s again. She saw one
fall, describe an arc and vanish. She wondered what this man had done
to put him beyond the pale; for few white men remained in Asia from
choice. She had her ideas of what a rascal should be; but Warrington
agreed in no essential. It was not possible that dishonor lurked
behind those frank blue eyes. She turned from the window, impatiently,
and stared at one of her kit-bags. Suddenly she knelt down and threw
it open, delved among the soft fabrics and silks and produced a
photograph. She had not glanced at it during all these weeks. There
had been a purpose back of this apparent neglect. The very thing she
dreaded happened. Her pulse beat on, evenly, unstirred. She was a
failure.

In the photograph the man's beard was trimmed Valois; the beard of the
man who had sat next to her at dinner had grown freely and naturally,
full. Such a beard was out of fashion, save among country doctors. It
signified carelessness, indifference, or a full life wherein the
niceties of the razor had of necessity been ignored. Keenly she
searched the familiar likeness. What an amazing freak of nature! It
was unreal. She tossed the photograph back into the kit-bag,
bewildered, uneasy.

Meantime Warrington followed the purser into his office. "I haven't
paid for my stateroom yet," he said.

"I'll make it out at once. Rangoon, I understand?"

"Yes. But I'm in a difficulty. I have nothing in change but two
rupees."

The purser froze visibly. The tale was trite in his ears.

"But I fancy I've rather good security to offer," went on Warrington
coolly. He drew from his wallet a folded slip of paper and spread it
out.

The purser stared at it, enchanted. Warrington stared down at the
purser, equally enchanted.

"By Jove!" the former gasped finally. "And so you're the chap who's
been holding up the oil syndicate all these months? And you're the
chap who made them come to this bally landing three days ago?"

"I'm the chap."

It was altogether a new purser who looked up. "Twenty thousand pounds
about, and only two rupees in your pocket! Well, well; it takes the
East to bowl a man over like this. A certified check on the Bank of
Burma needs no further recommendation. In the words of your
countrymen, go as far as you like. You can pay me in Rangoon. Your
boy takes deck-passage?"

"Yes," returning the check to the wallet.

"Smoke?"

"Shouldn't mind. Thanks."

"Now, sit down and spin t