The Washington times., 1905-09-10
PART II-CHAPTER K.

There was an interval Of silence while
Strobe pulled at his pipe To Anna,
waiting in lazy contentment, the faint
curl OF smoke and the dull glow Of
the smolderin- tobacco red disc
against the partial gIoom-gave a sense
or peace; they seemed to presage many
such scenes, many such hours, and with
wide sense OF thankfulness she let
her eyes close again,
I'll begin in the orthodox way. It
was five years ago"
Anna smiled and nestled back against
/ the rock How perfect. 1 sha'n't even
interrupt with yes or no.
1t was five years ago-on my second
visit home; when L was twenty-three."
1T isn't love story. Maurice?''
Not of my making But 1 thought
YOU weren't going to interrupt"
She laughed happily Go on
He smoked silently for a mornentI
then looked up. by the way. Anna
you won't laugh IL L get serious az
the end? I'm not a sentimental chan.
but the tale caught me in a solemn
mood. 1t worked on me at the time; it's
made sort of echoes every since. Promise
you won't iaugh?r
I
She put out her hand and touched hi.
hair What do you Think"
1 Well. then. il began in an uncommon
way He settled himself more comfort
ably. 1T was my first day in London:
| L possessed no club tnep. and the few
people Il knew were out of town
was II the dull position of ar absolutely
aimIess being. when strolling down the
4 Strand | n
He took his pine from between his
teeth He was a man l had met on
| shipboard-Lorrison by name: Il man
| who always sat wrapped in a shawl
with cap pulled over his eyes and q
! pile Of books at his feet He was not
the precise companion I'd have chosen,
but / believe I'd have shaken hands with
the devil himself on that particular day.
L asked him what he had in view.
and he told he was bound for some he
nighted shop in some beniyhted SUM.
on hunt of Meroyingian manuscript.
I was rather Greek to me; but I said
| that If he didn't mind. I'd hail a ham
some and come along He had no obIec-
ton l hailed the cab and we got in
side. 1t was dreary morning and the
drive wasn't stimulating. all smell and
slum ard fog I'll leave the details our.
- CIOuSA " say lL6l we arrived lett
the kansome in a thoroughfare. and
walked down a narrow street-Hang this
pipe: It's actually gone out At the
! left-hsnd side of the street was shop.
All. that's better" He struck match.
re-lit the pipe. and drew in long
breath OF smoke.
THE shop was very low-ceiled, very
musty-quite romanticslly musty-and
| or that particular morning very dark.
As We entered, 1 remember, all the
| light there was seemed concentrated in
glass partition that shut of a little
desk Sitting at the desk in huddled-
up sort Of way. was the oldest figure
- Halo, What's that?'
only the coin. The coin slipped"
Anna bent and thrust her fingers shak-
/ inEly between the crevices of the rocks.
'-One minute, I'll strike a light" He
struck fresh match, and the girl put
/ up her hand.
The glare hurts your eyess"
"A little. Please go on"
We'll. inside the glass partition, as I
tell YOU was the oldest figure 1 had
ever seen. 1t looked the very picture Of
Oscillation, the extremes of loneliness
and isolation wrapped in one II seemed
&c stare out OF the gloom like fact
that's suddenly forced home It's five
years ago. but I'll never forget it:
remember il as plain as I remember
yesterday" He waved the match TO
and fro as he searched. The man was
Geformed. but somehow it wasn't hiz
6eformity-it was his attitude. his ex-
pre- ssfon the air ne breathed. / eel
YOU commonplace beggar that I am.
felt his tragedy before I'd been five
minutes IN the place. Halo, there's tbs
coin, Between that anemone tuft and
your dress" Anna moved stifiy and he
Won't you take it?" He held It out,
She half stretched out her hand; then,
drew it back again Keep II for the
present; IL might slip again" She spoke
slowly. but her voice was in excellent
SCntrol.
STROBE dropped the coin into his
pocket Well 10 go on. Lorrison nod
oed to the man and asked after his
master; out the fellow. instead of an
sweFing. began TO talk OF books. I put
Tim down as morbidly reticent-then
and there For half an hour he and
I Lorrison talked, while I leant against
/ the counter and just watched Now
| il action is very unpleasant 10 me; but
! found that watching the most engross-
| ing thing I'd ever done. The man grip
/ ped ue-literally Eripped ne.
( He stopped TO rest. and Auna leant
/ beck against the rock For the mo-
( N ent she VAS entirely numb. What she
/ had felt in any past hour was chaos;
V hat she might feel in any hour 10
( come was blank She passed her hand
! slowly along the COliness OF the rock.
{ and il seemed that her blood WIS of the
/ sane temperature. But il is an odd
/ truth that one seldom meets the
! astounding facts Of life with any great
| display. Nhen Strode'S voice broke N
! srain. he- nerves scarcely experienced
a lar.