The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-04-07

anu OeSlTes, VI lto Ittullsh anu IN
ertia. 1t did not hearten one or OK
cite hunger. Elsa would rather have
lain down In her Canton lounging
chair. The gong seemed out of place
on the sea. Vaguely It reminded her
Of the railway stations at homo.
where they beat the gong to entico
passengers into the cvil-smelling res-
taurants, there to lose their patience
and often their trains.
The dining saloon held two long
tables. only ono Of which was in COM
mission. the starboard. The saloon
was unattractive. for staterooms
marshalled along each side Of It; and
one caught glimpses OF tumbled lug
stretched from ono end OF the table
to the other, and swung indolently to
and fro. whining mysteriotsly as IL
In protest, sometimes subsiding alto
gether (as the wearied coolie above
tho lights fell asleep) and then flap
ping Historically (after a shout Of
warning from the captain) and set-
ting me women's hair awry.
Elsa and Martha were seated some
where between tho head and the foot
OF tho table. Tho personally -conduc-
ted surrounded them. and gabbled
necessarily during the meal of what
they had seen. Of what they were
going to see, and OF what they had
agency's party. Elsa's sympathy
went out to the tired and faded con-
ductor.
There was but one vacant chair:
and as she saw Warrington nowhere,
Elsa assumed that this must be his
reservation. She was rather glad that
he would be beyond conversational
radius. She liked to talk to the
strange and lonely man. but she pre-
ferred to be alone with him when
she did so. Neither of them had yet
descended to the level of trifies: and
Elsa had no wish to share with per-
sons embarrassing and uncompanion-
able her serious Views OF life. Some
times she wondered II, after all, she
was not as old as the hills instead
OF twenty-five.
She began AZ OF old TO study care
lessly the faces OF the diners and to
speculate as to their characters and
occupations. Her negligent observa-
ton rovcd from the pompous cap
tain down to the dark picturesque
face OF the man Craig. Upon him
her glance. a mixture OF contempt
and curiosity. rested. II he behaved
himself and made no attempt to
clare a truce. In Rangoon the man
had been drunk. but on the lrrawad-
dy boat he had been sober enough.
Craig kept his eyes directed upon his
food and did not offer her even n
furtive glance.
He was not in happy state OF
mind. He had taken passage the
last moment to avoid meeting again
the one man he feared. For ten
years this man had been reckoned
among the lost. Many believed him
dead, and Craig had wished II rather
than believed. And then, to meet him
face to face in that sordid boarding.
house had shaken the cool nerve or
the gambler. He Was worried and
bewildered.
He had practically sent this man to
ruin. What would he the reprisal?
lie reached for mangosteen and ate
the white pulpy contents. but with
out the customary relish. The phrase
kept running through his head: What
would be the reprisal? For men OF
his Xix never struck without expect
Ing to be struck back. Something
must be done. Should he seek him
and boldly ask what he intended to
do? Certainly he could not do much
on board here. except to denounce
gambler. And Paul would scarcely
do that since he. Craig. had better
shot In his gun. He could tell who
Paul was and what he had done.
Bodily harm was what he really
feared.
He had seen Elsa, hut nc had worked
out that problem easily. Sho was sure
TO say nothing so long as nc let her
be. and with the episode OF the hatpin
still fresh In his memory, he assuredly
would keep his distance. He had made
n mistake and was not likely to re-
peat 1t.
But Paul. He finished his dessert
end went off to the stuffy little smoke
room and struggled with Burma
cheroot. Paul was n smoker and
sooner or later he would drop In.
There would he no beating about tho
bush on his part. II 1t was 10 he war.
all right: n truce. well and good But
he wanted to know and he was not
going TO let fear stand In the way,
Ic waited in vain for his man that
night
And so did Elsa. She felt indignant
NJ one moment and hurt at another.
Tho mans attitude was inexplicable;
there was neither rhyme nor reason
in II. The very fact that she could
not understand made her wonder
march beside her even In her dreams
that night.
Next day, AT luncheon, tho chair
was still vacant. Elsa became
alarmed. Perhaps he was Ill Sho
made Inquiries. regardless OF tho pos
sible misinterprctation her concern
might bo given by others. Mr.. War
rington had had his meals served In
his cabin, but tho steward declared
that the gentleman was not Ill, only
tired and irritable. and that he
amused himself with a trained par
rakeet
Starboard was rugged up for crick-
ct, and the ships officers and some or
the passengers played the game until
the first gong Elisa grumblcd TO
Martha, There was little enough
space to walk in as II was without
the men taking over the whole side
of tho ship and cheating her out OF
a glorious sunset.
The saloon had an air OF FRESHNESS :
that night, All the men were in Dir II
or pongee, and 80 receptive ~ the i'm
aelnatIon that the picture robbed tho
room OF half rs heat. TO and fro the
prnka Mapped; tho pulley creah"i 1
and the ropes scrapad above the sound
ct knives and forks and spoons.
Elsa ate little besides fruit. 81"