to him that hath-第5章

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A　silence　fell　in　the　room　for　a　minute。

〃Poor　old　Caramus！　　I　saw　him　in　the　City　a　month　ago；〃　said　the
father。　　〃I　pitied　the　poor　wretch。　　He　was　alone　in　the　Club；　not
a　soul　would　speak　to　him。　　He　has　got　his　hell。〃

〃He　deserves　itall　of　it；　and　all　who　like　him　have　got　fat　on
blood　money。　　Do　you　know；　Dad；　when　I　see　those　men　going　about　in
the　open　and　no　one　kicking　them　I　get　fairly　sick。　　I　don't　wonder
at　some　of　the　boys　seeing　red。　　You　mark　my　words；　we　are　going　to
have　bad　times　in　this　country　before　long。〃

〃I　am　afraid　of　it；　boy。　　Things　look　ugly。　　Even　in　our　own　works
I　feel　a　bad　spirit　about。　　There　are　some　newcomers　from　the　old
country　whom　I　can't　say　I　admire　much。　　They　grouch　and　they　won't
work。　　Our　production　is　lower　than　ever　in　our　history　and　our
labor　cost　is　more　than　twice　what　it　was　in　1914。〃

〃Well；　Dad；　give　them　a　little　time　to　settle　down。　　I　have　no　more
use　for　a　slacker　than　I　have　for　a　war　millionaire。〃

〃We　can't　stand　much　of　that　thing。　　Financially　we　are　in　fairly
good　shape。　　We　broke　even　with　our　aeroplane　work。　　But　we　have　a
big　stock　of　spruce　on　handhigh…priced　stuff；　tooand　a　heavy；
very　heavy　overhead。　　We　shall　weather　it　all　right。　　I　don't　mind
the　wages；　but　we　must　have　production。　　And　that's　why　I　want　you
with　me。〃

〃You　must　not　depend　on　me　for　much　use　for　some　time　at　least。
I　know　a　little　about　handling　men　but　about　machinery　I　know
nothing。〃

〃Never　fear；　boy；　you've　got　the　machine　instinct　in　you。　　I
remember　your　holiday　work　in　the　mill；　you　see。　　But　your　place　is
in　the　office。　　Wickes　will　show　you　the　ropes；　and　you　will　make
good；　I　know。　　And　I　just　want　to　say　that　you　don't　know　how　glad
I　am　to　have　you　come　in　with　me；　Jack。　　If　your　brother　had　come
back　he　would　have　taken　hold；　he　was　cut　out　for　the　job；　but〃

〃Poor　old　Andy！　　He　had　your　genius　for　the　business。　　I　wish　he
had　been　the　one　to　get　back！〃

〃We　had　not　the　choosing；　Jack；　and　if　he　had　come　we　should　have
felt　the　same　about　you。　　God　knows　what　He　is　doing；　and　we　can
only　do　our　best。〃

〃Well；　Dad；〃　said　Jack；　rising　and　standing　near　his　father's
chair；　〃as　I　said　before；　I'll　make　a　go　at　it；　but　don't　count　too
much　on　me。〃

〃I　am　counting　a　lot　on　you。　　You　are　all　I　have　now。〃　　The
father's　voice　ended　in　a　husky　whisper。　　The　boy　swallowed　the
rising　lump　in　his　throat　but　could　find　no　more　words　to　go　on
with。　　But　in　his　heart　there　was　the　resolve　that　he　would　make　an
honest　try　to　do　for　his　father's　sake　what　he　would　not　for　his
own。

But　before　a　month　had　gone　he　was　heartily　sick　of　the　office。　　It
was　indoors；　and　the　petty　fussing　with　trivial　details　irked　him。
Accuracy　was　a　sine　qua　non　of　successful　office　work；　and　accuracy
is　either　a　thing　of　natural　gift　or　is　the　result　of　long　and
painful　discipline；　and　neither　by　nature　nor　by　discipline　had
Jack　come　into　the　possession　of　this　prime　qualification　for　a
successful　office　man。　　His　ledger　wellnigh　brought　tears　to　old
Wickes'　eyes　and　added　a　heavy　load　to　his　day's　work。　　Not　that
old　Wickes　grudged　the　extra　burden；　much　less　made　any　complaint；
rather　did　he　count　it　joy　to　be　able　to　cover　from　other　eyes　than
his　own　the　errors　that　were　inevitably　to　be　found　in　Jack's　daily
work。

