South Bend News-Times, Volume 34, Number 186, South Bend, St. Joseph County, 5 July 1917 — Page 4

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A FIX (A Complete Story) YELTÄ ETT rl JBJLI

OF

BURN

PETER DINT, understood that when one takes on the luxury of such an appendage aa John Watch. It Is the master and not the servant who requires to larn anil kep his place to th fraction of an inch. To be raleted by an Individual who knc'S sow to treat a good cigar Is a privilege. Likewise. It Is a privilege conferred upon the waoeier vhn a servant of such superhuman indulgence engages to care for hl3 master's rlotbes and wear them when It pleases hici so to do. Bing Phut his eyes to a good deal; John Watch shut his eyes to as much. It has been laid that no man Is hero to his valet, but some excellent gentlemen could reverse this statement and assert -with equal veracity that no valet is hero to his master. Peter Bins was one of these. He knew to a nicety the extent and power of John Watch's rule., and he dared not thwart or offend him. for to John Watch were attached certain values that could not be overestimated; as when the arrival of fat bills was followed by the arrival Df black-bro'.ved and wrathful creditors. On fhee occasions John Watch defended and protected his master with an extraordinary ability. Watch had also a discreet way of Informing other undesirables that Mm: was out of town, whereas the latter was snoring a sonata in his commodious bedroom at the end of the flat. TUng had his seasons of extreme affluence, and others blackly scored on the almanac when every coin bad a fictitious value. On the day I'ncle Herbert handed Bins: his allowance, Bing and. incidentally. Watch did himself very well, but the money seldom spanned its allotted time; and, being ashamed to beg and not inclined to steal, Bing found himself in extremely low water. Bing's father had known his only son for a waster. Accordingly, before his death h tied up his capital, which might have been Fetcr'8 to spend on pood living, and only the interest accrued to the orphan. A time arrived when Bing, with his last fivepound note in hin pocket until Lady Day, decided bitterly that the only cure for his chapfallen existence was a wife blessed with an accommodating Income. Lying wide awake that night, while John Watch slept as soundly as a pood parish beadle. Bing ran over the names of maidens with whom he had flirted and danced at various times of his career. A procession of faces some piquant and rharmin. others long and austerely fashioned trooped across his mind. The worst of it was that the most entrancing of them had no money Joan Pordale. for instance, whose Image shone for Peter like a star while the unattractive, fla!-Tooted girls had more money than charms. However. Binp was heartily sick of Watch's ministrations and the fever-beat of his rising and fluctuating finances and he decided to take unto himself one of the unattractive variety and live in comfort to the end of his days, this decision being kept an inviolate secret from John Watch. After a sleepless night or two. Peter Bing awoke one morning w ith a flannel-like thickness on his tonpue and ir his head, the inevitable result of extra potations on the previous even lng and more than his usual quantity of cigarettes. His expression was wistful, his eye was desperate. He was distinctly absentminded, and weil he might be. for he was about to bid farewell to bachelorhood. Flora Dessene was his mark. He knew where to lind her. She was a smart business woman, who had the entire control of her father's affairs. Fyora Dessene had all that the world cai trive. but she had no sweetheart, and it was Peter's laudable intention to serve her in that capacity; but whenever he thought of Flora's face and voice and commanding presence he turned salt-white and his feet tingled It was Flora's habit to dine at Parradelli a every evening in the week; her offlce, which she seldom left before seven-thirty, was almost next door. Parradelli's is not a place that counts largely with West Enders. but they do you well, and the low-ceilinged rooms arg flavored with a not unpleasing bohemianism. For three years Bing had voluntarily deserted the restaurant which previously he had constantly visited with Flora until she began to show symptoms of an affection which Bing considered more than his due. However, his newly-turned decision tj wed Vlora held good all that day, so much so that he had already named tho size of the income, she should settle uprn him when the tragic hour of marriage arrived, and he had put behind him certain sweet fancies inseparable from Joan Pordale. whom he sincerely loved. It was sad but futile to remember that she was sweeter than honey and as lovely as a day In June, but the poor little thing as the daughter of a retired and pensioned colonel.

