The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1915-05-27
CHAPTER vi.

In The Next Room.
~Craig?" Warrington whispered the
w0rd. as If he feared the world might
hear the deadly menace in his voice
FOR murder leaped up in his heart as
Dame leaps up in pine kindling.
The weak young man got to his
knees. then to his feet. He steadied
himself by clutching the back Of a
chair. With one hand he felt Of his
throat tenderly.
He tried to kill me. the black.
Egu11d," he croaked.
Craig, it is you! For ten years
I've never thought of you without MUIR
der In my heart. Newell Craig, and
here, right where can put my hands
upon you! Oh, this old world is
small" Warrington laughed. It was
- high. thin sound.
The young man looked from his en-
sEEny to his deliverer, and back again.
What new row was this? Never be-
fore had he seen the BLACKBOARD with
that look in his dark, handsome, preda-
tory face. 1t typified fear. And who
was this 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
inner"
This direful threat did not seem to
STIR the sense of hearing in either of
the tvs men. Suddenly the blond man
caught the door and swung it wide.
Craig. Aweek ago I'd have throttled
you without the least conjunction.
Today 1 can't Touch you. But get out
of here as fast al you can. You might
have gone feet foH emost. Go! Out OF
3Rangoon, too. may change my mlno.
The man called lCra1g walked out.
rsquaring his shoulders with toucn OF
bravado that did mott impress even the
pIucked pigeon. warrington stood
listening until he hsb lard the hall door
close sharply.
Thanks" said the bewildered youth.
warrington whirled upon him saw
zageSy. Thanks? Don't thank me.
you weakened fool"
~Oh. say, now!" the other pro-
tested
BE silent! II you owe that scoun-
G1rel anything, refuse to pay it. He
never won a penny in his life without
cheating. Keep out of his way; keep
cat OF the way Of all men who prefer
60 deal only two hands," And with
this advice Warrington stepped out
into the hallway and shut the door
Eudely.
PAY the purser and get box OF CT
Sxars." Warrington directed James.
Never mind about the wine. I shant
want it now"
James went out upon the errands i'm
mediately.
Warrington dropped down in the
,creaky rockingham, the only one in
the boarding house. He stared at the
worn and faded carpet. How dingy
everything looked! What a sordid
nut he had been content to lie in!
Chance: to throw this man across his
vath when he had almost forgotten
Ysim. forgotten that he had sworn to
Hreak the mans neck over his knees!
I'm the very next room! And he had
permitted him to go unframed simply
1ecause his mind was full of a girl he
-wouId never see again after tomorrow.
what was the rascal doing over here?
what had caused him to forsake the
easy pluckings of Broadway In ex-
change for dogs life on packet boats,
IN a squalid boarding house like this
Suue. and In dismal billiard halls? Wire
4apper, racing tout. stool pigeon. a
: .cheater at cards, blackmailer and traf.
seeker In baser things; In the next
room. and he had let him go unframed.
Ten years ago and thirteen thousand
miles away. In the next room. He
laughed unpleasantly. Chivalric fool
SILLY Don Quixote. sentimental dream
or. to have made hash OF his life
I'm this manner!
He leaned toward the window sill
and opened the cage. Rajah walked
out, muttering.
$50 50
When It was possible. Elsa pre-
Rerred to walk. She was young and
,strong and active, and she went along
with a swinging stride that made OBJ
vsous serene confidence in her ability
60 take care OF herself. What the un'
knowing called willfulness was simply
natural independence, which she as
,marted whenever occasion demanded 1t
she loved to prowl through the
sstrange streets and alleys and stranger
shops: 1t was Joy to ramble about
rrninus the Irritating opportunities Of
Guide or attendant It was great fun
7sut it was not always wise. There
ware soma situations which only men
.meslA successfully handle. Elsa would