Had　it　seemed　worth　while；　Jack　would　have　disciplined　himself　to
accuracy。　　But　what　was　the　end　of　it　all？　　A　larger　plant　with
more　machines　to　buy　and　more　men　to　work　them　and　to　be　overseen
and　to　be　paid；　a　few　more　figures　in　a　Bank　Bookwhat　else？
Jack's　tastes　were　simple。　　He　despised　the　ostentation　of　wealth
in　the　accumulation　of　mere　things。　　He　had　only　pity　for　the
plunger　and　for　the　loose　liver　contempt。　　Why　should　he　tie
himself　to　a　desk；　a　well　appointed　desk　it　is　true；　but　still　a
desk；　in　a　four…walled　room；　a　much　finer　room　than　his　father　had
ever　known；　but　a　room　which　became　to　him　a　cage。　　Why？　　Of
course；　there　was　his　fatherand　Jack　wearily　turned　to　his
correspondence　basket；　sick　of　the　sight　of　paper　and　letter　heads
and　cost　forms　and　production　reports。　　For　his　father's　sake；　who
had　only　him；　he　would　carry　on。　　And　carry　on　he　did；　doggedly；
wearily；　bored　to　death；　but　sticking　it。　　The　reports　from　the
works　were　often　ominous。　　Things　were　not　going　well。　　There　was
an　undercurrent　of　unrest　among　the　men。

〃I　don't　wonder　at　it；〃　said　Jack　to　old　Wickes　one　day；　when　the
bookkeeper　set　before　him　the　week's　pay　sheet　and　production
sheet；　side　by　side。　　〃After　all；　why　should　the　poor　devils　work
for　us？〃

〃For　us；　sir？〃　said　the　shocked　Wickes。　　〃For　themselves；　surely。
What　would　they　do　for　a　living　if　there　was　no　work？〃

〃That's　just　it；　Wickes。　　They　get　a　livingis　it　worth　while？〃

〃But；　sir；〃　gasped　the　old　man；　〃they　must　live；　and〃

〃Why　must　they？〃

〃Because　they　want　to！　　Wait　till　you　see　'em　sick；　sir。　　My　word！
They　do　make　haste　for　the　Doctor。〃

〃I　fancy　they　do；　Wickes。　　But　all　the　same；　I　don't　wonder　that
they　grouch　a　bit。〃

〃'Tis　not　the　grumbling；　sir；　I　deplore；〃　said　Wickes；　〃if　they
would　only　work；　or　let　the　machines　work。　　That's　the　trouble；
sir。　　Why；　sir；　when　I　came　to　your　father；　sir；　we　never　looked　at
the　clock；　we　kept　our　minds　on　the　work。〃

〃How　long　ago；　Wickes？〃

〃Thirty…one　years；　sir；　come　next　Michaelmas。　　And　glad　I　was　to
get　the　job；　too。　　You　see；　sir；　I　had　just　come　to　the　country；
and　with　the　missus　and　a　couple　of　kids〃

〃Thirty…one　years！　　Great　Caesar！　　And　you've　worked　at　this　desk
for　thirty…one　years！　　And　what　have　you　got　out　of　it？〃

〃Well；　sir；　not　what　you　might　call　a　terrible　lot。　　I　hadn't　the
eddication　for　much；　as　you　might　saybutwell；　there's　my　little
home；　and　we've　lived　happy　there；　the　missus　and　me；　and　the　kids
at　least；　till　the　war　came。〃　　The　old　man　paused　abruptly。

〃You're　right；　Wickes；　by　Jove；〃　exclaimed　Jack；　starting　from　his
seat　and　gripping　the　old　man's　hand。　　〃You　have　made　a　lot　out　of
itand　you　gave　as　fine　a　boy　as　ever　stepped　in　uniform　to　your
country。　　We　were　all　proud　of　Stephen；　every　man　of　us。〃

〃I　know　that；　sir；　and　he　often　wrote　the　wife　about　you；　sir；
which　we　don't　forget；　sir。　　Of　course；　it's　hard　on　her　and　the
boysjust　coming　up　to　be　somethin'　at　the　school。〃

〃By　the　way；　Wickes；　how　are　they　doing？　　Two　of　them；　aren't
there？　　Let's　seethere's　Steve；　he's　the　eldest〃

〃No；　sir；　he's　the　youngest；　sir。　　Robert　is　the　eldestfourteen；
and　quite　clever　at　his　books。　　Pity　he's　got　to　quit　just　now。〃

〃Quit？　　Not　a　bit　of　it。　　We　must　see　to　that。　　And　little　Steve
how　is　the　back？〃

〃He's　twelve。　　The　back　hurts　a　lot；　but　he　is　happy　enough；　if　you
give　him　a　pencil。　　They're　all　with　us　now。〃

〃Ah；　well；　well。　　I　think　you　have　made　something　out　of　it　after
all；　Wickes。　　And　we　must　see　about　Robert。〃

Thirty…one　years　at　the　desk！　　And　to　show　for　it　a　home　for　his
wife　and　himself；　a　daughter　in　a　home　of　her　own；　a　son　dead　for
his　country；　leaving　behind　him　a　wife　and　two　lads　to　carry　the
namewas　it　worth　while？　　Yes；　by　Jove；　it　was　worth　it　all　to　be
able　to　give　a　man　like　Stephen　Wickes　to　his　country。　　For　Stephen
Wickes　was　a　fine　stalwart　lad；　a　good　soldier；　steady　as　a　rock；
with　a　patient；　cheery　courage　that　nothing　could　daunt　or　break。
But　for　a　man's　self　was　it　worth　while？

