Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-01-12
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
The next morning quite early the
phone called Gordon to the office.
Was urgent.
He hurried away leaving Celia some
what anxious lest their plans for 60
ing to New York that day could mo- be
carried out. but she made up her mind
not to fret even if the trip had to be
with a short visit with her mother over
the telephone.
Gordon entered his chiefs office a
trlfle anxiously. for he felt that in
justice to his wife he ought to take her
right back to New York and get mat
there woul be business to hold him at
home until the Holman matter was
settled.
The chief greeted him affably and
babe him sit down.
IL am sorry to ave 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 too much of an already
overworked man to send you back to
New York today"
Gordon almost Sprang from his seat
In pleasure.
lit just exactly fits in with my plans,
or rather. my wishes" he said. smiling.
There are several matters of my own
that 1 would like to attend to in New
York and for which of course I did not
AVE time"
He paused and looked at his chief,
half hesitating. marveling that the way
had SO m~iraculOuSly 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
\ r~f ro <~~1y ~11@- Ill., H.,
of the Holman dinner.
THAT is GOOD" said the chief. smil-
ing. You certainly have earned the
right to attend to your own affairs.
Then we need not feel so bad at hav-
ing to send o back. Can you go on
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. 1 ave something to
show YOU"
He flung open the door to the next
office.
You knew that Ferry had left the
department on account Of his ILL
health? I have taken the liberty OF
having Your things moved in here.
This will hereafter be your headquar-
ters. and you will be next to me in III
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 and superiors. ne had never
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, you know some one
hoo Onf TN nv oprn0o tho unfair tn 0nnl
after that Stanhope matter. That will
fall to 70. I'm afraid. Sorry to keep
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 II you want it. Oh. don't
doing your duty, to have more duties
given you, and higher ones. You have
done we'll, young man. I have here all
the papers in the Stanhope cas- and
full directions written out, and then, IL
you can plan for 1t o needn't return.
unless it suits your pleasure. You un-
derstand the matter as fully as I do al
ready. And now for business. Let's
hurry through. There are one or two
little matters who must talk over and
know you will want to hurry back
and get ready for your Journey" And
so after all the count Of Gordon's
extraordinary escape and eventful jour-
ney hons became by reason of its hasty
repetition a most prosaic story COM
posed Of the bare facts and not all of
those.
At parting the chief pressed Gordoh's
hand with h%eartiness 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 h joy OF meeting her again
after the brief absence. She turned In
a culver Of pleasure at hts coming.
We'll, get ready" he said joyfully
I'VE are ordered Off to New York ION
the afternoon train. with q wedding trip
to Europe n the bargain. and I'm
promoted to the next place to the. chief
What do you think Of that for q morn
,ing's surprtse?"
He tossed up his hat nike q boy, came
over to where h stood. and STOPPING
laid reverent lips upon her brow and
eyes.
ooh. beautiful! lovely" cried Celia