The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-18
EVENING STORY
Who Ordered the Munitions?
(By F. H. Sweet.)

(By F. H. Sweet.)
i John thought of Dora and groaned,
for John was $4,000 poorer than
zero.
Worse than that, he was chained
to the abysmal debt so he could not go
off and make start like other men.
He sat in his office chair in a vast
silence-a silence that had lasted
more than year, a silence of a great
the whirr of machinery and the
voices of men.
Very often he sat in the office chair
by himself, for he had nothing else to
do-except write letters. He had
written dozens of them He wrote
it into the waste basket, as he had
the others. With nothing he could
ask Dora to marry him and they
could commence life together. But he
could not ask her to help bear the
burden of a $4,000 debt.
Following a routine, he left the Of
flee chair and walked thru the great
building. One floor was empty and
echoed holloway under his tread. The
next was covered with machines a
few years out of date. and, in the
manufacture of modern firearms, that
might as well have been a thousand.
John knew it, and so did the creditors.
They had sold the good machines
after his fathers death and left the
junk. No offer could be obtained for
the building, or that would have gone.
1t and the junk remained in Johns
possession.
About the debt were certain things
that made John feel in honor bound
to remain until the property could be
sold and his fathers name cleared.
Running away would ,be an acknowl-
edgment of shame and cowardice.
A postman's whistle sounded outside
and John went to the door. Letters
were not common occurrences in these
days. Perhaps Dora had written. Pos
sibly the creditors were planning an
other try at selling the building and
its junk.
He sat down at che desk to read the
letter. Two Enclosures were found,
one of them slip that he stared at
with bullying eyes. 1t was a check for
$25, 200, duly made out to him.
Then he read the letter 1t ran:
John Denham:
Dear Sir--Inquiries prove you are
la man we need. You understand the
manufacture of munitions we want
power, the transportation facilities.
But you are idle. This is not good for
a man like you We incloSe 5000.
Fill your building at once with ma
listed below. A check for $4,000 will
follow in a few days if you cash this.
which will show you are weary of be-
ing idle. The $4,000 will fit your
building to commence work. Then
we will place with you an initial order
of not less than d quarter of a mil
lion. AS rapidly as goods are finished,
ship them to Roger Stag, Norfolk
You have unused energy. Now is
the time to force it. Work day and
night"
Then followed the list of machines
hi fao
glowing. Then he frowned. The
letter was without signature. Who
was he to work for? He hated mys-
teries Suppose he should cash the
check and then find himself involved
in something he would not like.
There was nothing to go by but the
check. 1t was signed ELLIS Drew"
on a bank in Lynchburg. John took
the next train for Lynchburg.
The bank people directed him to an
obscure business street, where he
found Ellis Drew to be the proprietor
of small stationery shop. Drew was
a little old man with an embarrassed,
apologetic face When John showed
him the check and demanded further
particulars the embarra ssment became
plain trepidation.
Il don't know a thing he be-
gan.
yes, sir"
Tell me about it"
Drew glanced apprehensively toward
the door. No one seemed about to en-
ter.
Come back into my office" he said,
lowering his voice.
John followed him to a tiny room
and the door was carefully closed.
Now, sir, 1 really don't know a
thing" Drew declared, in a whisper.
THE money was sent to me by check,
with an order to send it on to you. L
was presented with hundred dollars
for doing it. 1 hope nothing is wrong,
sir, for 1--we spent part of the hun
dred for goods"
DO you remember who sent you
the check, and what bank it was On ?''
Yes, sir never saw so large a
closely. 1t was signed "A Lawrence.
and was on the Second National Bank
of Richmond. I hope
IA, al right right; Thank YOU; H..
to East Franklin street, where he
found A. Lawrence occupying a pre-
tentious residence A maid showed
him to drawing room. A stately
vanced toward him inquiringly.
You wish to see me 2?
NO. / called to see Mr.. A. Law
rence-your husband, perhaps?"
Il am A Lawrence-what do you
John frowned. then laughed
81 suppose it's another case of Ellis
Drew he said. You sent him a
check, he sent me one. Might 1 in
quire who sent one to you?"
It am speaking to MIR. John Den
ham, 1 SUPPOSE"
Yes"
Late idle against his will, with a
great power at hand equally idle. Now
there opens an opportunity for both 70
use their energy to the full Is it not
ienough?''
II don't like to work blindly.''
LAS to the check, did send one to