Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-01
CHAPTER XII.

copyright by Bobbs.Merrill Company
CHAPTER XII.
The Game Of Gossip.
During the concluding days of the
voyage Elsa had her meals served on
deck. She kept Martha with her con
tinually, promenaded only early in the
morning and at night while the other
passengers were at dinner. This left
a.clear deck. She walked quickly, he1
arm in Martha's, literally propelling
her along, never spoke unless spoken
to, and then answered in monosyl
tables. Her thoughts few to thou
sand and one things. futilely and vain.
ly, in the endeavor to shut out the
portrait Of the broken man. What was
he doing, Of what was he thinking
where would he go and what would he
do? She hated night which, no longer
Offering sleep, provided nothing in lieu
of it, and compelled her to remain in
the stuffy cabin. She was afraid.
Early Wednesday morning she
passed Craig and Mallow; but the two
had wit enough to step aside for her
and to speak only with their eyes. She
filled Craig with unauthorized fear.
Mallow dragged along the gambler
whenever he found chance to see
Elsa at close range.
There's q woman. Cad! that beach.
comber has taste."'
II tell you to look out for her,
Craig warned again. II know what I'm
:alking about"
Mallow whistled. "Oho! You prob
ably acted the fool. Drinking!"
Craig nodded affirmatively.
Thought so. Even Yokohama bar.
maid will fight shy OF . boozer. I'm
going to meet her when we get to
Singapore, or my names not Mallow.''
Craig laughed with malice. Il hope
you will. It will take some Of the brag
out Of you. Say, let's 90 aft and hunt
up the chap. l understand he's taken
up quarters In the second cabin"
Doesn't want to run into me. All
right; come on. Wen stir him up a
little and have some fun"
They found Warrington up in the
stern, sitting ON the deck, surrounded
by squatting Lascars, some Cinnamon
and solitary white man, the chief en-
gineer's assistant. The center of In
terest was Rajah, who was performing
his tricks. Among these was one
that tho bird rarely could be made to
perform, the threading Of beads. He
despised this act, az 1t entailed the put
ting of blunt needle in his beak. He
flung It aside each time Warrington
handed 1t to him. But ever his master
patiently returned 1t. At length, recog-
nizing that the affair might be pro-
longed indefinitely. Rajah put two
beads on the thread and tossed it
aside. The Lascars jabbered. the
Cinnamon grinned, and the chief en-
gineer's assistant swore approvingly.
The parrot shrilled and waddled back
to his cage.
Zine business for q whole mani"
Warrington looked up to meet the
cynical eyes Of Mallow. He took out
his Guilty and fred 1t. Otherwise he
did not move nor let his gaze swerve.
Mallow, towering above him, could
scarcely resist the temptation to stir
his enemy with the toe of his boot. His
hatred for Warrington was not wholly
due to his brutal treatment Of him
Mallow always took pleasure in domi.
mating those under him by fear War.
rington had done his work well. He
had always recognized Ma1low as his
employer, but In no other capacity; he
had never offered to smoke pipe
with him, or to take hand at cards or
split bottle. It had not been done
extensively; but in this attitude Nal.
low had recognized his managers dis
approval Of him. an inner conscious.
ness of superiority in birth and educa-
ton. He had with supreme satisfac.
ton ordered him of the plantation
that memorable night. Weak as the
man had been in body, there had
been no indication of weakness in
spirit.
Occultly Warrington read the desire
In the others eyes. II shouldn't do it,
Mallow," he said. II shouldn't. Moth.
ing would please me better than to
have good excuse to chuck you over
the rail Upon q time you had the best
" me- / was sick man then. I'm in
tolerable good health at present"
"You crow, could break you like a
pipe STEM" Mallow rammed his hands
into his coat pockets. scowling con.
;temptuously. He weighed fully twenty
pounds more than Warrington.
Grow! Warrington shrugged. In
the East crow IL rough synonym for
thief. You're at liberty to return to
your diggings forward with that i'm.
preston" he replied coolly. when
we get to Singapore" rising slowly to
his height until his eyes were level
with Mallow's, when we get to Singa-
pore. I'm going to ask you for that
nifty pounds. earned in honest labor. .
"And IL decline to pay?" trucu-
;lently.
well talk that over when we reach
port. Now" roughly, get out. There
won't be any batting done today. thank
you"
! aCockalorem!v Jeered Mallow. Craig
touched his sleeve, but he threw Oh
the hand roughly. He was one Of the
hest rough and tumble fighters In the