Williams news., 1916-05-25

yOu Olu GdldndQ! 1Ou were dlWdyS walloping the bullies and taking the weaker chaps under your wing. To me, you were the last man in the world for this business. Moreover, never could understand, nor could fa- ther, how you got it, for you were not an office man. Women and cards, 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 it. Built anything since you've been away?"
 'In Cashmir." To have thrown away decadei
 Glad you kept your hand in. I dare say you've seen a lot of life" To the young man it was an extremely awk- ward interview.
 "Yes; 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, l want you to wipe the slate clear of these ten years. We'll call it 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 %1 kI whopping big contract from the Chi nese government, and we need a man to take charge, a man who knows and understands something of the yellow people. How about a salary of ten thousand a year for two years, to be- gin in October?'
 Warrington twisted the check. Work, rehabilitation.
 Could you trust mel" he asked quietly.
 With anything I 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. I should not be holding down this chair if couldn't tell man at a SiohSC. WE HClO lOSCIAOl lWO 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- cern, 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 I received a letter from her. It directly concerned you. It seems she learned through the consul general at Singapore that you had worked with us. She's like her fa- ther, mighty keen judge of human nature. Frankly, this offer comes through her advices. To satisfy your self, you can give us surety bond for fifty thousand. It's not obligatory, however"
 l Elsa Chetwood. She had her ia. thers eyes, and it 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. I know. But what I've offered you is in good faith Will you take it?"
 "Yes," simply.
 That's the way to talk. Supposing you go out to lunch with me? We'll talk it over like old times"
 ''No. I haven't seen .''
 "To be sure! I forgot. Do you know where they live, your mother and brother?'
 "No. I expected to ask you"
 The vice-president scribbled dowr the address. 'I believe you'll finG them both there, though Arthur, I un derstand, is almost as great travele1 as you are. Of course you want tc see them, you poor beggar! The Southwestern will pull you almost uI to the door. After the reunion, you hike back here, and we'll get down te the meat of the business"
 "John," said Warrington, huskily you're a man.
 "Oh, pif1e! It's not all John. The old man left word that if you evel