Williams news., 1916-02-24
CHAPTER XII.
The Game of Gossip.

The Game of Gossip.
 During the concluding days of the voyage Elsa had her meals served on deck. She kept Martha with her con- tinually, promenaded only early in the morning and at night while the other passengers were at dinner. This left a clear deck. She walked quickly, her arm in Martha's, literally propelling her along, never spoke unless spoken to, and then answered in monosyl- fables. Her thoughts flew to thou sand and one things. futilely and vain ly, in the endeavor to shut out the portrait of the broken man. What was he doing, of what was he thinking, where would he go and what would he do? She hated night which, no longer offering sleep, provided nothing in lieu of it, and compelled her to remain in the stuffy cabin. She was afraid.
 Early Wednesday morning she passed Craig and Mallow; but the two had wit enough to step aside for her and to speak only with their eyes. She filled Craig with unadulterated fear. Mallow- dragged along the gambler whenever he found a chance to see Elsa at close range.
 There's a woman. Cad! that beach, comber has taste"
 q tell you to look out for her," Craig warned again. T know what I'm talking about"
 Mallow whistled. "Oho! You prob ably acted the fool. Drinking?"
 Craig nodded affirmatively.
 Thought so. Even Yokohama bar maid will fight shy of a boozer. I'm going to meet her when we get to Singapore, or my names not Mallow."
 Craig laughed with malice. q hope you will. It will take some of the brag out of you. Say, let's go aft and hunt up the chap. I understand he's taken up quarters in the second cabin"
 Doesn't want to run into me. All right; come on. We'll stir him up a little and have some fun"
 They found Warrington up in the stern, sitting on the deck, surrounded by squatting Lascars, some Chinamen and solitary white man, the chief en- l gfneer's assistant. The center of in- terest was Rajah, who was performing his tricks. Among these was one that the bird rarely could be made to | perform, the threading of beads. He ! despised this act, as it entailed the put ting of blunt needle in his beak. He flung it aside each time Warrington handed it to him. But ever his master 1 patiently returned it. At length, recog- nizing that the affair might be pro- f0nged indefinitely, Rajah put two beads On the thread and tossed it aside. The Lascars jabbered, the Chinamen grinned, and the chief en- gineer's assistant swore approvingly. The parrot shrilled and waddled back to his cage.
 "Fine business for a whole inan!"
 Warrington looked up to meet the cynical eyes of Mallow. He took out his cutty and fired it. Otherwise he did not move nor let his gaze swerve. Mallow, towering above him, could scarcely resist the temptation to stir his enemy with the toe of his boot. His hatred for Warrington was not wholly due to his brutal treatment of him. Mallow always took pleasure in domi- hating those under him by fear. War rington had done his work well. He had always recognized Mallow as his employer, but in no other capacity; he had never offered to smoke a pipe with him, or to take hand at cards or l split bottle. It had not been done offensively; but in this attitude Nal low had recognized his managers dis approval of him, an~inner conscious. ness of superiority in birth and aduea- 1 Gro be continued)