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Show jfJtlJ , I 7 IRVING ; ' BACHELLERj man the unfathomable plan of God for future ages would seem to have been resting. In his sixty-eight years he had discovered, dis-covered, among other things, the vanity van-ity of wealth and splendor. It was no more to him than the idle wind. These are his exact words as he stood with a gentle smile on his face : "If you wish to use me, give me the propositions propo-sitions and dismiss all thoughts of rewards re-wards from your mind. They would destroy the influence you propose to use." The old gentleman climbed the great staircase and went to his chamber, while Lord Howe was, no doubt, communicating com-municating the result of his Interview to his other guests. There were those among them who freely predicted that war was inevitable. CHAPTER VIM An Appointment and a Challengs. Solomon Binkus had left the city with Preston to visit Sir Jeffrey Amherst Am-herst in his country seat, near London. Lon-don. Sir Benjamin had taken Jack to dine with him at two of his clubs and after dining they had gone to see the great actor Robert Bensley as Mal-volio Mal-volio and the comedian Dodd as Sir Andrew Aguecheek. The Britisher had been most polite, but had seemed studiously stu-diously to avoid mention of the subject sub-ject nearest the heart of the young man. After that the latter was invited in-vited to a revel and a cock fight, but declined the honor and went to spend an evening with his friend, the philosopher. phil-osopher. For days Franklin had been shut In with gout. Jack had found him in his room with one of his feet wrapped in bandages and resting on a chair. 1 "I am glad you came, my son," said the good Doctor. "I am In need of better company than this foot. Soli- The office of th doctor baronet w on the first foor of a large building in Gough square, Fleet street. A number num-ber of gentlemen sat In comfortable chairs Ln a large waiting room. "Sir John will see you in a moment, sir," an attendant said to Doctor Franklin Frank-lin as they entered. The moment was a very long one. At last the door to the private room of the great physician creaked on Its hinges with a kind of groan and he came out accompanied by a limping patient. "Wait here for a minute a gout minute." min-ute." said Franklin to his young friend. "When Pringle dismisses me, I will present you." Jack sat and waited while the room filled with ruddy, crotchey gentlemen supported by canes or crutches elderly, elder-ly, old and of middle age. Among those of the latter class was a giant of a man, erect and dignified, accompanied accom-panied by a big blond youngster ln a lieutenant's uniform. He sat down and began to talk with another patient of the troubles in America. "I see the d i Vankees have thrown another cargt of tea overboard," said he in a tone of anger. "This time it was in Cape Cod. We must give those Yahoos a lesson." Jack surmised now that here was the aggressive Tory general of whom the Doctor bad spoken and that the young man was his son. "I fear that it would be a costly business busi-ness sending men to fight across three thousand miles of sea," said the other. "Bosh ! There is not one Yankee In a hundred that has the courage of t rabbit. With a thousand British grenadiers, gren-adiers, I would undertake to go from one end of America to another and amputate the heads of the males, partly part-ly by force and partly by coaxing." A laugh followed these insulting words. Jack Irons rose quickly and approached the man who had uttered them. The young American was angry, but he managed to say with good composure com-posure : "I am an American, sir, and I demand de-mand a retraction of those words or a chance to match my courage against yours." A murmur of surprise greeted his challenge. The Britisher turned quickly with color mounting to his brow and surveyed sur-veyed the sturdy form of the young man. "I take back nothing that I say," ha declared. "Then, In behalf, of my slandered countrymen, I demand the right to fight you or any Britisher who has the courage to take up your quarrel." Jack Irons had spoken calmly like one who had weighed his words. The young lieutenant who had entered en-tered the room with the fiery, middle-aged middle-aged Britisher, rose and faced the American and said : "I will take up his quarrel, sir. Here Is my card." "And here is mine," said Jack. "When will you be at home?" "At noon tomorrow." ' "Some friend of mine will call upon you," Jack assured the other. A look of surprise came to the face of the lieutenant as he surveyed the card in his hand. Jack was prepared for the name he read which was that of Lionel Clarke. That evening Solomon arrived with Preston. Jack told them in detail of the unfortunate event of the morning. Solomon whistled while his face began be-gan to get ready for a snot. "Neevarious !" he exclaimed. "Here's sathin' that'll have to be 'tended to 'fore I take the water." "Clarke is full of hartshorn and vinegar," vin-egar," said Preston. "He was like that in America. He could make more trouble in ten minutes than a regiment could mend in a year. He Is what you would call 'a mean cuss.' But for him and Lord Cornwaliis, I should be back in the service. They blame me for the present posture of affairs in America." mm m,ne'" pi jrvjH "A MEAN CUSS" SYNOPSIS. Solomon Binkus, veteran scout and interpreter, and his young companion, Jack Irons, passing through Horse t Valley. New York, ln September, 1768, to warn settlers of an Indian In-dian uprising, rescue from a band of redskins the wife and daughter of Colonel Hare of England. Jack distinguishes himself in the fight and later rescues Margaret Hare from the river. Jack and Margaret Mar-garet fall in love. On reaching Fort Stanwlx, Colonel Hare says both are too young to marry. The Hare family sail for England, and the Irons family move to Albany. Unrest grows ln the colonies because be-cause of the oppressive measures of the English government. Solomon Solo-mon and Jack visit Boston. In November, 1770, Jack goes to Philadelphia and works in Benjamin Ben-jamin Franklin's printing plant. Nearly three years later Margaret writes him from London, reminding remind-ing him that her youth is passing