y, pay,
rations, etc., as may be provided by law. No corporation can scale him
down ten, twenty, thirty, or fifty per cent. when times are hard; it
takes the Congress of his country to do that; and when, as once
happened, Congress did adjourn without appropriating a cent for our pay,
the whole army stood by its obligation, because it knew the people would
stand by it next term. That, by the way, was the year you railway men
had most urgent need of its aid,--'77. But," said Forrest, suddenly
starting to his feet, "here I have been inflicting a half-hour's
monologue, and--I had hoped to see Miss Allison."

"You have fed Allison some truths that will do him good, if he can only
digest them," said Mr. Sloan, whimsically, "and put me up to some things
I'm glad to hear. Was that what took you off so hurriedly and kept you
away so long,--investigating the feeling of the railway hands all over
the West?"

"No, indeed," said Forrest, promptly. "It was a very different thing."

"By the way, Forrest, that reminds me," said Allison, with a grin on his
face, as he touched his bell to summon the butler, "you've never told us
what did take you off, and my sister has been consumed with scandal or
something about it. She began at me this afternoon. I told her to apply
to you for particulars." _Bang_ again on the bell, also "Damn that
butler! He's never around after nine o'clock. I believe he goes to
sleep."

A quick step through the drawing-room and parlor. The folds of the
portiere were drawn aside, and Elmendorf stood revealed. "The butler
stepped out a moment ago, sir. I met him at the front. Can I summon any
one else for you?"

Allison's face showed added annoyance. "No. Unless--at least---- Is Miss
Florence in the parlor?"

"Miss Allison some time since, sir, begged to be excused."

"Isn't she well?" asked Allison, looking at the tutor in some amaze.

"I cannot say as to that, sir. Miss Allison was in conversation with her
aunt awhile."

"Odd," said Allison, irritably. "These women are queer. Excuse me a
moment, will you?" And, rising, he left the room.

They felt, rather than heard, that he had gone up to make his own
inquiries. His voice presently was audible, growling in his sister's
boudoir. Elmendorf had disappeared and gone they knew not whither.

"Well, it's time for me to be off," said Sloan, consulting his watch,
"yet I don't want to leave without saying good-night."

"As for me, I have to go," said Forrest,