THE Siamese Cat.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1907, Page 15

THE Siamese Cat.

CHAPTER VII. Chao Thva. was revelling in his lifaik* Dropped on the quay by a cabm- * si ao time to to(1 bu^rs Tor Irk' bargains, he had Sed zig-zag iironsh a labyrinth. of hurried and hosjfle shins. Under the lee of silent go- • downs he trotted, with a faint tinkle s -jlver bells: then, gradually slaekeuSLlaa pace, sauntered free and proud *fone of his great jang.e cousins. For , -ore wantonness, he hopped upon the iwh threshold oi a warehouse, caressed"; . g| iron doors in a long, luxurious gi.de,, toped down again to stretch and wai-. ''•fcirsbntwwise through a patch of par-k- ( Jjh straiv, then gambolled across The [ ioad for * tiger pounce on a dried sirih i jes* ih&t n.iired aloutr the kerb. Tne j seised hiia next, and. J "rftßEg doubled spon himseli, he l-u . vLa to lap 1* tawn-coloured'llanki ,ritH a i-urled. heraldic tongue, vhen; tic FnSasa rush oi footsteps ss: him oil j ajsiDj-gailoaing. - i ""Down ■•■•v. siity °t" shops, that -nielled ( of mature fish and frying j - &Kks, he frolicked in the spirit of holi- • - gj r _- ' xhe threiicening feet still pound- j id* "th"' flacstones, but more faintly in I

the dLtarice. Tins fitful flight, this jasv eic?ps. was such a larirs as la the very nick of exultation, a- pair pi white-swaddled Uegs darted across the -path, dark fingers gripped hip be- ■-. fcaia" the ears, and an oily, grinning Sack man, in a tinsel-embroidered sknllcsp. swung iiim into a dim-lighted shop. - He thumped the matting like a landed fish, fighting gamely. Suddenly he tvss hurled th rough a Barrow door, -which slammed behind ,-lim. In this new prison there was Nothing likable—a dirty eharpoy. a few fishes round a brazier, a b-?i oi -wo. Cfcao Phya began leaping for the- tiny window cut through the split bamhoo cf the rear wall. It was very high: le fell back, leapt again, clawed hi? way cpward, fell backs-arc, persevered ia leaping and scratching. Hsd" maledictions any force. Chao " iPhva never would have lived to do this: for"Scarlett, rating in pursuit, had panted i'nem so long as ie could spare the breath. Trusting in the invariable delayer steamers, jie had—to the amazement cf Laura and her aunt—sprung down the gangway ana" across the docks. Fresh isope had changed to fresh rage, as he saw that touching, fawn-and-seal-brown imp thread uneaptured among the eaatixring natives, wriggle from under a GMnese boy, outstrip a Tamil, and al Lhst-r-so nearLy taken unawares at his MLoUet —gallop -iree down tne aliey. -Back , ■aboard snip," Owen had told himself i Kpfier each failure; and, as often, disgust bs losing the sole reward for all t'teir i ■trouble and danger goaded him to ano- !

™wu<__ ami gu«i™ null LO ano- ! B ■&_ last attempt. "Just once more," he , Bras saying; as if Fortune agreed. he j ■ m W 3 - w Ckao Phva caught up by the native ! . mtn Use dhoti. %\ .**"*»-■. thai-eaiS-he panted, to a ■y -thr coal of the hookah. "He _ mine. Quick? "] ■""Hand him over!"' ' Gobind Dass rose and salaamed in the bitter smoke. Smiling, fawning, he submitted to the Sahib that there was no sat. How should there be a cat? See. there was nothing in this snop I - -"Tire dollars."" cried Owen. "Come' •| Sgurryr liv a " ! ' W "*** e *" c f,lrn( ' li - ne heard a thin. I fe2very jingle .thin. "Oh, zoolum:"' _ jf™-* shopkeeper. "What violence I "and stronghand!—for Owen had shoved I Ann aside, plunged through the smoke. I pud torn open the door cf the inner I 'Caaaiher. g Brown hindquarters and a raffled tai; | Struggled over the edge of the little I" Window and vanished. Wrenching open the back door, he ran oat- In the dusk, through effluvia of "gteiatic cookins. he sped after a small jtotive shadow that flirted, with _nta&h_ ea . and swiftness, between dis•Hderly skeleton lines of half-woven ] Baskets, ilt scuttled round the corner, into a BOBy street Already the giant lanterns gtanmer _ before Chinese shops. Even- j pg gossips, squat on their haunches ! gi: "along the euro, broke into ripples of g taughter. as the red-faced young Euro- ! fc|ean panted hy. hot and scowlins- at the ■ feels oi a worthless eat. The laughter | ; J"«*e to a cackle when Owen, _.mm■- ■ • -stooped and snatched, to miss 0 by a I "hand s breadth, -while Chao Phva a __n I hoisted tail and loped away in terror | | / The chase spread merriment thus for * !

