CHAPTER XXXVI. CONCLUSION.

"The army contracts!" echoed Grant. "Why, bless my soul, you are right! This is the day set by the war department for opening them."

All three lads instinctively glanced at the station clock.

"Great Scott!" exclaimed Nattie; "it's after eleven!"

"In less than an hour the board will sit, and at Tokio—twenty miles away!" Mori cried. "We have lost the chance after all."

"Not without a struggle," firmly replied the lame youth. "There's Mr. Burr over there. He is here to meet us. Nattie, take him to the nearest stationer, and purchase three or four quires of official paper, pen and ink. Be back in five minutes. Mori, come with me."

While Nattie, too bewildered to speak, hurried away on his errand, Grant grasped the Japanese youth's arm, and almost ran to the station master's office. They found the official seated at his desk.

"What time does the next train leave for the capital?" asked Grant.

"At eleven-thirty, sir."

"Too late. How long will it take you to start a special train?"

The railway employee stared at his questioner in surprise.

"A special train for Tokio?" he asked.

"Yes."

"We couldn't have it ready under twenty minutes. Why, what——"

"Never mind the reason, sir," interrupted Grant, impatiently. "I must be in Tokio before twelve o'clock."

"It is impossible, sir."

"Not at all. It must be done. Where is the engine that brought the train in a few moments ago?"

"It is still in the station, but it will go to the running sheds before long."

"I must have that engine," exclaimed Grant, with determination. "I will pay you five hundred yen for an hour's use of it. I will also give a bonus of fifty yen each to the engineer and fireman."

Five minutes later a powerful locomotive left the station, bearing the party. A small table had been secured, and hard at work upon it was Mr. Burr, writing for dear life as Grant dictated.

The line was clear, telegraphic orders having been sent to that effect from Yokohama, and the intricate mass of iron flew upon its journey at the rate of seventy miles an hour.

It was a strange spectacle, and one never before witnessed in all Japan. To the engineer and fireman, native born, it was a novelty indeed, and they cast many curious glances at the group upon the tender.

As the miles were covered at terrific speed, the ponderous engine swayed and rocked like a ship in distress. But amid the lurching and tossing of the fabric, Grant stood imperturbably droning word after word, sentence upon sentence, while the canny Scot jotted them down as best he could.

The document was a lengthy one, full of circumlocution and dreary phrases, but at the end of twelve minutes, when the outskirts of Tokio came in sight, it was finished. The three members of the firm affixed their names just as the panting engine came to a sudden stop in the railway station of the capital.

Jinrikishas with fleet karumayas had been ordered by telegraph. The distance to the war department was at least a mile. Springing into the vehicles, the party were carried swiftly through the streets, a promise of ten times the usual fare having lent wings to the men's feet.

A clock observed midway indicated a quarter of twelve.

"On, on, men!" cried Grant, imploringly. "Fifty yen each if you do it before the stroke of twelve."

The promise was as a whip to a spirited horse. From lagging steps the karumayas bounded into a run. Down the narrow streets they darted, past gardens, through thoroughfares crowded with pedestrians; on, on, until at last, with a final spurt, the four jinrikishas came to a halt in front of the Japanese war office.

Leaving Mr. Burr to settle with the coolies—who had well earned their pay—Grant dashed into the building just as the first stroke of a sonorous bell overhead proclaimed the hour of noon.

As he passed through the entrance he noticed a door at the right bearing upon its panels in Japanese, "War Department. Office of the Army Board." It was standing slightly ajar, and from the interior came a confused murmur of voices.

Something prompted Grant and his companions to stop and peer through. Seated at a large desk were several officers in uniform and other gentlemen in civilian's clothes. In the center was Yoshisada Udono, Grant's friend. Occupying chairs in the main portion of the room were the German merchants of Yokohama, Swartz and Bauer, and Ralph's father, Jesse Black.

The warning bell had reached the seventh stroke!

Arising to his feet with a triumphant smile upon his lean, suave face, the English merchant advanced to the desk and laid thereon a packet. As he turned to resume his seat there was a noise at the door, and the lame youth marched in with calm dignity.

"Ah, I see I am just in time," he said, with a pleasant smile. "Mr. Udono, will you please accept our bid for the contracts?"

