Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-07-28

y Found That In My Room Last
Night"
not see you again. II the letter of
credit turns up, you know what to do
with it. Pm keen to get started Good
by, and thank you"
A handclasp, and he was gone.
Il wish" thought the consul gen.
eral, II could have told him about the
way the scoundrel spoke of Elsa"
And Warrington, as he sought the
cafe veranda, wished he could have
told the basic truth of his fighting
mood; the look Mallow had given Elsa
that day in Penang. Diligently he be-
gan the search. Mallow and Craig
were still in their rooms, doubtless
sleeping off the debauch of the pre-
ceding night He saw that he must
wait. Luncheon he had in town.
At four o'clock his inquiries led him
into the billiard annex. His throat
frightened little as he discovered the
two men engaged in game of Ameri-
can billiards. He approached the table
quietly. Their interest in the game
was deep, possibly due to the wager
laid upon the result; so they did not
observe him. He let Mallow finish
his run. Liquor had no effect upon
the mans nerves, evidently, for his
eyes and stroke were excellent. A
miscue brought an oath from his lips,
and he banged his cue upon the floor.
Rotten luck said Warrington sym.
pathetically, with the devils banter in
his voice.
Mallow spun around, stared for a
moment, then grinned evilly. Here's
our crow at last, Craig
"Speaking of birds of ill-repute, the
crow passes his admiration to the kite
and the vulture." Warrington spoke
coolly.
Mallow looked at Craig, who
scowled back. He was beginning to
grow weary at the sight of Warning
ton, bobbing up here, bobbing up
there, always with subtle menace.
He chalked his cue, got the balls into
a corner and finished his string.
"That'll be five pounds" he said.
"And fifty quid for me-" added War
rington, smiling, though his eyes were
as blue and hard as arctic ice.
"Ill see you comfortably broiled
first" replied Mallow, as he tossed five
sovereigns to Craig. "Now,> what else
is on your mind?"
Warrington took out the cigar band
and exhibited it. 81 found that in my
room last night. You're one of the
few, Mallow, who smoke them out
here. He was a husky Chinese, but
not husky enough. Makes you turn
a bit yellow; eh, Craig, you white-liv-
cred cheat? You almost got my money
belt, but almost is never quite. The
letter of credit is being reissued. 1t
might have been robbery; it might
have been just deviltry; just for the
sport of breaking man. Anyhow, you
didn't succeed. Suppose we take a lit
tie jaunt out to where they're build
ing the new German Lloyd dock
There'n be no one working at this
time of day. Plenty of shade"
For a moment the click Of the balls
on the other tables was the only sound.
Craig broke the tableau by reaching
for his glass Of whisky, which he
emptied. He tried to assume a non
chalant air, but his hand shook as he
replaced the glass on the tabouret. 1t
rolled off to the floor and tinkled into
pieces.
Nerves bit rocky, eh?" Warning
ton laughed sardOnically.
You're screeching in the wrong
jungle, Parrot, old top" said Mallow,
who, as he did not believe in ghosts,
was physically nor morally afraid of
anything. Though, you have my word
for it that I'd like to see you lose every
cent of your oil f1uke."
Don't doubt it."
But" Mallow went on, eff you're
wanting a little argument that doesn't
require pencils or voices, why, you're
on. You don't object to my friend
Craig coming along?"
con the contrary, he'll make a good
witness of what happens"
"The chit, boy!" Mallow paid the
reckoning. Nov, then, come on. Three
rickshaws!" he called.
The barren plot of ground back of
the dock was deserted. Warrington
jumped from his rickshaw and divest-
ed himself of his coat and flung his
hat beside it Gleefully as boy Nal
low did likewise. Warrington then
babe the coolies to move back to the
road.
"Rounds?" inquired Mallow.
"You filthy scoundrel, you know
very well there won't be any rules to
this game. Don't you think I know