The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, March 18, 1915, Image 7
MT TTK l I 'ltrliniitMii ! > ihwiii
Parrot |
& Co.
By I
Harold MacGrath I
mmmmwmmmnwwammnmmaarrwrmimmmm
Author of ?
'TheCarpetFiom Hasdadi" I
*Tho Plato of Uoueymoons," I
Etc. 1
MMnnnnni i.rrL'rvnamfi ?
Vim hi i an 11 anninnnrri i fTinin n i nn mum il
(Copyright by liobbii-Morrlll Company '
6YN0PSI9.
CHAPTER i?Warrington, an American
adventurer, ami James, )i!h servant, with
a caged parrot. I he tiio known up and
down tho lrruwaddy us Parrot & Co..
travel along the road to the landing,
hound for Rangoon to cash a draft for
800.000 rupees.
CHAPTER II?Elsa Chctwood. rich
American girl tourist, sees Warrington
come aboard ihe boat, at the landing and,
amazed at his likeness to her (lanco,
Arthur Ellison, asks tho purser to introduce
her. Conservative English passengers
are shocked at her breach of the conCHAPTER
III ? The purser tells Elsa
that Warrington, tho outcast adventurer,
lias beaten a syndicate and sold his oil
claims for .C2r>.-.00. Warrington puts
Rfcjs.il. tlie parrot, through his tricks for
Elxii and warns her against acquaintance
with unknown advomurors?himself, in
fact.
CHAPTER IV?Warrington and Elsa
pass two goldon days logetht r on tiio
river. Martha, Elsa's companion, warns
her that there Is gossip.
CHAPTER V? In Rangoon Warrington
banks his draft, pays old debts, and while
settling with James in his old lodgings
overhears and interfoies in a row over
cards in the next room
CHAPTER VP Warrington finds that
the row in the n\\t room is caused by an
enemy. New 11 Craig, ami threatens to
Ffmot hlrn unions ho leaves town. Klsa 1
goes for a walk with Martha, is annoyed I
by Cralsf and stabs him with a hatpin.
V/nrringt on hiiis Klsa good-hy. fihe does
not toll him that sho is to sail on the
same ship for Singapore.
Oi APThR V! I?-M art lm writes to Ar- I
thur Ellison of the rapidly growing i
friendship between Klsa a m1 the outcast i
American adventurer. Warrington dis.
covers Klsa on tlio Singapore steamer and
^ realizes his hopeless love and ids duty fo !
protect her against himself. IOIsa tells
htm of her engagement.
CHAPTER \"i 11 Warrington avoids
Klsa. who thinks he may be ili and makes
Inquiries, regardless of the misinterprota- ,
tion of her concern. Craig is aboard. Is
warned by Warrington, and calls him
Paul, so lotting him know that his chlv- ;
nlry and loyalty of ton years before have
gone for nothing.
PTIAPTKIt IX Warrington ceases to '
avoid Klsa. Craig stirs up evil gossip. ;
Elsa, tells Warrington of t!i< hatpin incident
and he hunts up Craig, on murder
bent, only to tin I bin: stretched out drunk
on deck.
CHAPTER X?Warrington turns tlio
hose on Craig. IT" fells Klsa that lie is
a man under a cloud and to be avoided,
but Klsa refuses. She yet a the cut direct
[ from society passengers.
CHAPTER XT?At Penang Mallow, who
drove W irrington from Ills plantation
when he learned his story, conies aboard
Warrington tells Klsa that Malolw .and
Craig both will tell that he spent money
that did not belong to hitn .over the gambling
table 'o Craig and asks her not to
speak to him again.
"I know it." The wide half-circle of
eocoanut palms grew denser and lower
as they drew away. "This is the story.
It's got to be told. 1 should have
avoided it if it had been possible. He
is the owner of the plantation. Oh, 1
rather expected something like this.
It's my run of luck. I was just recov>
erlng from I lie fever. Ood knows how
he found out, but he did. It was during
the rains. He to id me to get one
' that night. Didn't care whether I died
^ on the road or not. I should have but
for my boy .Tames. The man sp"t
j along with us a poor discarded won.
an, of whom he had grown tired. She
'/ died when we reached town. 1 had
hardly any money. He refused to pay
me for the last two months, about fifty
pounds. There was no redress for me. !
y There was no possible way \ could get
back at him. Miss Chetwood, 1 took
(' money that did not belong to me. It
I went over gaming tables. Craig. I
'i ran away. Craig knows and this man
I Mallow knows. Can you not see the
/ wisdom of giving me a wide berth?"