"Certainly, Grant, with the greatest pleasure," quickly replied the secretary. "Where have you been? I actually thought you would be——"

He was interrupted by a snarl of mingled stupefaction and rage. Mr. Black, who had been staring open mouthed at the lads, sprang forward, and shouted:

"It is too late! It is past the time. The hour of twelve——"

"Has not struck yet," quietly interrupted Grant. "Listen! ten, eleven, twelve! I was three seconds to the good."

If ever baffled fury sat enthroned on a man's countenance it did then upon that of the English merchant. He was speechless with anger and disappointment. Shaking his fist in Grant's face, he stammered and choked in a futile effort to berate him.

"Mr. Black, a word with you," suddenly said Nattie, stepping up.

The lad's tone was full of meaning. He turned and added to his brother and Mori:

"Let us leave for some quiet place and have it over with. You know we have a sad duty to perform."

"What, what's that?" asked the merchant, in alarm, recovering his speech. "My son Ralph! What of him? Don't tell me he is injured."

"Come with us," replied Grant, evasively.

Leaving Mori to make a brief explanation to Mr. Udono, Nattie and he took the Englishman into a side room and there told the story of his son's awful end.

It is a strange commentary on human nature that even the vilest beast contains a well of tenderness. The hand that slays in cruel sport can also caress with fond affection. The African mother has her maternal love; the foulest rogue a word of kindness.

Mr. Black was an unscrupulous man. He was a scoundrel at heart, but there was an oasis in the desert of his immoral nature. It was his love for his son Ralph. The news of his offspring's death came as a terrible blow. His grief was pitiful.

The spectacle of a strong man weeping in agony of spirit swept away all thoughts of punishment. Grant exchanged glances with his brother, and then said, sadly, but with firmness:

"Mr. Black, we know everything. We know fully your connection with the foul plot to abduct me, but we are content with our triumph over you. We could have you arrested and sent to prison for a term of years, but we will be merciful. You can go forth in freedom, but on certain conditions."

The miserable man stood listening with bowed head.

"You must leave Japan at once," continued Grant, "and also make restitution of the money overpaid to you on account of our father's debt. That debt was paid to you before his death, and you know it."

"No, Grant, your father did not pay me," replied Mr. Black, brokenly.

"Then you still deny it!" exclaimed the lame youth, his voice growing hard.

"I will explain. I received part of the money, but not from your father. The day Mr. Manning died in his office I received a call from Willis Round. He said that he had taken the fifty-six hundred dollars in gold from the safe, and would divide with me if I would promise to back him up in pushing the firm to the wall. It was his idea to purchase the good will of the business at a forced sale and start in for himself. I—I consented, but our plans have failed."

"Through no fault of yours," said Nattie, sotto voce.

"Do you agree to the conditions?" asked Grant.

"Yes, I will do as you say," replied the disgraced merchant. "I will repay you and leave this country at once. I am content to do so. Oh, Ralph, my son, my son!"

He tottered from the room, and that was the last the lads saw of him. On the following day a messenger brought to them in their office at Yokohama a package of money containing the amount previously paid to Mr. Black.

Before the end of the week he had settled up his affairs and left Japan. It was heard later that he had returned to England, where he went into retirement with the money saved from his business. It is to be hoped he sought repentance for his misdeeds.

In these o'er-true tales it is a pleasure to part with some characters, but painful to bid farewell to others. A writer has his likes and dislikes, even in his own literature. It is said that the immortal Dickens cried when he penned the description of Little Nell's death in the "Old Curiosity Shop," and that his heart stirred with a curious anger as he chronicled the villainies of Bill Sykes in another story.

It is probably for a similar reason that I do not like to write the words that will put an end for all time to Grant and Nattie and Mori. We have spent many pleasant half hours together. It has been a pleasure to depict their honesty, and manliness, and truth, to watch their brave struggle against misfortune, and at last to record their final triumph.

They will succeed in life—integrity and moral worth always do. They secured the famous contract, and made a legitimate profit from it. That was before the recent war between China and Japan. They invested their increased capital, and are now, at the present date, on the fair road to fortune.

Mr. Burr is the manager of their Yokohama house. Mori is in general charge of the business in Japan, and Grant and Nattie are now traveling in the United States visiting their relatives and quietly keeping an eye out for the trade.

