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Page 78
"How you put things, Carley!" exclaimed Eleanor, wearily. "Of course I
care--when you make me think of such things. But what have I to do with the
lives of people in the years to come?"
"Everything. America for Americans! While you dawdle, the life blood is
being sucked out of our great nation. It is a man's job to fight; it is a
woman's to save. . . . I think you've made your choice, though you don't
realize it. I'm praying to God that I'll rise to mine."
Carley had a visitor one morning earlier than the usual or conventional
time for calls.
"He wouldn't give no name," said the maid. "He wears soldier clothes,
ma'am, and he's pale, and walks with a cane."
"Tell him I'll be right down," replied Carley.
Her hands trembled while she hurriedly dressed. Could this caller be Virgil
Rust? She hoped so, but she doubted.
As she entered the parlor a tall young man in worn khaki rose to meet her.
At first glance she could not name him, though she recognized the pale face
and light-blue eyes, direct and steady.
"Good morning, Miss Burch," he said. "I hope you'll excuse so early a call.
You remember me, don't you? I'm George Burton, who had the bunk next to
Rust's."
"Surely I remember you, Mr. Burton, and I'm glad to see you," replied
Carley, shaking hands with him. "Please sit down. Your being here must mean
you're discharged from the hospital."
"Yes, I was discharged, all right," he said.
"Which means you're well again. That is fine. I'm very glad."
"I was put out to make room for a fellow in bad shape. I'm still shaky and
weak," he replied. "But I'm glad to go. I've pulled through pretty good,
and it'll not be long until I'm strong again. It was the 'flu' that kept me
down."
"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."
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