"Oh, I am sorry!" she cried.
"Thanks. I3ut you see: I am an outi
cast. Tonight, not a soul 011 board will
j be in ignorance of who I am and what
| I have done. Trust Craig and Mallow j
for that. Thursday we shall be in
J Singapore. You must not speak to me
j again. Give them to understand that
I you have found me out, that I imposed
I on your kindness."
1 "That I will not do."
"Act as you please. There are empty
/ chnirs nt the Rponnfl-rlnaa tnhlo amnnv
I) the natives. And now, good-by. The
|J happiest hours in ten long years are
I j due to you." He took off his helmet
If' and stepped aside for her to pass. She
H held out her hand, but he shock his
I; head. "Don't make it harder for me."
If "Mr. Warrington, I am not a child!"
I "To me you have been the angel of
K kindness; and the light in your face
i 1 shall always see. Please go now."
Ijl "Very well." A new and unaccount1/
ablw pain filled her throat and forced
B her to carry her head high. "I can find
B my way back to the other deck."
M CHAPTER XII.
I The Game of Gossip.
During the concluding days of the
V. voyage Elsa had her meals served on
deck. She kept Martha with her con
tinually, promenaded only early in the
naming and at eight while the other
H passengers were at dinner. This left
H a clear deck. She walked quickly, her
arm in Martha's, literally propelling
B her along, never spoke unless spoken
to> and then answered in, monosyl
? ig- ? . lit'T v J it ^ lO U UlL1 U*
and and 0110 thin :s. futlloly and vainly,
in t.ho endeavor to slut out the
portrait of thy broken man. What was
S:o doing, of what was ho thinking, !
where would he ij> nntl what would ho i
do? She hated ?ih;hl which. 110 long r j
offering sleep, provided nothing in lieu
of it, and compelled her 10 remain in
the stuffy cabin, iihe was afraid.
Early Wednesday morning slio
passed Craig and Mattow; but the two
had wit enough to step aside for her
and to speak only with their eyes. She
idled Craig with unadulterated fear.
Mallow drugged along the gambler
whenever he found a chunoe ito see
Elsa at close range.
"There's a woman. Gad! that beachcomber
has taste."
"I tc'.l you to look out for her."
Craig warned again. "1 know what I'm
talking about."
Mallow whistled. "Oho! You probably
acted the fool. Drinking?"
Craig nodded affirmatively.
"Thought so. Even a Yokohama barmaid
will tight shy of a boozer. I'm
ni n cr t /\ Vw%%? t?- i *
vwii.f, HJ 111 w u IIVI n 'icii ? W fttJL IU
Singapore, or my name's not Mallow."
Craig laughed with malice. "I hope
you will. It will take some of the brag
cut of you. Say, let's go aft and hunt
m> the chap. 1 understand he's taken
up quarters in the second cabin."
"Doesn't want to run into me. All
right; come on. We'll stir him up a
iittle and have some fun."
They found Warrington up in the
stern, sitting on the deck, surrounded
hy squatting Lascars, some Chinamen
and a solitary white man, the chief engineer's
assistant. The center of interest
was Rajah, who was performing
his tricks. Among 1! esc was one
that the bird rarely could be made to
perforin, the threading of heads, lie
d spis- (I this act, us it entailed the putting
of a blunt nc< die in his beak, lie
flung it aside each time Warrington
handed it 10 him. Rut ever his muster
patiently returned it...At length, recognising
that the affair might he pro
1 mi r< rl indefinitely, llsjah put two
I)' aus on tlx; thread and tossed it
aside. The Lascars jabbered, (he
Chinamen grinned, and the chief engineer's
assistant swore approvingly.
The pairot shrilled and waddled back
'o his case.
"Fine business for a whole man!"
Warrington locked up to meet the
cynical eyes of Mallow, lie took out
his cutty and fired it. Otherwise ho
did not move nor let his gaze swerve.
Mallow, lowering above him, could
scarcely resist the temptation to stir
hi3 eiu my v ith the too of his boot. His
hatred for Warrington was not wholly
due to his brutal treatment of him.
Mallow always took pleasure in dominating
these under him by fear. Wari
in;.;ton had dene his work well. Ilo
had always ;ecos> ized Mallow as his
employer, but in no other capacity; ho
he i never offered to smoke a pipe
with him, or to take a hand at cards or
split a bottle. It had not been done
offensively; but in this attitude Mai,
low had recognized his manager's disapproval
of him. an inner consciousne;,s
of superiority in birth and education.