Sumo is established in the main office as porter and messenger. He sports a gorgeous uniform and is ever relating to the small boys of the neighborhood his memorable fight with Raiko, the thug, at the foot of old Bandai-San.

And now, in the language of those gentle people, the Japanese, I will say "Sayonara!"

THE END.

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Arthur Helmuth	Edward S. Ellis.
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Boy Boomers	Gilbert Patten.
Boy Cattle King	Gilbert Patten.
Boy from the West	Gilbert Patten.
Boys in the Forecastle	George H. Coomer.
Butcher of Cawnpore	William Murray Graydon.
Cadet's Honor, A	Lieut. Fred'k. Garrison, U.S.A.
Cadet Kit Carey	Lieut. Lounsberry.
Camp in the Snow, The	William Murray Graydon.
Campaigning with Braddock	William Murray Graydon.
Canoe and Camp-Fire	St. George Rathborne.
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Centreboard Jim	Henry Harrison Lewis.
Chased Through Norway	James Otis.
Check Number 2134	Edward S. Ellis.
Clif, the Naval Cadet	Ensign Clarke Fitch, U.S.N.
Commodore Junk	George Manville Fenn.
Cryptogram	William Murray Graydon.
Cruise of the Training Ship	Ensign Clarke Fitch, U.S.N.
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Dingo Boys	George Manville Fenn.
Don Kirk's Mine	Gilbert Patten.
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Eric Dane	Matthew White, Jr.
Erie Train Boy	Horatio Alger, Jr.
Five Hundred Dollar Check	Horatio Alger, Jr.
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Frank Merriwell's Bravery	Burt L. Standish.
Frank Merriwell Down South	Burt L. Standish.
Frank Merriwell's Schooldays	Burt L. Standish.
Frank Merriwell's Chums	Burt L. Standish.
Frank Merriwell's Foes	Burt L. Standish.
Frank Merriwell's Trip West	Burt L. Standish.
From Canal Boy to President	Horatio Alger, Jr.
From Farm Boy to Senator	Horatio Alger, Jr.
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From Tent to White House	Edward S. Ellis.
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Heir to a Million	Frank H. Converse.
How He Won	Brooks McCormick.
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In Southern Seas	Frank H. Converse.
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Jack Wheeler	Capt. David Southwick.
Jud and Joe	Gilbert Patten.
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King of the Island	Henry Harrison Lewis.
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Land of Mystery	Edward S. Ellis.
Last Chance Mine	Lieut. James K. Orton.
Lieut. Carey's Luck	Lieut. Lounsberry.
Little Snap, the Postboy	Victor St. Clair.
Mark Dale's Stage Venture	Arthur M. Winfield.
Mark Stanton	Horatio Alger, Jr.
Midshipman Merrill	Henry Harrison Lewis.
My Mysterious Fortune	Matthew White, Jr.
Mystery of a Diamond	Frank H. Converse.
Nature's Young Noblemen	Brooks McCormick.
Ned Newton	Horatio Alger, Jr.
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New York Boy	Horatio Alger, Jr.
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Old Man of the Mountain	George H. Coomer.
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Phil, the Showman	Stanley Norris.
Pirate Island	Harry Collingwood.
Randy, the Pilot	Lieut. Lounsberry.
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Tom Tracy	Horatio Alger, Jr.
Tom Havens with the White Squadron	Lieut. James K. Orton.
Tour of a Private Car	Matthew White, Jr.
Tom Truxton's Ocean Trip	Lieut. Lounsberry.
Tom Truxton's School Days	Lieut. Lounsberry.
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Unprovoked Mutiny	James Otis.
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Walter Griffith	Horatio Alger, Jr.
War Tiger	William Dalton.
West Point Treasure, A	Lieut. Fred'k. Garrison, U.S.A.
West Point Rivals, The	Lieut. Fred'k. Garrison, U.S.A.
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Yankee Boys in Japan	Henry Harrison Lewis.
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Young Actor, The	Gayle Winterton.
Young Bank Clerk, The	Arthur M. Winfield.
Young Editor	Matthew White, Jr.
Young Showman's Rivals, The	Stanley Norris.
Young Showman's Pluck, The	Stanley Norris.
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Zip, the Acrobat	Victor St. Clair.

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