feeling the least anxiety."

"That's just what you can do," the stranger agreed heartily," and
you can't do it too quick!" From the desk he took Billy's favorite
pipe and loaded it from Billy's tobacco-jar. But when Billy had
reached the door he called to him. "Before you go, son," he said
"you might give me a tip about this climate. I never been in the
tropics. It's kind of unhealthy, ain't it?"

His expression was one of concern.

"If you hope to keep alive," began Billy, "there are two things to
avoid----" The stranger laughed knowingly.

"I got you!" he interrupted. "You're going to tell me to cut out
wine and women."

"I was going to tell you, " said Billy, "to cut out hoping to
collect any wages and to avoid every kind of soup."

From the power-house Billy went direct to the palace. His anxiety
was great. Now that Claire had consented to leave Hayti, the loss
of his position did not distress him. But the possible loss of his
back pay would be a catastrophe. He had hardly enough money to take
them both to New York, and after they arrived none with which to
keep them alive. Before the Wilmot Company could find a place for
him a month might pass, and during that month they might starve. If
he went alone and arranged for Claire to follow, he might lose her.
Her mother might marry her to Paillard; Claire might fall ill;
without him at her elbow to keep her to their purpose the voyage to