The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-11
"KICKED oUTw


 do to seem too anxious.
 sxICKED oUTw '"They shipped me off abroad--to Cey- lon." went on the other flicking the asch from his cigarette. "I worked on a tea plantation for time. If I'd stuck it out I'd have become manager, no urable reminiscence-"the pace was too swift for me. I went to bits" What was the reason?" [ "Oh, the usual things-too much pay and too much freedom"- And drink?" suggested Jim politely. The other nodded. A meditative look came into his eyes. Out in the east one really oughtn't to touch whisky until after sundown." He set forward the opinion tentatively, as though open to discussion. His voice had taken on a cultured note that was utterly at variance with his previous Cockney winnings.
 T got fearfully into debt down in Colombo, too. had to beat it while the going was good" He bave a short, amused laugh. And so I went on to Singapore, and became interested in copra. Only"-he cast a sidelong look at Jim-"my partner swindled me"
 And so you were kicked out of Sing
  that the swindling had been fifty-fifty. For he knew the type.
 "Oh, the casts a ghastly place for white men," said the other. Not that I've been particularly white" He gave his short dry laugh. T guess I've got a streak of yellow in me-"
 He flung the stub of his cigarette over the parapet. Jim handed him fresh one.
 CT van+ ,,r oonntry and tried rubber for a time. I worked side by side with the Malays-confound them. Couldn't stand the creatures at any price. Had an internal row with one of them-and he stuck me with his knife
 The stranger jerked off his shabby headgear flung his hair back off his forehead, and revealed a nasty, jagged scar.
 That's what he did to me-the dog"
 And them" Jim noticed to his chagrin that the removal of the cap made the likeness between the two of them still more striking.
 "Oh, then some natives nursed me till got better. Then my creditors got after me again. So slipped aboard a schooner heading for Japan
 Nasty. sneaking little dogs-the Japs! Wouldn't trust one of 'em fur ther than I could see him" The dere- let's eyes snapped.
 And so?'--
 "oh, fell i'll again. And little Jap doctor-English- h-trained, of course said that I'd got lung trouble-or threatening of it--and I'd better beat it to a warm, dry climate if I didn't want to hand in my checks.
 "So I packed up again and worked my way as a stoker to South Africa The job was as hot as Hades, but I n (ranafnUn Then I deserted from the ship
 And how did you get on in Africa?' inquired Jim Dalton. He felt that something of interest was about to be'] revealed.
 The stranger wheeled around. and for a moment stared at him suspciously.
 "You're almightily interested in what I did in Africav'
 "oh. not at all" said Jim with sang froid; "only. it's a country that I'm rather fond of--and like to hear about the dear old place"
 q didn't make a special hit in Africa" resumed the other. candidly. "Of course"-he paused impressively-"I made one big mistake!
 sT commit ed-matrimon The wrong woman, too! She wasn't any good. I.azy-why, she actually wanted me to support her." His voice rose on a note of indignant protest.
 And then-then she deserted me. Cleared off. It nearly killed me. For was crazily fond of her."
 Here Jim Dalton leant forward, look ing. the other full in the face
 Tt wasr you wta deserted her."
 The deraiics arew back. A sly. sus- picious lo9N cane mo ms dark eyes.
 some one'p hesn taking" he said sharply
 twas hsr rA4ne Lacy smith," pursued Jim Dalt9u and was she tall and fair and very strikinsE looking?"
 The st zuEtf ffaFted- Inen the SLY gleam dfAoAsted ~ his eyes
 He sh( 5k hH bend.
 s-rhere kcss mzstake.' he said.
 .I - . tre must han puraued