"You must be careful. May I ask where you're going and what you expect

to do?"

"Yes, that's what I came to tell you," he replied, frankly. "I want you

to help me a little. I'm from Illinois and my people aren't so badly

off. But I don't want to go back to my home town down and out, you know.

Besides, the winters are cold there. The doctor advises me to go to

a little milder climate. You see, I was gassed, and got the 'flu'

afterward. But I know I'll be all right if I'm careful.... Well, I've

always had a leaning toward agriculture, and I want to go to Kansas.

Southern Kansas. I want to travel around till I find a place I like, and

there I'll get a job. Not too hard a job at first--that's why I'll need

a little money. I know what to do. I want to lose myself in the

wheat country and forget the--the war. I'll not be afraid of work,

presently.... Now, Miss Burch, you've been so kind--I'm going to ask you

to lend me a little money. I'll pay it back. I can't promise just when.

But some day. Will you?"

"Assuredly I will," she replied, heartily. "I'm happy to have the

opportunity to help you. How much will you need for immediate use? Five

hundred dollars?"

"Oh no, not so much as that," he replied. "Just railroad fare home, and

then to Kansas, and to pay board while I get well, you know, and look

around."

"We'll make it five hundred, anyway," she replied, and, rising, she

went toward the library. "Excuse me a moment." She wrote the check and,

returning, gave it to him.

"You're very good," he said, rather low.

"Not at all," replied Carley. "You have no idea how much it means to me

to be permitted to help you. Before I forget, I must ask you, can you

cash that check here in New York?"

"Not unless you identify me," he said, ruefully, "I don't know anyone I

could ask."

"Well, when you leave here go at once to my bank--it's on Thirty-fourth

Street--and I'll telephone the cashier. So you'll not have any

difficulty. Will you leave New York at once?"

"I surely will. It's an awful place. Two years ago when I came here with

my company I thought it was grand. But I guess I lost something over

there. ... I want to be where it's quiet. Where I won't see many

people."




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