The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-04-08
CHAPTER III
The Ear Call.

~ possessions. His very humble
years in Dowagiac had taught him
how little the human creature requires.
Somewhere in a boyhool of neglect
and frayed edges he had learned how
to feel rich without. I'm array Of
trinkets. Tonight. his travel bag, Il
black slouchy leather affair. dear to
his heart for having been through IL
great deal with him. vas packed with
clean things. and room at the top. He
travelled light.
The distant draw Of the sands was
upon him now. rousing the old loncli.
Ness that sometimes made trouble.
At such times Con thought of his
mother. Tie next door had
told him enough 10 identify his fathers
beloved with the nameleSs beauty in
his own heart. The hurt of this love
illness was often the S.ar1ing-point for
a rampage in the cutters. 4 sweet
ness was forever eluding him. Ii
swept neal in the words Of Stephen
March. and at last there was a guild.
~ tI"tt lIS NV Slts. lSil tstlN VI
danger WAS only a courtesy. as Con re.
gnrded it. For n who had known
the red tangleS of the underworld,
peril WAS no more to he feared than
thunder in the night.
Andrew March entered Cons room.
ut might be better to leave a dark
house" he suggested.
~ understand" replied Lexington.
''Tll find a cab over at the end of the
park. That ought to break any con
necti"n with YOU here"
"YeG do MOI regret your accept
ance:"
Ear from it," declared Con. hastily.
do YOU mind going alone?"
NO. it will do me good. ! have
everything to think over. It's rather
a strain. You see-such a novelty
this strait and narrow"
They laughed.
"You haven't collapsed under it,"
said March.
at isn't narrow the way you've
brought it to Inc"
II have told you." continued the
gray-haired friend, that probably you
will never return"
Their glanceS met and held a mo-
ment. The elder sought a possible
trace of fear. but did not find it. Lev
inSton had the good taste not to utter
brave words. He had accepted his
mission.
There is used in the Orient a very
thin parchment. as grateful to the
tinger-tip> as the cheek Of &; babe.
smooth as swans down. and ever
more sacred to yellow men.
Wear this over your heart" said
Andrew March. smiling.
a small folded parchment was placed
in Cons hand. 1t was Il duplicate of
the map on tle stolen square Of silk.
This copy was in Il soft leather sack,
the size of a visiting card, to he Sc
cured about his neck by a leather cord.
Andrew then a Y him a sealed en-
velOpe. and in regard to it said:
81 haven't been very explicit with
on. Con. There are some things that
are not mine to tell you-now. When
you have opened and read it. you will
have committed yourself, and you
must not turn back. The breaking of
the seal is your pledge. But until
then, YOU are free. you have no obliga-
else. YOn will Understandable Shan
sung"
March smiled family. almost with
S0lemnity. Lexington bowed, accept
ing the small sealed packet. He
packed it to the bottom of the bag.
Presently they went to the fathers
room. The old man stood up, tall and
steady. the light Of youth in his eyes.
There was "a brief farewell, firmly
spoken. Again in Levington's DOM,
Andrew March eripped the young
mans hand, a little more tensely than
usual. and the silence between these
two vas vital with enduring affection.
March then took his leave.
1t was not yet midnight. Con wait
cd in his room. while the lights Of the
March house we're dimlned. Into a
new clarity Of mind came images from
his earliest days-Shasta that hcckon-
ed. tn" alley in Memphis. and one
humid evening in the harbOr OF Flop.
ura. Con wanted his father. forget.
ting that he was twenty-five.
About II o'clock he turned gu his
own light and left the friendly room.
passing down the hall, the black bag
with him. At the door Of Andrew
March's room he paused an instant.
His henefactOr u sleeping, the
bedroom door partly open. Con had
not stopped from sentiment, but in the
darkness he caught a curious scent,
as OF cinnamon and mus,y wine. II
whiskcd him back to Il Kitchen In
D0ry street. and he s%hudhercd without
knowing exactly why. 1t was like his
fntl,er-Sladowy. intimate. leavy-fated
as il March must share This with
Iolin Lexington as Il perSOnni uuaIity
:'On almost believed h. iuun.ir.d the
! perfume. II was the very o,!or ol