The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-02
CONTINUED

WIN IN " Eli
Thanks" said the hewildered YOUTH
Warrington whirled upon him saw
agely. Thanks? Don't thank me,
you weakened fool!"
''oh. say. now." the other pro-
tested.
BE silent! II you owe that scoun-
drel anything, refuse to pay 1t. He
never won a penny in his life without
cheating. Keep out of his way; keep
out of the way of all men who prefer
TO deal only two hands" And with
this advice Warrington .tepped out
into the hallway and shut the door
rudely.
Pay the purser and get box of ci-
gars," Warrington directed James.
Never mind about the wine. l shan't
want it now"
James went out upon the errands i'm
mediately.
Warrington dropped down in the
| creaky rocking-cEair, the only one in
the boarding house. He stared at the
worn and faded carpet How dingy
everything looked. What a sordid
rut he had been content to lie in,
Chance: to throw this man across his
path when he had almost forgotten
him, forgotten that he had sworn to
break the mans neck over his knees,
In the very next room. And he mad
permitted him 10 go unharmed simply
because his mind was full of a girl lie
would never see again after tomorrow.
What wSs the rascal doing over here9
What had caused him to forsake the
easy pluckings of Broadwa! in ex-
change for dogs life on packet boats,
in squalid boarding house like this
one. and in dismal billiard halls? Wire
Taper. racing tout, stool pigeon, a
cheater at cards, hlackmailer and traf.
ficker in baser things: in the next
room, and he had let him so unharmed.
Ten years ago and thirteen thousand
miles away. In the next room. He
laughed unpleasantly. Chivalric fool,
silly Don Quixote. sentimental dream
er, to have made a hash of his life
in this manner,
He leaned toward the window sill
and opened the cage. Rajah walked
out, muttering.
When it was possible. Elsa pre-.
ferred to walk. She was young and
strong and active, and she went along
with a swinging stride that made OBJ
vious serene confidence in her ability
to take care of herself. What the un.
knowing called willfulness was simply
natural independence, which she as.
serted whenever occasion demanded it,
She loved to prowl through the
strange streets and alleys and stranger
( shops; it was a joy to ramble about.
minus the irritating opportunities OF
guide or attendant. Ii was great fun.
but 1t was not always wise. There
were some situations which only men
! could successfully handle. Elsa would
never confess that there had been
awkward moments when, being an ex.
cellent runner, she had blithely taken
to her heels.
In her cool, white drill, her wide,
white pth helmet, she presented a
charming picture. The exercise had
given her cheeks a bit of color, and
her eyes sparkled and flashed like
raindrops This morning she had
taken Martha along merely to still her
protests
Its all right so long as We keep to
the main streets. said the harried
Marfha ssh,,r do
Of roaming about in the native quar-
ters. This is not like Europe. The
hotel manager said we ought to have
man"
He is looking out for his commits.
sion. Heavens. what is the matter
with everybody? One would think, the
way people put themselves out TO warn
YOU, that murder and robbery were
daily occurrences in Asia. I've been
here four months. and the only dis.
agreeable moment l have known was
caused by white man."
Because We have been lucky so far,
it's no sign that we shall continue So"
And Martha shut her lips grimly. HeI
worry was not confined TO this particu.
lar phase of Elsas imperious moods;
it was general. There was that blond
man with the parrot She would never
feel at ease until they were out OF
Yokohama, homeward bound.
Il feel like a child this morning"
said Elsa. Il want to run and play
and shout
All the more reason why you should
have guardian. Look, Elsa!"
Martha caught the girl by the arm.
There's that man we left at Manda.
lay coming toward us. Shall We go
into this shop?"
NO, thank you. There is no reason
why | should hide in a butcher shop
simply to avoid meeting the man.
Wen walk straight past him. II he
speaks we'll ignore him"
Il wish We were in civilized coun.
try"
This man is supposed to be civi.
lized. Don't let him catch your eye.
Go on; don't lag"
Craig stepped in front OF them, smil.
ing as he raised his helmet. This is
an unexpected pleasure"
Elsa, looking coidly beyond him. at.
tempted to pass.
Surely you remember me?"
Il remember an insolent cad," re-
piled Elsa. her eyes beginning to burn