THE FIVE

ON TUK edge of the corse wherein lives He- - Who - Ha - Green - Eyes - Ami-Walks, which is just beyond the fourth bend of the river is the village ,.f The-Strong-Men-Who-Conquere'd. and in the hut nt the left side of the middle .-ompound dwelt Five Simple Men. No man knew from whence they came; nine knew how thev came. On the night preceding the dav of their first appearance, the hut 'hieh bad belonged to one who was drowned while f.hlng was empty. The morning found it the dwelling place of the live men big and brown. Yet these who were credited with sharpness observed that the hair of one was long and lank, and that he walked ivt with the motion of the black man. for bis instep was whole. And men then knew he alone, of the five, had been ued to wearing shoes. They wore simple, and lived simply, and yet th-e of the village reacted them, for often thev would hunt in the territory of the GreenFved One and return unhurt. Then men would marvel, as the land of the (irren levii was rellgiouslv shunned by all in the village. Once .-no who had enmity in his heart, stopped the biggest of the five and conersod with him. " "Big man of little faith and simple A:c, ha nid Jeerins'y. "Give me seven brass rods in rent for your hut, as I am the owner, siu.'e he who wa "drownM was my cousin." The Simple One who was addressed creased his brow, and thought for a great while before he answered: O man." he said gently. "I have not brass roi but I have many colls of rope that my b-others have made. 1 will pay you some. You know. O man. the tree that has a straight branch, on tie edge of the land of the Green One?" "Oh: answered the man. "I know the tree." The Simple One stretched out his hand lor a hoe and dUlodced a weed as he answered: "Then. Man - Who - Clalms-That-Wht h-INot-His 1 wlU there meet jou at moonrise with six feet of hempen rvpe with a noose on the end!" And he laughed simply, ps ad his actions we-e slmpla, He-Who-riaimedThat-Whlch-Va Not Hl unk away. And hit four brethren, fitting outside the hut grinding corn, laughed gently to each other. Azd after that the five simple men were left

and she had no relative, save a fanner brother In Sydney, worth considering. Of late sh had spoken to Bing sonexhat plaintively of emigrating to the sheep farm. This wag her gentle device for discovering nl3 Intentions, for Joan had never a dream of his embarrassments. Like many another deluded damsel, sie had appraised Bing's Income by means of his ties and resplendent hose, his attention to fashions, and bis ownership of so magnlflcent a servant as John Watch to say nothing at all of Uncle Herbert, who figured larsrely in King's conversation. It 11 John Watch's evening off. He left the flat before his master, and Bing could not find a certain suit which was bound to make a deep impression upon Flora. However, he was too dejected to care much one way or the other. The duty of the evening was to gain Flora's forgiveness for his desertion and her acceptance of his proposal. He knew that in Flora's eyes he was a perfect specimen, of manhood, no matter what apparel he wore, and since to his own view the occasion was solemn, he rather fancied a black suit. In the end. however, he temporized and dressed in gray. Few of the Parradelli clients wore evening dress. To do so was to become conspicuous. And Ping's mood was rather akin to that of little tack Horner; a pie was within his reach, but the plum It contained was acrid, and he prepared to swallow it In as inconspicuous and quiet a manner as possible. He found the grill room pretty full, and he could not see Flora Dessene; but, having consulted his watch, he sat down at a table laid for two and patiently awaited her appearance. Meantime, Bing viewed the throng that gathered to their meals with the miserable sensation that not one of them, knowing his real circumstances, to which his dress put the lie courteous. Would willingly change places with him. His head ached, and he was pinched by a worrying idea that he had forgotten something essential to the evening's success. At last this feeling dominated all others. He went through his pockets with the speed of a switchback; then he clapped his hands and leaped to his feet. He had come to Parradelli's without a penny to pay for Flora's supTper. He decided to rush back to his fiat, at the same time striving to remember in which pocket of his many suits he had left the precious last coins of his allowance; and Just as he stood as one crazed by the news of a moneyed relation's inconvenient recovery from a long illness. Flora entered briskly. She was dressed in a business-like buff, and her walk suggested that Fhe financed the Bank of England. She looked taller and lankier and more menacing than ever. Bing, who had awaited her arrival with so much anxiety, nowwondered if It were possible to slip past her rustkng frock and regain his liberty in the streets, but Flora had already pinned him with her merciless eyes. She made straight for him. "Hallo. Bing!" she said carelessly, and as though they had parted but yesterday. "I didn't know you came here these days. Been here long?' "Oh, no!" he said miserably, taking her hand. "Jolly glad to 6ee you. Flora! Seems like old times what?" "Rather!" she returned with good humor. "And I hope you're going to stand me a feed. Come along to my table! Peri, the head waiter, always keeps one reserved for me at the other end. You don't look so Jolly fit as you did. Getting old, Bing?" He smiled feebly. "I say, Ffiora. I'm only five and-twenty " "You" look twice that much. Bing. What's the trouble? Shares deprecieting? Must be that, or you wouldn't look so humpy." "Humpy? Not at all!" Bing asserted, flinging out his chest and mincing beside her to the thirtieth table on the western side o! the restaurant. "On the contrary, delighted and all that. Business going strong?' "What do you think?" she answered, showlng her teeth in a satisfied smile. "You're lucky!" Bing remarked. "I congratulate you. Flora!" They arrived at her pet eating place, and Flora consulted an astute and smiling waiter. Bing trembled when she resolved to begin with oysters and champagne. "I don't feast like this as a rule." she told him sweetly. "Dining alone doesn't Incline you to break the bank at one sitting; but this is a special occasion, and you're host, Bing. I say. though, what were you doing here all by yourself?" "Waiting." he replied huskily. "For whom?" asked Flora, and actually managed to look coquettish. "Can't you can't you guess?" "I shouldn't presume " "Flora." exclaimed Bing, in a touching fal-

