Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-11

ucTC.
The boy returned promptly and sig.
nifled that Mr.. Elnore was at liberty.
But It was not the 'old man" who
looked up from busy mans desk. It
was the son; SO far, the one familiar
face Warrington had seen since his ar
rival. There was no hand shaking;
there was nothing in evidence on
either side to invite 1t.
"Ah! Sit down, Paul. Let no one
disturb me for an hour" the young
vice-president advised the boy. And
close the door as you 80 out"
Warrington sat down; the bridge
builder whirled his chair around and
stared at his visitor. not insolently,
but with kindly curiosity.
You've filed out" was all he said
After fully satisfying his eyes. he
added: II dare say you expected to
find father. He's been gone six
years." indicating one of the two por-
traits over his desk.
1t was not at the "old man" War
rington looked longest. Who is the
other?" he asked.
What? You worked four years
with this company and don't recollect
that Portrait"
Frankly, never noticed 1t before"
Warrington placed the certified check
on the desk. with interest" he said.
The vice-president cracked it, ran
his fingers over his smooth chin. fold.
ed the check and extended it toward
the astonished wanderer.
Eve don't want that, Paul. What
we wanted was to get you back There
was no other way. Your brother made
up the loss the day after you
went away. There was no scandal.
Only q few of us in the Office knew.
Never got to the newspapers"
It was impossible for Warrington to
digest this astounding information at
once. His mind could only repeat the
phrases: No scandal, only a few of
us in the Office knew, never got to the
newspapers. For ten years he had
hidden himself in wildernesses, avoid
ed hotels. read no American newspa-
pers, never called for mail. Oh, monu-
mental fool!
And I could have come home al
most at once!" he said aloud, address,
ing the crumpled check in. his hand
rather than the man in the swivel
chair.
Eyes. I have often wondered where
you we're, what you we're doing. You
and your brother were upper-class.
men. never knew Arthur very we'll;
but you and were chummy. after a
fashion. Arthur was little too book.
ish for my style Didn't we use to call
you Old Galahad? You were always
walloping the DULLES and taking the
weaker chaps under your wing. To
me, you were the last man In the
world for this business Moreover, l
never could understand. nor could ia
Their, how you got'it. for you were not
an office man. Women and cards. l
suppose. Father said that you had the
making of great engineer. Fierce
place, this old town." waving his hand
toward the myriad sparkling roofs and
towers and spires. "Have to be strong
and hard-headed to survive 1t. Built
anything since you've been away?"
I'm Cashmir." To have thrown away
. decade!
Glad you kept your hand in. dare
say you've seen lot Of life" To the
young man it was an extremely awk.
ward interview.
Eyes; I've seen life," DULY.
Orient, mostly. i suppose. Your
letter about the strike In oil was
mighty interesting Heap of money
over there. If they'd only let us smart
chaps in to dig it up. Now. old man,
want you to wipe the slate clear Of
these ten years. Well call it bad
dream. What are your plans for the
future?:
"Plans?" Warrington looked up
blankly. He realized that he had made
no plans f6r 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 a
whopping big contract from the Chi
nese government, and we need 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-
gin 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
a man. should not be holding down
this chair If couldn't tell 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 therel Well, it's General
Chetwoods, 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 q
month ago ! received a 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
t,,~A TNvos Nlry h To ~