Under the Great Bear | Page 3

Walling, one of my classmates."
"Son of the late General Walling, and a man who failed to graduate, is
he not?"
"Yes, sir. Do you know him?"
"I knew his father, and wish you had chosen some other companion."
"I did not choose him. He chose me, and invited me to go with him."
"At your own expense, I suppose?"
"Certainly! I could not have considered his proposition otherwise."
"Of course not," agreed Mr. Hepburn, "seeing that you have funds quite
sufficient for such a venture, if used with economy. And you have
decided that you would rather spend the ensuing year in foreign travel

with Thorpe Walling than do anything else?"
"I think I have, sir."
"Very well, my boy. While I cannot say that I consider your decision
the best that could be made, I have no valid objections to offer, and am
bound to grant as far as possible your reasonable desires. So you have
my consent to this scheme, if not my whole approval. When do you
plan to start?"
"Thorpe wishes to go at once."
"Then, if you will call here to-morrow morning at about this hour, I
will have arranged for your letter of credit, and anything else that may
suggest itself for making your trip a pleasant one."
"Thank you, sir," said Cabot, who, believing the interview to be ended,
turned to leave the room.
"By the way," continued Mr. Hepburn, "there is another thing I wish to
mention. Can you recommend one of your recent classmates for an
important mission, to be undertaken at once to an out-of-the-way part
of the world? He must be a young man of good morals, able to keep his
business affairs to himself, not afraid of hard work, and willing as well
as physically able to endure hardships. His intelligence and mental
fitness will, of course, be guaranteed by the Institute's diploma. Our
company is in immediate need of such a person, and will engage him at
a good salary for a year, with certain prospects of advancement, if he
gives satisfaction. Think it over and let me know in the morning if you
have hit upon one whom you believe would meet those requirements.
In the meantime please do not mention the subject to any one."
Charged with this commission, and relieved that the dreaded interview
was ended, Cabot hastened uptown to a small secret society club of
which he was a non-resident member. There he wrote a note to Thorpe
Walling, accepting his invitation, and expressing a readiness to set forth
at once on their proposed journey. This done, he joined a group of
fellows who were discussing summer plans in the reading-room.

"What are you going in for, Grant?" asked one. "Is your summer to be
devoted to work or play?"
"Both," laughed Cabot. "Thorpe Walling and I are to take an
educational trip around the world, during which we hope to have great
fun and accomplish much work."
"Ho, ho!" jeered he who had put the question. "That's a good one. The
idea of coupling 'Torpid' Walling's name with anything that savors of
work. You'll have a good time fast enough. But I'll wager anything you
like, that in his company you will circumnavigate the globe without
having done any work harder than spending money. No, no, my dear
boy, 'Torpid' is not the chap to encourage either mental or physical
effort in his associates. Better hunt some other companion, or even go
by your lonely, if you really want to accomplish anything."
These words recurred to our lad many times during the day, and when
he finally fell asleep that night, after fruitlessly wondering who of his
many friends he should recommend to President Hepburn, they were
still ringing in his ears.
CHAPTER II.
AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT.
Thorpe Walling had never been one of Cabot Grant's particular friends,
nor did the latter now regard with unmixed pleasure the idea of a year's
intimate association with him. He had accepted the latter's invitation
because nothing else seemed likely to offer, and he could not bear to
have the other fellows, especially those whose class standing had
secured them positions, imagine that he was not also in demand.
Besides, the thought of a trip around the world was certainly very
enticing; any opposition to the plan would have rendered him the more
desirous of carrying it out. But in his interview with his guardian he
had gained his point so easily that the concession immediately lost half
its value. Even as he wrote his note to Thorpe he wondered if he really
wanted to go with him, and after that conversation in the club
reading-room he was almost certain that he did not. If Mr. Hepburn had

only offered him employment, how gladly he would