Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-08-09
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New Call
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BY r. RAY BAKER

and the color Of his eyes too closely
rcscmbled that Of the ocean. Again, he
had three frecklcs, one ON the left side
Of his neck, one on his chin and the
other near the tip Of his nose. They
were faint freckles, but they and the
hair and the eyes would belle any as
sumption that he belonged to the tribes
Of swarthy nomadS.
Nevertheless. Earl and gypses had
one pronounced trait In common. It
was the wandorust. Ie had Travelled
on five of the seven seas; he had
killed crocodlcs on the Amazon, kan
garoos in Australia aud mosquitoes in
New Jersey. lie had eaten salmon in
Portland, Orc rice In Tokyo, and
pruncs In France, MS well ms In Brook
Ign. He was Il nonad.
After seeing all The sights offered
by II countries some strange within
of fate guided him to Gcmport, a
town in the state of Washington
that the map makers forgot, and he
took job In the First Second, Third,
and only national or any other kind
Of bank TO be found there. A whole
year he spent at the desk, and he ac-
tually had begun to have that settled
sensation, when along came Il letter
from Edward Stevens. The letter was
postmarked Wawason, Alaska, and it
had to do with nuggets and n sure-pay
venture. II II had been from anyone
else, Earl would hive been exceeding
ly skeptcal. but Stevens had been
his companion In several adventurous
rambles into strange climes, and his
good intentions and vcracity were not
to be questioned.
The letter revived fine longing to
roam. 1t caused the old call of advcn-
ture to echo and re.echo through
Earls mind. 1t was TN irresistible
call, which had only been lying dor
mant during the last year and was
not silenccd forever as he had come
to suppose. So he prepared to re-
spond.
There was only one drawback. The
drawback was Elsie Webb, diminu-
tive, dark-eyed, attractive piece OF
humanity employed in the bank. Until
the receipt of the letter Earl had con-
sidcred her an inspiration; but now
she was In the way to his answering
&c 4 La fAnH "A
her to such an extent that he had
asked her TO marry him only two
weeks prcylously-and she had con-
scented: but that was before this letter
came Offering him riches and red-blood-
cd life in Alaska. II suddenly dawned
on him that he had made IA mistake.
He could see now that he was In no
financial condition to be married. The
money he had saved was scarcely
enough for the proNrbal rainy day;
while this letter from Stevens offered
an opportunity TO obtain II fortune and
pave the way to luxury.
So he told her his intentions the
night after he received the summons
from the north. He preached the sun
ject as carefully ms possible and with
ms much consideration for her feelings
ms he could muSter--which wasn't say
ing much. She merely bit her lip and
nickered her cycIaShcs and said:
AN right, Earl. You know best. I
would not sisnd In the way of your
success for the world. We will con-
slider the engagement ut an end"
He left her home In rather dazed
condition. She had taken the matter
very sensihly, he told himself, and yet
he felt sure that she cared more than
she showed. lie could have felt pretty
downcaSt himself only he dared not
permit it. The old call was sounding
and he must answer.
It was early In the evening and some
late workers We're just jOurneylng
homeward. one Of them, a sturdy
Young man with healthy face and
steadfast eye, carrying dinner-pail,
stopped Earl and asked for match to
light his briar pipe.
"Thanks" said the laborer, as he
pufrcd contentrdly after Earl had fur
nishcd the article sought. mice eve
ming"
Tho laborer walked of briskly.
"1Iurrying home to his family"
unused Earl. ut must seem rather
nice"
But he must not let such thoughts
intrudr. They might deter him from
his chosen course So he thrust them
inside and the next day drew all his
savings from the bank and resigned
his job.
Two weeks later he stepped of a
boat ut Sitka and clasped the hand OF
his Old pal, robust, weather-heaten
man of thirty, clad in fur-fringed
clothes. Earl was escorted to hotel,
where he was OutGtted in apparel ap-
propriate to n journey inland.
'Its regular bonanza--a sure
thing" said Stevens, MS they sat In
the lobby discussing the proposed VEN
ture. "All we gotta do is TO get the
coin. There's another young fellow in
town that. I'd have taken if couldn't
a landed you. His name is John
Pierce, an he's regular scout, but o
course I'd rather take my old chum;
nm two besides myself In the crowd
Is one unnecessary. It's goln' to be a
tough trip, too, let me tell you. I've
got twelve huskies but I doubt if six
of them will live to reach the end o.
the trip Real adventure, Of top, right
out of the wilds, mn new kind to
you. Bettern workin' in any little Of
bank, eh Of man."
While they were talking Earl no
Catarrh Cannot Be Cured
with LOCAL APPLICATIONS, as they