on." Larry carried
the telegram quietly into the inner office and laid it upon his chief's
desk.

"I can stand this no longer, sir," he said in a quiet voice. "I wish you
to release me. I must return to Canada. I am going to the war."

"Very well, my boy," said Mr. Wakeham. "I know you have thought it over.
I feel you could not do otherwise. I, too, have been thinking, and I
wish to say that your place will await you here and your salary will go
on so long as you are at the war. No! not a word! There is not much we
Americans can do as yet, but I shall count it a privilege as an American
sympathising with the Allies in their great cause to do this much
at least. And you need not worry about that coal mine. Dean has been
telling me about it. We will see it through."

CHAPTER XXIV

THE MAJOR AND THE MAJOR'S WIFE

When Larry went to take farewell of the Wakehams he found Rowena with
Hugo Raeder in the drawing-room.

"You are glad to leave us," said Rowena, in a tone of reproach.

"No," said Larry, "sorry. You have been too good to me."

"You are glad to go to war?"

"No; I hate the war. I am not a soldier, but, thank God, I see my duty,
and I am going to have a go at it."

"Right you are," said Hugo. "What else could any man do when his country
is at war?"

"But I hate to go," said Larry, "and I hate this business of saying
good-bye. You have all been so good to me."

"It was easy," said Rowena. "Do you know I was on the way to fall in
love with you? Hugo here and Jane saved me. Oh, I mean it," she added,
flushing as she laughed.

"Jane!" exclaimed Larry.

"Yes, Jane. Oh, you men are so stupid," said Rowena. "And Hugo helped me
out, too," she added, with a shy glance at him.

Larry looked from one to the other, then rushed to Hugo. "Oh, you lucky
beggar! You two lucky beggars! Oh, joy, glory, triumph! Could anything
be finer in the wide world?" cried Larry, giving a hand to each.

"And, Larry, don't be a fool," said Rowena. "Try to understand your
dear, foolish heart, and don't break your own or any one's else."

Larry gazed at her in astonishment and then at Hugo, who nodded wisely
at him.

"She is quite right, Larry. I want to see that young lady Jane. She must
be quite unique. I owe her something."

"Good-bye, then," said Larry. "I have already seen your mother.
Good-bye, you dear things. God give you everything good. He has already
given you almost the best."

"Good-bye, you dear boy," s