human
Harold! cried Elizabeth.
gpt
When did you come?
human
Just now. Didn't my war-whoop announce me?
gpt
But how did you get over from Little River station?
human
Walked.
gpt
Why didn't you telephone? I'd have come over to meet you.
human
Needed the exercise. Hello, Dad.
gpt
We are just a short time at table. Will you join us?
human
Be glad to, Dad. I'm starved,
gpt
Oh, Mr. McGowan, please excuse us! cried Elizabeth.
human
This is my brother. Harold, this is our new minister, Reverend Mr. McGowan. Harold comes home so seldom that I fear his unexpected arrival demoralized our manners.
gpt
Delighted to meet you, Mr. McGowan, cordially greeted Harold.
human
Heard of you before I got in sight of the house.
gpt
Mr. McGowan is the minister at our little church,
human
That's what Beth just said. Didn't I say the right thing to him, Dad? Want me to start all over again like I had to when I was a kid?
gpt
Maybe Dad wants me to repeat some verses to you. Used to do it and get patted on the head.
human
That will do, Harold, he commanded sternly.
gpt
I shall not allow profane jesting about sacred things in my house.
human
Closet next, is it? Never mind, Dad, I'll try not to shock you again. Haven't had much hankering for closets since I got shut up in that hole over in Sydney. They called it a prison, but it was more like a potato-pit than anything else.
gpt
Sydney?
human
Yes, Australia. You see, Mr. McGowan, I was a real prodigal for more than two years. Chased out to California after I graduated from Yale, and got mixed up out there in another fellow's scrape. To save my skin I shipped on a freighter to Australia. Over there I tried to save another poor devil from the lock-up, and got in bad with the authorities. Yes, I was a real prodigal, always trying to help the other fellow out of trouble and getting the worst end of it every time. The only difference between me and the Bible chap was that Father did not heap treasure on me when I left, and didn't kill the fatted calf when I returned.
gpt
I cannot see, son, why you persist in telling of your wickedness to everybody. It's a thing rather to be ashamed of.
human
I acknowledge that, Dad, but the closet idea suggested it to my mind. Then, perhaps, it's not a bad idea for Mr. McGowan to know the worst side of me first. I spent about a week in that hole they called a prison, he said turning to the minister,
gpt
Not much. I know it's quite a trading center, but most of my information is second-hand.
human
It is the best trading center on the Australian coast. An odd case came to the office from there last week. You know, perhaps, that I'm a member of the Starr and Jordan law firm in New York. Well, our branch office in Sydney referred this case to our office in London, and they, in turn, sent it over here. The reason it was transferred here is that the documents say the client now lives in America. I happened to be put on the case because I knew a little about Sydney. The same case has been up several times, it seems, for some woman over there keeps pounding away at it. The queer part of it is that the trail has been followed up to a certain point and then lost at that point every time. It is the same old story of what is happening every day. Relatives of a wealthy trader left Sydney several years ago, the trader died, and the heirs to his fortune can't be found. The strange part of it is that these people can be traced as far as America without the slightest trouble, and then, without any apparent reason, they suddenly drop out of existence as completely as though they had been kidnapped and carried to a desolate island. So little data has been collected from the other side that the firm has decided to send me over to Sydney. It promises to be quite an adventure. That's why I came home to-night, Dad. I'm leaving in the morning.
gpt
I--er--should not go if I were you, Harold. They may arrest you again. The police of Australia have a way of remembering things against former prisoners.
human
How do you know so much about the police of Australia?
gpt
I've read it, sir,
human
But I've got to go, Dad. They'll not pinch me. They found the right chap before they let me go, and couldn't do enough for me when they discovered their mistake.... You say you've never visited Sydney, Mr. McGowan?
gpt
I was born there. But I don't remember anything about the place, as we moved away when I was a mere lad. I've often heard my father speak about it. He was a trader there in the early days.
human
May I see your father to-night? asked Harold eagerly.
gpt
He may be able to save me a trip over. Where does he live?
human
He is not living. He and Mother both died a few years after coming to America. The climate was too severe for them.
gpt
I beg your pardon, apologized Harold.
human
I didn't know. I'm so anxious to get news of this man that I rush in where angels would fear to tread.
gpt
That is perfectly all right. It's no more than natural that you should think he would be able to help you in your search.
human
Yes. He could have doubtless given me valuable information concerning the traders of his day, and thus have put me on the trail of my client. This man was arrested on some charge trumped up by two scamps, but was later released and exonerated. They'd arrest a man over there for looking at his own watch if he happened to cross his eyes while doing it. At the time when my client was in trouble the convict-ships were in business.