Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-03


Occasionally one hailed q prospective
passenger. From the sea came the
deep throated warning Of an ap-
preaching steamer. Ruth stared at
the fingers of her left hand. All the
puzzling mysteries vanished, all the
cobwebs Of doubt blew away. She
was married. She was Mrs. William
Grogan.
Invalids are always the most selfish
Of individuals. Being an invalid
Ruth thought Of herself only, her
misery, the whole dreary failure she
had made Of life. And God had not
been kind enough to let her die!
Married! She was Mrs. William Gro
gan, He had taken advantage of her
helplessness, her mental unbalance,
for when she had left that hideous
place in Malay street she had not
been strictly accountable for her sub
sequent acts. Mrs. Grogan!
She barely noticed him when he
came in that night. He attributed
her demeanor to WEAKNESS. He was
not especially quick-witted tonight;
his thoughts were more or less en-
gagged in going over that afternoons
adventure.
Now that the extraordinary trou-
bles Of life had simmered down into
the matter-of fact, everyday affairs
now that Ruth was on the way back
and there was money in his pocket
1t occurred to William that he would
like to know what had become of
the man Colburton. After an un-
successful series of inquiries he final
ly decided that the only avenue open
was the house in Malay street, and
thither he directed his steps, care
less of the fact that his hour was
irregular, Indifferent IL any saw him.
He wanted news and he was not par
ticular how this news was acquired.
The woman he desired most to see
answered his ring. She was not 60
Ing to let him in, believing his visit
Of a hostile nature.
Keep that door open," he said. II
want some questions answered. and I
want them answered straight.
could give you a taste Of the British
Jail here II I wanted to-"
What do you want to know"
whats become Of Colburton?"
HE has gone. Sailed away in his
yacht"
Didn't know but he might be dead"
mo fault Of yours that he's alive"
the woman replied, sullenly.
What happened to him before I
took my wife out Of hereT
i The woman fell back, her mouth
open. Your wife?'
YEAH"
''She is your wife? Then he lied
to me. God knows I'm an outcast,
but I'm not fool enough to touch any
thing like that. thought she was
one Of those women who play for big
stakes. He swore on his oath that
she'd run away from him. He offered
me thousand rupees to hold her
for q few days. How was to know
that he was lyingT"
Nothing doing with that line Of
talk. You can tell good woman
when you see her."
II only saw her the night they
brought her here. One Of my girls
took care Of her."
did you get your thousand?" IRON
ically.
yea"
well, then, won't offer to buy you
q new banister. I want to know just
what happened"
-, You're q strong man. When you
flung him through the banister he
fell upon his face in the lower hall.
had him carried to thee Chinese
quarters in the rear and held him
there until I could get him to the
hospital without having the police
noaing around. He was in the hos
pital ten days. He came out badly
disfgured."
That's the best news I've heard in
days. Then the ladies won't break
their neoks in the future running
after him7 How badly disfgured?"
His nose and jaw were broken.
His face will always be twisted. Is
that all?"
"Ail. 1sobel. all that wish to
know"
"you won't report me to the Do
liceT'
II guess not. You and know why.
A decent woman doesn't want this
kind Of story tagging her around.
Disngured. huh? What became OF
the other man, Camden?"
Il don't know"
We'll, that's all 1 can think Of to-
day"
The woman shut the door and will
liam stepped of the porch into the