Evening star., 1922-01-29

IL VIII Oe d very pledSdHt party,
said Harris. "They gave ME bid,
too, but it's steamer day tomorrow,
and I've got to get my mail ready for
the boat. Mrs. Adair is to be there"
or Mrs. Adair, Harris always spoke
with reverent enthusiasm and the
man who loved her delighted to listen.
But this time Harris disappointed
him.
'And Fearing. too." he added.
The conjunction Of the two names
surprised Hemingway. but he made
no sign. Loquacious as he knew Har-
ris to be, he never before had heard
his friend even suggest the subject
that to Zanzibar had become of acute
interest.
Harris began to pace the room.
There's no one," he complained
suddenly, so popularity unpopular as
the man who butts in. I know that,
but still I've always taken his side.
I've always been for him." He halted
and frowned down upon his guest.
suppose" he began aggressively.
II see a man driving his car over a
cliff. II tell him that road will take
him over a cliff, the worst that can
happen to me is to be told to mind
my own business, and I can always
answer back, I was only trying to
help you II don't speak, the man
breaks his neck. Between the two, it
seems to me. sooner than have any
ones life on my hands, I'd rather be
told to mind my own business"
Hemingway's expression was dis
tinctly disapproving. but. undismayed.
the consul continued:
Now. We all know that this morn
ing you gave that polo pony to Lady
Firth, and one Of us guesses that you
first offered it to some one else, who
refused it. One Of US thinks that very
soon-tomorrow. or even topight-you
may offer that same person something
worth more than a polo pony. and
that IL she refuses that. it is going 10
hurt you for the rest Of your life
Hemingway shot at his friend a
glance of warning. In haste, Harris
continued:
II know he protested. answering
the look; 'I know that this is where
Mr. Buttinsky is told to mind his
business. But I'm going right on.
I'm going to state a theory, and let
you draw your own deductions"
He slid into a chair, and across the
table fastened his eyes on those of his
friend. Undisturbed. but with a wry
smile of dislike. Hemingway stared
fxedly back at him.
what" demanded Harris. sis the
first rule in detective work."
Hemingway let the consul answer
his own question.
TT Is to follow the woman de-
clared Harris. "And, accordingly,
what should be the first precaution of
q man taking his getaway? To see
that the woman does not follow. But
suppose we are dealing with fugi-
tive Of especial intelligence. with a
criminal who has Imagination and
brains? He might fix it so that the
woman could follow him. he might
plan 1t so that no one would suspect.
She might arrive at his hiding -place
only after many months, only after
each had made separately long cir
cult of the globe, only after jour
ney with a plausible and legitimate
object. And. as strangers, under the
eyes Of others, they would become
acquainted. would gradually grow
more friendly. until at last people
would say. Those two mean to make
a match of it. And then, one day
!. openly, in the sight Of all men, with
the aid Of the law and the church
they would resume those relations
that existed before the man ran ava!
and the woman followed"
There was . short silence.
Hemingway broke it In n tone that
would accept no denial.
you can't talk like that to me-!
he cried. What do you mean?"
+ X II
THE consul retarded him with
grave solicitude. His look was
one Of real affection. and. although
his tone held the absolute finality of
the family physician who delivers q
sentence Of death. he spoke with
xsntIeness and regret.
I SCI mean" he said. that Mrs. Adair
1 4. mt a vpidow that The man she