The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-16

The two left the cafe veranda and
engaged pair of rickshaws. AS they
logged down the road, Warrington
stepped out from behind the palms
and moodily watched them until the
night swallowed them up. He had not
overheard their interesting converse
ton, nor had he known they were
about until they came down. the steps
together. He ached to follow them.
He was in fine mood for blows. That
! there were two of them did not trouble
him. or one thing he was assured:
Somewhere in the dim past an ances-
tor Of his had died in Berserk rage.
He had been watching Elsa 1t dis
turbed but did not mystify him to see
her talking to the colonel. Table
chance had brought them together.
and perhaps to better understand
ing. How pale she was! From time
to time he caught the fash of her
eyes as she turned to this or that
guest, Once she smiled, but the smile
did not tighten up her face. He was
very wretched and miserable. She had
taken him at his word, and he should
have been glad. He had seen her but
once again on board, but she had
looked away. 1t was best so. Yet, it
was as if fate had reached down into
his heart and snapped the strings
which made life tuneful
And tomorrow! What would tomor-
row bring? Would they refuse? Would
''"v demand the full penalty? Eight
thousand with interest was a small
sum to such corporation He had
often wondered If they had searched
Tor him. Ten years. In the midst of
these cogitations he saw the group at
the table rise and break up. Elsa en-
tered the hotel. Warrington turned
away and walked aimlessly toward
. town. For hours he wandered about,
seeing nothing. hearing nothing; and
1t was long past midnight when he
sought his room, restless and weary
but wide awake. He called for a stiff
peg, drank it, and tumbled into bed.
He was whirled away into broken
dreams. He was In the Andes, toiling
with his girders over unspeakable
chasms. A shifting glance at the old
billiard room in the club, the letter,
and his subsequent wild night of in
toxication, the one time in his life
when he had drunk hard and long.
Back to the Indian deserts and jungles.
And he heard the shrek of parrots.
The Shrek Of parrots He sat UP.
Even in his dream he recognized that
cry. Night or day, Rajah always
shrieked when someone entered the
room. Warrington silently slid out of
bed and dashed to the door which led
to the gallery. A body thudded
against his. He caught hold. The
body was nude to the waist and
smelled evilly of sweat and fish oil.
Something whiplike struck him across
the face. 1t was a queue.
Warrington struck out, but missed.
Instantly a pair Of powerful arms
wound about him, bearing and bend
ing him backward. His right arm lay
parallel with the invaders chest. He
brought up the heel of his palm
viciously against the Chinaman's chin.
1t was sufficient to break the hold.
Then followed a struggle that always
remained nightmarish to Warrington.
Hither and thither across the room,
miraculously avoiding chairs, tables
and bed, they surged. He heard ring
of steel upon the cement floor, and
breathed easier TO learn that the thief
had drnnnad I, ,ic Iy,,ifa
never thought to call out for help. The
old fear of bringing people about him
had become a habit. Once, in the
whirl of things, his hand came into
contact with belt which hung about
the others middle. He caught at 1t 1
and heaved. 1t broke, and the subse-
quent tinkling over the floor advised
him of the fact that 1t was his own
gold. The broken belt, however,
brought the fight to an abrupt end
The oily body suddenly slipped away.
Warrington beheld shadow in the
doorway; it loomed there a second
against the skyline, and vanished. He
ran to the gallery railing, but it was
too dark below to discern anything.
He returned to his room, breathing
hard, the obnoxious odor of sweat
and fish oil in his nose. He turned on
the lights and without waiting to in
vestigate, went into the shower room
and stood under the tepid deluge.
Even after thorough rundown the
faint was in the air. The bird was
muttering and turning somersaults.
Thanks, Rajah, old sport! He'd |
have got me but for you. Let's see
the damage"
He picked up the belt. The paper
money was intact, and what gold had
fallen he could easily find. He then |
took up his vest and dropped |
1t, stunned. The letter of credit for |
half his fortune was gone. He sank |
back upon the bed and stared miser-
ably at the fallen garment. Gone!
Fifty thousand dollars. Someone who
knew! Presently he stood up and
tugged at his beard. After all, why /
should he worry? A cable to Rangoon
would ston navmopts non, Ioftar