Part 14 (1/2)

”Now, you have given et back to desire or choice;--ould it be then?” he inquired, as the electric traan to draw, through signs of habitation, toward the city

”If I had my desire and my choice, Mr Horsfal, they would be: in such a climate as we have here but away somewhere up the coast, with the sea in front of me and the trees and the hills behindwith the natural,--not the artificial,--obstacles of life; work, with a sufficiency of leisure; quiet, when quiet were desired; and, in the evening as the sun went down into the sea or behind the hills, a cosy fire, a good book and ood”

K B Horsfal, millionaire, patentee, luhed and nodded his head

”After all, my boy,” he said, almost sadly, ”I shouldn't wonder if that isn't better than all the hellish wealth-hunting that ever was or ever shall be Stick to your ideals Try them out if you can As foret out if I tried I'ht to an abrupt ending, as Mr Horsfal had to make a short call at one of the newspaper offices, on soether I waited for him while he made his call, then alked back leisurely to the hotel; happy, pleasantly tired and hungry as hunters

I was regaled in the dining-roo to be in for the balance of the evening?” he asked, as I rose to leave him at the conclusion of our after-dinner smoke

”Yes!”

”Good!” he ejaculated, rather abruptly

And why he should have thought it ”good,” puzzled me not a little as I went up in the elevator

CHAPTER VIII

Golden Crescent

I had been sitting inover the strange adventures that had befallen me since I had started out fro to picture toif my father's heart had softened any to his absent son

I reasoned whether, after all, I had done right in interfering between ht of poor little Peggy Darrol and the righteous indignation and anger of her brother Jiain, I would do as I had done already

My telephone bell rang I answered

It was the hotel exchange operator

”hello!--is that rooe Breentleht away, if you can, sir!”

”What naht! I'll go down at once Thank you!”