Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-05-22
CHAPTER VI
In the Next Room.

might hear the deadly menace in ms
voice. For murder leaped up in his
heart as flame leaps up in pine
kindling.
The weak young man got to MS
knees, then to his feet. He steaoleo
himself by clutching the back OF
chair. With one hand he felt Of his
throat tenderly.
He tried to. kill me, the black
guard" he croaked.
Craig, it is you! For ten years
I've never thought of you without
murder in my heart. Newell Cralg'
and here, right where 1 can put my
hands upon you Oh, this old world
is small" Warrington laughed. 1t was
a high thin sound.
The young man looked fom his enc
my to his deliverer, and back again
What new row was this? Never be-
fore had he seen the blackguard with
that look in his dark. handsome. pre-
datory face. 1t typified fear. And
who was the big blond chap whose
fingers were working so convulsively
Craig" said the young man, you
get out of here. and if you ever come
bothering me. I'll shoot you. Hear
me?"
This direful threat did not seem to
stir the sense of hearing in either OF
the two men. The one faced the oth-
er as a lion might have faced jack
al. wondering if it would be worth
while to waste a cuff on so sorry a
beast. Suddenly the blond man
caught the door and swung it wide.
Craig. a week ago I'd have throt-
tied YOU without the least compunc-
ton. Today 1 can't touch you. But
get out of here as fast as you can. You
might have gone feet foremost. Go!
Out of Rangoon, too. l may change
my mind"
The man called Craig walked out.
souaring his shoulders with touch
of bravado that did not impress even
the plucked pigeon. Warrington
stood listening until he heard the
hall door close sharply.
Thanks" said the bewildered
youth.
Warrington whirled upon him saw
agely. Thanks? Don't thank me,
you weakened fool"
"Oh, 1 say, now!" the other pro-
tested.
BE silent! If you owe that scoun-
drel anything, refuse to pay it. He
never won a penny in his life with
out cheating Keep out of his way;
keep out of the way of all men who
prefer to deal only two hands" And
with this advice Warrington stepped
out into the hallway and shut the
door rudely.
The youth walked over to the
mirror and Strengthened his collar
and tie. Rum on that. Narrow
squeak. surely beggar, even if he did
do me a good turn. l shan't have to
pay that rotter, Craig. now. That's
something"
Pay the purser and get box of
cigars" Warrington directed James.
Never mind about the wine. l shan't
want it now"
James went out upon the errand
Immediately.
Warrington dropped down in the
creaky rocking chair, the only one in
the boarding house. He stared at the
worn and faded carpet. How dingy
everything looked, What sordid
rut he had been content to lie in.
Chance: to throw this man across his
path when he had almost forgotten
him, forgotten that he had sworn to
break the mans neck over his knees.
In the very next room! And he had
permitted him to go unharmed simply
because his mind was full of girl
he would never see again after to-
morrow. What was the rascal doing
over here? What had caused him to
forsake the easy pluckings of Broad
way in exchange for dogs life on
packet boats, in squalid boarding
housess like this one. and in dismal
billiard halls? Wiretapper, racing
tout, stoop- pigeon, a cheater at cards,
blackmailer and trafficker in baser
things in the next room, and he had
let him go unharmed. Vermin. Pah!
He was glad. The very touch of the
mans collar had left a sense of de-
filment upon his hands. Ten years age
and thirteen thousand miles away. In
the next room. He laughed unpleas-
antly. Chivalric fool. silly Don
Quixote, sentimental dreamer, to have
made a hash of his life in this man.
ner!
He leaned toward the window-sill
and opened the cage. Raiah walked
out. muttering.
When it was possible. Elsa prefer
red TO walk She was young and
strong and active; and she went along
with a swinging stride that made OBJ
vious a serene confidence in her abili-
" 10 take care Vi HSISell sic was
in many respects. remarkable young
woman. She had been pampered. she
had been given her head; and still she
was unspoiled. What the unknowing
called wilfulness was simply natural
independence. which she asserted
whenever occasion demanded it.
TongaS cut into her nerves, the
Stuffy gharry made her head ache. and
the springless phaetons which abound
ed in the east she avoided as the
plague. Elephants and camels and
rickshaws were her delight, but here in
Rangoon none of these was availa BILE
There were no camels. the government
elephants had steady employment out
at MacGregors timber yards and could
not get leave of absence: while rick
saws were out of fashion. as only ma
tives and Cinnamon rode in them. So
Elsa walked.
She loved to prowl through the
strange streets and alleys and stranger
shops: it was Il joy to ramble about
minus the irritating opportunities OF
guide or attendant. 1t was great fun