furlong or two, the cat r loitering and spuTimg with diabolic hnmoar. £ren -jbntisn bluejackets, racine their iefc££ws against each other, "cheerin-. and ffP*? the coolies with their cinras ronnd rime to grin, wave passim? Pnconragement. or shout satiricaj adttern chase, ga'nor.'" . . I ~\ a r tail! f - - Mole away." . . . "Well |Chao Phya led br some thirty v 3 rd. p* suddenly, before a whitewashed 3Sr*. a burl - T ' Uttle man in "HeWs »«kb jumped before hhn. blocked hhn ready foci, and scooped him up IoSi th ir* 7™ Came t0 a halt - 'Ten pilars for the eat!*' he cried. "The E*« makes him worth it." he added' I ia« sailor looked at the animal T-en •i Pa widened his mouth. - 'E's tout B*""{| =s answered. ; . -carlett pulled ont the money. snatched But ™ of the **ts he pulled up, and. in a fury of EPS 0 ""-"*.- acknowledged defeat. The {g£■■ was gone. . the oriettt - a disconsolate firmade his wav home, fo-i; ■ oefclom - jotting down his needs all VwT >Tardrt>te ' fee reflected. -Tou're - « ttrt<* left to mc, Chao. But we had £"">«*, lifted his nose in a ffis sht "*-e m the ±' t -** llt - -the middle bell was missins. CHAPTER Vm. 'fgambo -as long to figure in Scarlett's ■ 5 W.»m Del phic city, hidden behind in■'*«fitr ked - brin s in s I -Vet? ? uesT ion in the Orient: Should IlllyS te ? L * 1Ilra? "This uncertainty, varkras guises of confi«id ' i, t ? palr ' resi sn at i c >a. prolonged tffl aff t 7 tered Ms westward course: & n r 5 * tJl e oracle gave answer, in a fei ß \ enTelo P c , inscribed with the TfrT-v that had saved his *Col v t " on3aE( i miles away. was a joyful place'; and the «-. Xo-ffer_ Light winked a knowing T^ SU «.' gss aaaigererL. i 1

By HENRY MILNER RIDEOOT.

