The Washington times., 1913-02-26
CHAPTER X.-(Continued)

-ViE day wore out before his pa
( tience did, and with every indi-
cation of fulfilling the prognosis
OF Sum Fat; by evening the wind
had developed into an enthusiastic gale.
driving before it sheeted rain and great.
ragged wastes of mist. Whitaker abso-
intimacy with the weather, from which
his life in New York had of late d.
vorced him so completely. He read,
doxed, did full justice to the admirable
cuisine of Sum Fat, and between whiles
considered the state of his soul, the
cycle OF the suns. his personal marital
enlargement and the further preserya-
ton, intact, Of his bruised mortal body.
The ceaseless pattering on the shin
sied roof reminded him very strongly
of that hour, long gone, when he had
made up my his mind to marriage with
a strange woman. He marveled at that
madness with an inexhaustible wonder
and with an equally vast, desolate,
poignant regret.
He considered faithfully what he had
gained by reasserting his identity, ana
found II an empty thing. He had been
happier when a Willful Missing, un-
missed. unmourned. 1t seemed as IL II
might be best to 60 away again, to
eliminate himself as a factor in the
coil his temperance had brougnt
about Then his wife could gain her
freedom-and incidentally win him his
and marry as she willed. And Drum
mond would be free to come to life,
with hands unstained. and his honor
besmirched only in the knowledge OF
one man, who would not tell
Did he remain. Drummond, he feared
Whitaker was. in the light of sober
afterthought, more than half convinced
that Ember had guessed cunnngly at
the identity of his assailant. The thing
was Conceivable, at least, OF Drum
mond, the hedonist and egoist, seeking
to regain his forfeited world in one
murderous cast
And II was hardly conceivable that he
would hesitate to make second l-a1 at
New York, Whitaker saw clearly,
would prove far too small to contain
them both, at least while Drummond
retained his liberty; by staying there
he simply invited a second attempt
upon his life. merely strengthened
Drummonds temptation.
He thought 1t very curious that he
heard nothing more OF the proposed ac-
ton for divorce. 1t might be Wen TO
communicate again with his wife's ct,
re- torney. He went to bed with a mind
unsettled. still curious. speculative, un-
able to fix upon any definite course OF
conduct
And the second day was like unto the
periodically punctuated by black squalls
that tore shrieking across the bay with
the wild. blind fury Of destroying Angels
gone stark, raving mad.
Tho third day broke full Of the spirit
of the second. but toward noon the rain
ceased and by mid-afternoon the Vio-
lence of the wind had moderated Der
ceptibly to a stiff1sh but failing breeZe
beneath breaking cloud-track w,.a sraf
time since Whitaker's arrival, the
neighborhood discovered perspectives
By evening. when the wind went down
With the sun. leaving absolute calm, The
barrier beach far across the qni-,
waters of the shallow, landlocked bay,
shone like a bar of ruddy gold against
a horizon belted with mauve.
In the evening, too. a telegram from
Ember was transmitted Dy teiepnone 10
the bungalow, advising Whitaker OF his
hosts intention to return by the follow
ing night at the latest.
This communication WORKED with the
turn of the weather to effect a chalSe
In the temper OF Whitaker, VINO by thli;
time had managed to fret himself 10
the verge OF incontinent departure for
Australia via New York. lie decided
at least TO wait and thank Ember for
his Hospitality. and Thought seriously OF
consulting him as TO the wisest Hnd
fairest course TO pursue.
None the less the restlessness and
tmpatience bred of nearly three days
of enforced inaction possessed him like
a devil. After another of sum Fat :
admirable dinners his craving for open
afr and exercise drove him out to eS-
plore the clearing pretty thoroughly.
despite the failing light, and TO some
extent the surrounding woodlands.
At one time. indeed, he caught sight,
through thinning trees. of a summer
place somewhat more pretentious than
HaIf-a-Loaf Lodge - apparently the
Fiske place mentioned by Ember. But
by then II was so nearly dark that he
didn't pause to investigate an impress
sion that the place was tenanted, con-
tradictory to his hosts casual state
Jpent, and he was back on the bunga-
low porch in time to see the moon liz
up like great shield Of brass through
the haze over the barrier beach.
Sounds OF splashings and OF song
drew him down to the waters edge, TO
ind that Sum Fat had rowed out to
the anchored caeboat, and, almost as
naked as industrious, was bailing II
clear Of the three days' accumulation
Of rain wstSs, He came y presently,