Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-01-11
CHAPTER XVII

The chiefs secretary said the matter
was urgent.
He hurried away leaving Celia some
what anxious lest their plans for go
ing to New York that day could not be
carried out. but she made up her mind
not to fret even if the trip had to be
put off a little. and solaced herself
with a short visit with her mother over
the telephone.
Gordon entered his chief's office a
justice to his wife he ought to take her
right back to New York and get mat
tiers there adjusted; out he feared that
there Would be business to hold him at
| nome until the Holman matter was
settled.
The chief greeted him affably and
babe him sit down.
81 am sorry to have called you up so
early" he said. but we need you. The
fact is, they've arrested Holman and
five other men. and you are in imme-
diata demand TO identify them. Would
it be asking toe much of an already
overworked man to send you back to
New York today"
Gordon almost sprang from his seat
in pleasure.
| 1t just exactly fits in with my plans,
or rather. my wishes" he said, smiling.
There are several matters of my own
that | would like to attend to in New
York and for which of course l did not
have time
He paused and looked at his chief.
half hesitating, marveling that the way
had so miraculously opened for him
to keep silence a little longer on the
subject of his marriage. Perhaps the
chief need never be told that the mar
riage look place on the day
Of the Holman dinner.
Tina is good" said the chief. smil-
i~r .V-,, ~,f L. l,D1y~ r>,N0 tIN
right to attend to our own affairs.
Then we need not feel so bad at hav-
ing to send you back. Can o go OF
the afternoon train? Good! Then let US
hear your account of your trip briefly.
to see if there are any points We didn't
notice yesterday. But first just step
here a moment. l nave something to
show you
He flung open the door to the next
office.
You knew hat Ferry had left the
department or account of his Ill
health? nave taken the liberty Of
having your things moved In here.
This will hereafter be your headquar-
tiers. and you will be next to me in the
department."
Gordon turned in amazement and
gazed at the kindly old face. Pro
motion he had hoped for. but
such promotion, right over the heads Of
his elders n superiors. he had
dreamed of receiving. He could have
taken the chief in his arms.
Pooh! POOH" said the chief. you
deserve it, you deserve it," when Cor
don tried to blunder out some words of
appreciation. Then, as if to cap the
climax, he added:
And, by the way, O know some n
has got to run across the water to look
after that Stanhope matter. That will
foil tp wa Tn, afraid Sorry TO Ian,
you trotting around the globe, but per-
haps you'll like to make a little vaca-
ton of it. The departmental give you
some time if you want it. Oh, don't
thank me! It's simply the reward of
doing our duty, to have more duties
given you, and higher ones. You have
done well, young man. l I'VE here all
the papers in the Stanhope case, and
full directions written out, and then if
you can plan for it you needn't return,
unless it suits your pleasure. You un-
derstand the matter as fully as l do al
ready. And now for business. Let's
hurry through. There are one or two
[ know you will want to hurry back
and get ready for your journey" And
so after all the account of Gordon's
extraordinary escape and eventful jour-
ney home became by reason of it's haSty
repetition a most prosaic story COM
poSeu vi TIE DdI0 ldClS ana not all or
those.
At parting the chief pressed Gordon's
hand with he%artinesS and ushered him
out into the hall, with the same
brusque manner he used to close all
business interviews, and Gordon found
himself hurrying through the familiar
halls in a daze of happiness, the secret
OF his unexpected marriage still his
oWn-and hers.
Celia was watching at the window
when his key clicked in the lock and he
let himself into the apartment his face
alight with the tov of meeting her again
after the brief absence. She turned in
q culver Of pleasure at his coming
We'll, get ready" he said joyfully.
We are ordered off to New York on
the afternoon train, with a wedding trip
to Europe into the bargain; and I'm
promoted to the next place to the chief.
What do you think of that for a morn
ing's ~surprise?"
He tossed up his hat like a boy, came
over to where she stood, and STOPPING
laid reverent lips upon her brow and
eyes.
ooh. beautiful! lovely!" cried Celia.
ecstatically. come sit down on the
couch and tell me about it. We can
work faster afterward If we get 1t OFF
shocked that you We're married with
out his permission or Knowledge"
Why. that was the best Of all. I
didn't have to tell him l was married.
And he is not to know until Just as I
sail. He need never know how 1t all
happened. 1t isn't his business and it
would be hard to explain. No one need
ever know except your mother and
brother unless you wish them to. dear"
oh, | am SO glad and relieved.' said
Celia. delightedly. I've been Worrying
o that a little-what people would
think Of us-for of course we couldn't
possibly explain it all out as it is to US.
They would always be watching us to
see II we really cared for each other:
n suspecting that we didn't, and ii
would be horrid. 1 think it is our. own
precious secret, and nobody but MAN.
ma and jeff have a right to know, don't
you?"
II certainly do, and 1 was casting
about in my mind as l went into the
office how 1 could anage not to tell
the chief, when what did he do but
spring a proposition on me to go at
to New York and identify those
men. He a%pologized tremendously for
having to send me right back again.
said it was necessary. 1 told him
1T just suited me for l had affairs Of nv
that l had not had time to attend
to when was there. and would be glad
to go back and see to them. That let
n11t an thu u,nIdj~~ ,,o.Asa- e. -,