The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-10-06

WOndu luICHeu past MIN, ana III
their irresolute faces and leering
stare he read the verification of
his suspicious of the place.
Through second door he entered
a large room filled with tables
and chairs, and pregnant with
strange odors. At one of the far
Their tables sat long-queued Chi
with his head bowed in his
arms. Behind counter stood a
second, as motionless as an ODE
lisk in the half gloom of the dimly
illuminated room, his evil face
Rowland as he en-
tered. The sound of a piano
came from above and with a bold
and friendly nod the young engi-
neer mounted a pair of stairs.
Tough joint" he muttered,
falling into his old habit of COM
with himself. "Hope
they make good tea"
At the sound of his footsteps
on the stair the playing of the
piano ceased. He was surprised
at what greeted him above. In
startling contrast to the loath-
some environment below he en-
tered a luxuriously appointed
room, heavily hung with oriental
and with half a dozen
onyx tables partially concealed
behind screens. and gorgeously
embroidered silk curtains. At one
of these he seated himself and
for service with the tiny
bell near his hand. In response
there appeared a young China
man with close-cropped hair and
attired in evening dress.
IA pot of tea," ordered How
land; and under his breath he
added, pretty deuced good for a
wilderness town! l wonder"
He looked about him curiously
1t was only eleven
o'clock the place appeared to be
empty. Yet Rowland was reason
ably assured that it was not emp
ty. He was conscious of sensing
in vague sort of way the pres
ence of others somewhere neal
him. He was sure that there was
a faint, acrid odor lurking above
that of burned incense, and he
shrugged his shoulders with con-
viction when he paid a dollar for
his pot of tea.
Opium, as sure as your name is
Jack Howland," he said, when the
waiter was gone. 81 wonder
again-how many pots Of tea dc
they sell in night?"
He slipped his own leisurely, lis.
tening with all the eagerness OF
the new sense of freedom which
had taken possession of him. The
Chinaman had scarcely disappear.
ed when he heard footsteps on the
stair. In another instant a low
word of surprise almost leapet
from his lips. Hesitating for {
moment in the doorway, her face
staring straight into his own, wa:
the girl whom he had seer
through the hotel window!
For perhaps no more than five
seconds their eyes met. Yet il
that time there was painted or
his memory a picture that How,
land knew he would never forget
His was a nature, because of the
ambition imposed on it, that haC
never taken more than a casua
interest in the form and feature
of women. He had looked or
beautiful faces and had admired
them in cool, dispassionate
way, judging them-when he
judged at alas he might have
judged the more material work.
of his own hands. But
this face that was framed for 6
few brief moments in the door
reached out to him and stirred al
interest within him which was a.
new as it was pleasurable. Il
was a beautiful face. He knew
that in a fraction of the first sec
ond. 1t was not white, as he hat
first seen it through the window
The girls cheeks were flushed
Her lips were parted, and she
was breathing quickly, as though
from the effect of climbing the
stair. But it was her eyes thai
sent Howland's blood a little fast
er through his veins. They were
glorious eyes.
The girl turned from his gaze
and seated herself at a table sc
that he caught only her profile
The change delighted him. 1t af
forded him another view of the
picture that had appeared to hin
in the doorway, and he coult
study 1t without being observed
in the act, though he was conf
lent that the girl knew his eye.
we're on her. He refilled his tin,
up with tea and smiled when h,
noticed that she could easily hav.
seated herself behind one of tn,
screens. From the flush in he
cheeks his eyes travelled CRITICAL,
to the rich glow of the light il
her shining brown hair, which
swept half over her ears in thick
soft waves, caught in a heavy col
low on her neck. Then, for tn,
first time, he noticed her dress
II phHLlCa I1Ot LuA pdh eiht
muff were of deep gray lynx fur
Around her shoulders was a col
larette of the same material. He
hands were Immediately gloved
In every feature of her Lowell!
face, in every point of her dress
she bore the indisputable mari
of refinement. The quizzica
smile left his lips. The thoughts
which at first had filled his mint
as quickly disappeared. Who wa!
she? Why was she here
With cat-like quietness tn,
young Chinaman entered between
the screens and stood beside her
On small tablet which Howlans
had not before observed sh,
wrote her order. 1t was for tea
He noticed that she gave the wait
er a dollar bill in payment an'
that the Chfnamau returned sew