Page:War's dark frame (IA warsdarkframe00camp).pdf/266

228 had known the clerk's father. He expressed some interest in the young man.

He took him to dinner. In many ways he was kind to him. The man declared that he was worried about the clerk. He looked underfed and on the edge of an illness. Something ought to be done about that. After a little thought he slapped his knee. He had just the thing. Business was taking him to a neutral country across the channel for a few days.

"’Suppose you get leave of absence,' he proposed, and come with me. I'll pay your expenses because you're your father's son, and because I like you.'

"The young fellow demurred. He couldn't trespass on such generosity,

"It's all right, the older man said. "No charity about it. As a matter of fact I could use a secretary for a few days. There's sure to be a man or two I won't want to talk to myself, and that sort I can shunt off on you. Meantime you'll get a vacation that will give you a fresh start and maybe save you a bad illness. Tell 'em at the office your uncle's going to give you a little holiday.'

"The clerk, unable to believe in this sudden stroke of luck, arranged it. His friend gave him a new suit of clothes. His studious expression