The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-02-26
CHAPTER VI.
In the Next Room.

"Craig?" Warrington whispered the
word, as il he feared the world might
hear the deadly menace in his voice.
For murder leaped up in his heart as
flame leaps up in pine kindling.
The weak young man got to his
knees, then to his feet. He steadied
himself by clutching the back Of
chair. With one hand he felt Of his
throat tenderly.
Gle tried to kill me. the black
guard" he croaked.
Craig, 1t is you! For ten years
I've never thought of you without MUIR
der in my heart. Newell Craig, and
here, right where I can put my hands
upon you! Oh, this old world Is
SMALL" Warrington laughed. 1t was
high, thin sound.
The young man looked from his en-
envy to his deliverer, and back again.
What new row was this? Never be-
fore had he seen the Backyard with
that look in his dark, handsome, preda-
tory face. 1t typified fear. And who
was this big, blond chap whose fingers
were working so convulsively?
Craig" said the young man. you
get out of here, and if you ever come
bothering me, I'll shoot you. Hear
me?"
This direful threat did not seem to
stir the sense of hearing in either of
the two men. Suddenly the blond man
caught the door and swung it wide.
Craig. week ago I'd have throttled
you without the least conjunction.
Today l can't touch you. But get out
of here as fast as you can. You might
have gone feet foremost Go! Out Of
Rangoon, too. may change my mind"
The man called Craig walked out,
squaring his shoulders with touch of
bravado that did not impress even the
plucked pigeon. Warrington stood
listening until he heard the hall door
close sharply.
Thanks" said the bewildered youth.
Warrington whirled upon him saw
agely. Thanks? Don't thank me.
you weakened fool"
"Oh, say, now!" the other pro-
tested.
BE silent! If you owe that scoun-
drel anything, refuse to pay it. He
never won 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 stepped out
into the hallway and shut the door
rudely.
PAY the purser and get box of CT
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-chair, the only one in
the boarding house. He stared at the
worn and faded carpet. How dingy
everything looked! What 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 had
permitted him to go unframed simply
because his mind was full of girl he
would never see again after tomorrow.
What was the rascal doing over here?
What had caused him to forsake the
easy pluckings Of Broadway in ex-
change for dogs life on packet boats,
in a squalid boarding house like this
one, and In dismal billiard halls? Wire
Taper, racing tout, stool pigeon.
cheater at cards, blackmailer and traf-
flicker in baser things; in the next
room, and he had let him go unframed
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 1t 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 a serene confidence in her ability
to take care Of herself. What the I'M
knowing called willfulness was simply
natural independence, which she as
serted whenever occasion demanded 1t.
She loved to prowl through the
strange streets and alleys and stranger
shops; it was Joy to ramble about,
minus the irritating opportunities of
guide or attendant. 1t was great fun.
but 1t was not always wise. There
were some situations which only men