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good shape。 We broke even with our aeroplane work。 But we have a
big stock of spruce on handhigh…priced stuff； tooand a heavy；
very heavy overhead。 We shall weather it all right。 I don't mind
the wages； but we must have production。 And that's why I want you
with me。〃
〃You must not depend on me for much use for some time at least。
I know a little about handling men but about machinery I know
nothing。〃
〃Never fear； boy； you've got the machine instinct in you。 I
remember your holiday work in the mill； you see。 But your place is
in the office。 Wickes will show you the ropes； and you will make
good； I know。 And I just want to say that you don't know how glad
I am to have you come in with me； Jack。 If your brother had come
back he would have taken hold； he was cut out for the job； but〃
〃Poor old Andy！ He had your genius for the business。 I wish he
had been the one to get back！〃
〃We had not the choosing； Jack； and if he had come we should have
felt the same about you。 God knows what He is doing； and we can
only do our best。〃
〃Well； Dad；〃 said Jack； rising and standing near his father's
chair； 〃as I said before； I'll make a go at it； but don't count too
much on me。〃
〃I am counting a lot on you。 You are all I have now。〃 The
father's voice ended in a husky whisper。 The boy swallowed the
rising lump in his throat but could find no more words to go on
with。 But in his heart there was the resolve that he would make an
honest try to do for his father's sake what he would not for his
own。
But before a month had gone he was heartily sick of the office。 It
was indoors； and the petty fussing with trivial details irked him。
Accuracy was a sine qua non of successful office work； and accuracy
is either a thing of natural gift or is the result of long and
painful discipline； and neither by nature nor by discipline had
Jack come into the possession of this prime qualification for a
successful office man。 His ledger wellnigh brought tears to old
Wickes' eyes and added a heavy load to his day's work。 Not that
old Wickes grudged the extra burden； much less made any complaint；
rather did he count it joy to be able to cover from other eyes than
his own the errors that were inevitably to be found in Jack's daily
work。
Had it seemed worth while； Jack would have disciplined himself to
accuracy。 But what was the end of it all？ A larger plant with
more machines to buy and more men to work them and to be overseen
and to be paid； a few more figures in a Bank Bookwhat else？
Jack's tastes were simple。 He despised the ostentation of wealth
in the accumulation of mere things。 He had only pity for the
plunger and for the loose liver contempt。 Why should he tie
himself to a desk； a well appointed desk it is true； but still a
desk； in a four…walled room； a much finer room than his father had
ever known； but a room which became to him a cage。 Why？ Of
course； there was his fatherand Jack wearily turned to his
correspondence basket； sick of the sight of paper and letter heads
and cost forms and production reports。 For his father's sake； who
had only him； he would carry on。 And carry on he did； doggedly；
wearily； bored to death； but sticking it。 The reports from the
works were often ominous。 Things were not going well。 There was
an undercurrent of unrest among the men。
〃I don't wonder at it；〃 said Jack to old Wickes one day； when the
bookkeeper set before him the week's pay sheet and production
sheet； side by side。 〃After all； why should the poor devils work
for us？〃
〃For us； sir？〃 said the shocked Wickes。 〃For themselves； surely。
What would they do for a living if there was no work？〃
〃That's just it； Wickes。 They get a livingis it worth while？〃
〃But； sir；〃 gasped the old man； 〃they must live； and〃
〃Why must they？〃
〃Because they want to！ Wait till you see 'em sick； sir。 My word！
They do make haste for the Doctor。〃
〃I fancy they do； Wickes。 But all the same； I don't wonder that
they grouch a bit。〃
〃'Tis not the grumbling； sir； I deplore；〃 said Wickes； 〃if they
would only work； or let the machines work。 That's the trouble；
sir。 Why； sir； when I came to your father； sir； we never looked at
the clock； we kept our minds on the work。〃
〃How long ago； Wickes？〃
〃Thirty…one years； sir； come next Michaelmas。 And glad I was to
get the job； too。 You see； sir； I had just come to the country；
and with the missus and a couple of kids〃
〃Thirty…one years！ Great Caesar！ And you've worked at this desk
for thirty…one years！ And what have you got out of it？〃
