The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-06-14
WHO SENT THE ORDER
BY r. n. SWEET.

Worse than that, he was chained to
the abysmal debt so he could not go
off and make a start like other men.
He sat In his office chair In a vast
silence-a silence that had lasted moro
than year, a silence of a great build
ing that had grown strange to the
whir 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.
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
sibly the creditors were planning an
other try at selling the building and
its Junk.
He sat down at the desk to read the
letter. Two Enclosures were found, one
of them slip that he stared at with
bulging eyes. 1t was a check for $685.
600, duly made out to him.
Then he read the letter. It ran:
John Denham:
Dear Sir-Inqfiries prove you are
q man we need. You understand the
manufacture of munitions we want.
You have the building, the motive pow
er, the transportation facilities. But
you are idle. This is not good for a
man like you. We inclose $25, 900.
Fill your building at once with ma
chimes to manufacture the munitions
listed below. A check for $4,000 will
follow In 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
win place with you an initial order of
not less than q quarter of a million.
AS rapidly as goods are finished, ship
them to Roger Stag, Norfolk.
"You have unused energy. Now Is
the time to force 1t. Work day and
night"
Then followed the list of machines.
John drew a long breath, his face
glowing. Then he frowned. The let
ter was without signature. Whom was
he to work for?
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,
apologize face. When John showed
him the check and demanded further
particulars the embarrassment became
plain trepidation.
81 don't know a thing" he began.
"Yes you do. You signed the check.
Do you remember what bank it was
on?
"Yes sir. 1t was signed "A Law
renee and was on the Second National
Bank of Richmond"
The Second National directed him
TO East Franklin street, where he
found A. Lawrence occupying q pre-
tentious residence. A maid showed
him to drawing room. A stately
young woman soon entered and adj
vanced toward him inquiringly.
II am A. Lawrence-what do you
wish?"
II suppose it's another case of Ellis
Drew" he said. "You sent him
check, he sent me one. Might In
quire who sent one to your
II am speaking to Mr.. John Denham,
I SUPPOSED"
"Yes."
Late Idle against his will, with
great power at hand equally idle. Now
there opens an opportunity for both
to use their energy to the full. Is II
not enough?"
II 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-
GUS"
"Who sent you the check?" asked
John bluntly,
"If you show yourself q good busi-
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 n
calculated John.
And another check will follow
In due course, am informed. That Is
all, l think. Good day"
Three days later pretty ntlale
came hurrying into Johns With
her brown eyes big with de-
light.
ooh, john" she breatl. MT
it-wonderful ~
SIT Is" he assured her; i
In density"
II doDt mean what you told me
about starting the business, but this
morning. Did you get my letter."
Carrier hasn't got round yet"
swell, he'll bring It," she said, her
eyes dancing. at came by special de-
livery this morning, check all filled
out for me to sign, for $50000-$50,-
600 made out to you, John. But /
didn't dare to sign till l went to the
bank to see II twas true, and the cash
Ter said twas. The moneys there
And In my letter was a present of five
hundred dollars for--for--" Her face
flushed roslly as she added. "pin
money"