The Washington times., 1913-07-07
POP?''
R rAL S T o R Y
lrvey whitridges gaze fixed hunsrily

survey Whitridges gaze fixed hunSrily
upon her.
A smile with which she intended to
thank him died on her lips. A startled
look came into her eyes. She did not
move until he turned toward the clerk.
who was asking him for record for
customs clearance.
Paul Whitridge, thirty-four. master
mariner, an English citizen" he said;
and the clerk recalled afterward the
strange hesitancy with which he gave
his name and nationality.
The manager reappeared at this mo-
ment and began reading a memoran-
dunn to the clerk: Miss Emily Gran
Vile. twenty-four. American"
Whitridge gave a barely perceptible
start of surprise as the name fell from
the managers lips, and compressed his
eyes as II to shut out some unpleas-
ant thought or memory.
The manager threw the slip Of paper
on the desk. You can make 1t out.
Burr It's all there. Book her and the
maid that way" he said. Then. turn
nightly obliged to you, sir: Il sent
care taken Of you she is one Of the
big stockholders in the Western Line.
Gables came last night for herLshe,s
troubles at home-trustee Of her estate
dead: something like that. Must get
home Immediately. Can't bear to travel
In inside rooms. She-her-
ITS all right" Whitridge said, cut
ting him off. I'm glad to have been
able to do It," He spoke with an indi-
cation of impatience in tone and man.
ner.
without another word he gathered
up his tickets and went out OF the
agency.
The manager and clerk wished him
pleasant voyage, but II he heard them
he made no sign Of acknowledgment.
"Devilish strange Sort said the man.
agef in surprise.
Il should say so, think he's the cap
tain that brought that wreck OF
Chink tramp in here a couple OF months
ago" answered the clerk.
Indeed and with this exclamation
his office, where Emily Granville was
waiting and thinking Of the inexpress-
ible sadness she had seen In the face
of the stranger who had resigned his
state-room to her.
1t troubled her. In the instant that
she had turned to find his gaze fixed on
her she saw a pain in his eyes SO poiS-
nant that hurt her. A soul sounding
the deeps OF anguish seemed to have
been crying out just behind them.
Whitridge, going swiftly along the
Bund, was torn by the thoughts which
the name OF Granville had startel. 1t
had been these thoughts which had
driS en- him out of the agency so strange
ly. He argued and argued with himself
that he must be wrong: that there were
undoubtedly others OF that name in San
Francisco. He tried hard to think of
other things, but ever the vision of this
woman with the golden hair remained
dominant. 1t excluded even the thought
of his mother. whose message to come
home to her before IL was too late had
decided him in an hour to cross the
ocean
His remembrance Of the woman was
so vivid that she might have walked al
his side. The fragrance Of her remained
In his nostrils. The atmosphere of her
giIlish freshness clung TO him. There
was an indefiniteness about her like the
mystery of the spring. The Englishman
had been right in thinking she suggest
ed Burne-Jones' "Springtime." She was
a veritable gold woman.
AS he came to the little hotel hidden
away In the fringe of the BLUFFS Euro
Ing as a dog waits. greeted him. I;
was the Cantonese serang called Chang
who had come out of the nav Of death
with him in the Kau Lung. Yokohama
knew him as Whitridge's shadow.
''Tlunk all pack. master; gone ship.
What time you sail?" the Chinaman
said In a breath.
Two O'clock" he answered and
looked at his watch. 1t was past
noon. He told Chang to call Suki. the
VINO ran tnG motel
servants and who had been so good to
him in the first few weeks ashore
when the doctors were Struggling their
shoulders doubtfully: and her daugh-
ter. Oki. and the boy he had nick
named Sweeney" He had a little
present and a gold piece for each OF
them-two for Suki
There were big tears in "Sweeney's"
black eyes when the honorable cap
tain gentleman said good-by to him.
He would never forget him.
Yes; YOU will forget, Sweeney"
Whitridge said. in japanese. with It
tie laugh.
"Oh: yes" agreed Suki. He will fer
get Men forget. but women always re-
member
You know a lot about life. SukI,"
he answered, and turned and went into
the hotel Office.
At Whitridge's appearance the boy
ish-looking clerk behind the desk