SIMPLE MEN alone and went their ways unheeded. At the big river trading station of the Zambesia Company, Lieutenant Seaton. responsible for god behavior of all and sundry for fifty miles on each side of the river, read the chief and Interesting part of his sire in military affairs' letter with an expression that was half Interest and half boredom. " a very big man. well educated, he has an admiration for Dickens that is almost a madness. He shot his wife at Zanzibar, and is thought to have gone in your direction, as he knows the language of the river perfectly, and took four rivermen with him. You had better have a look In the villages on your route; if he is there I should think you would have heard by now. as white men are rare. There is no direct evidence against him, but then there is none against anyone else. Disappearing so suddenly puts him under suspicion " Seaton replaced the letter in its envelope, and clapped his hands. A black boy silently entered. "Tell Nacambra." he commanded wearily, "to have steam up In the Cho-Cho by dawn. I travel down the river to-morrow-." The following morning the Government launch puffed and hissed Impatiently at the wharf, as the first streaky heralds of dawn shot across the river from the east, and endeavored to banish the dank mist that clung clammily to everything made by Nature or man. On the deck, black sailors hurried silently about looking odd and grotesque in the (rovernment uniform that vas never put on correctly and looked worse if it was, and polished a brass rail here or slackened a rope somewhere else. Lieutenant Seaton banished a yawn and h'.vered as he climbed o the deck. He blinked un seelngly through the mist at the one gun that a dorn eil the bow, more for ornament and to inspire fear than anything else, for. as Seaton had once conüded to an intimate colleague. It was his opinion that U aad been salved from the field of Waterloo and stuck on the launch to get it out of the way. "We stop at the village of The-Strong-Men-Who-Conquerred. psj?t the fourth tend he drawled to the hadowy figure at the stern. "O Lord," answered the steersman, and the Government mass of old Iron and squeaks drew gently from the wharf.

