Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-12-12
BY j. ". OIESY


affair in the inner room. White
Kate giving eager attention, drank
in every word. Her eyes began 20
gisten and sparkle as he went for
ward. At the end she laid a hand
on his knee. THAT was fine, Gaffy,
hnew she exclaimed. "The little
beast. That was the sort of game
he was trying to pull in my house,
was it-dOped tea and a rickshaw
waitin' in the alley? | wish you'd
killed him, the yellow shrimp! I'd
have liked to seen you in action, boy
Oh, Gaffy, why don't you take a
brace and be the man you could be ?"
"Oshitu's in town." said Gafford
with apparent change of subject.
But Kate understood. Her head
came up and she looked him in the
eye. "The man who wrecked you,
Gaffy? Would there be any chance
TO get anything on him-to prove
you didn't do 1.-THE thing they ac-
cused you Off"
II don't know. I've been wonder
ing-half way" he answered slowly.
Il wish you'd see if you can find out
anything about what he's doing. |
know he's up to something. He'll
likely drop in here with this va
mata. They're hunting in couples.
I've found out that much. 1t was
Oshitu who cut my foot"
"Oshitu!' gasped Kate. "My God!
what for?"
HE wanted to see if was
asleep said Gafford with another
grin.
Kate gave him a narrow sylded
glance, which said as plain as words
that she recognized the evasion. She
breathed somewhat quickly. "Can
you pass the opportunity, Gaffy ?"
she asked, with breathless interest
in her tones.
II don't see how | can," he re-
sponded slowly. "Yet after five
years what can | do-what chance
to connect things up? Besides
with a change of tone-"I've some
thing else on my mind just now.
That girl asked me to call on her"
Little fool" muttered Kate.
Quite right. agree with YOU"
said Gafford.
Kate put out hand. II didn't
mean that, Gaffy, and you know |
didn't | suppose you want to go?
It's quite romantic in way"
Gafford swept his hands outward
and down. an these rags" he
jeered.
Instead of laughing, Kate grew
serious. Suddenly she rose. wait, "
she commanded, and left the room.
When she returned she carried a
white suit over her arm. Here"
said she as she tossed it down on the
couch. "A Frenchman wore them
last, but he was about your size He
got into fight and was knitted. He
died here some years ago. When
they took his body away they left
the suit. Try it on while I'm gone"
She turned again through the door.
Gafford nut on the dead mans
clothes. Kate had been right. They
fitted him trinity. They seemed 20
be some sort of fatigue uniform of
the French navy from which the in
sigma Of rank had been cut. CAT
ford. surveying himself in Rates
glass, stiffened into unwOnted erect
clad figure flashed hack.
White Kate entering with an old
pair of shoes IN Ter hand dropped
them to the floor and cried out at
the picture: "Gaffy! You look like
the old Point days.
Gafford WINGED at the words
Don't" he said, sitting down and
beginning to put on the shoes. ITS
dead. Kate It's all dead"
at isn't" she fared back at
mustn't be. Oh, Gaffy; come back"
He rose, crossed tc her. took her
hands. Kate" he questioned, edo
YOU care-really care?"
She tore her hands away. "Of
course care, Gaffy," she said. ard
then lightly: run along and see
YOUR inamorata, now, Good luck.
Here" She fumbled inside her
clothing and drew out purse.
"Youll need this to get a rickshaw
and tin a hall-boy at he Nippon
You can't walk there on that foot"
She extended coin.
Gafford flushed as he took it and
turned away. Thanks, Kate, I've
come a long ways to this; but I'll
square it some day if / live"
bort piffie," said White Kate
shortly. Now run along. I've got
t. put on my paint"
Gafford's rickshaw put him down
in front of the Nippon in due time
he paid tie boy and made his way
inside. He walked in his trir- fit
ting clothing and unaccustomed
shoes. with q new air, and "A pair of
bacEthrown shoulders.
That, together with his fluent Jap
anese, evidently convinced the hall
boy that he was some parsonage,
indeed. He fairly darted away to
announce him to Miss McRae, re-
turned almost at once, and asked
Gafford to step into a small lounge,
adding that the lady would be down
in moment or two. Gafford tipped
him and sank upon a divan.
He smiled 1t was all so natural
so much a thing of long custom.
For q moment it seemed the reality
to him, and the life of the five years
past. dream rather than the re-
verse. Then soft footsteps came to
the lounge and entered, and Gafford
became convinced that it was
dream after all
Shiela McRae came toward him
as he rose, with outstretched hand.
l. L. 4 u Al