Part 28 (2/2)

But he ed

”You tell me you los' your frien' at Lol Raman's? Haf you been to look?”

”Three times There's no trace I found a servant who sold the lad drink; no more”

”Come wit' me, zen,” said the controller ”And do not half such trouble at heart We will find hi off zat fever cure”

They searched high and low, ah the water front where De Haan questioned all manner of natives: stolid, self-possessed little --but they found no nook wherein Tunstal thened

”Your fren' was come alone?” asked De Haan, puzzled

”Alone and early There wouldn't likely be any other custoht now--do not be tragic Nosing of ze kind could be We will see ze garden again”

But all they saas no aid to the case They entered the garden of Lol Ra trade Paper lanterns swung a the trees like phosphorescent fruits and drew a low had drawn theed at ease about the tables, sipping and ers were there, notably a s and predatory, who bowed effusively to De Haan and received a cool nod Gliding here and yon, and jiggling a tray to serve the general need, went a waxen-faced arments showed fresh and span And farther back, aue figure of the presiding genius of the place, the huge red ape, huddled in the attitude of meditation

”All ze same, hey?” said De Haan ”Still we re And you, my dear fallow, drink zis”

He chose a table in the arbor near a olden yellow liquid from a ready bottle, and thethe penalty just then for unprofessional weakness and the mellower streak of his nature, as those of his type have often to pay here below He reuided Tunstal He could not acquit himself for whatever ill had befallen And he re to check that day--the passage of the cinnabar boat with her ruddy devils and suspected errand

”What is zeover his shoulder ”He don' yell good to-night He acts like sick And alzo he haf no roll' us yet one single cigarette Yet here is plenty tobacco too--”

With his foot he pushed within the circle of the chain a little lacquer box and a packet of leaves, but when he turned again the kindly official saw that his attempt to set up a diversion had failed Nivin looked leaner and hted with an alleam which was only partly due to arrack--that potential drink ”It's no use, Mister Controller,” he said ”And I thank you forawful has happened to the boy I sent from the _Loh all his thick bulk ”Don' speak so wit' a pain, ed ”I do not admit it We haf yet to see”

”I can see You try to tell me certain crirohere foreigners have rotted a native country?”

”Yes,” said De Haan

”And that's true; they do rot it I always thought this place was clean, just as you claih--a plain, decent, wholesome race that keeps its self-respect and harms none till trod upon”

”Yes”

Nivin leaned across at hirubbin' for profit through muck And after that what's to be trusted?”

”What do you mean?” demanded De Haan

”Such people as that rat Van Goor over there--” He jerked a thumb toward the bulbous-eyed man

”We watch ze develop ze--scum of the earth Do you watch theht theht in the heart of your people?”

De Haan stiffened in his chair ”What are you trying to say? Zis is fool talk of ze river”