The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 110: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

104 THE “¢ Jack will blame you if he ever hears of it,” said Trent. “Yes, he will,” she agreed; ‘“ but such things seem to be part of the woman’s lot. We make weak, foolish sacrifices to help our men, and even then we don’t help them much. If the present situation should con- tinue long, a crisis would surely come; and then Jack would be more wretched than he ever dreamed of being. He would blame, as you say, and he would—I don’t know but he might kill Mr. Buckingham for hold- ing me to such a bargain. So you see the war is coming to us as a blessing, in spite of Jack’s worries.” ‘So it seems,” Trent agreed soberly, and his face showed deep concern. “I wish that I might do something more than ad- vise you, Miss Ives, but it’s damnably true that a poor man is a helpless one. I would gladly settle with this Buckingham in the most natural way, but that would only bring your crisis upon you and Jack more quickly. If I had money and influence, you see, I could find a better position for Jack, and deal with Buckingham in any way that suited me. As things are, I am worse than useless.” ‘Your friendship is a splendid thing for both of us,” she asserted feelingly. ‘ Sym- pathy is a wonderful thing for any one in trouble. I wonder why it is that the honest and sympathetic men are usually among the poor men.” ‘A cynic would say that an honest and sympathetic man couldn’t get rich nowa- days,” answered Trent, ‘“ but that’s rather unfair: human nature is about the same old thing in all walks of life. The rich oppress the poor and the poor impose upon the rich, if they: get the chance—so there’s a good deal of suspicion and distrust be- tween the classes. ‘Let us hope that Mr. Buckingham isn’t a representative of his class. I have a few troubles of my own with certain men of wealth, but I try to confine my hostility to individuals. When I come to think of it, I’ve known some poor men that were about as bad as they could afford to be.” ‘‘ Jack and I must try to learn some-of your philosophy,” the girl said approving- ly. “ And now I must be getting home to ARGOSY. dinner. I’m to have company this evening, but unfortunately I can’t look forward to it with pleasure. Mr. Buckingham went away on a fishing trip, and it was a real relief to have him gone, but he has re- turned sooner than he expected to, and he is to call this evening.” “IT wouldn’t worry about him too much, at any rate,’ counseled Trent. ‘You may be sure that Jack and I will never let him become any more of a trouble than he is now.” ’ She thanked him and gave him her hand with a friendly heartiness as they said good night, and he remained on the corner, gazing after her thoughtfully until she was out of sight. He remembered just in time that he was almost due at the armory for two hours of sentry duty, and he covered the short dis- tance at a run. His tour between six o’clock and eight, in the evening, was less monotonous than in other hours; people passed the armory in throngs, home going, and he had to look sharp to his post. There were enough wags among the passers-by to keep up a running fire of raillery of the Johnny-get- your-gun and the didn’t-know-it-was-loaded sort, and the homely humor pulled Trent up out of himself and into a lighter mood. This evening, however, he could not get his thoughts entirely away from the brood- ing troubles of his friends, the young brother and sister. Self-made troubles they were, like nearly all troubles: Jack Ives should not have enlisted in the first place, with a sister dependent upon him; and Edith should never have let herself into the entanglement with Buckingham; but they were nevertheless in pressing need of sympathy and help. At eight o’clock Trent was off duty again for four hours. He was excused from drills on account of the guard duty, and was free to roam about the armory or out- side; and he quickly got away from the noise of marching feet and loud voices, and walked in the quiet streets where he could think. . He wondered anxiously if the heavy- witted Buckingham could be crafty toa dangerous degree, and if the inexperienced oO Comicbooe S CO