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

It's your advice want to ask, If you'll
permit me-"
Christopher answered that he would
be glad to give 1t or to be Of use, and
he spoke sincerely.
Its mighty delicate matter" the
American went on; "a matter ]
wouldn't have any call to talk about,
| II could sec my way clear how to
act. But l don't. That's Just 1t. I'm
a plain business man. What's that
saying about fools rushing in where
angels would be afraid to show their
noses, or something kind of like that?
Well. feel that way right now. But
you're different. don't know as I'm
putting 1t SOS you can understand. but
| what see about you is that you've
| lived. Now l never lived-till / got
on board the Baltic less than four
weeks ago. knew what business was
and how to get along in the world and
my duty to my wife and my neigh
bors, but hadn't lived. didn't real
ize what 1t was to be really alive or
to live. But do new I've learned
! In less than four weeks what hadn't
up till then in thirty-three years, and
probably shouldn't for thirty-three
\ IlOtt yettis--OT tiii tnc udy VI my
death. Yes, sir, I should just have
dried up like a withered leaf or an
old nut II 1t hadn't been for that
blessed girl. That's what I've got to
| thank her for+life.'
/ Christopher did not speak. What
could he say--yet? But there was
stealing into his puzzled brain glim-
mer of light Not more than a faint
glimmer. but 1t was enough to keep
him from misunderstanding the man
with name to which nothing worth
happening could ever possibly happen
do you take in my meaning, sir?"
asked Hardness. Because, If you do,
it'll be easier for me to go on"
'I--well-I suppose you've unfor-
tunately fallen in love with Miss Nour-
ma Dalrymple," blurted out Christie
pher. whose thoughts of the situation
were more delicate than his words
unfortunately in love?" repeated
Hardness, in a shocked way. "Oh
then I've been fool enough to mis-
things up SO you can't see, after all
1 Why, it's the most fortunate thing ever
happened to me- It's like being shut
up in kind of dark cell for thirty.
i three years and then having an ange
from heaven fly down to let you out
Once you're out, you know, nothing
can put you where you were before
because, when you go back into the
cell, II won't be dark or musty any
more, but full of all the glory you
saw when you were outside. If you've
got anything In you at all, you're
bound to take that much with you
Maybe you think I'm crazy, talking
like this, Mr. Race. but have to ex.
plain. And it isn't as II you were {
stranger. We've been acquainted {
mighty short while, as time goes, bu
: you're right In this chapter where tn,
angel comes in"
The missing chapter" christopher
: muttered, more to himself than tn,
other, but Hhrkness heard and an
swered--
said he. you think this Is going t.
{ be the missing chapter in my life Tha
that my friends-that my wife
won't ever know anything about IT.
Il suppose that Is what was in m,
head" Chistophe confessed.
Well, you're right. sir, in a way
Well call II the missing chapter. It'll
be that for the other people--th,
] ones who wouldn't be able to under
D stand IL IL they were told. and nigh
I set thoughts I'D rather fall dead RICH
. here than anyone--either near me o.
i far off-should have about an angel
You, for instance, wouldn't hav,
known there could be such an angel OF
earth, if you hadn't seen her and beef
: with her, would you, now?"
a No" said Christopher. She
s wonderful. You've certainly to be ex
: cused, MIR. Harkness.
r y guess ! wouldn't have been eX
h cusable If | hadn't loved her. becaus
I'd have been a block OF wood" TIL
n little man retorted almost indig
e nantly.
d But what about herr" Christophe