She was not lost yet. Her letter closed: "So we shall go up the Nile at least to Assouan, and then return to Port Paid and take si/ip for Marseilles. As thaf will be about the fifteenth of next month, can't you overtake us there?'' All went happily, he reflected, as The ship slid out of the Bitter Lakes, past Seraphim, and on between the desolate banks of the canal. Tor two days yet no ship would leave Port Said for MarHe was sure to find her. Chao Phya, in snug quarters below, was sleeping out ihe voyage. The middle bell, to be sure, was gone. Only the shank of the bell, nipped off as by strong pincers, remained to prove thai their past adventures v.eie nut a dream. Whether Ho Kong had won, whether Borkman had kepi it and survived, or dying. had gi'-en it to his fries;;- Justine, they would neve:- know. "What &jml thought tfearielt -, '-inr'-ft v?l the less—not worth a grain of this lawny dust where, on tin-, rim of Egypt, he should mer-t Laura. It was high, dry no«n !.v the desert sun when—among "the erow'rN'd hulls of the world, Greek. Welsh, itillr-a, Russian. Khedival, jostling in a black smudge of smoke ar.d ' co-.l dust—his steamer crept- io her inhering* in the canal mouth. And as U-z as'liis .Arab could row to the quay. Scarlett made for the shipping ofiices. All remaining docbts he soon resolved; for there. booked among the neit week's sailing---, he found the names of Aunt -Tulia and her niec-j. He dispatched a dragooan for his trunks, brought Chao Phya ashore, mewing, in a basket, and settled down at the least dingy hotel "n Per: Said to w.-it with content As he gave his biie°, tbe manager surprised him by saying: " Your friend has expected you- He has inquired several riuies.'' "What friend?" asked Owen. Tbe manager could not remember—was not sure that the gentleman ha 1 given his name: but he was a tall, clean-shaven man of military appearance, though very V^e —in fact, plainly an invalid. He had spoken, said the manager, as though he lived in Alexandria. Ko one in the roll-call of memory answered to the description: no one in all , Egypt, save Laura and her aunt knew I that Scarlett was to pass even through that part of the world; and he was, puzzled not a little. When tie days ! lagged by. however, and brought no news ! of the stranger. Owen gave up the matter as a mistake. On the night before the Holborows should arrive he entered his bedroom and turned ou the light. There along; the wall stood his trunks and bags"!' yawning open, their contents tumbled "in disorder. The former attempt of Ho Kong recurred to bhn so vividly that he unbolted the shutters of tbe French window md stepped out quickly, as though half expecting to see again the plump goldsmiths clerk. But this time the I Xgpmdah was -empty- __^ As niidnigh f was now past, the Intru-! der could have had choice of the four hours since dinner. Tor his pains he haxl 1 got little enough. He left all ol j Scarlet! 's few valuables, but taken his revolver and cartridges, and—strangest i ;of all—had cut in two every cake = of ! I soap in the room, had poured into a | basin a pint of excellent brandy, had I ! flayed half the leather frprn the flask j itself, and tom to shreds every one of ] | fifty lat. black Indian cigars. It seemed ' , the mischief of an ape or a madman. ' j He reported to a sleepy Arab, received his vain protestations, and was soon in I | bed. ISlecp. however, came reluctantly. | ; Long thoughts of tbe morrow filled his | mind, of how he should meet Laura of | what they should tell each other: then | these grew confused, and gave wav to a weary half sleep. j It must have been toward morning that I he found himself awake, and wondering | - Tlie room was flooded with light He ; rolled over, and through blur of sleep and i j haze of mosquito curtain saw. sitting at' the table in the middle of the room a : I stranger in grey flannel. The trembling : j brilliancy of the drop-li<rht swung just j above the close-cropped head. They eypci i , each other in silence for a moment. '-The ! stranger from Alexandria." was Owen's first rational thought: for his visitor was ' tall, square-shouldered, with a hard, uu-t p?rious face, clean of feature and pale a3 with a- mortal sickness. The thin lips • drooping cynically at the corners, the i - j deep, parenthetic gravines in either cheek I, I H«f. nnlr «.. -r„~, . i ,-_,! , *' '

. 6 a, c ,«= j i-i ui-i loot;. DUt I I bespoke a man tugged of fortune Both i the broad forehead and the heavy-! shadowed eyes, alert and thoughtful, were- • | curiously familiar. The stranger smiled. | J "Don't know mc. do you. Mr. Scar-' left?" he said, with the voice of Borkman. I "Good-morning." j The surprise brought also a presenti- ! j meat of disaster. Owen stared, incapable j of speech. j j 'One's beard does make a difference, j doesn't it?" said the other amiably. "But i I see you know my voice. No way ->f shaving that off, is there. L'nfortunat?. because the farther west of Fuez we g.-i th? ! more persons know mc whom I'm not : anxious to meet again. However. I'm hoping we part company _to-night—this morning, rather." "What do you want ?" asked Owen. ' sitting up. ' I "VThat do you suppose?'' laughed Bork- j man. ""What could have brought mc al! this way to see you. when the doctor said it would finish rue to move? What took mc down to visit your eat in the cellar of -'this battered caravanserai'? Eh? What made mc go through ail your things this evening—soap, flask, boot-heels, shavingbrush handle, cigars, the whole sub c-hiz— and your clothes since you've been asleeo ? , Come now. you're by no means an ass. i j used to believe I wasn't, till that morning j I lost lay temper aboard th? Muting- i Fang. That was my misplay in this game. J wasn't it?" "If you mean the ruby that Ho Kong I told mc about/ said Owpru "I haven't it. I've never even seen it." Borkman shrugged his great Siou'iders, but stopped with a twitch."as of pain. "That hurt my sickv'-' he remarked. thing's barely healing. So you've never seen it. eh. Naturally, that's the first light in which yon'd wish to view the affair. Please reconsider. I've another argument to br ng forward Ister, if necessary." "I haven't it." repeated Owen. "You've taken yonr journey for nothing. I've thought either you had it, or the goldsmith's clerk." "Think again." said Borkman satirically. "When you saw Ho Kong cutting mc ap there in the carriageway, I'd just come fconr-faribißg && && eat of the servants'

quarters. There wasn't light enough or | time enough for mc to unlock the collar |or cut it off. As for the goldsmith's coolie, : he hopped out of those bushes and knifed jme like winking. The beastly cat jumped I straight out of mv arms into yours. ivTell?" j "i didn't know that." said Owen. "That make* it more of a.puzzle than pver." He ■ recounted briefly his denlicjrs in Sicj/a- ----■ pore-. "So you see you're here for noj thing." I "Interesting story, and well told." adI mitted Borkman. smiling "Only 1 tlon't

