The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-26
7Nf1/CfT N MF 6Q6z


Stories"
about me, Mr.. Warrington. I have
gone my way alone since | was six
teen. l have travelled all over this
wicked world with nobody but the
woman who was once my nurse. Now,
tell me something of your adventures.
Ten years in this land must mean
something. / am always hunting for
Harun-alRaschid, or Sindbad, or some
one who has done something out of
the ordinary"
He inclined against the rail and
stared down at the muddy water. "Ad.
yenture?" He frowned little I'm
afraid mine wouldn't read like adven.
lures There's no glory in being a
stevedore on the docks at Hongkong, a
stoker on a tramp steamer between
Singapore and the Andaman islands.
What haven't l been in these ten
years?" with a shrug. Can you fancy
me deck-steward on a P. & o. boat
tucking old ladies in their chairs. stag
gering about with tray of broth
bowls, helping the unsteady to their
staterooms, al touching my cap at
the end of the voyage for few shill
ings in tips?"
Tell me more"
He looked into her beautiful face,
animated by genuine interest, and
wondered If all men were willing to
obey her.
1t always interests me to hear from
the mans own lips how he overcame
obstacles"
Sometimes didn't overcome them.
l ran away. After all, the strike In
oil was a fluke."
II don't think so. But go on" she
prompted.
We'll, I have been manager of a
cocoanut plantation in Penang; I've
helped lay tracks in Upper India; had
hand in some bridges; sold patent
medicines; worked in a ruby mine;
been haberdasher in the Whiteaway.
Laidlaw shop in Bombay; cut wood In
the teak forests; helped exterminate
the plague at Chitor and Udaipur; and
never saved penny. / never had an
adventure in all my life."
Why. your wanderings we're ad-
ventures" she insisted. Think of the
things you could tell"
And never WILL" a smile breaking
over his face.
How like Arthur's that smile was!
thought the girl. Romantic persons
never have any adventures 1t is to
the prosaic these things fall Because
OF their nearness you lose their
values"
There is some difference between
romance and adventure. Romance Is
what you look forward to; adventure
Is something You look back upon. But
| always supposed adventure was the
finding Of treasures, on land and on
sea; of filibustering; of fighting with
sabers and pistols, and all that rigma.
role. l can't quite lift my Imagination
up to the height of calling my six
months shovelengineering on the
Gale an adventure. 1t was brutal hard
work; and many times / wanted to
jump over. The Lascars often got out
OF trouble that way"
1T all depends upon how we look at
things" She touched the parrot cage
with her foot. and Rajah hissed. What
would you say If told you that was
unconventional enough to ask the pur-
ser to introduce you?"
The amazement in his face was an
swer enough.
Don't you suppose" she went on.
the picture you presented, standing
on that ledge, the red light of the
torch on your face, the bird cage in
your hand-don't you suppose you
reused my sense Of the romantic to
the highest pitch? Parrot & Col"
with wave of her hands.
She was Laughing at him. 1t could
not be otherwise. 1t made him at
once sad and angry. Romance! I
hate the word. I again affirm that
young women should not travel alone.
They think every bit of tinsel is gold,
every bit Of colored glass, ruby. Ro-
nance, adventure! Bah! So much
twaddle has been written about the
East that cads and scoundrels are mis-
taken for Galahads and D'Artagnans.
Few men remain in this country who
can with honor leave It. Who knows
what manner Of man l ann"
He picked up the parrot cage and
strobe away.
"Jah. jah!" began the bird.
Not all the Diplomacy which worldly.