Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-29
Then His Boring Gaze Travelled
Over Her

who is that man over there by the
railing?" she asked in very low voice.
"He looks as if he knew you.'
"Knew mel" Warrington echoed
The moment he had been dreading had
come. Someone who knew him! He
turned his head slowly, and Elsa, who
had not dropped her hand, could feel
the muscles of his arm stiffen under
the sleeve. /He held the strangers eye
defiantly for q space. The latter
laughed insolently if silently. 1t was
more for Elsa's sake than for his own
that Warrington allowed the other to
stare him down. The fame. passed,
leaving him as cold as ashes. II shall
tell you who he is later; not here"
For the second time since that night
on the Irrawaddy, Elsa recorded dis.
agreeable sensation. 1t proved to be
transitory, but at the time it served to
establish stronger doubt in regard to
her independence, SO justifiable in her
own eyes. It might be insidiously lead
ing her too fars'away from the step
ping-off place. The unspoken words in
those hateful eyes! The man knew
Warrington, knew him perhaps as a
malefactor. and judged his associates
accordingly. She thus readily saw the
place she occupied in the mans esti.
nation. She experienced SILVER OF
dread as she observed that ne stepped
on board the tender. She even heard
him call back to his friend to expect
him in from Singapore during the sec.
ond week in March. But the dread
went away, and pride and anger grew
instead. All the way back to the ship
she held her chin in the air, and from
time to time her nostrils dilated. That
look! If she had been nearer she was
certain that she would have struck
him across the lace.
There will be no one up in the
bow" said Warrington. will you go
up there with me?"
After a moments hesitation, she
nodded. A moment after she felt the
old familiar throb under her feet, and
the ship moved slowly out of the bay.
DO you know that that man came
aboard?"
81 know it." The wide half-circle Of
cocoanut palms grew denser and lower
as they drew away. "This is the story.
It's got to be told. l should have
avoided it II it had been possible. He
is the owner of the plantation. Oh.
rather expected something like this.
It's my run of luck. l was just recov
ering from the fever. God knows how
he found out, but he did. 1t was dur.
ing the rains. He told me to get out
that night Didn't care whether died
on the road or not. should have but
for my boy James. The man sent
along with us poor discarded wom
an, of whom he had grown tired. She
died when we reached town. l. had
hardly any money. He refused to pay
me for the last two months. about fifty
pounds. There was no redress for me.
There~was no possible way could get
back at him. Miss Chetwood, took
money that did not belong to me. 1t
went over gaming tables. Craig. !
ran away. Craig knows and this man
Mallow knows. Can you not see the
wisdom of giving me wide berth?"
ooh, I am sorry!" she cried.
Thanks. But you see: am an out
cast. Tonight, not soul on board will
be In ignorance OF who l am and what
I have done. Trust Craig and Mallow
for that Thursday we shall be in
Singapore. You must not speak to me
again. Give them to understand that
you have found me out, that imposed
on your kindness"
"That will not do"
"Act as you please. There are empty
chairs at the second-class table, among
the natives. And now, good-by. The
happiest hours in ten long years are
due to YOU" He took of his helmet
and stepped aside for her to pass. She
held out her hand, but he shook his
head. Don't make it harder for me. ;"
'Mr. Warrington, am not child"
"To me you have been the angel OF
kindness: and the light in your face
l shall always see. Please go now"
Very we'll" A new and unaccount-
able pain filled her throat and forced
hertto carry her he&d high. Il can find
my way hack to the other deck"
ss ITO Be Continually