The daily Alaskan., 1916-11-01

stock of the business world"
 "It mustn't" said Jcphson coolly.
 Tt might!' roared Thacker.
 Ay. Minot arrived with blank pol icy, and Mir. Jephson sat down at the young mans desk.
 For time there was no sound in the room save thc scratching of two pens, while Mir. ThNcEcr gazed open mouthed at MT. Minot and Mir. Minot light heartedly smiled back. Then Mir. Jephson reached for a b!otter.
 'I shall attend to tue London end of this when reach there five days hence" he said. Perhaps l can find another underwater to share the risk with me"
 As the dCor closed upon the noble man MT. Thucker turned explosively on his friend from ovCrsca.
 -"JephSon," he thundered, you're an Idiot! A rank unmitlgated idiotE'
 The Peter Pan light was bright in Jephsou's eyes.
 "So new" he half whispered. "So original. Bless the boys heart. I've been waiting forty years for proposi' ton like that"
 Do you realize" Thacker cried, that f75,COO of your good money de bends on the honor of Lord Harrow by?" - .-
 'T do," returned Jephson. And l would not Le concerned if 1t were ten times that sum. know the breed. Why, once-and you, Thacker, would have called me an idiot on that occa- sion, tool insured his father against the loss of a polo game by a team on which the earl was playing. And he played like the devil-the earl did-won the game himself An, l know the breed
 "Oh, we'll" sighed Thacker, "l won't argue. But ono thing Is certain, Jeph- son. You cant go back to England now. Your place is ill San Marco with one hand on the rope that rings the wedding bells"
 Jephson shook his great bald head.
 "NO," he said "I must return today. It Is absolutely necessary. My inter ests in San Marco are in the hands of Providence"
 MT. Thacker walked the floor wildly.
 Providence needs help in handling a woman" he protested. Miss Mey- rick must not change her mind. Some one must see that she doesn't If you can't go yourself''- He paused, reflect ing. Some young man, active, ca pable"-
 Mir. Richard Minot had risen from his chair and was moving softly to- ward his overcoat. Looking over his shoulder, he beheld MT. Thacker's keen eyes upon him.
 Just going out to lunch" he said guiltily.
 'Slt down, Richard" remarked Mir, Thacker, with decision.
 MT. MinOt sat, the dread of some thing impending in his heart.
 Mir. Thacker wheeled dramatically and faced his young assistant.
 Richard" he ordered, ''go to San Marco. Go to San Marco and see to 1t that Miss Cynthia Meyrick does not change her mind."
 A gone feeling shot through MT. Mi not in the vicinity of his stomach. It was possible that he really needed that lunch.
 "Yes, sir" be said faintly. "Of course it's up to me to do anything you say. If you insist I'll go, but
 "But what, Richard"
 Isn't 1t a rather big order? Women aren't they like an-er-April after noon-or something of that sort2 It seems to me I've read they were-in books"
 "Humph," snorted MT. Thacker. 'Is your knowledge of the ways of women confined to books?
 A close observer might have noted the ghost of a smile in Mir. Minot's clear blue eyes.
 'In part, it is," he admitted. And then again-in part, 1t isn't"
 "Well, put away your books, my boy" !" said Mir. Thacker. "A nice, instructive little vacation has fallen on you from heaven. Mad old JephsOn here must be saved from himself. That wedding must take place-posItively, rain or shine. l trust you to see that 1t does, Richard"
 MT. Minot rose and stepped over to bis hat and coat.
 'Tm off to San Marco" he announced blithely. His lips were firm, but smil- ing. "The land of sunshine and flow ers-and orange blossoms or know the reason why"
 q won't disappoint you," Dick Minot promised. A look of seriousness fash ed across his face. Miss Cynthia Meyrick changes her mind only over my dead body"
 He paused for a second at the door, and his eyes grew suddenly thoughtful
 q wonder what she's like?" he mur mured.
 Then, with a smile toward the two men left behind, he went out and down that stenographer bOrdered lane to Se%s Marco.