New Britain herald., 1924-12-09
VI - AT THE HOUSE OF THE
 SEVEN STARS

VA io iAPVt hN'h'AlAE NbNAl'p "NNNNA ont tho deadly lalang; in the bed of the winding valley which ran between his hills, he counted four separate groupings of coolie lines -- clusters of long narrow huts where faint wreaths of blue smoke issued from cook house chimneys to hang listessly in the shlmmering tropic air. breathless and. svelter- ing. To the westward lay a calm sea of deepest blue, dotted with palm girt islets and tringed with native huts on poles, and trees be- tween which the sand showed in broken patches of yellow. To the north and south and east the vir- gin jungle chung with yerdant fln- gers 10 the territory for which as yet the invading white man had no use; fingers between which the Du- sut agricuturists urged their water buftaloes. ploughing with primitive implements.
 Monarch of all he surveyed -- all that mattered his huge form clothed in shirt of white flannel open at the neck; riding brooches of khaki drill: canvas leggins and shoes and immense shovel-backed sun helmet, Corrigan placidly filled | backened briar from a weather stained pouch and waited for & man who was coming up toward Aim on foot, The Bajau pony. hn- 1erstanding 10 the full the ways of it's lord and master, stood motion less, save for an occasional witch ing Of It's long tail at the ever-tor- menting flies.
 Morning. Relieves" shouted the planter presently, as the other came within earshot.
 "Tabil" returned the first assist ant breathlessly. He staggered up the remaining dozen yards and eat down on the soft turf, mopping his brow.
 Corrigan slid to the ground and joined him.
 You've got a liver, old son" he told him You want a tonic. Good Lord. man, look at the difference between, say. year ago and today. Doesn't it strike you? We had that swine Jacobson up against us" He shifted his arm and began tabulat- ing the items on his brown fingers. There was that Lai-Ho affair - when young White nearly went west. Then the Singapore gang of crooks had a go at me. That was close thing, If you like! Finally we trod unwittingly on the toes of re- ligious fanaticism and got Millett out of its clutches by the skin of his teeth, Those are only a few of the troubles we had to contend agairst, You must admit there's 8 vast improvement today l believe I can look the world in the face and say truthtully that ] haven't a single enemv."
 Now, that's precisely where you're wrong" said FelloTes look ing at the hands that were clasped l over his knees,
 1 C0rrigan sat bolt upright
 What d'you know?' he asked calmly
 The assistant moved further into the shadow and. taking off his to- pee. wiped the leather band with his handkerchief.
 ] T know a good deal" he de- clared. and I hate 10 gee you sit ting there. purring like a Cheshire cat, when you're in about the great est danger you've ever been in since I've known you,'
 "Oh-oh'' cried the planter, Its like that. is it." He tapped the ashes from his pipe T cant say l altogether approve of this air of tunereal gloom which seems to he part of your stock in trade this morning: but I'm going 10 confess n q. feeling of deepest curiosity. Let's have the yam FelloTes,
 The devil you know" said the stant enigmatically, lis a damn sight better than the devil you don't"
 Admitted, old son. What then :"
 Well" pursued the other, frightening, "you remember Jacob son'"
 Yep, He's dead"
 You made a hell of 2 mess CT that affair, Corrigan. It's your con- founded respect for the opposife sex. You're essentially q mans man Women get you cold every time
 Corrigan grinned.
 T like that" he rrofes''f smiahly. "D'vou recollect a certait Enid Paterson7 If l rememhe' rightly. saw you sitting uncom monlv close 10 that lady on yon veranda steps at sun-do0n one eye hing. the next time l caught vol together - you were preventlnI her from hurzling my safe with pretty useful.looking automatic
 Fauowes flushed.
 Never mind Enid Psterson.' h retorted irritably T insisted oI landing her over 10 justice; nl . voY let the woman I'm talkln about go, All the thanks you r nkelv 10 get for that - is knlt in vour back when you're least eA pecting it''
 "Uha, voman'' asked CorriE7i quietly.
 That Tamil witch - as nIaek a crow - who made druEsed c>s are's for Jacobson
 Corriean whistlcd softly,
 You've Esan her about again /
 Felloves nodded
 When sad my pon" va