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a stockade built about an extinct volcano； and Lee and his troop
and a mountain battery attempted to dislodge them。 In the fight that
followed Lee covered his brows with laurel wreaths and received
two bullet wounds in his body。
For a month death stood at the side of his cot； and then； still weak
and at times delirious with fever； by slow stages he was removed to the
hospital in Manila。 In one of his sane moments a cable was shown
him。 It read： 〃Whereabouts still unknown。〃 Lee at once rebelled
against his doctors。 He must rise； he declared； and proceed to
Europe。 It was upon a matter of life and death。 The surgeons
assured him his remaining exactly where he was also was a matter
of as great consequence。 Lee's knowledge of his own lack of
strength told him they were right。
Then； from headquarters； he was informed that； as a reward for
his services and in recognition of his approaching convalescence；
he was ordered to return to his own climate and that an easy
billet had been found for him as a recruiting officer in New York
City。 Believing the woman he loved to be in Europe； this plan for
his comfort only succeeded in bringing on a relapse。 But the day
following there came another cablegram。 It put an abrupt end to
his mutiny； and brought him and the War Department into complete
accord。
〃She is in New York；〃 it read； 〃acting as agent for a charitable
institution； which one not known； but hope in a few days to cable
correct address。〃
In all the world there was no man so happy。 The next morning a
transport was sailing； and； probably because they had read the
cablegram； the surgeons agreed with Lee that a sea voyage would
do him no harm。 He was carried on board； and when the propellers
first churned the water and he knew he was moving toward her； the
hero of the fight around the crater shed unmanly tears。 He would
see her again； hear her voice； the same great city would shelter
them。 It was worth a dozen bullets。
He reached New York in a snow…storm； a week before Christmas； and
went straight to the office of his lawyers。 They received him with
embarrassment。 Six weeks before； on the very day they had
cabled him that Mrs。 Stedman was in New York； she had left the
charitable institution where she had been employed； and had again
disappeared。
Lee sent his trunks to the Army and Navy Club； which was
immediately around the corner from the recruiting office in Sixth
Avenue； and began discharging telegrams at every one who had ever
known Frances Gardner。 The net result was discouraging。 In the
year and a half in which he had been absent every friend of the
girl he sought had temporarily changed his place of residence or
was permanently dead。
Meanwhile his arrival by the transport was announced in the
afternoon papers。 At the wharf an admiring trooper had told a
fine tale of his conduct at the battle of the crater； and
reporters called at the club to see him。 He did not discourage
them； as he hoped through them the fact of his return might be
made known to Frances。 She might send him a line of welcome； and
he would discover her whereabouts。 But； though many others sent
him hearty greetings； from her there was no word。
On the second day after his arrival one of the telegrams was
answered in person by a friend of Mrs。 Stedman。 He knew only that
she had been in New York； that she was very poor and in ill
health； that she shunned all of her friends； and was earning her
living as the matron of some sort of a club for working girls。 He
did not know the name of it。
On the third day there still was no news。 On the fourth Lee
decided that the next morning he would advertise。 He would say
only： 〃Will Mrs。 Arthur Stedman communicate with Messrs。 Fuller &
Fuller？〃 Fuller & Fuller were his lawyers。 That afternoon he
remained until six o'clock at the recruiting office； and when he
left it the electric street lights were burning brightly。 A heavy
damp snow was falling； and the lights and the falling flakes and
the shouts of drivers and the toots of taxicabs made for the man
from the tropics a welcome homecoming。
Instead of returning at once to his club； he slackened his steps。
The shop windows of Sixth Avenue hung with Christmas garlands；
and colored lamps glowed like open fireplaces。 Lee passed slowly
before them； glad that he had been able to get back at such a
season。 For the moment he had forgotten the woman he sought； and
was conscious only of his surroundings。 He had paused in front of
the window of a pawn…shop。 Over the array of cheap jewelry； of
