The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-09-04
"Oh, I'm not going until next Thurs

w. " NV 6Oao8 uASa ueAt luoE6
day"
The smile returned to her face, and
| her body bent in a kind OF kotow. He
was so big, and his beard glistened
| like the gold leaf on the Shwe Dason
| pagcda. She understood. The white
to the white and the brown to the
brown: 1t was the law.
Warrington went up to his room, He
was welcomed by screech from the
parrot and a dignitied salaam from
James. who was trimming the wick OF
the oil lamp. For the last year and
half this room had served as head
| quarters. Many a financial puzzle had
been pieced together within these dull.
drab walls; many dream had gone
| up to the ceiling. only 10 sink and dis
sipate like smoke. There were no pic
lures on the walls. no photographs
In one corner, on the floor, was stack
of dilapidated books. These were
mostly old novels and tones dealing
with geological and mathematical mat
ters; laughter and tears and adven
ture. sandwiched in between the dry
positiveness of straight lines and
squares and circles and numerals with
out end; D'Artagnan hobnobbins with
Euclid! Warrington was an educated
man, but he was in no sense scholar
James applied a match to the wick.
and the general poverty of the room
was instantly made manifest
We'll, old sober-top. suppose we
square up and part like good friends 2"
Il am always the sahib's good
friend"
Right as rain!" Warrington emp
tied his pockets upon the table: silver
and gold and paper. Eth? That's the
stuff. Without it the worlds not worth
tinker's dam. Count out seventy
pounds. James"
Calmly James took sovereign after
sovereign until he had withdrawn the
required sum. Gold Is heavy, sahib."
he commented. You 90 back homer"
"Yes. Something like home. | am
going to Paris, where good people go
when they die. l am going to drink
vintage wines. eat truff1es and mush
rooms and caviar and kiss the pretty
girls in Maxims. I've been In prison
for ten years. | am free, free!" War
rington flung out his arms. "Good-by.
jungles, deserts. hell heat and thirsty
winds! Good-by. crusts and rags and
hunger! | am going to live"
1.-THE sahib has fever" observed the
unimaginative Eurasian.
That's the word; fever. l am burn
ing up. Here; 60 to the Strand and
get bottle OF champagne. and bring
some ice. Buy boz Of the best CT
CARS, and hurry back. Then put this
junk in the trunk. And d-n the
smell of kerosene!"
James raised his hand warringly
From the adjoining room came the
sound of a quarrel.
Rupees one hundred and forty. and
want it now, you sneak!"
But told you l couldn't square up
until the first of the month"
"You had no business to play poker.
then, if you knew you couldn't settle"
who asked me to play?" shrilled
the other. "You did. Well. haven't
got the money"
you miserable little welcher! The
ring is worth hundred and forty :"
You'll never get your dirty fingers
inside OF that"
"Oh, shan't, eh?"
Warrington heard a scuff1ing, which
was presently followed by low. chok,
ing sob. He rushed fearlessly into the
other room. Pinned to the wall was
young man with a weak, pale face
The other man presented nothing
more than the back Of his broad. mus
cular shoulders. The disparity In
weight and height was sufficient to
rouse Warrington's sense Of fair play.
Besides. he was in q rough mood him
self.
Here, thatM do" he cried. Selling
the heavier man by the collar. 1T
isn't worth while to kill man for .
handful Of rupees. Let 60. you fool"
He used his strength. The man and
his victim swung in half-circle and
crashed to the floor.
With a snarl and an oath the gam
bier sprang to his feet and started
toward Warrington. He stopped short
Good Godl" he murmured; and re-
treated until he touched the footboard
of the bed.
CrO BE cONTINUED)