Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-12-26

to good old age. He and Miss Dali
rymple didn't see how any such per-
son could be found, for she's too old,
and so is the girls father. But I'm
not old yet, and I'm strong"
"You wouldn't do that for herr"
asked Christopher.
IF I dared to propose 1t. IL you
don't think it would be considered too
great liberty"
"A liberty! And you'd do it to save
her-for anotheT MANI"
5"Of course, that would be a, great
happiness for me to keep in my mind,
Mr.. Race, when | thought back on
what you call my missing chapter
do wish you would tell me what you
think"
II think you're the best and most
unselfish-yes, absolutely selfless-
chap l ever met" answered Chris
topher
And to show his own surprise there
was slight lump in his throat which
all but made his eyes water as he
swallowed it..
Mr.. James Hardness sprang up and
shook hands with hhd very hard, sew
eral times over.
THANK you, sir" he exclaimed, sit
seems funny you would think that,
you know, because, Tiff it was al
lowed to happen, it would be The
greatest honor and joy that could
come to me-greater than anything l
ever dreamed of; to feel / had done
something for her-a girl like her.
But what I am glad of is that you
don't think they'd be insulted.'
"Insulted" cried Christopher "Why
ha r;s
ing your life, if"
not a giant, but LIN most as strong
as one, guess. l can stand anything
Besides I'd be so happy. Scot! If they
would let me do it! Say, Mr.. Race,
would you just mention it to Miss Dali
rymple as coming from me? !
shouldn't have the courage to. my
self, and l have her permission to tell
you this story about Miss Nourma.
She considers you fine young man,
and she didn't mind your knowing,
as we've all been such friends to-
gether the last two weeks"
What if-your strength should
fail. and you shouldn't get through ?"
Christopher asked Mrs. Hardness
would have to know, and"
mo, she wouldn't. There'd be no
good in her knowing. I've thought
that out already, and how to arrange
although-there's no chance, really, of
such an ending. And / should leave
her well provided for. You'd be doing
me a big favor If you would lead up
to this with Miss DaIrymple, and find
out if she could feel / was worthy"
So it came about that Christopher
was induced to grant the big favor"
and Miss Dalrymple not only thought
Mr.. James Hardness worthy of the
high honor he solicited, but agreed
with Christopher in thinking some
very good things about the little mans
character which would have surprised
the little man himself.
They motored back to London
without broaching the matter to Nour-
ma Dalrymple, but on arrival there
was consultation with the great spe-
cialist, who approved of Hardness
physically as much as the others did
spiritually. Then Nourma had to be
told, and after the utmost difficulty
persuaded to consent to the expert
ment which might mean life to her.
That was where Scarlet Runner and
Scarlet Runners master slipped out of
the story, and into another so much
tional in it's incidents, that the strong
impression craven on Christopher's
mind by James Hardness missing
chapter might easily have been
blurred. But it was not so. He thought
constantly of the little man with the
wistful eyes of misunderstood dog
and the features of a provincial Ma
poleon. He thought also Of Nourma
Dalrymple, and was as joyous as if
the result had intimately concerned
himself when the first news (Which
he had asked to have) came telling
Of the experiment. All was going we'll,
as far as could be known, and. it was
believed that the opinion of the emf
nent specialist would be triumphantly
justified.
Christopher had had to take up an
engagement Immediately after return
ing to London with Hardness and the
two Miss Dalrymples. This called him
out of town, and he did not return
until nearly another fortnight had
passed. His first thought after getting
back was to go and see the American