A Private Chivalry by Francis Lynde

THE railway inspection party of which the chief engineer was a member did not return to Denver until late in the afternoon, and by consequence Brant wore out the day like a caged wild beast, tramping miles on end up and down the long apartment which served as a workroom in the chief engineer's suite. Not once during the lagging hours did he uncover the drawing-board; but on the other hand, if he did not work, neither did he put himself in the way of temptation, spirituous or other. It was as if he had promised himself that he would quit clean-handed and clear-headed; that, until the colonel should release him, he would remain, as nearly as might be, the man whom the colonel had befriended.

The day was drawing to its close when the burly little man who was partial to college graduates bustled in and struggled out of his greatcoat. Brant assaulted promptly, saying what had to be said in terms of the simplest. He had made up his mind to leave Denver at once, and he would be glad if the colonel would give him his quittance and let him go.

The struggle with the greatcoat paused in the midst, and the burly one, who knew a capable man when he found him, protested vigorously:

"What's that? Leave me just when I am beginning to know what a comfort it is to have you about? What's gone wrong with you? Is it too much work, or not enough pay?"

"It is neither; it is nothing that you have done, or failed to do, my dear colonel. On the contrary, your kindness will be one of the things that I shall always be glad to remember. But I have never been able to stay long in any one place, and the time has come for me to move on."

"But surely, my dear boy, you haven't taken time to think about it! Why, it was only yesterday that you seemed perfectly contented."

"I know; but I have been thinking about it for a week or more. I am afraid I can't reconsider."

"Well, well, I'm sorry; only that doesn't half express it. I hope you haven't to go right away. You can stay on a few days till I can look around a bit, can't you?"

"I am sorry to have to say that I can't do even that," Brant began, and just here the entrance of the postman interrupted the colloquy. There were letters -- several for the colonel and one for the draughtsman. Brant opened and read his, while the chief engineer hastily glanced through the others. Brant's was a dainty note, and it appeared to move him strangely. His cheek flushed under the bronze, and his eyes kindled as he read; and when the talk was presently renewed he promptly stultified himself.

"You were asking if I could stay on until you had found some one else," he said. "On second thought, I don't know but I can, if it will be an accommodation to you."

The colonel was too well pleased with the sudden change of front to show his surprise, though he could not help putting two and two together and wondering who was the writer of the dainty note which had evidently countermanded Brant's marching orders.

"Of course it will be an accommodation," he hastened to say. "I shall have to go back to the Extension to-night to figure on Hurlcrow's estimates for next month, but I'll come in as soon as I can, and then, if you are of the same mind, I'll look around for some one to relieve you. But I hope you will find it possible to reconsider. I like you, and your work is as thorough and accurate as I knew it would be when you told me you were coached by my old friend Thirlwill."

Brant did not commit himself, and the colonel tossed the lately opened letters into his desk and drew down the roll-top. "I shall be with the general manager and the president in the Aberystwyth till train time, and to-morrow you can reach me at the front," he went on. "Take things a bit easy while I am gone, and see if you can't make up your mind to stay with us."

Being just then devoured with an impatience in comparison with which the restlessness of the long day was but a sedative, Brant did not seek to prolong the interview; and when he was once more alone he read and reread his letter until he could repeat it word for word. It was from Dorothy; and she had kept her promise to call upon him in the time of need. She wrote:

"DEAR MR. BRANT: You were kind enough to offer to help us again if the occasion should arise. It _has_ arisen. Will left home yesterday afternoon, and we have not seen him since. Mamma is wild with anxiety, and my father is so greatly discouraged that he will do nothing. Won't you please try to find my brother again?

"P. S. Mrs. Hobart, whose husband is a friend of yours, is with us, and she will be glad to see you when you find it convenient to come."

When he had quite committed the note to memory Brant set about answering it. Whatever else he was or might become -- and under the sentence of ostracism this question seemed settled beyond peradventure of doubt -- he was none the less Dorothy's loyal liegeman, and while he could serve her, the future, good, bad, or indifferent, might wait for its due. Therefore, after a half dozen false starts, he wrote:

"MY DEAR MISS LANGFORD:

"Your note, which makes me both sorry and glad, has just found me. Be assured that, while I grieve with you in your present trouble, I am only too happy to place myself at your service. Be of good cheer. I trust we shall speedily find your brother, and that nothing serious has befallen him. If he should not come home to-night, send me a line in the morning; and believe me, now as always,

"Your sincere friend,