Me had with supreme satisfac'ion
ordered him off tlm plantation
hat memorable night. Weak as the
man had been in body, there had
b :cn no indication of weakness in
spirit.
A?^...t?l.. ITT. - . - -
w^ajuui.n Warrington read t.ne desire
!:i tin1 nth m's eyes. "I shouldn't do it,
Mallow," he said. "1 shouldn't. Noth*
111g wo*; i please me hotter than to
lir.vo a good excuse to chuck you over
v':o t'non a time you had the best
of mo. I was n ?dok man then. I'm In
tolerable j.cod iieulth at present."
"You i row, i could break you like a
'due i-\ m ' Mallow rammed his hands
into iris coat pockets, scowling cont<
:?:plin usly. He weighed fully twenty
>- a a;'.- more than Warrington.
tiov! VYarrlnii'tcu shrugged. In
:he H"'t crow is a rough synonym for
thief. "You're at liberty to return to
your diggings forward with that inv
pression," lie replied coolly. "When
wc get to Singapore," rising slowly to
! i3 height until his eyes were level
with Mallow's, "when wo get to Singapore,
I'm going to ask you for that
lifty pounds, earned in honest labor."
"And if I decline to pay?" truculent
jyv
';Y\'c 11 talk that over when \ye reach
port. Now," roughly, "get out. There
won't be any bailing done today, thank
you."
"Cockalorem!" jeered Mallow. Craig
touched his sleeve, but he threw off
the hand roughly. He was one of the
best rough and tumble fighters in the
Straits settlements. "You thieving
beach-comber, 1 don't want to mess
up the deck with you, but I'll cut your
comb for you when we get to port." j
Warrington laughed insolently and
picked up the parrot cage. "I'll bring
the comb. In fact, I always carry it."
Not a word to Craig, not a glance in
hi8 direction. Warrington stepped to
the coinpanionway and went below.
Craig could not resist grinning at
Mallow's discomiiture. "Wouldn't
break, eh?"
"Shut your mouth! The sneaking
dock-walloper, I'll take the starch out
of him when we land! Always had that
high and mighty air. Wants folks to
think he's a gentleman."
"He was once," said Craig. "No use
giving you advice; but he's not a
healthy individual to bait. I'm no kitten
when it comes to scrapping; but I
haven't any desire to mix things with
him." The fury of the man who had
given him the ducking was still vivid,
lie had been handled as a terrier
handles a rat.
"I tell you he's yellow. And with a
hundred thousand in his clothes, he'll
be yellower still."
A hundred thousand. Craig frowned
and gaacd out to sea. He had forgotJen
all about the windfall. "Let's_ go
and L; . e a peg," ho suggested tui *uy.
**
Immediately upon obtaining her
rooms at Raffles hotel in Sia:;aioro
(and leaving Marti a there to await
the arrival of the luggage, an loresing
collection of trunks and boxes: and
kitbags), KIsa went down to the Am rican
consulate, which had its offices in
the rear of the hotel. She walked
through the outer office and stood silently
at the consul general's elbow,
waiting for him to look up. She was
dressed in white, and In the pugrco of
her helmet was the one touch of color,
Rajah's blue feather. The consul general
turned his head. His kindly face
had the settled expression of indulgent
inquiry. The expression changed
swntiy into one of delight.
"Elsa Chetwood!" lie cried, seizing
her hands. "Well, well! I am glad to
sees you. Good gracious what a beautiful
woman you've turned out to be!
Sit down, sit down!" He pushed her
into a chair. "Weil, well! When I
taw you last you were nineteen."
"What a frightful memory you have!
And I was going to my first ball. You
used the same adjective."
"Is there a better one? I'll use it if
there is. You've arrived just in time.
1 am giving a little dinner to the con^
("" ~ j
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L I
in tine Cast Crew Is a Rough Synonym
for Thief!
suls and tlu.ii* wives tonight. You see.
) vc an old iriend from India in tov n
today, and I've asked liiin, too. Your
appearance evens up matters."
"Oh; then I'm jusi a tiller-in!"
"Heavens, no! You're the most important
person of the lot, though Colonel
Knowlton . .
"Colonel Knowlton!" exclaimed
Klsa.