tettn, "I came cn purpose to make the peace. I've never forgotten the Jolly old days. I've not been myself since I had supper with you here last time. By Jove, how long ago It seems!" "Did the meal disagree with you then? It's three years last August; and, Bing, darling, you were twenty-tfve; you told me so." He managed to laugh. "How you do rag a fellow, and Just when he's most in earnest." "Are you?" Flora returned archly. "Look into my eyes!" he commanded, with a hysterical purgle. But when she obliged him he was forced to nerve himself with a mouthful of Champagne. He shot his finger and thumb into his high collar, which seemed inconveniently small. "Flora, my own dear little Flora! " he said. "Your head reaches my shoulder. Ring, dear," Flora observed, with suave brutality. He was dismayed. Flora had grown extremely tactless, and was not as sentimental as once she had been. Was there som one else? The idea pushed him almost into her arms. Flora represented his last hope and resource until Lady Hay. Should she be withdrawn, even Joan and all her prettiness would fail to console him. "Floni," he said softly, -you know that I am ahem! deeply attached to you. Last time we met ahem! I mean parted. I was beastly hard-up and afraid to offer my heart lest you should imagine " "I never do," she said. 'I'm a dealer in facts. So fire away, Hing! Get it off your chest!" How slangy she was! And he wished she would not address him by his surname, as though he were one of her clerks. "You know, my darling "he whispered. and then he paused and stiffened perceptibly. Moving toward them, in a nonchalant fashion, came John Watch. N'ot content with wearing Bine's modish suit, he had possessed himself of his cane, cream suede gloves and his secondbest monocle, through which he dared ogle his master. Bing's attitude was horribly like that of a bullfrog threatened by a stork. The stork looked haughty, yet benign. He seemed never to have seen Bing before, and obviously he did not wish to see him again. Bins grew pale, for he remembered that in the right hand pocket of the striped grays which apparelled his valet's extremities reposed a quintet of pound notes. Murder Hashed from his pale amber eyes. Flora was sp-eaking to him. but he failed to respond. All his energies were bent on frustrating John Watch's design of feeding himself at his master's expense. Something guttural, between a snort and a sob. came from Bins. He watched, with remarkable interest, his valet seat himself at an adjacent table, with a codfish eye fixed on the nearest door. He was evidently expecting ft companion to help him through Ring's notes. Bing put his hand to his moist forehead. "I I don't feel very well, Flora." "Poor dear! Have some more oysters and cham. Don't stint yourself they'll buck you up no end." But Bing felt that h" must worm himself out of his collar and tails and seize John Watch by the throat, or die on the spot. Every fresh oyster which Flora neatly dispatched wan another thorn implanted in his flesh. How was he to pay for them when all he possessed was in the very safe keeping of his confounded valet? Fate had yet another pebble In her catapult for Bing, for when his rage was at boiling point a soft laugh and a sweet voice floated to him across a colonl of tables, and he sichted Joan opposite a jolly, sun tanned fellow, whose whole attention was engrossed by his sweet little companion. Bing reached a state which could only be relieved by stringing the jolly fellow and lohn Watch together and hurling plates at them. Joan saw Bing and flung up her dear little head. Flora laughed aloud. "Heavens, what's the matter, Bing?" He pulled himself together fiercely. "Flora," he said, "how can I look anything but wretched when I don't know your answer to my question?" Through the tail of his eye he saw his valet throw a note to the waiter across the wine list. A thick sweat broke out over him. Flora seemed to be counting every drop of silver dew which fringed his forehead and threatened to trickle to his eyes "Poor dear chappie!" exclaimed she, completely deceived as to his cause of ang-iish. "How" devoted he is! Pr?ently he shall have his answer." She spoke as if to a peevish Infant.

Fishermen watched her as she passed down the river and wondered in their poor brains who had offended that the Vho-t'h should awake from the sleep it had endured so Ion- and purr and clank its weary way into the. blick man's territory. But as it passed earh man without a sign, the guilt v conscience among them breathed freely again; and ns it is not part of the bla-k man' creed to think of others, they forgot it III Nisht had settled upon the village of The-Strong-Mcn-Who-Conquered. piteh-blnck night, ns onlv an African night can J.e. Through the village, with a hollow, gliostly sound, a tom-tom beat. It was a new moon, and the feast of the Green Devil. Presently the monotonous note of the tomtom got quicker, and soon increase! to a wild fury. It was joined by others; reed-pipe helped the pcndcmonlum. they shrieked to the top of the top notes, carrying the listener in a whirl f mvjih! to the very gates of hell: then fed to low, monotonous wails, as though the dead who we.e not dead hurled their woe and miseries into the world fer those who live to catch and light over, to run from in terror, and welcome with relief, seme perhaps to die with them, and in turn throw them away from the mouldy clay to others to continue the wearv round. Soon the moon rose and revealed the cancers, men. women old. young, painted with pigments, whirling round find round. The music shrieked, quicker, .pilfer whirled the worshippers: then a long '.vail from the reedpipe?, the wild, fanatical ring fed into time again as the unearthly muMc slowed down as though gathering strength for another outburst cf sound. And through it Ml -l,t the Five Mxnple Men. Presently the big one awo':e. Leaning over him he saw the headman of the vll'.age. "Oh. big man cf litrl- faith r.r.d simple habits." be said roughly. ' Wl ;,r-e y,,: not out worshipping? Do you net know that it Is the feat of the rcen-Kyed-Or.e ' 'Oh, man." said th Simn 0:.. "I know. And you know that vre Are brothers worship only our own god. pnd thit Kr- 's not yours." With a q'Jlefc movement the hendman stepped a!de. Two of his followers took his r'ce, and

