The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-04-02

pointment, nodded The blond man
returned and sat down. 81 don't know
how to begin, but want you to copy
this cablegram and send 1t under your
own name. Here 1t is: read it.
So singular a request filled the con.
sui general with establishment. Rather
mechanically he accepted the slip Of
paper. adjusted his glasses. and
read
The Andes Construction company. New
York: former employee of yours wishes
TO make restitution of 5000. with inter-
est to date. He dares not give his name
TO me- but he wishes to learn IL this be-
lated restitution will lift the ban against
his coming 10 America and resuming his
citizenship. Reply collect.
This is an extraordinary request to
make to me, sir"
Gould | possibly offer that to the
cable operator? Without name or ad-
dress? No; could not do 1t without
being subjected to a thousand ques-
tons, none of which ! should care to
answer. So came to you. Passing
through your hands, no one will ques-
tion 1t. 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 a pos
sibility as the cablegram made mani
fest.
He forced the smile back to his lips.
Are you sure you're not hoaxing
me?"
mo. / 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 no.
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. 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 Of
the stranger. Warrington. So this
was the man? He could understand
now. Who could blame girl for max
ing mistake when he, seasoned vet
eran, had been beguiled by the out
ward appearance of the man? Mallow
was right. He was a handsome beg
gar
81 promise to send this upon one
condition"
II accept without question" readily.
1T is that you must keep away from
Elsa Chetwood, now and hereafter. You
made her acquaintance under false
pretenses.
Il deny that. Not under false pre-
lenses" How quickly things went
about! Let me tell you how | met
her."
The consul general listened; he lis
tened with wonder and interest, and
more, with conviction that the young
man had been perfectly honest. But
the knowledge only added to his grow
ing alarm. 1t would not be difficult for
such a man to win the regard of any
young woman.
And you told her what you had
done?"
Yes"
Your first misstep?" touching the
cablegram.
my first and only misstep. l was a
careless, happy-go-lucky young fool"
The sky outside also had attraction for
Warrington. A thousand times a fool!
How long ago did this happen?"
Ten years this coming April"
And now, after all this time. you
wish to go back?"
Il have wished to go back many
times, but never had money enough.
| have plenty now. Oh, made it hon.
Here's cutting from a Rangoon pa
per-"
The other read it carefully. II was
romance, romance such as he liked to
read in his books, but which was
mighty bewildering to have at his
elbow in actuality. What 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 do
not look like man who would rob his
oiobt tho,oanI lnIIa &c