Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-11
THE TWICE AMERICAN
b. Eleanor NJ. Ingram . A4thor Of From the ca Behind


listed cables and wireless apparatus.
Noel could be reached at any time.
Nevertheless, there was much to be
DONE
The day before that one fixed for
the departure, Noel spoke abruptly to
Corey Bruce on a subject not broach-
ed between them for over. a year.
They were alone in the library to-
ghether, Bruce writing. Noel stand
Unobserved by Bruce, the other man
had been watching him for some mo-
ments. There was a conscientious at
tention and care expressed in every
line Of the. engineers STOPPING figure,
as he bent over his desk, that had
something of pathos to one who knew
his history. Debarred from ambition
for himself he toiled patiently, and
Fundamentally along the road of 9TH
err mems achievements. An exile
from his country and his people, he
made no complaint, but served where
n how he could. No n but David
Noel thought how ironic a reversal of
apparent destinies it was that Corey
Bruce should be working so for him.
One of them born to an inheritance
of everything desirable: the other
ing, with every handicap of environ
ment. Yet they stood here, both of
them still in their youth, in the prac-
teal relation of patron and depend
ent.
Bruce, did Milo Valdez give you a
paper from his father, today?" Noel
broke a long silence.
The other man carefully marked
his place in the work that engaged
him, and turned around.
YES he affirmed. This ,mosn-
ing"
"You understood it? You knew
! what it was?"
Yes. yes, indeed" Bruce ran his
fingers through his bushy hair, look
ing earnestly toward the safe in the
corner behind the hangings that con-
cealed its steel ugliness. II put it
away"
Noel leaned on the high back of the
chair near him. The expression in
his grey eyes was rather of curiosity
than of resentment or disappoint-
ment, although he had a certain JUS
LITIGATION for both emotions.
Take care of it," he counselled, a
: trif1e curtly. Submarines have made
ocean travel less of a certainty than
1t used to be. If anything happens to
me on the way up the coasts, or the
way back. you might find trouble in
duplicating that document. Especial
ly as Milo goes with met"
But submarines aren't attacking
coasting ,vessels?" Bruce exclaimed,
startled.
"One might make a mistake" dry
ly. Such a mistage might suit
Jacinto Meyer very we'll; he might
even communicate that possibility to
the commander of an undersea craft.
Oh, I do not say there is any likeli-
hood of such an event. Still, it is we'll
IN no rrarorad For occi1o~<eS
II, l hope there are precautions
TAKEN" Bruce stammered.
Yes. We shall sail a week before
the date given out as hat of our
leaving; on the steamer in advance
of the n on which our passage is
officially and publicly engaged"
Another pause followed. Noel sur
veyed his companion; his first curl
osity becoming keen speculation as
Bruce evinced no intention of speak
ing further on the subject. He did
not understand the usually transpar-
ent Bruce, and his failure to do Sc
annoyed Noel more. than the other
mans lack of warmth. Gratitude
from Bruce would: have embarrassed
rather than gratifed him; Noel dis.
liked effusion of every kind. But the
absence of a word, a glance of appre.
citation was unnatural. Surely it was
an ~ungracious pride that would bend
to no Acknowledgement of a kind.
ness: a pride he had thought foreign
to Bruce.
The engineer, becoming aware of ar
unusual element in the long silence
presently drew himself put of the alb.
straction into { which Noel's hint OF
disaster had immersed him. He took
off his glasses, looked at them on both
sides. and replaced them, then turned