"Don't rag a fellow!" Implored Bing, wondering if he were to. acting the part of & man who suddenly finds that his pocket has been picked. Thanks to Flora's regular patronage, he had not yet been called upon to pay for the champagne, but it was only a matter of moments, and the tension wag biting Into his nerves. The only way out was to pretend that some one had taken his purse, and then Flora. In her pity, would come to the rescue. But she was ,so abominably clever that Ding dreaded her look when he would be obliged to 6ay, as, naturally as possible, "By Jove!" or "Great Scott!' "My purse gone!" He would say "gone" three times, in a growing crescendo. That wo lid cause a stir, and might make that unblushing rascal Watch a trifle uneasy. Yet he gained small comfort from assiduously shaping and reshaping the form of his sorry confessicn, which Flora was bound not to believe. Then he saw a way out so simple that he wondered it had not occurred to him before. He dragged back his chair. "One moment. Flora, dearest' I I want to speak to that fellow on our right. Just remember we made an appointment for to-morrow. Ha. ha! But" he vouched her a sparrowy. sentimental glance "I've reason to fancy I'll be otherwise booked what?" "Of with you, then!" laughed Flora. "Don't stay Ion?! Chartreuse and coffee, waiter!" she announced decidedly. Bing felt astonishingly foolish and incompetent on his way to his valet's table. John Watch looked at Bing attentively as he took a chair. "Sorry, but I haven't the pleasure " "Oh, yes, you have. Watch!" Bing answered mildly. "You know me very well. Watch, don't you. now what? But not well enough to expect to see me here!" "Sir." remarked the other haughtily. "I am at a complete loss to comprehend your meaning. Is it possible I have a double?" "I trust not. Watch," remarked Bing bitterly. "One of you is quite ample, thanks!" A sardonic smile -crept into John Watch's eyes. "Sir." he said suavely, "I will to so far as to allow that in my private capacity I valet a Rentlemaa of uncertain age and mean prospects, not unlike yourself in appearance, but in my public capacity which is, allow me to state, my good sir. an unofficial capacity I own no man as master." "Watch." whispered Bing in a frenzy, "be a good chap. Let's go halves with what's In your pocket. Yes. I'll be content with halves. Watch. old fellow!" "Sir." replied the valet in the same kev and with an expression of deep Injury, "I Would reluctantly bring to your mind the fact that you owe me six pounds ten shillings and fourpence in wages, and that I am magnanimous enough to be content for the moment, eir, with no more than five miserable pound notes." "But the deuce. Watch, I'm in a most awful mess. See that young lady there?" Watch peered across at Flora. "She Isn't over young, I should say!" "That is no affair of yours. I mean no offense, don't get waxy. Watch- these duties have to be done sometimes. A matter of policy, and worth your while. Watch, to let me have two or three pounds!" "I don't think!" remarked Watch. Bing set his teeth. "Are you a demon?" he demanded angrily. Watch shrugged indifferently. "I'm hungry, that's what I am; I get previous little from j-our larder, sir!" he said pointedly. "But identy from my wardrobe, which shall be locked in future, hang you!" said Bing recklessly. "Quite so, sir, and welcome, sir, I'm sure!" Watch said, with his nose up. "You'd better look after your other little bit of goods!" He indicated Flora with a quick finger stretch. "Shoddy do I call It, but, even so, some one else is in your seat, my good sir!" Bing wheeled 'round nervously and saw a fat. squat little man slip into the chair he had occupied live minutes jefore. He could scarcely believe his eyes, but Flora's new companion was too large to be a delusion. "Watch, come to your senses; watch, hand over my notes. You're the best of fellows, I know. I'll prove I know it by doubling yoar screw." Watch grinned knowingly. "I don't, not until you do, master," he raid rather enigmatically. "I can't afford to pull you out of a hole and fall head over heels into It myself. I'm expecting Laughing Lolll from the Dainty Chorus. She's a little bit of ali right, she is, sir, and earning good money. You bet I'll want every penny of this five quid for

