The Dolores star., 1924-08-15

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 OF
disillusionment would fail about him;
that some sudden experience would
readjust his personality in accordance
with the inevitable.
81 asked you to dine with me to-
night" he heard himself saying. for
two reasons: first, for the delight of
your exquisite companionship; and
second. because I want to talk over
with you some plans I have for the
future. The fact is, I have been in
dilemma. I 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 / am filled
with the West. Do you know what ]
mean?'
II have never lived In the West"
said Phyllis. but I 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 saw 1t clearly, and then,
all Of sudden, knew what / was
going to do.''
Grant plunged into an explanation
of what Linder had called his big
Idea" He was going back to the
ranching country to buy land and start
farm on n 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. 1t would give him a
chance to take care of Linder.
You know, I've got to take care
of Linder," he explained. land it's a
business that has to be done tactfully.
In some respects Linder is as ap-
proachable as porcupfne. I can buy
him meal or SO and get away with it,
but If he thought 1 were supporting
him out of charity he would start an
insurrection. 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. I want time to loaf and in,
vlte my soul"
They talked over many angles of the
big 1dea," and, even after he had
talked himself out, Grant continued to
sit at the little table, reveling in the
happiness Of 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 ideallsm, and
yet she felt that here, surely, was a
man who could carry almost any
project through to success. The
unique quality in him. which dIstin.
gulshed him from any other man She
had ever known, was his complete un
selfshness. In all his undertakings he
coveted no reward for himself; he was
seeking only the common good.
"It all men were Ike 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 ant
with a glance at his watch he spranf
up in surprise. II had no idea the
evening had gone!" he exclaimed. "I
have just time to see you home ant
get back to catch my train"
He called taxi and accompanied
her into it. They seated themselve.
together, and the fragrance of hel
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 1t was not necessary
that he should go West-that he shoult
see her again-in order to be sure.
Phyllis" he breathed, do yol
imagine l could undertake these thing.
if l cared only for myself-if it were
not that l longed for someone's ap
proval-for someone to be proud o.
me? The strongest man is veal
enough for that, and the strongest mar
is stronger when he knows that the
woman he loves"
He would have taken her in hi:
arms, but she resisted, gently. firmly
"You have made me think too mucl
Of you, Dennison," she whispered. .
On the way West Grant gradual.
unfolded his plan to Linder, who ac
cepted it with his customary stoicism
You are to go on with the physica
work at once" he told him. Buy TIL,
horses, tractors, machinery: break III
the land, fence it, build the houses ant
barns: in short, you are to superintent
everything that is done with muscle o
Its substitute. l will bring Murdocl
out shortly to take charge of the cler
ical details and the general organiza
ton. AS for myself, after hav,
bought the land and made the neceS