"That's so, by Ceorge! Stupid of
mo. You came down on the same boat.
Kine! You know each other."
Kb a straightened her lips with seino
dilViculty. Sim possessed the envinblo
faculty of instantly forming in her
??:.? .1 . : - '
inmu inciu'.oH ol coming events. The
little swelling veins in the coloiu I s
nose w( re as plain to lier mind's eye
as if he really stood before her. "Have
him take me in to dinner," she suggested.
"Just what I was thinking of," declared
the unsuspecting man. "If anyone
can draw out the colonel, it will he
you."
"I'll do my best." Elsa's mind was
lull of rollicking malice.
Contomphiti?fely ho raid: "3o you ve
H.en doing the Orient aione? ?cu ire
ike jour father in that way He was
..over afraid of anything. Your nu-nhd
makeup, too, III wager is like his.
i'hiRrt man 111 the world."
"Wasn't lie? How I wish he could
have always been with me! But why
is it, everyone stems appalled that I
should Havel over lieie without male
escort?"
"The answer lies in your mirror,
Elsa. Your old nurse Martha is r.u
real protection."
"Arc men so bad, then?"
" I hey are less restrained. The heat,
the tremendous distances, the lack of
amusements, arc perhaps responsible.
By the way, here's a packet of letters
for you."
"Thanks." Else played with the
packet, somberly eying the superscriptions.
The old disorder came back into
her mind. Three of the letters
were from Arthur. She dreaded to
open them. "1 must be going, then.
I'm not sure ot m> tickets to Hongkong."
"Go straight to the German Lloyd
office. I'll have my boy show you the
way. Chong!" he called. A brighteyed
young Chinese came in quickly
"Show lady German Lloyd office. All
same quick."
In the outer office she paused for a
moment or so to look at the magazines
and weeklies from home. The
Chinese boy, grinning pleasantly,
peered curiously at Elsa's beautiful
hands. She heard someone enter, and
quite naturally glanced up. The newcomer
was Mallow. He stared at her,
smiled familiarly and lifted his pelmet.
Elsa, with cold untlickerlng eyes, offered
his greeting no recognition w hat
ever. The man felt that she was looking
through him, Inside ot him, searching
out all the dark corners of hi.
soul. He dropped his ga/.e, confused.
Then Elsa calmly turned to the boy.
"Come, Chong."
There was something in the manner
; of her exit that infinitely puzzled him.
It was tho insolence of the well-bred
but he did not know it. To offset h'r
chagrin and confusion, he put on his
helmet ni d passed into the private office.
She was out of his range of un
dcrstanding.
i Mallow was i.i\ American by birth
I but hau grown up in the Orient, hard-,
' ily. In his youth ho hud been beaten j
i rid trumpled upi 11. and now that ho j
j lmd become rich in copra (the dried i
i kernels of cocoanuts from which o'l
? is mad'), he in kis turn b, at and
| trampled. It was tire only law ho
! knew. Ordinarily, when in Pcnang and
j Singapore, he behaved himself, drank
| circumspectly and shunned promiscuous
companions, hut when he uid
drink heartily, he v. as a man to beware
of.
lie hailed the consul general cordially
and offered* hl\n one of his really
choice cigars, which was accepted.
"i say, who was that young woman
who just went out?"
The consul general laid down the
cigar. The question itself was harm- j
Ips'K pnnncli if wot; Mil 1 1
-C5" > >v " no ,IUUIL/? C ? ilj Ul |
! clothing it he resented. "Why?" ho j
! asked.
"She's a stunner. Just curious if
you knew her, that's all. Wo camo
down on the same beat. Hanged if I
j shouldn't like to meet her. L>o you i
know her?" eagerly.
"1 do. More than that, I have always
known her. She is the daughter
of the late General Che.wood, one of
the greatest civil engineers of our
time. When ho died he left her sever:
I millions. She is a remarkable
y ang wc man, a fan< us beauty, known
favorably In European courts, and 1
can't begin to toll you how many other
accomplishments she ha
' "\> oil, stem,) mo!" returned Mallow. I
"Is she a free-thinker?" t
"What the devil is thai? What do
you mean?"
? ? /-"V . 1 - ^
tmiy mis, n sue s nil you sav she is.
why do> s she p' k c ut an ab: condor for
n iric . d, a chap who dure not show
k. 5 i h in thesiau s? 1 heard the ta'.c
1 c:i a man o:\co employed in his of- ,
i'ico 1 tck in NY w York. \ Ik ai h-coinbi
a duckwallopt r, if tin re ever was
one."
