The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-09-03

| mere seemed no reason why OI<h'
should not there and then have fald
himself, fguratively. at her feet And
there was not any reason-only one.
He wanted first to go West. He almost
hoped that out there some light o.
establishment would fall about him I;
that some sudden experience would
readjust his personality in accordance
with the Inevitable.
Il asked you to dine with me TO
night" he heard himself saying. for
two reasons: first, for the delight OF
your exquisite companionship; ana
second. because I want to talk over
with you some plans I have for the
future. The fact is, I have been In
| dilemma / find that Murdoch, like
the canny old Scot he Is, has doubled
my fortune during my little engage
ment overseas, and now have to take
up the reins again. But 1 am filed
with the West. Do you know what l
mean?"
81 have never lived In the West"
said Phyllis, but think can guess.
You're homesick for It,"
That's it-homesick for 1t; for the
smell of a thousand miles Of grass.
and sunny hillsides dotted with cattle,
and fellows who take you for what
you are-or don't take you at all. A
| brokers' life, no matter how success
| full, has nothing to offer which COM
pares with that. 1t wasn't until last
night that 1 saw 1t clearly, and then,
all of a sudden, / knew what l was
going to do"
Grant plunged into an explanation
of what Under had called his Big
Idea" He was going back to the
ranching country to buy land and start
a farm on a large scale. He believed
he could make money out of 1t, but
more attractive was the prospect OF
outdoor life and an opportunity to
offer employment to many of the boys
of his battalion who, upon their return
home, had not found their fortunes
doubled-if they had any fortunes to
double. Besides, it would give him 4
chance to take care of Under.
you know, I've got TO take care
Of Under" he explained, land It's
business that has to be done tactruily.
In some respects Under is as ap-
proachable as a porcupine. l can buy
him a meal or so and get away with II,
but if he thought were supporting
him out of charity he would start an
Instruction Now, I'm going to make
him manager Of the farm the stars In
their courses shaped him for just that
Job. AS for me, I'll stay in the back
ground. 1 want time TO loaf and In
vite my SOUL"
They talked over many angles OF the
big Idea" and, even after he had
talked himself out, Grant continued to
sit at the little table, reveling In the
happiness of a man who feels that he
has been called to some purpose worth
while. His companion hesitated to In
terrupt his thoughts; her somewhat
drab business experience made her
pessimistic toward all idealism, and
vet she felt that here, surely, was
man who could carry almost any
project through to success. The
unique quality in him, which distin-
guished him from any other man she
had ever known, was his complete IN
selfishness. In all his undertakings he
coveted no reward for himself; he was
seeking only the common good.
"It all men were like you there
would be no problems" she murmured,
and while he could not accept the
words quite at par they rang very
pleasantly in his ears
A movement among the diners re
minded him of the flight of time and
with a glance at his watch he sprang
up in surprise. Il had no Idea the
evening had gone," he exclaimed. Il
have just time to see you home and
get back to catch my train"
He called a taxi and accompanied
her into 1t. They seated themselves
together, and the fragrance of her
presence was very sweet about him
1t would have been so easy to forget
all that he had been trying to forget
in the intoxication of such environ |
ment. Surely it was not necessary |
that he should go West-that he should |
see her again-in order to be sure.
Phyllis" he breathed, do you
imagine could undertake these things
if l cared only for myself-if it were
not that l longed for someone's ap-
someone to be proud OF
me? The strongest man Is weak
enough for that, and the strongest man
is stronger when he knows that the
woman he loves"
He would have taken her in his
arms, but she resisted. gently. firmly.
You have made me think too much
Of you. Dennison." she whispered.
On the way West Grant gradually
his plan to Under, who ac-
copied it with his customary stoicism.
you are to go on with the physical
work at once" he told him. Buy the
horses. tractors, machinery; break up
he land, fence 1t, build the houses and
,arns in short, you are TO superintend
that is done with muscle or
is substitute. l will bring Murdoch
,ut shortly to take charge of the cler-
COL Jotoftc opd tba oonora1 OrCaniza-