j believe a word of it. Xow. it's time you . =aw things in tbat other light I spoke of. ■ Here's what may persuade you."' He i withdrew his hand from the table, and ' ' disclosed a black, polished object—th? i i missing revolver. "I should regret v.-ing j ; this, both for your sake and my own. But ' 'my affairs are at such a low ebb, no- ] ] thin-; c-an make them much worse. And j j the tlung itself is a good, tidy fortune. ! I'll give you em« minute to t.ll where; you've stowed it. Tf:rn. if you are still . stubborn, I"! begin firing promptly, and j Ihe odds are I'll pot you fir.-t shot. You'd ' i best not move in tie meantime." He unhooked his watch, laid it on the table, and studied it for an instant, like a . lecturer preparin,- to speaking by the jelial. j "Minute begins now."' he announced. I The ticking sounded loud and distinct. I "Ton don't dare to. in this hotel." j Ov-v.' manned to speak calmly. J ! 'Don't I"'" i.-'-.urUsd Borkmau. '"Wait j . an! see. I'll put tne revolver beside i : you. leave this good-bye cliit for .he girl j —yon know "now well I do your hand-| writing-; wish there were time to read you my bit of composition—then go out ' by the veranda, bolt the shutters in :

; the same vay that I unbolted them. "No ; one else eSn your floor. Clear coze, eh? ' Telo de se!" Grinning, he bent toward. tbe vr__h. 'Half-tiaie. Anything to ' sa.*"""'' j ■;' "I give you my word of honour.'' =aid - ' si-rcviy. .hit I've never seen the! f.'."ne. that 1 haven't it now, and ".hit ■ tl'l know where it is."' ; ■>. ;j»lo face. si range ana ye - - well- I kn-.v>"! r.'-eaide.i him, uncdianging. f.-eti ! , --Ti- ,i i >i_ light. The tiny voice of j T : ir.2 e.-n'.ir.u _. brisk as a cricke-r. A' sense of monstrous unfairness oppressed! I hirri. t"mt on the eve of rejoining Laura. , this could happen, and for soroethins ; that he hid neither sought nor pos" ': sessed - ! "Pa-t three-quarters,"' said Borkman. ,He raise-i the eloquent, cold muzzle, -peel : like saying anything. j """** hat's the use', rejoined Scarlett 1 j angrily. _ gave you my word of I ! honour."' | I A few seconds of silence followed; j j then Borkman lowered his hand. j "Wish I had a drink." he grumbled. ' j'""Haven't had one since the doctor cut! -mc off. Might as well, though. As i 'J you say. what is lii_ use? 1"C n it,! j youngster!"—he tos.-ed the pistol ou i ' the table, nodding vigorously, with an i air of disgust—"do you know. I believe j you. Wish I didn't. Wish' I had a drink. No, it wasn't courage on your | part ... or lying it out . . .. ! I just the truth. I felt that .'. . .! ! because I'd put you in a blue funk." j | "You'd noil"' cried Owen disdainfully. I

'"Then why, to be precise, are you try- j ing to rip down the curtain;"' For the first time Owen was aware j that his hand, raised and full of torn '. mosquito gauze, was tremEling violently, j "-Don't attempt lying/ __v__c_ the lug ci_\ "V; : ." ' cant. Rum thins-, these vords of' honour.'' He snapped the chain back on his -watch, stood musing, then addei I with a note of wonder: "lly word, lv j seen them make a man act against hi_ | own interest—mind you, his own in I terest. Funny things . . .*' | He pondered again. shaking his crop- ; ped head. "So Giles Borkman is on his blooming little beam-ends," he continued. ''That stone . . . the only perfect pigeonblood I've ever seen: even badly cut. it was ii fortune. Well, makee finish! The pockmarked coolie has it. I dare say, or the other Chinaman. Yes. that's where gone. They followed us down to the Straits, just as Ho Konz did; and if I could bribe the servants that evening, why, so could they—and before I arrived."' He looked very white and old as he stood there, a tired giant, stroking, by forc:e ol" habit, his- ba*e chin. '"'Xot all beer and skittles, is it?" he inquired, eyeing Scarlett as though out of a reverie. "I mean my sort of pidgin, you know. "Now, it's back to the East again. There's a Bibbv to Fail this morning early. God knows what next .... perhaps 1"U makee finish myself, eh? Had some queer thoughts lying on my back so long By the way. tell the ladies that their shipmate, the invalid gentleman, sends them his salaam. I travelled all the way here with them, knowing you'd turn up. of course."

