Part 26 (1/2)

He flung away the cigarette she had given hi fool!” she said ”Don't make all that noise!”

But Will had none of the respect for titles acquired by e that made most men an easy mark for her

”Leave the room!” he ordered ”Go away from us! Just you hope that's a lie about Monty, that's all!”

”Sit down!” she repeated ”I admit I am a little previous The story is unconfir of the sort will happen to all of you unless you three an to pace the floor noisily, stopping to glare at her each ti the scene?” asked Fred

”No,” she admitted ”I see you are too hot-headed to be reasoned with

But it makes little difference!

Fever--animals--climate--sun--flood--accident--natives--there are excuses in plenty--explanations by the dozen! I will say good night, then--and good-by!”

”Yes, good-by!” growled Will, facing her with his back to the stairs

”You take us for men with a price, do you?”

”All men have a price,” she ss! Wefools! And fools old enough to know better!” she added with a nod toward Fred, who bowed to her in ot out of her way and she went up-stairs with theleave of subjects Fred swept her food and wine from the table and stowed it in a corner, and we sat down at the table again

”The whole thing's getting ridiculous” he said

”Why don't we hunt up so,” I proposed, ”and simply expose her?”

”No use,” said Will ”She never followed us up here and tried that ga sure of her pull Besides--what kind of a tale could we tell without letting on we're after the ivory? I vote we see the garee!”

”The only clue we've got,” said I, ”is Courtney's advice about Mount Elgon”

”And what Coutlass said in Zanzibar about German East,” added Will

”Tell you what,” said Fred, rapping the table excitedly ”Instead of falling foul of this govern over the dead-line, why not run down to Gero fro 'eot the map?”

”It's up-stairs,” I said ”I'll fetch it”

There was nothing like silence in the roo in one another's rooms Some doors were open to , and nobody was asleep But I was surprised to see Georges Coutlass leaning against the door-post of the room he shared with the other Greek and the Goanese, obviously on guard, but against whouess

”Are you off to bed?” he asked, piercing o, too?”

It dawned on me what he was after

”Take the wine if you want it,” I said ”None of us will prevent you”

He went down-stairs in his stocking feet, leaving his own door wide I glanced in The other Greek and the Goanese were asleep Hassan lay on the floor on a mat between their cots He looked up at me I did not dare speak, but I sesture I hoped he would interpret as an invitation to come and attach himself to our party Then I hurried on, for Coutlass was co back with a bottle of wine in each hand