The Argosy, March 1907 — page 191: what you’re looking at

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

WHAT BECAME OF TOM FULLER. sesses every American when he meets a fellow American there surged up in both of them. Hostility between two men who be- long to the United States? Well, I rather think not! Not on British soil. So “Wal, by jiminy, Frank, how-be ye?”’ cried Fuller, and held out his hand. “Tom,” gasped the other, gripping the extended hand. “ Tom—Tom Oh, say! let’s go somewhere and get something to eat about it.” Which they proceeded to do. Rather sheepishly, Fuller admitted that he had not come to England voluntarily. “IT was on my way to give you a licking, Frank,” he said, “and I got took up by a balloon. I can’t help feel- ing kind of glad now. What’s the use in you and me fighting?” “None at all!” the other responded. “Miss Fielding will tell you so, I think, when you get home.” There was just a regretful tinge in his tone as he spoke, but Tom made no in- quiries. ‘The subject was delicate, and both fought shy of it after that. When Fuller’s remarkable story had been told, Manning explained that his trip to Europe had been arranged months before. It was no sudden leave- taking, though Cranville, knowing noth- ing of his plans, so regarded it. “They made such a row about your disappearance,’ said he, ‘and were so devilish sure I was at the bottom of it, that I warited to stay in America and face the thing, but the governor wouldn't have it. ‘ You haven’t done anything to run_away from,’ he said, ‘and I won’t tolerate the breaking of our plans just because a lot of people like to gossip.’ ”’ As a matter of fact, Manning Senior had put it quite another way. He wouldn't have his son stay at home for the sake of pleasing a stupid lot of ignorant country bumpkins, but Frank was too considerate to quote his father’s exact words to Tom Fuller. Instead, he told about the searching party, and of his father’s offer of a reward for proof that Fuller was alive. “By gum!” exclaimed Fuller. “ I’m going to claim that thousand when I get home!” and find out all 763 “Why not?” laughed Manning. “Pm the only one yet who can claim it, and f won’t say a word. Go ahead and make the governor pay up. You could use that thousand, I suppose? ”’ “You bet I could! Do you suppose he’d pay it to me?” “I don’t see but that he’s got to if you can get home before anybody finds out where you are.” — ‘Then I needn’t write that letter.” - What cletter? Fuller told him of his visit to the consul and the straits he was in. ‘“T’ve got money enough in the bank,” he said, “to pay my way back all right, — and I can manage to keep alive, I guess, till it comes, but it seems to me the man I send to would have the right to show my letter to your father and claim that thousand.” ‘Sure,’ Manning agreed; “and we mustn't let that happen. Tell you how we'll fix it, Tom. I’ve got a letter of credit for enough to last me four months. I'll draw twenty-five pounds—that’s about a hundred and twenty-five dollars, you know—and lend it to you. You can start back ’most any day. There’s lots of boats, and there’ll be room enough on those going westward at this time. You can send me the amount when you've col- lected from the governor.” This amicable arrangement was ef- fected before another hour had passed, and Manning went with Fuller to the steamship offices and helped him book his passage. As he was more eager to See the United States than London, he took the first sailing that could be had, and, in fact, left London on the following day, parting from his former rival as from a twin brother. | And so it came about that one evening Fuller left the train at the station next to Cranville and walked the rest of the distance. He had been in some terror lest an acquaintance be on that train who would recognize him and beat him in the race to Manning Senior’s house, and as there were sure to be friends at the Cranville station, he let the train arrive there without him. His way took him past Isabel’s home, but he avoided it and struck into the path across the fields, thus coming event- , Eomicbooks,. co