The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-12
PART SECOND.
CHAPTER Iv-Continued.

We had broken down in the automobile.
l decided to hide and see what / could
! discover-in a word, to spy upon them
about my choice of weapons, and / took
the first one that came TO hand.
l had not waited long before I heard
voices approaching, and I concealed my
self behind a clump of bushes to watch.
1 was too FAR away TO hear distinctly,
and. in fact, they did very little talking
an occasional exclamation from her, and
the doctors nasal replies. My eyes told
me mos than my ears-enough to prove
that, however Edna regarded me, the
doctor also came in for considerable
more of affectionate demonstration than
had suspected, and either he was not so
! conscientious as / had been, or he was
actually In love with her Their actions
were those of acknowledged lovers. Why,
then. had she filrted with me? Was her
behavior now. perhaps. mere pique caused
by the jealousy had aroused in the way
l had spoken of JOY?
I went In as luncheon was served. Edna
met me a little cooily. the doctor more
so. I was decidedly uncomfortable at
being now guest in a house where l
was, perhaps, not wanted. but | pre-
tended not TO notice anything amiss, and
endured my position as well as / could.
The doctor ignored my presence COM
| petely, addressing all his dull witticisms
! 10 Edna, who laughed at them as usual
doing her best, now and then, TO drag
! me into the conversation. She could not
4 keep any one mood for long. however
\ and before the end of the meal / fat
/ tered myself that she would, after all,
/ hafV aE-ifh ali hFFs he
tors pop-eyes held her. and his inter-
minable foolery kept her whole atten-
! ton concentrated upon him. despite her
| self. Nothing at all was said about the
/ telephoning.
Directly after luncheon was over the
two went upstairs into the study. with
out even the formalty OF an apology TO
me AS Leah was busy about her own
work. / strolled out into the kitchen to
see King. He was washing the dishes,
and greeted me with his customary
cryptic grin.
say. King" 1 said. you got a joss
in your roomT'
His grin grew wider. Yep" he ejaeu-
lated, nodding.
You no Christian, then? You not 90
to Sunday SCHOOL,"
Jaw. no good go to Sunday SCHOOL,
can talk Mclean al light. Christian JOSS
no good for Chinaman, You think 500"
Il guess you're right" l said. But
do you worship your joss? You burn
punkstick somes time? You trim him Up
with paper flowers, maybe7''
He laughed TO himself as II it were a
great joke. but kept on washing his
dishes like a machine. You lkee see
my joss?" he said. looking back over his
shoulder. 'Heep good ioss-velly old.
bling him fiom China
What d'you pray for. King?'
'Aw. some time one thing. some time
other thing. / play for good luck. alice
same Christian You play, too?'
'Oh. sometimes" l said. But so on.
tell me, King. When do you pray? You
pray to-day2'
lie shook his head law. 20: no play
yet Play all time at night
What did you ask Tor last night,
then? Come on, tell me"
''Aw. no. no. He shook his head,
still laughing Silly
Money. King? I'll bet you prayed for
money"
"Aw. no. no! ] tell you. I play for
Miss Fielding"
/ had stumbled upon live wire. In
stantly was aroused, and careful to say
no tactless word. What | had already
amount for Chinese of his caste TO dis
cover to white man. So / went wit
fully to lead him on to tell me more.
That's good. King; / pray for Miss
Fielding. too. ! want her TO get well.
Don't your
Yep. Sho good lady. you bet. Maybe
she get well. ] dunno"
What you think the matter with her
King? I'm worried about her"
He emptied his dish-water out. and
wiped his hands first. Then he stopped
suddenly and said:
Miss Fielding, she got one no-good
debbn on inside. You know? Sometimes
he heap bad. sometimes he keep still.
Plenty people have debbil in China; all
time go pIiest. he dive EN- away easy"
The priest drives the devils away,
King? How does he do it?'
"Oh, Tighten debbil. tha's all. Stlike
gong. burn fire-clackers. make ali time
heap loud noise and debbil so away
tighten
u wish Miss Fielding could be cured
as easy as that King"
For the first time during the converse
ton his grin disappeared. He came up 10
me, gesticulating.
You likee Tighten away debbil? Maybe
help you some time ?'
Gould you do it?" / laughed.
"Surel Aw! you no think so?" He re-
turned to wipe his dishes phiosophically.
smiled at this earnestness and walked
away.
/ sat down in the library to wait till
the doctor came down. / found that he
would have to walk to the station, as
Uncle Jerdon was away. and l determined
TO have another talk with him. IL could
manage to see him alone. had decided
on a coup d etat.
In a half hour they reappeared. Edna
showing traces of heavinesS about her
eyes, as if she had been asleep. The
doctor looked at his watch, and found
that he had just time to walk TO the
train. I offered TO accompany him, and,
though he appeared surprised, no as
scented with a good grace. Edna did not
care to go with us. II seemed to me
that she not only perceived the antagon-
ism between the doctor and ma but
fostered il for her own ends. 1t was as
if we were lighting for her and she had
decided to let the best man win. so
we left her and started out.
/ began as soon as we were round
the turn of the lane
'Dr. Copin," ] said, 81 wish you'd
let me know exactly what Miss Field
ing's condition is. and what hopes you
have for her recovery.
Did she ask you 10 interrogate me?"
he asked blandly.
In a way. she did But I do so,
nevertheless. quite on my own RESPONSE
bility, as a friend who is very much
interested in her case"
Then / must decline to answer. You
are aware, I suppose that Miss Fielding
has had her own reasons for not wish
ing the matter TO be discussed"
Tn perfectly aware of that, but