New-York tribune., 1919-05-25

ming glance at tho mans ruddy, COM
placent face, Novello did not SO much
as raise his eyes from his leisurely
cigarette making until the newcomer
cried his name in q voice Of utter
astonishment.
'Well, we'll, Of all the queer luck in
the world this Is certainly the queer
est" he exclaimed as he hurried for
ward with outstretched hand. "To
bump into you, Novello, on my second
day out here-long after reading your
death notice at the other end of the
world"
"Crestl This Is, indeed, q
surprise" Novello sprang up with
calculated clumsiness that upset his
chair at precisely the right instant
to prevent him from taking the prof
ferred hand. "You remember Padre
Rafael, don't you?"
"Why yes, of course" Crest ex-
tended a formal hand to the padre who
had by that time recognized the Amer
lean as Novelties old business partner.
"The world has used you we'll, ap-
parently," said Novello, after a swift
appraisement of Crest's more than
prosperous appearance.
eyes, l have Jared very we'll, in the
MAN," Crest admitted, wondering If
by any chance Novello had heard of his
marriage Of convenience to an heiress
whose money would have suited him
much better without her presence.
"But an unfortunate twist of the mar
ket put my business out of Joint last
year, so when I received a most unex-
pected offer from a reliable source
out here, | accepted it, fed up though
| was on that raw venture in Zam-
boanga. eight years ago. l hope the
experience of those moiling days that
you shared so uncomplainingly will
stand me in good stead now
You two are dining here, take 1t?
Then you must permit me to set up the
drinks, so to speak, in honor Of this
pleasant event. Waiter!"
The vigilant Chinese proprietor who
saw everything without being seen,
answered Crest's imperative call with
quiet solicitude. eve are celebrating
the meeting of old friends" Crest
stated "See if you can set up some
thing fit for the occasion. The best
you have-and then some"
Chang's best proved very good in
deed. Toward the end Of the meal
Chang himself presented a special
treat-a sea-blue bowl overfowing with
the sweetest of all native flowers, the
hauntingly fragrant flash Of love, whose
living gold the natives say only the
breath of hatred can tarnish. The
padre WINGED with reminiscent pain on
Novelties account. Seven years ago
he had married Novello, in the very
flower of his ardent youth, to a Spanish
girl whose sunny loveliness had been
flttingly bedecked with the honey
colored flowers whose fragrance she
had made an inseparable part of her
sweet, vivid personality; and within
the year he had covered her grave
with the same glorious tokens of love.
Novelties whole attitude changed
with his first intake of that haunting
fragrance, and he shrank from the
sight of Chang's offering, as if it inter
fered with some important purpose.
Only for a moment did the stony
brilliance of his eyes dim; the next
moment he glanced at his watch and
pushed back his plate. would you
mind smoking In the upper balcony?"
he asked Crest. eve can have our
coffee served up there out of the
crowds way, for it's getting uncom-
fortably close down here. If you are
pressed for time, PADRE" he added as
an afterthought, don't hesitate to
leave US at any time"
But the padre took his coffee up to
the balcony alcove. even though he
knew Novello wanted to be alone with
Crest. 1t seemed to him that the
Malay strain had never been quite so
marked In Novelties looks and attitude
before-in his stonily calm manner,
his ominously impassive face and his
soft, colorless voice. Assuredly there
was something dangerous in his heartl
The padre had met Novello and
Crest in lovely old Zamboanga soon
after the Americans last fight with
the Malays Of Mindanao had estab-
lished American order pretty we'll all