He edged closer to the table, picked np the revolver, snapped it open, jingled the cartridges in his palm. "You never can tell just how far to trust these word-of-honour persons. after all,"' he explained. "Words of honour! Anyway, good-bye, my boy.'' Something in the painful movempnt=. the downcast face the air of defeat, evoked a kindly feeling as Owen replied: , "Good-bye. I wish you luck, Bork- , man. and a better pidgin.'' "Don't preach." he answered with a | grimace. "That's how you have always ! made mc tired. Thanks, ail the same." ! Ho unhooked tlie door, went out and closed it. Suddenly, opening it again. lie thrust in his head, and fixed the ' young man with a long scrutiny. "1 don't see what it is about you." he [ declared, as if in deep perplexity. "Why - didn't I pull trigger then? Humph! Anil do you recall kicking mc once - ; What do you think? Turned Christian, or am [ fey? You're beyond mc. . . . And ret. talk of your open books " 1 He withdrew his head, shut the door. ! md departed. After a space, however, he i returned and looked in once more grin- 1 ning sourly. "That must be the reason ! why you can never read anyone else. I l'hat Holborow girl —nice little thin": may interest you to know, she's head over heels in love with a young idiot.'' This time h« was gone forever, leaving Scarlett bolt upright, with his mind ! in a whirl. And yet this fmal message, which at the dawn was worth all the dangers he had passed, became by daylight the pal- I est mockery and dream; for that after- I noon, as he walked with Laura, it did not in the least encourage or avail him. Their ship was to sail naxt morning: Aunt Julia was dispatching a multitude of letters: they had shared half th" ' bright day. He had unfolded the full I history of Chao Phya and the lost ruby ' of Burmah; the cat himself now trotted < with them along the Quai Francois i Joseph, as they gave him, with fluctuate j ing success, his first lesson in following to hee!: nothing remained for Owen but I to toll his own story: yet the sun was drawing down behind Lake Menzaieh, | md still their talk idled in generalities! Never, of any one in his life before, had ! he been so arraid.

They loitered out on the long breakwater, and passed beside the pedestal on which' the bronze De Lesseps, stiff and , commonplace. wave> clumsy permission to sailor nation- who hold the gorgeou- ! East iv fee. Tour times, between this ; statue and the end of the breakwater. I Owen began-, and lour times Laura, con- j strained "and .wary, slipped away like the j poet's filly in the fields. "How l"anr= a ruby could they put in- , side the bell?"' sh" asked irrelevantly. I "Who cares?"' =aid Owen. "But I'll show ynu." Au old Arab perched on the edge, fish- i

ing—a little heap of bait beside bim. j his provender of unripe dates forming a vcrmillioi! puddle in the suuiigM. He . dent his knife courteously, with a i wrinkled smile. I Owen caught up Ohao Phya, and pried at ime of the remaining bells. I "Do be careful, commanded Laura. I "You'll cut him. You wouldn't care, j would you? Men don't like cats."' i.ie edges of the cockie-shc-11 begn-n ' slowly to gape. i j "Lv-.e vie, love my dog." said Owen : 1 suddenly, looking up. "That holds, even . jwith a .Siamese cat. Laura . . ." I His voice trembled. Both had turned , la little paie. and the girl, studying t j broad squares of stone, woidd have drawn , j away. But they stood now at the out<-r----jr.H-st verge: and. ss !;e continued speak- ' linp. she could (md no way of escape. The I moist wind fluttered her skirts. Thjdark waves of the Mediterranean, mother l i sea ,-f onr anxious western world, danced J ito.-ard then; from the sunset. . j Something tinkled at. tiieir feet. In ' ith?ir ha-ppy trouble and confusion they I ' giuneed down. I i Ho Kong had fooled them one and alt. i Ihr.d piayed his own hand and lost: for

th"re, on the warm-lighted granite, shone J ,i peib'ole brighter than the dates, brighter : dan the blood it bad cost. j "Ob!'' cried Laura. Iter eyes wide and i i frightened. She haa stepped back as it [from a cockatrice. ""Look,. Owen! What . He stooped, caus'nt it up, and held j hi.? closed hand over the water that j [plashed below. | ""I.'nlcss you hear mc out now,'' fie j jiureateneil "I*ll it in." (The End.)