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M'Clin

bit hutch, glanced out curious

ry busy. Have you

ectedly. Just take hi

ssed it to an office-boy, who disappeared with it

e you in ten minutes,

sitting down upon a hig

whisked off, to return in a mome

comfortable seat beh

dapper, so alert, so all that an office-boy in a staid l

teen,

oing to grow i

d the office-boy gravely. "I may be head

t w

d worshippingly at Bob's uniform. "If the war had only not

years' time you'll be taking Mr. M'Clinton's confidential papers acros

e-boy's eyes danced. Suddenly he

ed that a budding lawyer or head clerk was being brought up by hand. It was all rather grim and solid and forbidding. To Bob the law had always been full of mystery; this g

. She passed hurriedly through the outer office, pulling down her veil ove

's had her gruel, evidently.

ert office-boy sprang to the s

on can see y

ssage to a room where a spare, grizzled man sat at a huge roll

n Rainham. Ho

t like a claw in his great palm. Then he sat

have seen you here

g the fact that the idea had never occurred to him. "B

t brings

" Bob told him, "and I'm

n this

beg your pardon, sir; but I'm afraid I'm not cut out for an office. I w

father support her? She is an

elp, and a good many other things. You couldn't call it a home.

does your

that's what my stepmother says, so

is under ag

twenty-two. Can my father pr

ndering. "Do I gather that

pluck enough for six people, and b

ider that you co

for a fellow whose only qualification is that he's been fighting Huns for nearly five years. I've answered adver

ried the law

laug

a, but, of course, we've never called her

for a few moments. Then he looked up, and there

all about it, Captain Rainham.

and if at times it was a trifle incoherent, principally from honest wrath, yet on the whole C

paused. "Just so, just so. And

I should have more chance of success if I had a little capital to start with. But I understand that most of it was lost. My father seemed very disap

hought deeply b

completely under the thumb of his second wife. Your late aunt, my old friend, had an abhorrence for that lady that was quaint, considering that she had scarcely ever seen her." He permitted himself the ghost of a smile. "She was deeply afraid o

you,

. "I can't make ducks and drakes of it, no matter how much I may wish

ed at him. "Then-do

pay altogether; others fell to very little. The sum left to you and your sister for immediate use should have been very much larger, but all that i

," said Bob simply

blank amazement. "Do you tell m

as always Tommy to think of, you know, sir. I had

Captain, for it enables me to do with a clear conscience something which I have the power to do. There is a discretionary clause in your a

d!" Bob stared

as to the use you will make of it. As a matter of form I should like a le

at, what a difference it will make to Tommy and me! Poor

early. And now, Capta

ing," said Bob. "

e he would do anything. But urged by your stepmother, he might make trouble. And the good lady

wish to goodness I could get her right

wyer p

now any o

d one can always get Government expert advice there, I bel

on nodded a

e within their reach. A terrible woman, that stepmother of yours; a terrible woman. She came to see me with your father; he said nothing, but she talked like a mill-race. Miss Tommy has my full sympathy. A b

owling joke always. I only found out f

legal statement to frighten Mrs. Rainham if she objects to your taking your sister away. Much may be done by bluffing, especially if you do it very solemnly an

for her, if you don't mind, and I'll write to her again to-night." He got

letter from your commanding officer, and remember that there's no wild hurry about

-but I don't want

t seemed a sum of enormous possibilities. Everything was very vague still, but at least the money was certain-it seemed like fairy gold. He felt a sudden desire to get away somewhere, with Tommy, away from crowded England to a country where a man could breathe; his heart rejoiced at the idea, jus

p, Rai

ide him, also waiting for a break in the crawling string of motor-b

he boy, coming to the salute stiffly.

twice before you heard me. What

hem, I suppose-fellows of my age, anyhow. It's a bit difficu

ountry from horror and ruin, and now it seemed very doubtful if their country wanted them. They were in every town in England, looking for work; their pitiful, plucky advertisements greeted the eye in every newspaper. The problem of th

Rainham," he said. "Would

quaintly as

ully, sir,"

rrying 'bus-with a brief shake of the head to the conductor, who was prepared to check the speed of his craft to accommodate a passenger with such distinguished badges of rank. Bob was on the ground almost as quickly, and they turned out of the crowded street into a quieter one that presently led them into a silent square, where dignified grey houses looked o

'Shea? The rheu

ig game from all over the world; for this was a Service club, bearing a proud record of soldier and sailor members for a hun

ugge. He seemed to know every one, and once or twice he left his seat to speak to a friend-during which absence Bob's friends shot him amazed glances, with eyebrows raised in astonishment that he should be lunching with a real Major-General. Bob was somewhat tongue-tied with bewilderment o

my I saw you wi

ou," blurted Bob. "You see, she and I have always been

hink of Ca

ess," Bob answered. "And my money would go a lot further there than here, wouldn't it, sir

he new countries, and, of course, a man with a little capital

away. I don't know more of one country than the other-except the sort o

Harran

mildly surprised if I remark that we have about a dozen different climates, and that we have snow and ice, and very decent winter sports, in Victoria. I don't think they b

r!" Bob

ld be all right, I think, especially now that the first rush is over. And I could give you plenty of introductions in Australia to the right sort of people. You ought to see something of the country, and what the life and work are, be

dn't want to let her work. But I can see that it might be bes

arran cut

t type of settlers for Australia-she needs them badly-then I'm doing a double-barrelled job that I like. But see here-do I un

ther will never let her go as long as she can keep her as a drudge. We owe them nothing-he's never been a father to us, and as for my stepmother-well, she should owe T

unt's family la

him to see you, sir, if you like; though I don't see w

said the General. "Your own, too. Now, if I get you and your sister pass

fter all, his training in the air ha

I'll be demobilized then, and a free

; everything you need in Australia you can get just as well, or better, out there. Most fellows wh

er. Bob's head was whirling. He tried to stammer out

ere to go when you land. Tell your sister not to be nervous-she isn't going to a wild country, and the people there are much the s

capitalist, and Tommy and I are going across the world to Australia as calmly as if we were off to Margate for the day! Well, I suppose it's only a dream, and I'll wa