' ".VHow, you'll liavo to explain that
instaWly."
"In .I ycur hcTrremy friend. What
I'm t< liing you is on iho level. She's
b (ii hobnobbing with (he fellow all
the way down from I ho Irrawaddy. so 1
I'm told. X ver spoke to anycr.o else.
V.a 1" him sil at lu r ride at table and
j: be red Italian at him, aa if site didn t
want < ihera C> know what she was
talking about. 1 know the man. Fired i
liir.1 firm my limitation, when I found
; ut what he wa.3. Can't recall his
i . me jr. at new, hut he is lviown out
how* as Y.'arrinytcn; Parrot & Co."
i 'I'm consul general was genuinely
"Y a can't blame me f< r thinking |
thin; s," went cn Mallow. "What man
v cr.ldn't? Ask Iter about Warrington. j
Y it'll find that I'm telling the truth,
all right."
". > ( a are, then she has made one*
of these mistakes women make when
th. .? <r .V( l alt aa. 1 shall see her at :
i a r* a mik to y' v. V.v.i \ (so nut 1
thank vcu, Malic w , or t \lb.iv; me this.
A fine r, loyah " ha t~d ? i I doesn't
live. She might lmve b. c1. kind out. :
. i
oi sympathy.
Vale w 1 off the tin of his cicar. !
*
"He's a handsome beggar, if you wane >
to know."
"1 resent that tone. Hotter drop the ;
subject before I lose my temper. I'll j
have vcur papers ready for ycu in the i
morning." The consul general caught ,
up his pen savagely to in.lit ate that <
the iutes view was at an end.
"All right," said Mallow good natureuly.
"1 meant no harm. Just naturally
cur'cus. Can't blame me."
"I'm * at blaming ycu. But it has
lirfr.-bed me, and 1 w ish to be alone to
j m it o .ea."
fvial'.o'v lounged cut, rather pleased
with himself. His greatest pleasure in
life was in making others uncomlort
able.
Tim consul general Hit the wooden
< ml of his pen and chewed the splinters
el ceJar. He couldn't deny that
if was lik Pisa ?.o } i' k ttp some dure
Kef lor I km' buiefacl ions. Women luid!
n<> bn. iiio s co lia\\l alone It wan ail
, very well when they toured in paities
of eight or ten; but for a charming
.vcuu", woman like Klsa, attended by a
I spinster companion who doubtless
| dared not offer advi<e, it was decidedly
wrong. And th coupon he determined
that 'a. or trip to Yokohama
should tind her well guarded.
"I beg your pardon," said a pleasant
vc ice.
The consul general had been so
dor ply occupied by bis worry that he
! had not noticed the entrance of the
j speaker, lie turned impatiently, lie
saw a tab blond man, bearded and
tanned, with fine clear blue eyes that
met bis with the equanimity of the
fearless.
{ mi
,!
v
sli
MB
I " (H I
i "I
Vcrnt No Hai'm."
CHAPTER XIII.
After Ten Years.
Tho consul general saw before him
an exquisite, r.s the ancient phrase I
goes, backed by no indifferent breed
of manhood. He believed that here i
was a brief respite (as between acts)
in which the little hypocrisies could
bo laid aside. The pleasant s ? i!o on i
his high-bred face was all hi3 own.
"And what may I do for you, sir?"
He expected to be presented with letters
of introduction, and to while away
a half hour in the agreeable discussion
of mutual acquaintance.
"1 should like a few minutes' private
talk with you," began the well-dressed
stranger. "May 1 close the door?" The ;
consul general, with a sense of disappointment,
nodded. The blond man
returned and sat dow'n. "1 don't know
how to begin, but 1 want you to copy |
this cablegram and send it under your
own name. Here it is; read it."
So singular a request filled the con
sul general with astonishment. Rather
mechanically he accepted the slip of
paper, adjusted his glasses, unci
read?
I
The Andes Construction company. N< w
York: A former employee of yours wislyss
t<> make a restitution v?f $S,(K\?, Willi inn resl
to ihilo. lie dares not give his name
to me, hut he wishes to learn if this h
lilted restitution will litt the ban naainst
his commit to America and resuming !
citizenship. Reply coll. i t.
"This is an extraordinary request to
make to me, sir."
"Could 1 possibly offer that to the
cable operator? Without name or address?
