For Love and Glory.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8170, 28 June 1906, Page 2

For Love and Glory.

CHAPTER XVll.—Continued. Armand waa provoked. He made a doable martyr of bim■self by tearing away and fleeing down the street, for the tantalizing odours from the two ohnflng dishes aroused his appetite to a savage degree, while' the lovely' face of Mistress TeßHie, with its look of appeal, created a mutiny in his heart. When al' a mans internal machinery arises ill revolt against bUn at "the same time he certainly is in the peek of trouble, and must neods stir himself if he hopes to come out a victor. Tessia, however, did not appear to despond because her powers of fascination were not equal to the task.of holding her lover. She smiled oomfortably to herself, aud seemed entirely satisfied with the : made. It plight not bo in a day her old power was to he restored, but Avmaud was as deep in the coils as ever, and escape there could be -none. So thin satisfied ber heart. The man was fur from being pleused. True, he had a grim sense of the fact of dealing himself pain. Strange how any one can enjoy such barbarity, but- it is done •every day. Ho was only a trifle late, a ter bingo was his name, and he stood oo guard waiting for his master to come without a thought of passing time, much as the historical sentry of old paced his beat at Pompeii or flerculaneum until the covered him entirely. The sagaoiouß Jap was ready to take up the hunt. He followed up several clues that -gave promise of more or less abundant success, and believed himself able to run the couple to earth. The only thine Armand feared waa that|these bold spirits might :hang around, unabashed by their former defeat, and so interest themselves in the game they might yet purloin the young lady, whioh would be a bad job, indeed. Hence, having started them on the run be must keep them rusbing. And he did make a hot obase of it. At times they were "jinrikisha" mad, dashing recklessly through the /streets like military couriers bearing some important diapatches, and the only thing that stayed an artesfc must have been an official signal given by the said Bingo, who waa "®en rapoort 1 with most of the sto dy little police officers. Thus, step by step they tracked their eame. Finally they brought up at a railway station to find their birds had flown, having an hour's start. Armand was by this time at white heat. Ho resembled the fo v hound with the quarry in sight. Give cp? Admit himself beaten by two such knaves? Well, not if he knew it; why, the thing jjbad hardly more than begun. On with the dance, throw everything else to the winds, and engage these •worthies in such a game as it had never entered into their philosophy to conceive.

This was his policy. He made haaty inquiries, learned that another train would not start or Yokohama for hours, returned to bis hotel and packed his bag. Then he wrote a few oarefully corded lines to Tesaie, telling her he was on the track of the man who [impudently carried her papers on his person, and that he intended following him if the obase took him to the far-off Philippines. She would begin to realize that he meant all lie said when he declared his willingness to do everything that might become a brother. After all, one might even find a grim pleasure in sacrificing his personal comfort in the cause of another. It was really a new sensation to our careless and hitherto fancy-free young man, and aroased dormant faculties in his nature that broadened him immensely.

$ Insensibly he was doing just what she, Teesie, had advised at the time she dragged him so unmercifully over the coals, and arousing himself to a sense of being somebody in this big world. Back again to'the station, to hear ban news—a smash-up on the road, and no train promised until morning.

This calamity seemed to arouse the sleeping lion in his nature. Bingo was still with him, ttingo who could get wonderful results, and in half an hour, they were being rushed over the road toward Yokohama eaob in a "rikisha" drawn by a sturdy coollj—and the seaport eighteen miles away. CHAPTER XVIII. PLIGHT OP THE "JINRIKISHAS." X)f all the experiences that had ■come to him of late, Radcliffe was o? the opinion that this weird night ride from Tokio to the sea■coast took the premium. There was a novelty about it, to begin with, and that alone usually brings a charm in ita train. Then, again, " the exuit«njonfe •waa worth something. Lounging in the comfortable "jinrikisha* upon a fashionable parade is one thing, and being hußtled along a t breakneck speed over a Japanese country road at dead of night, with a wildly ~ excited coolie between the shafts, eager to earn the / fat fee promised for his services, -quite another. Eighteen miles!,,. The distance should be covered in three hours at the longest. About halfway they would stop