and saying she has appealed to Doctor Franklin. Binkus has re-oeived re-oeived a letter from Washington to be carried across the ocean, and Jack sails with him. Arriving Arriv-ing In England, Binkus is ar- ' rested, but Jack has the letter and proceeds to London. Jack delivers the papers to Franklin ln London. Binkus la released and joins them In the great city. Jack orders fashionable clothes. Jack and Margaret meet and are more ln love than ever, but Colonel Col-onel Hare Is not eager for the marriage. Franklin's efforts to obtain better treatment for the colonies are futile. He evades the attempt of the king's men to "tow him into port." CHAPTER VII Continued. -9- Then said Lady Howe : "I wish, my brother Franklin, that you were to be Bent thither. I should like that much better than General Howe's going to command the army there.'' A rather tense moment followed. Franklin broke its silence by saying ln a gentle tone: "I think, madame, they should pro-Vide pro-Vide the general with more honorable employment. I beg that your ladyship will not misjudge me. I am not capable cap-able of taking an office from this government gov-ernment while it is acting with so much hostility toward my country." "The ministers have the opinion that you can compose the situation if you will," Lord Howe declared. "Many of us have unbounded faith in your ability. abil-ity. I would not think of trying to Influence your judgment by a selfish motive, but certainly you may, with reason, expect any reward which It is ln the power of the government to be-etow." be-etow." Then came an answer which should live in history, as one of the great credits of human nature, and all men, especially those of English blood, should feel a certain pride in it. The answer was: "Your lordship, I am not looking for rewards, but only for justice." "Let us try to agree as to what Is the Justice of the matter," Howe answered. an-swered. "Will you not draft a plan on which you would be willing to cooperate?" co-operate?" "That I will be glad to do." Persisting In his misjudgment, Howe suggested : "As you have friends here and constituents con-stituents in America to keep well with, perhaps it would belter not be in your handwriting. Send It to Lady Howe and she will copy it and return the original." Then said the sturdy old Yankee: "1 desire, my friends, that there shall be no secrecy about It." Lord and Lady Howe showed signs of great disappointment as he bade them good night and begged to be sent to his room. "I am growing old, and have to ask for Ukt Indulgence from every hostess," host-ess," he ivx-aded. Howe was not willing to leave a stone unturned. He could not dismiss the notion from his mind that the purchase pur-chase could be effected If the bid were raised. He drew the Doctor aside and said : "We do not expect your assistance without proper consideration. I shall insist upon generous . and ample ap-i ap-i pointments for the men you take with you and especially for you as well as a firm promise of subsequent rewards." What crown had. he In mind for the white and venerable brow of the man who stood before him? Beneath that brow was a new type of statesman, born of the hardships and perils and high faith of a new world, and then and there as these two faced each other oth-er the soul of the past and the soul of the future a moment was come than which there had been no greater ln human history. In America, France and England the cocks had been crowing crow-ing and now the first light of dawn of new day fell upon the figure of the man who In honor and understanding understand-ing towered nbove his fellows. Now, Xar macjttuL on the character of this "Jack, I'm glad that young pup ain't me," said Solomon. "Thar never was a man better cocalated to please a friend er hurt an enemy. If he was to say pistols I guess that ol sling o' yours would bu's out laughin' an' I ain't no idee he could stan' a minnit in front o' your hanger." "It's bad business, and especially for you," said Preston. "Dueling Is not so much in favor here as irw France. Of course there are duels, but the besi people in England are set against the practice. You would be sure to get the worst of It. The u4d generxl Is a favorite of the king. He Is booked for knighthood. If you were to kill his son in the present state of feeling here, your neck would be in danger. If you were to Injure him you would have to make a lucky escape, or go to prison. It Is not a pleasant outlook for one who is engaged to an English girl. He has a great advantage over yeu." "Ye shoct quick, Jack, an' mebbe that's what saved ye." (TO BE CONTINUED.) tude Is like water good for a dip, but you cannot live in it. Margaret has been here trying to give me comfort, although she needs It more for herself." her-self." "Margaret !" the boy exclaimed. "Why does she need comfort?" "Oh, largely on your account, my son ! Her father is obdurate and the cause is clear to me. This courtship of yours is taking an international aspect." as-pect." "I only fear that I may not be able to provide for her ill a suitable manner," man-ner," said Jack. "Oh, you are well off," said the philosopher. phil-osopher. "You have some capital and recognized talent and occupation for it. When I reached Philadelphia I had an empty stomach and nlso a Dutch dollar, a few pennies, two soiled shirts and a pair of dirty stockings in my pockets. Many years passed and I had a family before I was as well off as you are." as Jack was saying good night to his venerable friend the latter remarked re-marked : "1 shall go to Sir John Pringle's In the morning for ndvlce. He Is a noted physician. My man will be having a day off. Could you go with me at ten?" "Gladly," said Jack. "Then I shall pick you up at your lodgings. You will see your rival at Pringle's. He Is at home on leave and has been going to Sir John's office every Tuesday morning at ten-thirty with his father, General Clarke, a grufl, gouty old hero of the French and Indian wars and an aggressive Tory. He is forever tossing and goring gor-ing the Whigs, It may be the only chance you will have to see that rival of yours, ne Is a handsome lad." Doctor Franklin, with his crutch beside him In the cab, called for his young friend at the hour appointed. |