The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-11


as II he really stood before her. "Have
him take me in to dinner" she sug
gested.
"Just what was thinking Of" de-
clared the unsuspecting man. '1f any
one can draw out .he colonel. 1t will be
you"
"1ll do my best" Elsa's mind was
fr'I of roll'cl,'ng malice.
Contemplatively he said: $50 you've
been doing the Orient alone? You are
like your father in that way. He was
never afraid of anything. Your men,
tai makeup, too, I'll wager is like his.
Finest man in the world"
Wasn't he? How | wish he could
have always been with me! But why
is it, everyone seems appalled, that l
should travel over here without male
escort?"
THE answer lies in your mirror,
Elsa. Your old nurse Martha is no
real protection"
Are men so bad, them"
They are less restrained. The heat,
the tremendous distances, the lack of
amusements, are perhaps responsible.
By the way, here's a packet of letters
for you."
Thanks" Elsa played with the
packet, somberly eying the superscrip-
tions. The old disorder came back in
to her mind. Three of the letters
were from Arthur. She dreaded to
open them. 81 must be going, then.
I'm not sure of my tickets to Hong
kong"
Go straight to the German Lloyd
office. I'll have my boy show you the
way. ChonS!" he called A bright
eyed young Chinese came in quickly
SHOW lady German Lloyd office. All
same quick"
In the outer office she paused for
moment or so to look at the maga-
zines and weeklies from home. The
Chinese boy, grinning pleasantly.
peered curiously at Elsas beautiful
hands. She heard someone enter, and
quite naturally glanced up The new
conner was Mallow. He stared at her,
smiled familiarly and lifted his helmet.
Elsa, with cold unflickering eyes, Of
fered his greeting no recognition what
ever. The man felt that she was look
ing through him, inside of him, search
ing out all the dark corners of his
soul. He dropped his gaze, confused.
Then Elsa calmly turned to the boy.
Come, Chong."
There was something in the manner
of her exit that infinitely puzzled him.
1t was the insolence of the well-bred,
but he did not know it. To offset his
chagrin and confusion, he put on his
helmet and passed into the private of.
flee. She was out of his range of un.
derstanding.
Mallow was an American by birth
but had grown up in the Orient, hard
lily. In his youth he had been beaten
and trampied upon, and now that he
had become rich in copra (the dried
kernels of cocoanuts from which oil
is made), he in his turn beat and
trampled. 1t was the only law he
knew. Ordinarily, when in Penang and
Singapore, he behaved himself, drank
circumspectly and Stunned promiscu.
Gus companions. But when he did
drink heartily, he was man to be.
ware of.
He hailed the consul general cordial.
ly and offered him one of his really
choice cigars, which was accepted.
Il say, who was that young woman
who just went out?"
The consul general laid down the
cigar. The question itself was harm
less enough; it was Mallows way Of
clothing it he resented. "Why?" he
asked.
Shes a sumner. Just curious il
you knew her, that's all. We came
down on the same boat. Hanged if
shouldn't like to meet her. Do you
know herr" eagerly.
Il do. More than that, l have al
ways known her. She is the daughter
Of the late General Chetwood, one of
the greatest civil engineers of our
time. When he died he left her sew
eral millions. She is a remarkable
young woman, famous beauty, known
favorably in European courts, and I
can't begin to tell you how many other
accomplishments she has
Well. stump mel" returned Mallow.
rs she a free-thinker?"
What the devil is that? What do
you mean?"
only this, If she's all you say she is,
why does she pick out an absconder for
a friend, chap who dare not show
his phiz in the states? heard the tale
from a man once employed in his of.
flee back in New York A beach h-comb-
er, dock-walloper. If there ever was
one"
"Mallow, you'll have to explain that
instantly"
Hold your horses, my friend. What
I'm telling you is on the level. She's
been hobnobbing with the fellow all
the way down from the Irrawaddy, SO
I'm told. Never spoke to anyone else.
Made him sit at her side at table and
jabbered Italian at him, as If she didn't
want others to know what she was
talking about. know the man. Fired
him from my plantation, when | found
out what he was. Can't recall his
m l. L l.