The Spectator., 1915-04-02
CT. May I close the door?" The


 pointment, nodded. The blond man returned and sat down. q don't know how to begin, but l want you to copy this cablegram and send it under your own name. Here it is; read it."
 So singular a request filled the con sul general with astonishment. Rather mechanically he accepted the slip of paper. adjusted his glasses, and read
 The Andes Construction company, New York: A former employee of yours wishes to make a restitution of $500. with inter- est to date, He dares not give his name to me. but he wishes to learn If this be. lated restitution will lift the ban against his coming to America and resuming his citizenship. Reply collect.
 This is an extraordinary request to make to me, sir" Could I possibly offer that to the cable operator? Without name or ad- dress? No; could not do 1t without being subjected to a thousand ques- tions. none of which should care to answer. So I came to you. Passing through your hands, no one will ques- tion it. Will you do this favor for a poor unfortunate devil?" Oddly enough, the other could not get away from his original impression. The clothes, the way the man wore them. the clarity of his eyes, the abun- dant health that was expressed by the tone of the skin, derided such pos | sibility as the cablegram made mani fest.
 He forced the smile back to his lips. Are you sure you're not hoaxing me?"
 No. l am the victim of the hoax. enigmatically If one may call the quirks of fate by the name of hoax, the stranger added. Will you send it?"
 The years he had spent in the con- sular service had never brought before him a situation of this order. He did not know exactly what to do. He looked out of the window, into the ho tel court, at the sky which presently would become overcast with the daily rain clouds. By and by he remem bered the man waiting patiently at his elbow
 What is your name?"
 I'd rather not give that until hear from New York. 1 am known out here by the name of Warrington"
 Warrington. The puzzlement van ished from the older mans face. and his eyes became alert, renewing from another angle their investigation oi the stranger. Warrington. So this was the man? He could understand now. Who could blame girl for mak ing mistake when he, a seasoned vet eran, had been beguiled by the. out ward appearance of the man? Mallov was right He was a handsome beg gar.
 T promise to send this upon ont condition"
 T accept without question" readily
 It is that you must keep away iron Elsa Chetwood. now and hereafter. Yol made her acquaintance under fals, pretenses.
 'I deny that. Not under false pre- tenses." How quickly things wen about. Let me tell you how l me her"
 The consul general listened; he lis tened with wonder and interest. ant more, with conviction that the younl man had been perfectly honest. Blu the knowledge only added to his grow ing alarm. It would not be difficult fol such a man to win the regard of any young woman.
 And you told her what you hat done?"
 Yes"
 Your first misstepi" touching tn, cablegram.
 My first and only misstep was { careless. happy go-lucky young fool. The sky outside also had attraction fol Warrington. A thousand times fool
 How long ago did this happen?"
 Ten years this coming April"
 And now. after all this time. yor wish to go back"
 "I have wished to so back many times, but never had money enough | nave pleHty uoW. Ou, iudQc II uOu estly." smiling. ''ln oil. at Prone Here's a cutting from Rangoon pa per"
 The other read it carefully. It was romance, romance such as he liked tC read in his books. but which was mighty bewildering to have at his elbow in actuality. What a life the man must have led! And here he was, with no more evidence of the conflict than might be discerned in the manliness of his face and the breadth and depth of his shoulders. He dropped the cutting, impatiently.
 Don't you believe it?" | Believe it? Oh, this? Yes." an swered the consul general What cannot believe is that am awake cannot quite make two and two equal four. cannot Well. you dc not look like man who would rob his