By Charles De Balzac Rideaux

eized the nan of simple habits, bound him with nathe rope, and, leaving his brothers still sleepine. took him from the hut. "Simple man." spoke the headman quietly. "We go to the plain at the edge of the dwellingplace of the (rod you defy. We Intend, in our kindness, to give you free access to the ears of him. Come, simple man." The four, the headman, and his two followers, wdth the man of simple habits between, went toward thj whirling ring of dancers, past them, and on to the plain beyond the village which adjoins the home of the Green Devil. "Oh, man, what do you do?" asked the prisoner quietly "We take you as a present to the dreen-Eyed-One, that you may be converted, and we go f give him you in such manner that he will hear your voice raised to him. The moon is going down, O man of simple habits, with the Urning of the sun will begin your first eong to ouj god!" Three hours after dawn the Government Cho-Cho pulled up, with many creaks and clanks, at the village of The-Strong-Men-Who-Conquered. Fishers who saw its coming hurried to land to Mde anything that might find disfavor In the eyes of the white lord, and to get all In readiness for his coming. ThJs it was that Seaton was met by the headman on the rickety wharf. "Lord," said the headman simply, "you honor me.' Hut .Seaton was not In the humor to confab for a couple cf hours about the poorness of crops, or concerning such-and-such a wicked one who hid stolen so many brass rods; or some one else who had forcibly taken off the daughter cf ome fat negro won't work. He silenced the rhief tlmot before the first words fell from his lips. "Mu-ter ali the men n the village." he commanded. -I would look on them." "O lord, that Is a great thing you would ask me to do." "Not to great for me." snapped back th lieutenant With a curse in his beard, the headman went to his hut; he emerged a few second later with the court tom-tom In his hand, and as lta slow beats rani: through the air, men stopped their

her. and !n return he'll rn&ke It worth raj while to Klve you notice, pir. Theae ciothei will do me nicely for the wc-dding. Ah. here comes lyol'd. Good erfning. sir; & happy evening, too. I do hope!" Watch Jumped out of hi chair, his face aglow with Fatisfactlon. and wnt to meet a Fmiling, bejewelled apparition In pink and white Stranded at the vacant tab'e. B!r.g again wondered whether it would be possible to beat a hasty retreat, but from Flora s eye there was no escapo She called to him: "Come along. Bins:; yo :r coffee's getting cold. Another chair, waiter!" Bing arrived and svd sheepishly bet-: Ffora and the fat man. who wa gobbling oyters. "Bing." said Flora, "this is Count ri'Olea. I knew you would like to make hi acquaintance." As the two rrt'r 1-nH ed thlr beads sulkily Flora remarked: "Now. I won't have any quarrelling over the piymg. You're both so generous, b it it's yo ;r privize. Bin?, dear, to foot the bill to-day. isn't it""' "Rather' Won't I just'" said Bine, wishing he could swoon at Flora's fet. The waiter came up with tr.e chair. "Waiter, brine this centleman the bill We'll be needing another dozen oy;rn ar.o some more cham. Look slippy, now '" The hero of the traeedy fell lack into his chair in a state of co!l.ipo The count went on eating in a noisy, accressive fashion. Hora looked pleasantly at Binr "Count d'OIea and I did some business together souif years ao. He returned a fortnight ago last Tuesday from Buenos Aires." Laying her hand affectionately on Bing's sleeve, she added: Conerat uldte me. ni friend; we were married on Friday." She did not add that in order to pay bark old scores she had slipped her wedding nn? Into her pocket. The count said "Humph!" and mted his round, heavy head to take full stock of thf distraught Bing. The countess whispered "I'm ever so sorry." It was the- lat straw; the tune th cat died of! Bing waddled ojt of Iiis chair. Wet of him was the -waiter bringiug the fresh champagne and oysters and the bill' Due east. Watc.i was peering under Lolli's satin-brimmed hat Joan and her squire had vanished, und Bing sighted a clear path for his fe.-t. IrnnuMliate'.y he got into action and sprinted across the flor There, but 'a stone's throw from the dor. stood Joan, alone. She was just about to enter a taxi. An inspiration seized Bing; he spranr in after her. "Oh!" cried Joan, and the tears swlmrr.'.nr in her eyes spilled to her cheek. "Oh. Peter what what's the matter?" "Tel! the man to drive on anywhere-anywhere! shouted Bing, sinking into u eorner. and terri'ied lest an army of Iirradelü wuiters should appear and seize him. Trembling in every liml, .lo.m spoke to th chauffeur through the tube. The car throbbe-i and slid into a smooth, quick p;ee "Heaven b!es you, .Io;in!" whispered Bing. She averted her be;id. "I I can't make it out, seeing you you there with with her!" In his relief he laughed and slipped .in arrr. around her wait. "You little duck, she's married. Thnt that hog did you see him? K her husband. I was only killing time, thinking of you. When I sawhow hurt you looked. I I had to ran after you, and I was jealous of that chap." "Keally?" cried Joan, with an adorable dimple dancing in her cheek. "That waa my brother, Beter. "God bless him!" ejaculated the astonished Bing. "And oh." Joan began, "gues "what hn happenedjust guess! But you never will!" "No; I'm no good at guessing. Tell me Joan, and I'll kis you for even' word!" "Our godfather I?sly ar.d he worked the fheep farm, you know died suddenly, and left every penny to Lesly and me. He, Ie!.. brought my share over to England. Snrh a surprise! Twenty thousand pound for earn, of u! IyCBly sail in a fortnight. Oh. Petr-, Peter," sobbed Joan, "when I saw you and hr at that table you you hadn't been near n o for weeks I nearly promised Lesly to gi back with him to to Sydney." "My darling, my angel!" cried Peter, and h. brought forth an expensive handkerchief to dry her tears. He was himself ripe for pepping when h" thought of Iiis narrow esr-ipn ;niri of how mu'-'i all good things were ince a train within hU reaeh. Joan's legacy was cnou-h j,-, Madden a lever's heart; but. apart from that, she was tl i most valuable treasure Pctf- had ever -okel at, and as he held her c!o?e he told her so.

