New Britain herald., 1924-11-22
BEGIN HERE TODAY


 one other cat like it in the world he says, and that Is in the posses, sion of the woman he Is destined 10 marry, Just then Hope-Mathe' son enters the place, drunk and abusive. and threatens to "breah every bone" in Corrigan'ss body Hope. Matheson takes his wife away and Corrigan remains behind tc wait for the next boat,
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 The red sun was dropping over the horizon as the white motorboat with striped awning swept through palm -girt islets toward the harbor
 "Jesselton," said Raikes, the owner of the boat, throwing aside an Overseas Edition that was hope lessly out of date.
 "Ah!" said Corrigan,
 Guess l shall start back tomor- row"
 As soon as that"
 Must, Duty calls Not like you sahibs, you know, that can wander the worlds surface at will. Got to keep our noses to the grindstone."
 Does anyone work in Labuan, inquired corrigan innocently.
 They crept thunder the long white jetty and, leaving Raikes men to shift for themselves, made their way toward the club house on the hill.
 Corrigan sat by the veranda rail, staring into the night which throbbed with insect life. The chair opposite him was temporarily va- cant; Raiies was bending over a table, yarning with a trio of old acduaintances. Sounds Of riotous laughter came from the billiard room, the bar emitted one contin- uous stream of tobacco smoke, a babel of voices, the merry clinking of glasses; a cracked piano thumped doubtful music from an adjacent bungalow. Corrigan caught snatches of conversation, the tag-ends Of club stories, fragments of time-worn choruses. Suddenly he sat up, listen ing keenly.
 Its a damn shame" someone was saying. "Wondcr she went back to him.
 Boasts he made her come. No end of a strong will. Been Twin away in Singapore for ages"
 Drinking himself 10 death,' put in a third voice. Game into my office from the last boat; were his mates, you know. He was pretty hlotto at eleven in the morning. Told me some rambling story of his wife and another feller at Labuan' I think if was Swore he was going to make her pay for it."
 Someone whistled softly.
 "He'H kin her. I know Hope Matheson. I've had the pleasure Of working for him. Hes a hell Of a brute when he's reused - and there's not 4 man living dare tackle him. l saw him lay out A big coo'ie with the flat of his hand"
 A group of men moved awas from the window by Corrigan's el- bow. still talking, Beads Of per sriration stood out on Corrtgans s forehead. He bent his arms till the great muscles threatened to burst his tunic
 Suddenly, as he sat there, somc- thing came from the outer dark ness and fell on to the table. He picked It up gingerly and turned it over and over between his hn- gers. l. was a crumpled blue en- velope with a hard substance which felt like 2 pebble, wfdged into one corner. He smoothed 1t out and read in d trembling feminine hand: "-Corrigan Esq
 He tore open tho envelope and drew out a single sheet of foreign note-parrr.
 For Gods sake, come to me" he read. Be prepared for any thing.-Trene."
 There rolled on to the wooden surface before his startled eyes -- the image of Chinese cat - the exact replica of the one that s'i'I rested in the bottom of his pocket
 Corrigans guide had disappeared He fastened his pony 10 post and saw. through the vast forest of ma ture rubber trees the bright lights of 3 house. Close on tTenty-fonl hours had elapsed since he had re- ceived that tragic z, Q. S. He prayed 10 heaven he had not come tor late. He smiled grimly as he strods np the steep path. glanclng ever tt right and to left, with the warines' of a man who Is accustomed tt walk in strange places alone. Cor rigan had no room in his mind fo' consequences. Cost what 1t might he had come to steal the wife o the man none other dared tackle Prom the end of the earth" h' had promised her, and Corrigar never broke faith.
 Presently he halted and listened intently. There was a noise soint on up there that puzzled him. Al he started forward again, he kncw rather than saw, that someone wal coming toward him. He darted be hind a tree. as the dim outline O 2 snart native swung into view oi the path ten yards above him, Cor rigan could just make out a conf cal hat and sou1e' hing the nar carried over his right shoulder. H. had heard in Persk Eruesom' stories of Borneo head-hunters When you see a native carrying a sword on his shoulder - take n' risks he had been warned. Corri gan took no risks, He sprsng or Hope-Metheson henchman like tiesr and knocked him senSeleS