, 1923-03-22

Company. Ping Yang, Hansl. and fur-
ther that cablegrams from America
were to be forwarded Immediately by
wire.
He hoped for word that his freedom
had been attained.
Only at intervals during the day did
Betty and the man speak. The lunch
con hour was awkward: the dinner
hour. when they had settled at their
second Inn, was even more difficult.
They sat in gloomy silence.
Finally Betty pushed her plate away.
and rose; went over to the papered
window and stared out.
Brachey got slowly 60 his feet; stood
by the table. He couldn't raise his
eyes; literally cou'd not think. This,
he felt, was the final severe test OF his
character. and ii exhibited him as a
failure.
Even when she turned Che heard her,
and cit her eyes, he could not look up.
M he heard her voice-"John!'
'Yes?'
What are we to do?"
He met his with n sort of mental
dishonesty: WELT all goes well,
we hall be safe at Ping Yang within
forty-elght hours"
81 o mean that"
We'll ="
ct shouldn't have come"
II can't let you say that"
TITS true. Can't we be honest""
The question stunG HIM.
We've got to go on, at least rs
far as Ping Yang" he said. "But we
mustn't be together
Ch- .IA..-,T 90 49,. H. $500.
no. not even like this. We have
no right to indulge our moods. I'm
going to be really honest now. we'ro
in danger from these natives. yes
But that's a small thing"
She moved a hand. "Ot course
:" she murmured.
The real danger is to you And
from me. Oh. my God. child you're
In danger from me!'' He covered his
face with his hands; then steadied
himself and rose II can't stay here
and talk with you like this. Already
I've injured your name beyond re-
pair"
1T see what you lear. But that
isn't what I was thinking Of. No,
please let me say this! It wouldn't
be honest too. As for that-hurting
be honest too. As for. that-hurlnlg
mo I came with my eyes OPEN"
"oh. Betty
.'Pleasel 1 did. I deliberately de-
cided to come with you. I knew they'd
talk. but 1 didn't care-much. You
see I had already made up my mini
way we've felt. You came way out
that we were to be married. We'd
have to be. once you were free. The
to T'ainan-fu and then you didn't go
Perhaps you've hurt me" she
went on. II don't know. But l am be-
ginning to see that I've wrecked your
life. I'm your job. now. Those things
you said on the ship have been com
ing IN in my mind. You said. If any
friend OF mine-man or woman-can't
win his battles, no or she Ind
better go. To hell. II II comes to
that"
There was "A long silence; then,
abruptly, without n word. without
even n change OF expression on his
gloomy face he left the room.
That night was Betty's Gethsemane
Again and again she lived through
their strange quarrel over the hhf
I eaten dinner here in her room. Her
mind phrased and r~ephrased the wild
strong things sho had said to him.
And these phrases now stung her
hurt her. as had none of his.
But once again, after hours of toss
ing on the narrow folding cot-hls
cot-sleep Of a sort came 10 her. She
did not wake until half n hundred
beams Of sunshine were streaming in.
Then her eyes rested on n bit of
white pnper under the door. She
quickly drew II In. and read as fol
lows:
MY Dear. Dear Little Girl
"As you Of course saw this evening
II is simply impossible for mo 10
speak nationally In matters Of tho af'
feotions. II is equally clear that by
INDUCING my feelings townrd you l
have brought you nothing but unhap'
! pinoss. This was inevitable. A. /