Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-20

and growing numb. But this did not mat
| ter-noth'ng rlattered.
1t was still dark, the lamp still burned.
when he woke. or rather stirred In
drunken lethargy of sleep and exhaustion.
A light step sounded at the door. through
which swung the tall body OF young
man in white. barefooted. with trousers
rolled above his knees and a stick or club
in his hand.
David. too drowsy to move or speak,
saw the newcomer limp across the thresh-
old and stand. as though musing. in the
little circle of lamplight. The young
mans face was of a singular and WIN
ming beauty-thin, sallow and almost
feminine in it's lines. but with the lips Of
a commander, and with bright. gray eyes.
sad but quick. mcurnfui but naughty.
His blond head close cropped. had
curious. dangerous pOise, lifted slightly,
as though the man were ready to answer
or strike From kneecap to toes his legs
We're Scared with red water sores.
And live alone" said the stranger; IN
th of aeep sde Whs xs 1rofe
that. I.wonder? Wish he were here once:
I'd see he was fed up with that sort OF
thing. What rot!'
The voice was pleasant. though void OF
infection. like that of man grown used
to thinking aloud. David got unsteadily
upon his feet. At the sound Of this move
ment the man I'm white wheeled with an
instant and shocking violence, t1inging up
to be a stick. In the lamplight it now
shone surprisingly formidable-a short.
heavy Mannlicher carbine.
For all his sudden start the young mans
handsome face had not altered by line.
His voice rose ready and brisk with
kind Of engaging insolence.
who the devil are you?" Then. I'M
perturbed, as though there were plenty OF
foot, lowered his gun, and. with a look
full Of some new and unmitigated con-
tempt, flung out another question. And
where did YOU get my shooting Jacket
Tired though he was and befuddled with
sleep. David reused as at a blow. No
man had ever spoken to him in that vein,
or fixed him with such a hateful stare.
81 fell overheard" he answered, coldly.
might before last. Two men In a banca
picked me up-at least made them. /
| landed here less than an hour ago. And
as for your jacket, it was in the banca-
had to wear something"
Quite So The gray eyes watched
him, very hard and bright. Where are
your two friends?"
'Gone, 1 hope" said David. with rising
anger. 1 never saw them BEFORE" he ex
planned. stiffly, giving back stare for
stare. "And that's all I can tell YOU"
The young man in white slung his
Mannlicher In the crook Of his arm and
continued to regard David with face OF
| unbelief.
you're a Yankee aren't you?" he said,
plenty-but never quite such Brighter as
you. my friend"
He stood back. significantly clear Of the
doorway.
went on, that I carry this gun now.
And, by the way, keep the jacket. Now
that you've worn it l can easily do with
out
For a moment David could not trust
himself. Then. very pale, and with fin
gers missing the buttons. he ripped OF
the crumpled khaki and stood forth naked.
$50 can T. he replied. in voice that
! shook. II heard your dog barking on
shore and thought it was white mans
dog. natural mistake. of course"
He stalked over to the Chinese chest.
folded the khaki with great precision and
laid it down. AS he did SO the locket
struck forth a muffled click from the
polished wood. Catching at the jacket
once more David plunged his hand inside.
He was smiling queerly: this. he thought.
was the sort Of man who carried her pic
ture.
YOU see." he announced. holding up
the thin silver case, you see, l didn't
take everything.
He spoke bitterly; and yet it was with
a pang, a sense of loss. that he laid the
1t seemed. not only the bit of metal but
all that 1t contained and signified. for
ever. This scornful and godlike young
fellow in white he had thus far only de-
Sp1SeQ, HOW lie udteu- DIS Ae saw
limp quickly to- the table, and. laying
down. the carbine. snatch up the keep
sake with boyish eagerness.
"Oh. I say" cried the stranger. opening
the silver shell and looking for mere in
stant but with evident satisfaction. at
the picture. Il wondered-1 wouldn't
have missed that for "a good deal more
than / can tell YOU" He snapped the
locket shut and slipped it inside his trnic:
She's worth a few thousand of you and
me-"
The speaker remained motionless. with
his arrogant young face bowed in a sud
den fit of humility, his lean fingers drum
ming on the table, and his eyes fixed upon
some memory half a world away.
This, to David. was worse than his
plain insolence. Jealousy, the same Jeal-
Ousy which had tormented him i'm the boat
without right cause or sense. had
famed up afresh, but now real and re-
doubled in the presence of this handsome,
domineering rival He longed to ask the
man to come outside and fight; but that,
Of course, was absurd.
I'm q fool" said David, with convtc-
ton: and leaving the scornful stranger
in possession, he turned toward the door.
Indifferent to a WEAKNESS that made him
stagger.
Into the long aisle of slender palms.
through which burned verrnilion sun
rise, he went out, naked and alone.
(To be continued tomorrow