The Raymer enterprise., 1920-12-16
CHAPTER ~
The Far Call.

Although they supplied him with
more money than any one needs, Lev
.ington was not inclined to stack world
ly possessions. His very humble
years In Dowagiac had taught him
how little the human creature requires
Somewhere In boyhood Of neglect
and frayed edges he had learned how
to feel rich without an array ot
trinkets. Tonight. his travel bag. @
black sIouchy leather affair. dear t6
his heart for having been through q
great deal with him. was packed with
clean things. and room at the top. lie
Travelled light.
The distant draw Of the sands was
upon him now. rousing the old loneli
ness that sometimes made trouble
At such times Con thought Of his
| mother. The woman next door had
told him enough to identify his fathers
beloved with the nameless beauty In
his own heart. The hurt Of this love
liness was often the starting-p0int for
a rampage In the cutters. A sweet.
ness was forever eluding him. II
swept near In the words Of Stephen
March, and at last there was guild
ance upon his energies. Their talk OF
danger was only a courtesy. as Con re-
garied II. For one who had known
the red tangles OF the underworld
peril was no more to be 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
"I'll find a cab over at the end Of the
park. That ought to break any con.
nectlon with you here"
"You do not regret your accept
anceT"
Far from IT," declared Con. hastily
DO you mind going alone?"
"NO. It will do me good. / have
everything to think over. It's rather
n strain, you see-such novelty
this strait and narrow"
They laughed.
"You haven't collapsed under It,
said March.
at Isn't narrow the way you've
brought II to me-"
~ have told you" continued the
gray.haired friend. shat probably you
will never return"
Their glanres met and held a mo.
ment. The elder sought a possible
trace Of fear, but did not find 1t. Lev.
lngton had the good taste not to utter
brave words. He had accepted his
mission.
There Is used In the Orient q very
! thin parchment, rs grateful to the
finger-tips as the cheek Of babe,
smooth as swans down. and even
more sacred to yellow men.
"Wear this over your heart" said
Andrew March. smiling.
A small folded parchment was placed
! In Cons hand. II was duplicate OF
the map on the stolen square Of silk.
This copy was In soft leather sack,
! the size Of a visiting card, to be Sc.
cured about his neck by leather cord
Andrew then gave him sealed en-.
velope, and in regard to 1t said:
81 haven't been very explicit with
you, Con. There are some things that
are not mine to tell you-now. When
you have opened and read 1t, 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 obllga.
tons of any kind. to me or any one
else. You will understand-in Shan.
sung"
March smiled family. almost with
solemnity, Lexington bowed, accept
ing the small sealed packet. He
packed 1t 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 room
Andrew March grlpped the youne
mans hand. little more tensely than
usual. and the silence between these
two was vital with enduring affection
March then took his leave.
It was not yet midnight. Con walt.
ed In his room. while the lights Of the
March house were dimmed. Into q
new clarity Of mind came images from
his earliest dnys-Shasta that beckon'
ed. the 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 one O'Clock he turned out 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 benefactor was sleeping. the
bedroom door partly open. Con had
not stopped from sentiment, but In the
darkness he caught curious scent
as Of cinnamon and musty wine II
whisked him back to a kitchen In
Dory street, and he shuddered without
knowing exactly Why. 1t was like hi
tather-shadowy. intimate. heavy-fated
IA n March fnuaf share this with