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telegraph； those who were steaming across the ocean； by wireless。
Up from the equator had drifted the threat of a scandal； sickening；
grim； terrible。 As yet it burned beneath the surface； giving out only
an odor； but an odor as rank as burning rubber itself。 At any moment
it might break into flame。 For the directors； was it the better wisdom
to let the scandal smoulder； and take a chance； or to be the first to give
the alarm； the first to lead the way to the horror and stamp it out？
It was to decide this that； in the heat of August； the directors and the
president had foregathered。
Champ Thorne knew nothing of this； he knew only that by a miracle
Barbara Barnes was in town； that at last he was in a position to ask
her to marry him； that she would certainly say she would。 That was
all he cared to know。
A year before he had issued his declaration of independence。
Before he could marry； he told her； he must be able to support a
wife on what he earned； without her having to accept money from
her father； and until he received 〃a minimum wage〃 of five thousand
dollars they must wait。
〃What is the matter with my father's money？〃 Barbara had demanded。
Thorne had evaded the direct question。
〃There is too much of it；〃 he said。
〃Do you object to the way he makes it？〃 insisted Barbara。 〃Because
rubber is most useful。 You put it in golf balls and auto tires and
galoshes。 There is nothing so perfectly respectable as galoshes。
And what is there 'tainted' about a raincoat？〃
Thorne shook his head unhappily。
〃It's not the finished product to which I refer；〃 he stammered； 〃it's
the way they get the raw material。〃
〃They get it out of trees；〃 said Barbara。 Then she exclaimed with
enlightenment〃Oh！〃 she cried； 〃you are thinking of the Congo。
There it is terrible！ That is slavery。 But there are no slaves on the
Amazon。 The natives are free and the work is easy。 They just tap
the trees the way the farmers gather sugar in Vermont。 Father has
told me about it often。〃
Thorne had made no comment。 He could abuse a friend； if the
friend were among those present； but denouncing any one he
disliked as heartily as he disliked Senator Barnes was a public
service he preferred to leave to others。 And he knew besides that
if the father she loved and the man she loved distrusted each
other； Barbara would not rest until she learned the reason why。
One day； in a newspaper； Barbara read of the Puju Mayo atrocities；
of the Indian slaves in the jungles and backwaters of the Amazon；
who are offered up as sacrifices to 〃red rubber。〃 She carried the
paper to her father。 What it said； her father told her； was untrue；
and if it were true it was the first he had heard of it。
Senator Barnes loved the good things of life； but the thing he
loved most was his daughter； the thing he valued the highest was
her good opinion。 So when for the first time she looked at him in
doubt； he assured her he at once would order an investigation。
〃But； of course；〃 he added； 〃it will be many months before our
agents can report。 On the Amazon news travels very slowly。〃
In the eyes of his daughter the doubt still lingered。
〃I am afraid；〃 she said； 〃that that is true。〃
That was six months before the directors of the Brazil and Cuyaba
Rubber Company were summoned to meet their president at his
rooms in the Ritz…Carlton。 They were due to arrive in half an hour；
and while Senator Barnes awaited their coming Barbara came to
him。 In her eyes was a light that helped to tell the great news。 It
gave him a sharp； jealous pang。 He wanted at once to play a part
in her happiness； to make her grateful to him； not alone to this
stranger who was taking her away。 So fearful was he that she
would shut him out of her life that had she asked for half his
kingdom he would have parted with it。
〃And besides giving my consent；〃 said the rubber king； 〃for which
no one seems to have asked； what can I give my little girl to make
her remember her old father？ Some diamonds to put on her head；
or pearls to hang around her neck； or does she want a vacant lot
on Fifth Avenue？〃
The lovely hands of Barbara rested upon his shoulders； her lovely
face was raised to his； her lovely eyes were appealing； and a little
frightened。
〃What would one of those things cost？〃 asked Barbara。
The question was eminently practical。 It came within the scope of
the senator's understanding。 After all； he was not to be cast into
outer darkness。 His smile was complacent。 He answered airily：
〃Anything you like；〃 he said； 〃a million dollars？〃
The fingers closed upon his shoulders。 The eyes； still frightened；
still searched his in appeal。
〃Then； for my wedding…present；〃 said the girl； 〃I want you to take
that million dollars and send an expedition to the Amazon。 And I
will choose the men。 Men unafraid； men not afraid of fever or
sudden death； not afraid to tell the trutheven to you。 And all the
world will know。 And theyI mean youwill set those people free！〃
Senator Barnes received the directors with an embarrassment which
he concealed under a manner of just indignation。
〃My mind is made up；〃 he told them。 〃Existing conditions cannot
continue。 And to that end； at my own expense； I am sending an
expedition across South America。 It will investigate； punish； and
establish reforms。 I suggest； on account of this damned heat； we
do now adjourn。〃
That night； over on Long Island； Carroll told his wife all； or
nearly all。 He did not tell her about the automatic pistol。 And
together on tiptoe they crept to the nursery and looked down at
their sleeping children。 When she rose from her knees the mother
said： 〃But how can I thank him？〃
By 〃him〃 she meant the Young Man of Wall Street。
〃You never can thank him；〃 said Carroll； 〃that's the worst of it。〃
But after a long silence the mother said： 〃I will send him a
photograph of the children。 Do you think he will understand？〃
Down at Seabright； Hastings and his wife walked in the sunken
garden。 The moon was so bright that the roses still held their
color。
〃I would like to thank him；〃 said the young wife。 She meant the
Young Man of Wall Street。 〃But for him we would have lost this。〃
Her eyes caressed the garden； the fruit…trees； the house with wide；
hospitable verandas。 〃To…morrow I will send him some of these
roses；〃 said the young wife。 〃Will he understand that they mean
our home？〃
At a scandalously late hour； in a scandalous spirit of independence；
Champ Thorne and Barbara were driving around Central Park in a
taxicab。
〃How strangely the Lord moves； his wonders to perform；〃 misquoted
Barbara。 〃Had not the Young Man of Wall Street saved Mr。 Hastings；
Mr。 Hastings could not have raised your salary； you would not have
asked me to marry you； and had you not asked me to marry you；
father would not have given me a wedding…present； and〃
〃And；〃 said Champ； taking up the tale； 〃thousands of slaves would
still be buried in the jungles； hidden away from their wives and
children and the light of the sun and their fellow men。 They
still would be dying of fever； starvation； tortures。〃
He took her hand in b