The spectator., 1921-05-20
TheWreCkerS FRANCIS LYNDE IouprEn sunmes&


 which might just as well have stood over until the next morning. if you want to know. After 1 had delivered 1t, Mrs. Sheila gave me that funny little laugh of hers and told me to go hunt in the pantry and see if I could hnd piece of pie, and the boss added that if I'd wait, he'd go back to town with me pretty soon.
 l found the pie, and ate it in the dining-room. making noise enough about it so that they could know l was there if they wanted to. But they went right on talking, and paid no attention to me
 Do you know. Sheila, they had long since got past the Mir" and Mrs. ."-"you've been the greatest pos sible help to me in this rough-house, all the way along" the boss was say ing. You have held me up to the rack, time and again, when l have been ready to throw it all up and let go. Why have you done it?"
 l heard the little laugh again and she said: "It is worth something to have friend. Odd as it may seem, Graham, 1 have been singularly pow erty-stricken in that respect. And have wanted 70 see you succeed. Though you are still calling 1t merely business deal it Is really q mis- sion, you know, crammed full of good things to struggling world. If you do succeed-and I am sure you are going to-yOu will leave this commu- nifty, and hundreds of others. vastly the better for what you are doing and demonstrating"
 But that Is a mans point of view" the boss persisted. How do you get 1t? You are all woman, you know; and your mixing and mingling-at least, since 1 have known you-has all been purely social. How do you get the big overlook"
 Il don't know I was foolish and frivolous once, like most young girls, I suppose. But we all grow older; and We ought to grow wiser. Besides, the woman has the advantage of the man in one respect she has time to think and plan and reason things out as a busy man cant have Your prOb- lem has seemed very simple to me. from the very beginning. It asked for strong man and an honest one. You were to take charge of piece of property that had been abused and knocked about and used as means of extortion and oppression, and you were to make it good"
 Again, that is mans point of view"
 "Oh, mo- she protested quickly. "There is no sex in ethics. Women are the natural house-cleaners, perhaps but that isn't saying that man can't be one, too. if he wants to be-
 At this the boss got up and began to tramp up and down the room; I could hear him. l knew she'd been having the biggest kind of a job to keep him shut up in this sort of abstract corral. when all the time he was loving her fit 10 kill, but ap- parently she had been doing 1t. sue cessfuliy. There wasn't the fantest breath of sentiment in the air; not
 
 again, l could somehow feel that she was just in time to prevent his break ing out into all sorts of love-making.
 The time has come. now. when you must take another leaf out of my book" she said, with just the proper little cooling tang In her voice. Up to the present you have been hammer ing your way to the end like a strong man, and that was right. But you have been more or less reckless-and that isn't right or fair or just to lot of other people,"
 The tramping stopped and heard him say: II don't know what you mean"
 ''l mean that matters have come to such a pass now that you cant afford to tafe any risks-personal risks. If the plan the enemy is trying doesn't work. it will try another and more desperate one.'
 You've been talking to Ripley" he laughed Ripley wants me to become gun-toter and provide myself with a body-guard. I'd look well, wouldn't I? But what do you mean by the plan the enemy is now trying?
 She hesitated a little. and then said "I shall make no charges, because l have no proof. But I read the news papers. and Mir. Van Britt tells me something, now and then. You are having terrible lot of wrecks."
 That is merely bad luck" he re- joined easily.
 "Rashness Is no part of true cour- age" she interpolated. calmly. "As a private individual you might say that your life is your own. and that you have n perfect right to risk 1t as you please. But as the general manager of the railroad, with lot of your friends holding office under you. you can't say that. Besides. you are fight ing for cause, and that cause will stand or fall with you"
 You ought to be a member of this .,a,,, rafor,, lauiclatura that ,np.a of