Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 7, 1928 — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

HEARTBREAK TRAIL. ning to feel that it’s time for you to come home. He has heard that you bore arms, in a more or less official capacity, in a recent local disturbance. That, you'll freely admit, of course, is not altogether in keeping with your uncle’s desire that you should act as a disinterested observer.”’ : “Flesh and blood can stand just so much!’ said Reueli tersely. ‘And youth is impulsive and impa- tient; I reminded the Senator of that aspect of the case.” “Did he send you here to fetch me home?” “Why, really, Mr. Tristram, I’m not here under orders. It seemed to be a matter in which personal contact was needed. He couldn’t come out here himself, and I was coming anyway on other business. Let us say that I am desirous of being your friend, your ad- viser. I’d go home if I were you, Mr. Tristram. “Furthermore, I'll whisper to you that your uncle is not in anything like an impatient or unfriendly mood. Per- haps he has a broader understanding than we give him credit for. He men- tioned to me that there’s a strong pos- sibility of a certain secretaryship in the foreign service. He thought that a so- journ in—say, Vienna, would appeal to you as a welcome change.” “T’m inclined to classify this pres- ent experience as foreign service,” Reuel said dryly. “I’m sure his ex- cellency, the President, is in much closer touch with affairs in Europe than he is with the life of his fellow citizens in Kansas. “There has been a civil war here, Mr. Atwood, with the marshaling of troops, actual hostilities, and incidental- ly a treaty of peace. learn or observe, President Pierce has never heard of it: he has manifested no interest or concern; even the Gov- ernor that he appointed for the terri- tory has gone away, probably to rest and get away from unpleasant scenes and embarrassing contacts.” From all we can | 267 “ T know very little of the conditions here,” said Mr. Atwood. “ There’s al- ways some disorder in the opening of new territory. Kansas looms large to the man standing on Kansas soil, Mr. Tristram, but if you look on the map you'll find it rather small, considering the whole country. The official eye of President Pierce has to sweep from Maine to California. Do you envy him his position?” “ Neither his position nor his charac- ter!’ said Reuel impulsively. “Tut, tut, tut!’ gasped the visitor, and positively changed color in his con- sternation. ‘“‘ Come now, let us strike that out, as they say in court. IJ’ll for- get that you said it, or that I heard it.” “You needn’t, on my account. I’d say it again before other witnesses.” “ Pray, take thought, Mr. Tristram,” pleaded the man earnestly. “ You have some one to consider beside yourself. We have an election coming on, and—” “And until that is over,” Reuel broke in angrily, “ riot, murder, arson, rape, and brigandage can go on in Kan- sas without restraint. Tell my uncle, if you please—as I will tell him also, that [ choose to quit his service at once. I find that I’m not cut out for a political career, either at home or abroad.” “But that’s the wildest folly, my friend! You are betraying an imma- ture impulsiveness, you are acting like a schoolboy.” “ Perhaps so: schoolboys have ideals, standards of conduct, a certain un- spoiled sense of honor. Tell my uncle that I am resolved to abandon all ideas of a diplomatic career or anything re- lating to political preferment. Any other course of action would be incon- sistent with my plans for the future. “Tf the national government elects to make slave-holding a nation-wide practice, if it recognizes banditry and persecution as part of a national policy, then [ shall renounce my citizenship and stand outlawed with the patriots whose fathers planted the standard of freedom in New England.” COPMNICLOOKS (F@)