The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-05-28

stranger. MAY | close the door," The
consul general. with q sense of disap
pointment, nodded. The blond man
returned and sat down. Il don't know
how to begin, but ! want you to copy
this c%ablegram and send 1t under your
own name. Here it is; read it."
So singular a request filed the con-
sui general with establishment. Rather
mechanically he accepted the slip Of
paper, adjusted his glasses, and
read
York: A former employee of yours wishes
to make a restitution of s.. 200. with inter
est to date. He dares not give his name
to me. but he wishes to learn IL this he
lated restitution will lift the ban against
his coming to America and resuning 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 adj
dress? No; | could not do it without
being subjected to a thousand ques-
tons, none Of which l should care to
answer. So | came to you. Passing
through your hands, no one will ques-
ton it. Win you do this favor for a
poor unfortunate deyil?"
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!"
No. / am the victim Of the hoax"
systematically. 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 emem.
bered the man waiting patiently at his
elbow.
What is your Manner"
I'D rather not give that until |
hear from New York. l 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
was the man. He could understand
now. Who could blame a girl for max
ing a mistake when he, a seasoned vet
eran, had been beguiled by the out
ward appearance of the man? Mallow
was right. He was a handsome beg
gar.
Il promise to send this upon one
condition"
Il 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 l 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 fol
such a man to wiz the regard of any
young woman
And you told her what you hat
done?"
Yes"
Your first misstep:" touching the
c%ablegram.
MY first and only misstep. l was q
careless, happy-golucky young fool.
The sky outside also had attraction fol
Warrington. A thousand times a fool!
How long ago did this happen?"
Ten years this coming April"
And now, after all this time. yol
wish to go back?"
Il have wished to go back many
times, but never had money enough
have plenty now. Oh, l made it hon
estly," smiling. I'm oil, at Prone
Here's q cutting from a Rangoon pa
per-"
The other read it carefully. 1t wa.
romance, romance such as he liked t
read in his books, but which wa:
mighty bewildering to have at hi:
elbow in actually. What a life tn.
man must have led! And here hi
was. with no more evidence of thu
conflict than might be discerned in tn.
manliness OF his face and the breadth
and depth of his shoulders. HI