Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-05-22

4
the breed! Now, not single word O
this to any one. Mr. Craig, l fancy
will be the last person to speak of it.
i you had better put the pin bach
in your hat" suggested Martha.
"Pah!" 1 had forgotten it," Elsa
flung the weapon far into the street
Once they turned into Merchant
street, both felt the tension relax
Martha would have to sit down, ever
on the curb.
II despise men," she volunteered.
II am beginning to believe that few
Of them are worth thought. Those
who aren't fools are knaves."
Are you sure of your judgment in
regard to this man Warrington? How
can you tell that he is any different
from that man Craig?"
He is different, that is all. This
afternoon he will come to tea. l shall
want you to be with us. Remember
not a word of this disgraceful affair '
"Ah, Elsa, am afraid; l am more
afraid of Warrington than of man
of Craig's type" .
And why?"
1T sounds foolish, but l can't en-
plain. l am just afraid Of him.
| Bother, You talk like an old
maid"
And am one, by preference"
| I'VE are always quarreling. Mar
tina; and it doesn't do either of us any
good When you oppose me, l find
that is the very thing l want to do
You haven't any diplomacy"
Il would gladly cultivate it if
thought it would prove effective" was
the retort.
| TRY it," advised Elsa dryly.
Warringtons appearance that after
noon astonished Elsa. She had natur-
ally expected some change, but scarce
| " such elegance. He was, without
question, one of the handsomest men
she had ever met He was handsom
er than Arthur because he was more
manly in type. Arthur himself, an
exquisite in the matter of clothes
could not have improved upon this
mans taste or selection. What a
mystery he was! She greeted him
cordially, without restraint; but for all
that. little shiver stirred the tendrils
of hair at the nape of her neck.
1.-The most famous man in Rangoon
today" she said, smiling.
$50 you have read that tommy-rot
in the newspaper"
| They sat on her private balcony
under the awning Rain was threat
ening. Martha laid aside her knit
ting and did her utmost to give her
smile of welcome an air of gracious
ness.
| II shouldn't call it tommyrot,
Elsa declared. 1T was not chance
1t was pluck and foresight. Men who
possess those two attributes get about
everything worth having"
There are exceptions" studying the
ferrule of his cane.
"Is there really anything you want
now and can't have?"
Martha looked at her charge in
dread and wonder.
| There is the moon," he answered
II have always wanted that. But
there it hangs. just as far out Of reach
as ever"
| 1.-TWO lumps?"
| None. My sugar-tooth is gone"
| Elsa had heard that hard drinkers
dislike sweets. Had this been the
Gordian knot he had cut?
| Perhaps, after ALL" she said, you
would prefer a peg, as you call it over
here"
whisky. Sometimes. when l am dead
tired, and have to go on working,
take a little"
So that wasn't it. Elsa's curiosity
today was keenly alive. She wanted
to ask a thousand questions; but the
ease with which the man wore his
new clothes, used his voice and eyes
and hands. convinced her more than
ever that the subtlest question she
might devise would not stir him into
any confession. That he had once
been a gentleman of her own class,
and more, something of an exquisite,
there remained no doubt in her mind.
What had he done? What in the
world had he done?
On his part he regretted the pres
ence of Martha; for, so strongly had
this girl worked upon his imagination
that he had called with the deliberate
intention of telling her everything. But
he could not open the gates of his
heart before thi person, one he
intuitively knew as antagonistic.
| Conversation went afield; pictures
and music and the polished capitals of
the world; the latest books and plays,
The information in regard to these Elsa
supplied them. They discussed also
the problems of the day as frankly
as if they had been in an Occidental
drawing room. Martha's tea was bit
ter She liked Arthur, who was al
| ways charming, VINO never surprised
or astonished anybody, or shocked
them with unexpected phases Of char
acter; and each time she looked at
Warrington, Arthur seemed to recede.
And when the time came for the guest
to take his leave, Martha regretted to
find that the major part of her an
tagonism was gone.
Il wish to thank you. Miss Chet-
wood, for your kindness to a very
lonely man. 1t isn't probable that
shall see you again. | sail next Tues
day for Singapore" He reached into
a pocket. II wonder if you would
consider il an impertinence if | offered
you this old trinket?" He held out
the mandarin's ring.
What a beauty" she exclaimed
"Of course I'll accept it. 1t is very
kind of you. | am inordinately fond
Of such things. Thank you. How
easily it slips over my finger"
"Chinamen have very slender
fingers" he explained. "Good-by
| ,rb ,,a cbnructarc Suv Good lurk and