The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1920-02-04
CHAPTER IX.-Continued.

The closed document haunted him.
He thought Of burning 1t. unread,
and then turning himself loose, to
drift Norma was a lovely drifter.
An old boyhood depression was
Weighing him down, reaching him
now through mere physical weak
ness and sense of failure. He felt
in a low moment that March should
have told him everything frankly at
the start. Con wanted to get away,
somewhere-free, forgotten, lost.
He saw himself sinking into far
dim harbors. an outcast. He was
not aware how elaborate and unreal
his loneliness was, or that It came
from his wound.
The hum of the Chinese city en-
tered at the window. like secret in
vitstion. a sudden shot of pain be-
low the ribs added to his haliucina-
ton, and he fancied that his wound
would heal better IL he went away
somewhere. The lands to the
south called him. as always. and the
murky seas.
Norma broke in gently. He had
not heard her at the door.
you shouldn't be awake 50
soon" she told him.
what about yourself?". he re-
turned. How do You feel this
morning."
IT'S Ave in the afternoon" she
answered. I'm all right. IL you
don't. mind this aura OF Imminent.
How do you feel?"
rGood as new" said Con. What
about our old friend?"
81 guess he's gone" she replied
dIsmalIy. 1t meant she had lost the
trunks. given up the chase. Her
adventure had swung high. She had
touched Chinese gold. But the fall
had been swift and dark.
Take a sermon from your Slow
and Honest" said Lexington. smil-
! ing. and step aboard the first thing
that floats for the States. I was
afraid you'd get lost over here"
You were wonderful; you made
IL all so easy, till they arrived with
that Az" Yet her tone was imper-
sonal. detached. as IL the immediate
past had very little connection with
her idea of the future. and she was
smiling family as she added; I'm
going to stay here, Of course, ana
take care of you
"Oh. MOI" he said hastily. You
make me wish l needed II. but
don't, really. Thanks, no. You
hurry back to a regular country"
Forcibly it occurred to him now
that she had meant to make every
thing easy for him. registering at
the desk as she had. laying plans
around him. He had not seen this
before, and it sharpened his feeling
that he was very unjust to her.
NO" said Norma. I'm in nc
hurry to go back"
There was a thoughtful moment
between them. She was shaking
her sleek yellow head. II had In
tended to go back to Tien-tsin, to
claim the trunks. Thought / could
OUTAGE that old mandarin. I>know
what's in 'em better than he. and
hold the checks; also. the baggag.
agent there is a white man. But ]
don't know something's wrong
with me. My nerve is all wet up
L guess I'm linked"
Not that" he said. Just the diff
Iferent methods over here. China's
been at the game such great
while"
"Ah! Anyway" she said. brigh.
tening. I'll be a regular nurse for
you"
II wish I could permit IT," he
said. going under a wave Of help.
lessness so cold that it caused her
to look at him sharply, but she
could not comprehend. and there
followed another silence. Con lift
ed himself upon his elbow, and
pushed back the quilt. I'm getting
up"
please don'tw
Certainly. I'm not an invalid. $
A familiar suspicion showed in
her eyes. "All right" she said, arts
ing and going to the door. well
call me, II there's anything"
Norma" he cried.
She turned sharply, and there was
deepening of her fears. She was
pale. Each was aware ofthings un,
manner was
shaken. Her voice was low and sui
len:
Go on. Say It,"
1T isn't fair" he stammered
Pm not worth your trouble"
Sure. I know. Sooner or later
this Is 1t. 1 almost forgot"
Morna, don't! What can say?'
She was. turning toward the door
again. oh, it's all right" she muir.
INJURED. You're a man."
Just low trickle of laughter
came back to him, and she was
gone, the door closed.
Con was stunned by what he had
done. He was all tangle, pain, con
fushion. The inner thing that was
himfelf refused to let this fog close
over him.
He arose, rang sharply fol
brandy, and when it came was lib.
cral to himself. He would not think
dared not. The bandage held tight
iy under his ribs, and made breath
ing q rigor. He dressed. Down
stairs, In the BARRIERS chair. he per-
united himself to be shaved AND
anointed. In the mirror he glanced
once at his own face-the eve. toe
bright. cheekbones pointing, brow
smooth as chalk. He held against
the tempest in his heart They
bowed him out of the shop like a
prince
| At the desk he purchased Morna's
ticket to America, and sent 1t by
boy to her room. The remainder
OF his credit checks he cashed into
gold. 1t was a constant effort t.
hold himself erect. He took more
brandy, and something like ths
tides of life were released and sci
In motion. He trod across the lobby
for the last time when his sedan
was called