No; 1 could not do it without
being subjected to a thousand ques- (
tions, none of which 1 should care to
answer. So 1 came to you. Passing
through your hands, no one will question
it. Will you do this favor for ,
poor unfortunate devil?"
Oddly enough, the other could not
get away from his original impression. ;
The clothes, the way the man wore'
them, the clarity of his eyes, tit" abundant
health that was expressed by the
tone ol the skin, derided such a possibility
as the cablegram made manifest.
He forced the smile back to his tips.
"Are you sure you're not hoaxing
me?"
"No. i am the victim of the hoax,"
enigmatically. "If cue may call the
quirks of fate by the name of hoax,"
the stranger added. "Will you send
it?"
The years he had spent in the consular
service had never brought before
him a situation of this order, ilo did
not Know ei.-.ctly what to do. II"
looked out ol' the window, into the hotel
court, at the sky which presently
W( uld heconu overcast with the daily
rain clouds. ' By and by he remembered
the man waiting patiently at his
elbow.
"What is your name?"
"I'd rallur not give that until I
hear I'roin Xi w Yori 1 am known out
here by the name 01' Warrington
Warrington. The puz7.1ement vanished
ii\ ni the older man's face, ana
bis ( Vi s became alert, renewing from
anciher angle their investigation of
the stranger. Warrington. So this
was the man? Me could understand
now. Who could blame a girl for making
a mistake win ti he, a seasone d veteran,
had been beguiled by the outward
appearance of the man? Mallow i
was right, ite was a handsome beggar.
"1 promise to send this upon one
jonclif l '.U '.'
*'l :i(-< fill v itlir-.'if iiiw cl inn " p/)*ii!i I i' !
'it is thai you ir.v.st hoop away iron)
Elsa <"i;ei wood, now and hereafter Yon .
mode her acquaintance under false
pretenses.
"I deny that. Not under false pro-j
ti 1.!- v i*.'* l.'ow quickly things went
bout! "Lrl nie teli you how I met
her."
1! o consul gcnca! listened; ho lis j
onod wjih wonder and interest, and
more, with conviction that the young:
men had been perfectly honest, l.ut
the know led; only add'd to his growing
alarm. It would not be dilllcult for
such a man to win the regard of any
young woman.
"And you told her what you had
done?"
"Yes."
"Your first misstep:" touching the j
cablegram.
"My first and only misstep. 1 was a
careless, happy-go-lucky young fool."
The sky outside also had attraction for
Warrington. A thousand times a fool!
"IJow long ago did this happen?"
"Ten years this coining April "
"And now, after all this time, you
wish to go back?"
"I have wished to go back many
times, but never had money enough, j
1 have plenty now. Oh, 1 made it honestly,"
smiling. "In oil, at Prome.
Here's a cutting from a Rangoon paper."
The other read it carefully. It was
romance, romance such as he liked to
read in his books, but which was
mighty bewildering to have at his
elbow in actuality. What a life the
man must have led! And here he
was, with no more evidence of the
conflict than might be discerned in the
manliness of his face and the breadth
and depth of his shoulders. Ho
dropped the cutting, impatiently.
"Don't you believe it?"
"Relieve it? Oh, this? Yes," answered
the consul general. "What I
fiiiinnt lioliovo hut I oi?-? otfobn !
? ? v/ ?W v???* V A (Mil (V II (I l\V , 1
cannot quite make two and two equal
four. I cannot . . Well, you do
not look like a man v;ho would rob his
employer of eight ti ousaml dollars.
. Parrot & Co. It's odd, but I
recollect that titij. You were at
Udaipur during the plague."
Warrington brightened. "So that's
got about? 1 happened to be there,
working on the prince's railway."
"J will send the cable at once. You
will d 'iibtlcs:! hear fvom New York in
the morning. Hut you must not sco
Mies Chetwocd again."
"Yen will let mc hid hor good-by?
T admire cud : ? spec t h r more than
r.ny efh^r woman. She does not know
it. for an vet her roul is asleep; but
she is c\:e o!' those few women God
put on earth lor the courage and comtort
of man. Only to say good-by to
her. Here in this office, if you wish."
"i r groe to that."
"Thank you again." Warrington
rose.
"1 am genuinely sorry for you. If
they say no, what will you do?"
"Go back just the same. I have another
debt to cancel."
"Call in the morning. I'll let you
know what the charges are."
"I forgot. Here are twenty pounds.