fishing and cam1 to him; others heard it from the rice fields, and enme aNn. Soon the entire male population of the village was assembled for Seaton's inpeer'on. He walked slowly mongt them, scrutinizing each. "Are these all?" he asked at length. The headman hesitate I. Seaten saw it. "He careful," he v.arne.i -yv nrath is i had devil t awaken." "There is one other, lord." stammered th'i black. "He is worshipping the Oreen -Eyed One. I w'il! have him brought to you." "No." said Seaton firmly. "'I will jro to him. Where is he?" He was led by th white-haired chief throuta the village and along the side of the eopse. Thi chief was obviously fearing something, and aj the lirtle plain eame into view, Seaton y.r.e v w'hnt it was Spread-eagled en the grourd. by Tide thong? fastened to wrists and ankle, was the fiftli Simple Man. The sun was slowiy drjir.g the green eowhide and making it tighten around hU limbs and pull them, wltb awful agony, from their sockets. He was not quiet or .-till 'Carry him back, yoj fiend!" rrtred ?-at"r 'urioufely, regaining the senses ho had lost ai his first horro- "Remember, you will have tc answer for this. Poor devil! Even if he is i murderer poor devil l" The five Simple Men were back In their hui Four were standing up. silently wat'hir. ; their brother. Seaton as tending ver bin: where he lay on the rough mat bed. Presentij he opened his eye. ,md Epoke, "You came for me?" i.e gasped !n Engll-h. !i Seaton. "I didn't d it. I tell you. It wa t nigger. I came out hre to 2nd him. M3 boys" His olcr diei ywr-y in a gurgl- S ton gave him a sip cf brandy. "My four faitii fu! black-. The -':t.--f:;e:.d.- - .1 um 11 . have! They helped me." "I'm going." bmiled tha fifth brother, weakly "Perhaps it is better. Do yen know your DIck ens, lieutenant?" he askd, his brain wandering He rlo3el his eye :md was silent for a mi ment. then he blowly quoted: "'It 1 a far. far better thing that I da thai I have ever done. It is a far, fr better ren I go to than' " His voice died away forever.