Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-05-20
WHO SENT THE ORDER
By F. Fl. SWEET.

JOnn thought of Dora and grOaned, for John was $1OOOO poorer than zero. Worse than that, he was chained to the abysmal debt so he could not go OH and make a start like other men. He sat in his office chair in q vast s1lence-a silence that had lasted more than year, silence of a great build- ing that had grown strange to the Whir of machinery and the voices of 1 men.
 Very often he sat in the office chair by himself, for he hadshothing else to do-except write letters. He had | written dozens of them. Following a routine, he left the office chair and walked through the great building. 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- 1 sibly the creditors were planning an- | it's junk.
 He sat down at the desk to read the | letter. Two inclOsures were found, one | of them slip that he stared at with I bulging eyes. It was a check for $25,- l OOO, duly made out to him.
 Then he read the letter. It ran: "John Denham:
 Dear Sir-Inquiries prove you are a man we need. You understand the l manufacture of munitions we want. You have the building, the motive DOW CT, the transportation facilities. But you are idle. This is not good for a man like, you. We inclose $25,OOO. Fill your building at once with ma- chimes to manufacture the munitions listed below. A check for $5O,OOO will follow in few days if you cash this, which will show you are weary of be- ing idle. The $75,00O will fit your building to commence work. Then we will place with you an initial order of not less than quarter of million. 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.
 John drew a. long breath, his face glowing. Then he drowned. The let ter was without signature. Whom was he to work for?
 There was nothing to go by but the check. It was signed "Ellis Drew," on 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 little old man with an embarrassed, apologetic face. When John showed him the check aAd demanded further particulars thes Embarrassment became plain trepidations
 "I don't know thing-'' he began.
 "Yes you do. You signed the check. Do you remember what bank it was on?''
 "Yes sir It was signed "A Law rence,' and was on the Second National Bank of Richmond" . The Second National directed him to East Franklin street, where he found A. Lawrence occupying pre- tentious residence. A maid showed him to a drawing room. A stately young woman soon entered and ad- vanced toward him inquiringly.
 q am A. Lawrence-what do you wish?"
 "I suppose it's another case of Ellis Drew," he said. "You sent him q check, he sent me one. Might I in- quire who sent one to you?"
 "I am speaking to Mir. John Denham, I suppose?"
 "Yes."
 "Late idle against his will, with a great power at hand equally idle. Now there opens an opportunity for both to use their energy to the full. Is it not enough?"
 "I don't like to work blindly."
 "As to the check, did send one to Ellis Drew, who continued the amount on to you. A lady does not like to make herself unnecessarily conspicu- ous."
 "Who sent you the check?" asked John bluntly. Il you SHOW yOuISclI Il SOOU DuSl. ness man," the woman went on, calm- ly, "another check will reach you in a few days through Lanes National bank"
 "Why, that's my own home bank" ejaculated John.
 And another check will follow in due course, I am informed. That is all, think. Good day" Three days later pretty Dora Opdale came hurrying into Johns office with her brown eyes big with amazed de- 1 light.
 "Oh, John!" she breathed. "Isn't 1 Iit-wOnderful! '"
 l Tt is" he assured her: "WOnderful