By St. George Ratfobome. Author of "Dr. Jack,» " The Witch from India," " Captain Tom," "Mynheer Joe," " Dr. Jack's Wife," etc., etc.

and take on new motors, fresh runners, who would carry them the balance of the journey. Doubtless much of the time they were surrounded by picturesque scenes, and had it been daylight, Armand might have quite enjoyed the feast that was spread before his eyes. Now, all this was blotted out by the shades of night. Insects droned, fireiiiea flashed through the space or sprang their little electrio lights in unison under the shelter of the timber, night birds issued their challenge, or oalied with melanoholy plaint to their mates. All these things were a source of interest and wonder to Armand, who enjoyed the norel situation immensely. As to Bingo, he had not been so thoroughly happy in all bis life. From time to time he let out 1 ittlb shrieks that sound like steam gurgling from the escape valve of a locomotive. There is a wonderful charm in ceing allowed to take a apecinl trip of this sort at some other person's expense. At least, the Jap thought so. since it came aoross the horizon of his life so seldom. At least Armand bad plenty of time to ponder over the situation as be consumed innumerable cigars* He wondered what opinion Tessie would entertain of him could she see him. Now that he was growing in experience, he began to feel that he would like this strenuouß existence. Atfer all, it aroused a man aud brought out sterling qualities that lay in his disposition and which it had never occurred' to him be possessed. Yes, he could truly announce that he was really making progress. The trip was not without its of danger. First, there existed a chance of a nasty spill, for what with the darkness, the rapidity of the movement, and only half familiarity with the road on the part of the coolies, it was never certain as to whether the traveller would be in bia "rikisha"or the latter piled on top of him in the ditch. Nevertheless, Armand had the nerve to smoke on ant 1 , spin all manner of fannies regarding what he would do when he eventually reached Yokohama by the sea.

Of course, the two men whom he followed would have several hours the start of him, provided their train got through in good shape, and was not concerned in the smash-up that had crippled the resources of the road. All the same, he believed that unless tbey went direotly on board their yaoht and put to sea, he would have a fair chance to baffle the rogues.

If they had departed—well, he bad both time and money to follow, should the disposition seize upon him, follow to the ends of the earth.

This growing resolution rather surprised him, and it is seldom that man rises so far above his ordinary planes as toaW9ken curiosity nnd astonishment: within his own breast concerning himself. Above shone the dazzling worlds of an infinite universe. How exceedingly atom-like does a reflective man rual'ze himself to be when surveying the wonders of the night sky. The greatest ruler on earth may well humble Gimself abjectly before these issues, of which our world is but as a grain of sand on the Beasfaore. The first half of the run was made in safety. Panting from their exertions, the coolies drew the light two-wheeled vehicles into a little village that nestled amid a rioh growth of bamboo from which the natives doubtless made their daily living; for in Japan this favourite wood serves apparently, for a thousand purposes, so that in the truth the prosperity of the empire depends upon it. Some people even call Japan the Bamboo Kingdom. Armand was well satisfied. He declared the runners had done themselves proud and richly earned their pay. '"Talk about your Olympian gauies, why, the old Greeks weren't j in it with Japanese "rikisha" men of to-day," he chuckled, as they j came to a halt in an open square ' upon which a native inn frontedTorches were blazing here, and some men could he seen gathered in knots, as though discussing the I iatest news from Peking, for as ; the summer wore away, the nations of the world were becoming very'anxious f about those shnt in the Chinese capital. It was stipulated in the bond entered into with the "jinrikisha" men that they were* to find new runners at this place, who might carry the travellers to their destination. Apparently this would be. easily done, since the inducement of big pay is always an incentive to the average Jap; and the faot that tbe journey was already half done might be deemed a feature. There was much curiosity aroused when the travellers sitting in .their vehiole bad a cup of tea and a bite brought from the tavern. They were surrounded by a sea of heads, and conisderable speculation was indulged in as to tbe nature of their strange night ride, j (To be Continued.)