New Britain herald., 1930-09-16
Chapter 4
AAe r WI TEXAS MOONLIGHT


 game last night" Jim Marley drawl- ed at the breakfast table.
 Dagger was unabashed. That's right, darling,' she agreed. T was taken into camp. But I came out with my roll, any way"
 You pushed your luck too far" said Howard, but don't worry, you're first class gambler "A hell of recommendation that is," grumbled Jim Marley.
 T suspect Howard means she is a good sport" said Yelling, and mighty few women deserve to have that said of them'
 Nonsense" cried Dagger, throw ing down her napkin. She led the way out to the porch, with her chin lifted.
 Juanito, the oddjob boy extended a yellow envelope to Howard.
 He opened it.
 Bad news?" Dagger asked.
 "No just a line from-my wife" It seemed to her that he choked somewhat on that last word
 "Oh! Does she want you to- come home?"
 Not especially. You see, Dagger, Emily's mother,-damn her!-de- cided we were suited to each other and she fooled the pair of us"
 Well, if l ever married man I'd do it with my eyes open, and Because I loved him!" Dagger posi- lively snorted, then suddenly be- came contrite. I'm sorry. l reckon it's none of my business
 "On the contrary my dear" he denied, "rd like to think my hap piness was your business"
 Anyway, I don't blame you and Dick now for saying women aren't good sports. Some of us are, but if you two met the wrong kind" T~"What happened to Welling?" he cut her off.
 T don't know" she confessed. T know he was unhappy when he came here, but that's all"
 He must have had a bad bump" Howard reflected. Emily knew him, but she never talked of him.
 Dagger peered quickly at his face, then looked away, her lips quiver- ing.
 How long since you've seen your wife?"
 Must be close to a year. After l said goodbye to her, l decided to take what I call a pilgrimage @ "Yes?" she prompted. where ?' -4- Around the world. l went to see four men, the four friends whose thoughts mean most to me, I figured I'd take my doubts to them, get their reactions. Raoul de Senac-he was the first. Hes Due de Pontois, and he has Charle- magne's blood in his veins. Believes in the responsibility of the we'll born. And Sidi Marut, a Protestant Mussulman, a merchant who is al most a saint. And Ghulam Bulk, who is abbot of a Buddhist mon astery in Lahore, and has con- quered passion and hate. And Chang Kai Sho, the greatest man in China = who rose from banditry to govern a province"
 And what did they say?"
 "Raoul I found in Paris on wound leave. For what one be- Heves, one fights he said, Sldl Marut was acting as intermediary between the German gun-runners and the desert tribes. This is an allusion,' he said. We Mussulmen shall never cleanse our heresies by fighting the Christians quarrels. Be sure of Allah's will, then kiss the sword of the spirit Ghulam BuF only smiled when I laid my troubles before him. It is an error, my friend,' he said. One who slay' but stays himself. Wrath is sin. Chang was up north in China What can you win by fighting?' ht asked me. "A province? A woman Fortune? Power? Stay with me and you shall have all four a"But they all meant the same thing" Dagger exclaimed. "Yol should do what you believe in
 Exactly" assented Howard. :" came to believe that I should joir the Allies. I don't see any othel thing to do."
 The sombreness in his voice op pressed her.
 But at least you're doing things risking a great stake for-for-f great cause.'