Evening star., 1911-06-06

man who has been saved the bother ee
going into explanatory details.
Yes. I have" he admitted. and you
are not far wrong when you talk about
the force Of contrast. You know what
thought OF the rajah. There are any
amount OF good-looking native princes
with nice surface manners-that SORT OF
thing wouldn't impress me. But this man
has more than good looks and manners.
He is q born leader. You should have
seen him this afternoon. There wasn't =
thing he overlooked or forgot Every de-
tail was at his fingers ends. and he has
q fire. an energy. an tdeaiistic BELIEF In
himself and IN the whole world which
fairly sweeps you or your feet. II did
me. I believe II did the colonel. and I
know II did the natives. The dust wasn't
low enough for them. And Il wasn't face
worship. either. IL came straight from
ready to die for him on the spot. at his
mere word"
What a power" Beatrice murmured.
She had stopped turning over the pat
terms and was leaning back In her chair.
her eyes fixed thoughtfully in front Of
her.
Yes, 1t Is q power" he echoed. en-
phatically, and I wish TO goodness we
had more men like him on our side. We
English take things too ightly-most OF
us. And in India 1t is not safe to take
things lightly"
He saw that she was about to make
some observation. but at that moment
Mrs. Cary entered. She had evidently
been out in the garden. for she had a
bunch OF freshly cut flowers in her hand.
and q girlish muslin hat shaded the fat
cheeks, flushed with the unusual exer-
ton.
"Ah. there you are. Capt. Staffordi' she
said. extending her disengaged hand.
'.Mr. Travers said he was sure you had
dropped in. and wouldn't believe it when
1 told him that I had heard and seen
nothing of you. There, come In. Mr.
Travers. It's all right
She smiled at Stafford with a playful
Significance that seemed to indicate an
but Stafford did not smile back. Lake q
great many worthy and honest people. he
was not gifted with q sense OF humor.
and the ridiculous. especially IL II took
human form. was his abomination. Con-
sequently. he disliked Mrs. Cary. though
not for the reason which made her un-
popular in other quarters.
Travers followed almost immediately on
her invitation. like Stafford, bearing the
marks Of q hard days work on his un-
usually pale face.
IT expect Stafford has told you what q
time we've been having" he said. In re-
sponse to Beatrfce's greeting. TITS no
joke to have aroused an energy like the
rajah's, and I can see myself worked TO
q shadow. Please forgive my get-up.
MISS Gary OUT ISL tL oluCihi Cdii
only wanted to fetch Stafford"
I'm afraid you can't" Mrs. Cary put
In. I'VE have engaged the poor. ex-
hausted man to tea. and you are strictly
forbidden to worry him with your tire
some business. You can stop. too, IL you
promise not to bother"
Travers who had. as a rule. an equally
amiable smile for every one. remained
Unexpectedly serious.
'T am awfully sorry" he said. hesitat-
ing. Perhaps it would do another time"
What is IL aboutf" STAFFORD asked.
''Will It take long?"
LAS far as am concerned. only q few
minutes"
There was a significance in the tone OF
Travers' answer which passed unnoticed.
Stafford rose laxily to his feet
Perhaps you'll give US the run OF your
garden for just so long, Mrs. Cary? he
said. I'm not going to let Travers cheat
me out of my promised cup of tea. Come
on. my dear fellow. I'm ready for the
worst
The two men went down the veranda
steps. and Mrs. Cary and her daughter
remained alone. Beatrice returned ~
once to her contemplation OF the fashion
plates. her attitude enforcing silence upon
the elder woman. who stood by the round,
polished table. nervously arranging the
nowers Evidently she had something 10
say. but for once had not the courage to
say II. At last, with one OF those de-
termfned gestures with which arresolute
people strive to stfffen their wavering
wills, she pushed the flowers on one side.
and came and sat directly opposite Bea-
trice.
Have you got few minutes to sparsr'
Beatrice looked up and put the papers
aside.
"As many as you like"
Mrs Cary's eyes sank beneath the d.
rect gaze, and she began to play with the
rings that adorned her fat fingers.
I'm afraid you'll be angry" she said.
IF 1t wasn't for my duty as mother. I
should let you go your own way-as II II,
/ must just risk II"
There is no risk" Beatrice returned.
graveIy Where duty is concerned I
am ali consideration"
IT'S about your intimacy with his high
ness" Mrs. Cary went on. Il can't help
thinking it has cone too far"
I'm what way?
you ride out with him every morn
ing"
went out for the first time"
TT was the first time. And I didn't
know people would talk"
do they talk?'
"Yes. Mrs. Berry told me only this
afternoon that she thought 1t most infra
dig. She told me as q friend"
Beatrice laughed.
MRS. Berry as q friend is a new de-
parture."
Never mind. There was something in
what she said. She told me it spoiled
your chances-with others
II dare say she told you that IL is very
immoral for me to ride out with Capt.
Stafford?"
Mrs. Cary threw up her head.
IT don't take any notice OF that sort OF
thing. That Is only her cattishness. be-
cause she wants Stafford for Maud" :
ssYo,, don'f mind ahout Cant Stafford
thenr'
Goodness. no! Why should II A man
wants to know q girl before-well, before
he asks her. don't see anything in that.
But this business with the ra5ah is quite
different. OF course, ] know you are only
value to be seen 30 much with . colorsd
man."
"Why should you mindf Surely you
can see for yourself that Capt. Stafford
Is to ell intents and purposes engaged to
Lois?"
rubbish! She thinks so. but IT'S q
lukewarm business which could easily be
brought to nothingAf you tried. And be-
sides, don't want you talked about. We
have been talked about quite enough"
why should people talk?" exclaimed
Beatrice. with sudden change in tone.
pose goes on between us?"
Mrs. Cary shrugged her shoulders.
I'm sure I don't know" she said. In
differently.
Beatrice sat back in her chair. for .
moment silent. A faint smile moved the
corners of her fine mouth.
II fancy our conversation, IL they heard
It. would startle the unbearable Marut
scandal-mongers, she said. What do
you say to q Bible class on horseback
Mrs. Cary's small. round eyes opened
"a Rihle ciass7.. sha reneated. sus-