?"
"Plans?" Warrington looked up
blankly. He realized that he had made
no plans for the future.
Yes. What do you intend to do?
A man like you wasn't made for idle
ness. Look here. Paul: I'm not going
TO beat about the bush. We've got
whopping big contract from the Chi
nese government. and We need a man
TO take charge, man who knows and
understands something of the yellow
people. How about salary of ten
thousand year for two years. to be-
sin in October?'
Warrington twisted the check.
Work, rehabilitation.
Gould you trust me?" he asked
quietly.
With anything have in the world.
Understand, Paul. there's no philan-
thropic string to this offer. You've
pulled through devil of hole. You're
man. l should not be, holding down
this chair II couldn't tell a man at a
glance. We were together two months
in Peru. I'm familiar with your work
Do you want to know whose portrait
that is up there? Well. it's General
Chetwood's, the founder of this con
Germ, the silent partner. The man
who knew kings and potentates and
told 'em that they needed bridges in
their back yards. This building be-
longs to his daughter. She convert.
ed her stock into granite. About a
month ago | received letter from
her. 1t directly concerned you. 1t
seems she learned through the consul
general at Singapore that you had
worked with us. She's like her ia
ther, mighty keen judge of human
nature. Frankly, this offer comes
through her advices. To satisfy your
self. you can give us surety bond fol-
fifty thousand. It's not obligatory,
however"
Elsa Chetwood She had her IA.
theirs eyes. and II was this which had
drawn his gaze to the portrait. Chet
wood; and Arthur had not known any
more than he had. What irony! Ten
years wasted for nothing!
Warrington laughed aloud. A weak
ness seized him, like that Of a man
long gone hungry.
Buck up, Paul." warned the GOOD
Samaritan. "All this kind OF knocks
the wind out of you. | know. But
what I've offered you is in good faith
Will you take it?"
Yes" simply.
That's the way to talk. Supposine
you go out to lunch with me? Wen
talk it over like old times"
No. haven't seen :"
ITO be sure! | forgot. Do YOU
know where they live. your mother
and brother?"
No. l expected to ask you"
The vice-presideat scribbled down
the address Il believe you'll find
them both there. though Arthur. un.
derstand, is almost as great a traveller
as you are, OF course you want to
see them, YOU poor beggar The
Southwestern will pull you almost up
to the door. After the reunion. you
hike back here, and we'll get down to
the meat OF the business"
John said Warrington, huskily.
you're a man."
"Oh, pifle! It's not all John. The
old man left word that if you ever
turned up again to hang on to you.
You were valuable. And there's Miss
Chetwood. If you want to thank any.
body, thank her" Warrington missed
the searching glance, which was not
without its touch of envy. You'd bet
ter be of. Hustle back as soon as YOU
can" Elmore offered his hand now.
Cad. but you haven't lost any of your
old grip"
I'm bit dazed. The last six
months have loosened up my nerves"
"Nobody's made of IRON
I'D sound hollow if tried to saw
what | feel. I'll be back a week from
today"
I'll look for you"
AS the door closed behind Warning.
ton. the young millionaire sat down.
scowling at cubby hole in his desk.
He presently took out a letter most.
marked Yokohama. He turned it about
In his hands. musingly. Without read.
ing it (for he knew its contents welD.
he thrust 1t back into the cubby hole
Women were out of his sphere He
could build bridge within a dollar Of
the bid; but he knew nothing about
women beyond the fact that they were
always desirable.
A few monosyllables. a sentence or
two, and then. good day The average
man would have recounted every Incl.
dent of note during those ten years
He did not admire Warrington any the
less for his reticence. 1t took a strong
man to hold himself together under ali
these blows from the big end ot ..-
tunes horn.
raul was a born engineer; Artnur
had entered the Office as a makeshift.
Paul had taken eight thousand one
day. and decamped. Arthur had re-
funded the sum. and disappeared. Ell
more could not understand. nor could
his father. Perhaps some of the truth
would now come to light Somehow.
Paul. with his blond beard and blonder
head, his bright eyes. his tan, his big