to resist
the inclination to turn his head, but the drawing of curiosity was
irresistible. What he saw only added to his general mystification.
The slip of paper hung pendulent in Warrington's hand; the other hand
was hidden in his beard, while his eyes seemed to be studying seriously
the medallion in the Kirmanshah. A fine specimen of a man, mused the
consul-general, incredibly wholesome despite his ten years' knocking
about in this ungodly part of the world. It was a pity. They had
evidently refused to compromise.

"Bad news?"

Warrington stood up with sudden and surprising animation in his face.
"Read it," he said.

"If Ellison will make restitution in person, yes.

"ANDES."

The consul-general jumped to his feet and held out his hand. "I am
glad, very glad. Everything will turn out all right now. If you wish,
I'll tell Miss Chetwood the news."

"I was going to ask you to do that," responded Warrington. The mention
of Elsa took the brightness out of his face. "Tell her that Parrot &
Co. will always remember her kindness, and ask her to forgive a lonely
chap for having caused her any embarrassment through her goodness to
him. I have decided not to see Miss Chetwood again."

"You are a strong man, Mr. Warrington."

"Warrington? My name is Ellison, Paul Warrington Ellison. After all,
I'm so used to Warrington, that I may as well let well enough alone.
There is one more favor; do not tell Miss Chetwood that my name is
Ellison."

"I should use my own name, if I were you. Why, man, you can return to
the States as if you had departed but yesterday. The world forgets
quickly. People will be asking each other what it was that you did.
Then I shall bid Miss Chetwood good-by for you?"

"Yes. I am going to jog it home. I want to travel first-class, here,
there, wherever fancy takes me. It's so long since I've known absolute
ease and comfort. I wish to have time to readjust myself to the old
ways. I was once a luxury-loving chap. I sail at dawn for Saigon. I
may knock around in Siam for a few weeks. After that, I don't know
where I'll go. Of course I shall keep the Andes advised of my
whereabouts, from time to time."

"Another man would be in a hurry." It was on the tip of his tongue to
tell Warrington what he knew of the Andes Construction Company, but
something held back the words, a fear that Warrington might change his
mind about seeing Elsa.

"Well, wherever you go and whatever y