〃Well； sir； not what you might call a terrible lot。 I hadn't the
eddication for much； as you might saybutwell； there's my little
home； and we've lived happy there； the missus and me； and the kids
at least； till the war came。〃 The old man paused abruptly。
〃You're right； Wickes； by Jove；〃 exclaimed Jack； starting from his
seat and gripping the old man's hand。 〃You have made a lot out of
itand you gave as fine a boy as ever stepped in uniform to your
country。 We were all proud of Stephen； every man of us。〃
〃I know that； sir； and he often wrote the wife about you； sir；
which we don't forget； sir。 Of course； it's hard on her and the
boysjust coming up to be somethin' at the school。〃
〃By the way； Wickes； how are they doing？ Two of them； aren't
there？ Let's seethere's Steve； he's the eldest〃
〃No； sir； he's the youngest； sir。 Robert is the eldestfourteen；
and quite clever at his books。 Pity he's got to quit just now。〃
〃Quit？ Not a bit of it。 We must see to that。 And little Steve
how is the back？〃
〃He's twelve。 The back hurts a lot； but he is happy enough； if you
give him a pencil。 They're all with us now。〃
〃Ah； well； well。 I think you have made something out of it after
all； Wickes。 And we must see about Robert。〃
Thirty…one years at the desk！ And to show for it a home for his
wife and himself； a daughter in a home of her own； a son dead for
his country； leaving behind him a wife and two lads to carry the
namewas it worth while？ Yes； by Jove； it was worth it all to be
able to give a man like Stephen Wickes to his country。 For Stephen
Wickes was a fine stalwart lad； a good soldier； steady as a rock；
with a patient； cheery courage that nothing could daunt or break。
But for a man's self was it worth while？
Jack had no thought of wife and family。 There was Adrien。 She had
been a great pal before the war； but since his return she had
seemed different。 Everyone seemed different。 The war had left
many gaps； former pals had formed other ties； many had gone from
the town。 Even Adrien had drifted away from the old currents of
life。 She seemed to have taken up with young Stillwell； whom Jack
couldn't abide。 Stillwell had been turned down by the Recruiting
Officer during the warflat feet； or something。 True； he had done
great service in Red Cross； Patriotic Fund； Victory Loan work； and
that sort of thing； and apparently stood high in the Community。
His father had doubled the size of his store and had been a great
force in all public war work。 He had spared neither himself nor
his son。 The elder Stillwell； high up in the Provincial Political
world； saw to it that his son was on all the big Provincial War
Committees。 Rupert had all the shrewd foresight and business
ability of his father； which was saying a good deal。 He began to
assume the role of a promising young capitalist。 The sources of
his income no one knewfortunate investments； people said。 And
his Hudson Six stood at the Rectory gate every day。 Well； not even
for Adrien would Jack have changed places with Rupert Stillwell。
For Jack Maitland held the extreme and； in certain circles；
unpopular creed that the citizen who came richer out of a war which
had left his country submerged in debt； and which had drained away
its best blood and left it poorer in its manhood by well…nigh
seventy thousand of its noblest youth left upon the battlefields of
the various war fronts and by the hundreds of thousands who would
go through life a burden to themselves and to those to whom they
should have been a supportthat citizen was accursed。 If Adrien
chose to be a friend of such a man； by that choice she classified
herself as impossible of friendship for Jack。 It had hurt a bit。
But what was one hurt more or less to one whom the war had left
numb in heart and bereft of ambition？ He was not going to pity
himself。 He was lucky indeed to have his body and nerve still
sound and whole； but they need not expect him to show any great
keenness in the chase for a few more thousands that would only rank
him among those for whom the war had not done so badly。 Meantime；
for his father's sake； who； thank God； had given his best； his
heart's best and the best of his brain and of his splendid business
genius to his country； he would carry on； with no other reward than
that of service rendered。
CHAPTER III
THE HEATHEN QUEST
They stood together by the open fire in the study； Jack and his
father； alike in many ways yet producing effects very different。
The younger man had the physical makeup of the older； though of a
slighter mould。 They had the sa