Jack　had　no　thought　of　wife　and　family。　　There　was　Adrien。　　She　had
been　a　great　pal　before　the　war；　but　since　his　return　she　had
seemed　different。　　Everyone　seemed　different。　　The　war　had　left
many　gaps；　former　pals　had　formed　other　ties；　many　had　gone　from
the　town。　　Even　Adrien　had　drifted　away　from　the　old　currents　of
life。　　She　seemed　to　have　taken　up　with　young　Stillwell；　whom　Jack
couldn't　abide。　　Stillwell　had　been　turned　down　by　the　Recruiting
Officer　during　the　warflat　feet；　or　something。　　True；　he　had　done
great　service　in　Red　Cross；　Patriotic　Fund；　Victory　Loan　work；　and
that　sort　of　thing；　and　apparently　stood　high　in　the　Community。
His　father　had　doubled　the　size　of　his　store　and　had　been　a　great
force　in　all　public　war　work。　　He　had　spared　neither　himself　nor
his　son。　　The　elder　Stillwell；　high　up　in　the　Provincial　Political
world；　saw　to　it　that　his　son　was　on　all　the　big　Provincial　War
Committees。　　Rupert　had　all　the　shrewd　foresight　and　business
ability　of　his　father；　which　was　saying　a　good　deal。　　He　began　to
assume　the　role　of　a　promising　young　capitalist。　　The　sources　of
his　income　no　one　knewfortunate　investments；　people　said。　　And
his　Hudson　Six　stood　at　the　Rectory　gate　every　day。　　Well；　not　even
for　Adrien　would　Jack　have　changed　places　with　Rupert　Stillwell。
For　Jack　Maitland　held　the　extreme　and；　in　certain　circles；
unpopular　creed　that　the　citizen　who　came　richer　out　of　a　war　which
had　left　his　country　submerged　in　debt；　and　which　had　drained　away
its　best　blood　and　left　it　poorer　in　its　manhood　by　well…nigh
seventy　thousand　of　its　noblest　youth　left　upon　the　battlefields　of
the　various　war　fronts　and　by　the　hundreds　of　thousands　who　would
go　through　life　a　burden　to　themselves　and　to　those　to　whom　they
should　have　been　a　supportthat　citizen　was　accursed。　　If　Adrien
chose　to　be　a　friend　of　such　a　man；　by　that　choice　she　classified
herself　as　impossible　of　friendship　for　Jack。　　It　had　hurt　a　bit。
But　what　was　one　hurt　more　or　less　to　one　whom　the　war　had　left
numb　in　heart　and　bereft　of　ambition？　　He　was　not　going　to　pity
himself。　　He　was　lucky　indeed　to　have　his　body　and　nerve　still
sound　and　whole；　but　they　need　not　expect　him　to　show　any　great
keenness　in　the　chase　for　a　few　more　thousands　that　would　only　rank
him　among　those　for　whom　the　war　had　not　done　so　badly。　　Meantime；
for　his　father's　sake；　who；　thank　God；　had　given　his　best；　his
heart's　best　and　the　best　of　his　brain　and　of　his　splendid　business
genius　to　his　country；　he　would　carry　on；　with　no　other　reward　than
that　of　service　rendered。



CHAPTER　III

THE　HEATHEN　QUEST


They　stood　together　by　the　open　fire　in　the　study；　Jack　and　his
father；　alike　in　many　ways　yet　producing　effects　very　different。
The　younger　man　had　the　physical　makeup　of　the　older；　though　of　a
slighter　mould。　　They　had　the　same　high；　proud　look　of　conscious
strength；　of　cool　fearlessness　that　nothing　could　fluster。　　But　the
soul　that　looked　out　of　the　grey　eyes　of　the　son　was　quite　another
from　that　which　looked　out　of　the　deep　blue　eyes　of　the　father
yet；　after　all；　the　difference　may　not　have　been　in　essence　but
only　that　the　older　man's　soul　had　learned　in　life's　experience　to
look　out　only　through　a　veil。

The　soul　of　the　youth　was　eager；　adventurous；　still　believing；　yet
with　a　certain　questioning　and　a　touch　of　weariness；　a　result　of
the　aftermath　of　peace　following　three　years　of　war。　　There　was
still；　however；　the　out…looking　for　far　horizons；　the　outreaching
imagination；　the　Heaven　given　expectation　of　the　Infinite。　　In　the
older　man's　eye　dwelt　chiefly　reserve。　　The　veil　was　always　there
except　when　he　found　it　wise　and　useful　to　draw　it　aside。　　If　ever
the　inner　light　flamed　forth　it　was　when　the　man　so　chose。　　Self…
mastery；　shrewdness；　power；　knowledge；　lay