You can return the balance when I
call. 1 am very grateful."
"Ity the way. there is a man hero
by the name of Mallow," began the
consul general.
"Yes," interrupted Warrington, with
a smile which was grim ami cruel. "
expect to call upon him Mo owes ni
.\anething like fifty pounds, and 1 an.
going to collect it." 1 hen he went
out.
The consul general dropped "Mallow's
perfecto into the wastebasket
and lighted his pipe. Once more he
read the cable." . m. The Andes Coni
ruction ( nrpany. What a twist,
what an absurd kink in the skein!
Nearly all of lib a s wealth lay bound
up in tills eno nn us business which
(?can al c hetwo d iiad founded thirty
odd > ears bcioro. And neither of
them knew!
"1 am not a bad man at heart," he
mused, "but ! liked the young man's
nn Wlivll 1 IIM'liLIDIItHl UUU
bully Mallow."
lie joined his family at five. He
waved aside tea, ?..al tailed for a
lemon-squash. ,
"lb. :i, I am gc;ag to give you a lecture."
"Oidn'J 1 toll you?" cried Klsa to tlio
wife. "1 felt in i iy b un 8 that he was
go ,r to say 11 i.. vary thing." She
( :i (1 to her old-t.me friend. "Go
c: ; lecture me "
"in the first i lace, you are too kindlu
art ed."
"That v. i\1 be v. ws to my friends.
Tli \v say 1 l ave >. heart of ice."
"And what you *hink is independence
of sprit is n times indiscretion."
"Oh," said Pisa. becoming serious.
"A man came into my ollice today.
He is a rich coj r? grower from Penary.
lie spoke of vou. You passed
him on going o\it. If 1 1 ad been twenty
years younger id have punched nis
ugly head. His name is Mallow, and
he's not a savory chap."
IClsa's cheeks hi mod. she never
would forget the look in that man's
eyes. The look mi. lit have been in
other men's ey m b conventionality
liad always veiled a; she had never
seen it before.
"(Io on;" but her voice was unsteady.
"Somewhere ninr.tr the irrawaddy
you made the a qa." in'ance of a young
man who calls hi.msr If Warrington, familiarly
known as Parrot & Co. I !1
be generous. Not one woman in a
thousand would have declined to accept
the attentions of such a man. lie
is cultivated, undeniably good lookit
g. a strong man. mentally and
physically."
Kb a s e xpression was now enigmatici'
'"i here's not much veneer to him.
Hi. fooled me unintentionally, lie was
quite evidently born a gentleman, of a
inae of gentlemen, .lis is not an isolated
entje. One misrtcp, and the road
to the devil "
The consul general's wife sent a
startled glance at !C!sa. who spun her
sunshade to light"!) the ten 'ion of l or
nerves
' ilo confessed frankly to me this
morning that, ho is a lugitive from jusp(i',
tie \vish< s to return to America,
lie recounted the circumstances of
your merlin
"Uncle .iim I have tnvelml prctt y
much over this woihl, and ! never in id.
a nth man if Warrington is not one."
There was unconscious belligerency in
her tone.
"A);, there's the dillicnlty which
women wiil never be made to understand.
ICvcry man can, at one time or
another, put himselt upon his good behavior.
rndeimath he may be a tine
rascal."
"Not this one," smiling. "He warned
me against himself u dozen times, but
that served to make me stubborn. The
fault of my conduct," acidly, "was not
in making this pariah's acquaintance.
It lies in the fact that 1 had nothing to
uo wiin i tie omer passengers, from
choice. That is where 1 was indiscreet.
Hut why should 1 put myself out to
gain the good wishes of people' for
whom 1 have no liking; people 1 shall
probably never see again when 1 leave
this port?"
"You forget that some of them will
be your fellow passengers all the way
to San Francisco. My child, you know
as well as 1 do that thore are some
laws which the Archangel Michael
would have to obey, did he wish to inhabit
this earth for a while."
"Poor Michael! And if you do not
obey these laws, people talk."
"Exactly. There are two sets of
man-made laws. One governs the conduct
of men and the other the conduct
v/? n Vfiiivu.
"And a man may break any ono of
these laws. 1 consider it horribly unfair."
"So it is. Hut if you wish to live in
I>eace. you must submit."
"Peace at that price I have no wish
for. This man Mallow lives within
the pale of law; the other man is outside
of it. Yet, of the two, which would
you be quickest to trust?"
Continued next week)