banjos； shot…guns； and razors； his eyes moved idly。 And then they
became transfixed and staring。 In the very front of the window；
directly under his nose； was a tarnished silver loving…cup。 On it
was engraved； 〃Mixed Doubles。 Agawamsett； 1910。〃 In all the world
there were only two such cups； and as though he were dodging the
slash of a bolo； Lee leaped into the shop。 Many precious seconds
were wasted in persuading Mrs。 Cohen that he did not believe the
cup had been stolen； that he was not from the Central Office；
that he believed the lady who had pawned the cup had come by it
honestly； that he meant no harm to the lady； that he meant no
harm to Mrs。 Cohen； that； much as the young lady may have needed
the money Mrs。 Cohen had loaned her on the cup； he needed the
address of the young lady still more。
Mrs。 Cohen retired behind a screen； and Lee was conscious that
from the other side of it the whole family of Cohens were taking
his measurements。 He approved of their efforts to protect the
owner of the cup； but not from him。
He offered； if one of the younger Cohens would take him to the
young lady； to let him first ask her if she would receive Captain Lee；
and for his service he would give the young Cohen untold gold。
He exhibited the untold gold。 The young Cohen choked at the sight
and sprang into the seat beside the driver of a taxicab。
〃To the Working Girls' Home； on Tenth Street！〃 he commanded。
Through the falling snow and the flashing lights they slid；
skidded； and leaped。 Inside the cab Lee shivered with excitement；
with cold； with fear that it might not be true。 He could not
realize she was near。 It was easier to imagine himself still in
the jungle； with months of time and sixteen thousand miles of
land and water separating them； or in the hospital； on a
white…enamel cot； watching the shadow creep across the
whitewashed wall； or lying beneath an awning that did not move；
staring at a burning； brazen sea that did not move； on a transport
that； timed by the beating of his heart； stood still。
Those days were within the radius of his experience。 Separation；
absence； the immutable giants of time and space； he knew。 With
them he had fought and could withstand them。 But to be near her；
to hear her voice； to bring his love into her actual presence； that was
an attack upon his feelings which found him without weapons。 That
for a very few dollars she had traded the cup from which she had sworn
never to part did not concern him。 Having parted from him； what she
did with a silver mug was of little consequence。 It was of significance
only in that it meant she was poor。 And that she was either an inmate
or a matron of a lodging…house for working girls also showed she was
poor。
He had been told that was her condition； and that she was in ill health；
and that from all who loved her she had refused to accept help。 At the
thought his jaws locked pugnaciously。 There was one who loved her；
who； should she refuse his aid； was prepared to make her life intolerable。
He planned in succession at lightning speed all he might do for her。 Among
other things he would make this Christmas the happiest she or he would
ever know。 Not for an instant did he question that she who had refused
help from all who loved her could refuse anything he offered。 For he
knew it was offered with a love that demanded nothing in return； with
a love that asked only to be allowed to love； and to serve。 To refuse help
inspired by such a feeling as his would be morbid； wicked； ridiculous；
as though a flower refused to turn its face to the sun； and shut its lips
to the dew。
The cab stopped in front of a brick building adorned with many fire…
escapes。 Afterward he remembered a bare； brilliantly lit hall hung with
photographs of the Acropolis； and a stout； capable woman in a cap； who
looked him over and said：
〃You will find Mrs。 Stedman in the writing…room。〃
And he remembered entering a room filled with Mission furniture and
reading…lamps under green shades。 It was empty； except for a young
girl in deep black； who was seated facing him； her head bent above a
writing…desk。 As he came into the circle of the lamps the girl raised
her eyes and as though lifted to her feet by what she saw； and through
no effort of her own； stood erect。
And the young man who had persuaded himself his love demanded
nothing； who asked only to worship at her gate； found his arms reaching
out； and heard his voice as though it came from a great distance； cry；
〃Frances！〃
And the girl who had refused the help of all who loved her； like a
homing pigeon w