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the barriers of friendship that divided us； and to take her； if I could； between sunrise and dark； abetted by neither moonlight nor music nor foreign wiles。
Chloe gave no sign of bestowing her blithe affections upon either of us。 But one day she let out to me an inkling of what she preferred in a man。 It was tremendously interesting to me； but not illuminating as to its application。 I had been tormenting her for the dozenth time with the statement and catalogue of my sentiments toward her。
〃Tommy；〃 said she； 〃I don't want a man to show his love for me by leading an army against another country and blowing people off the earth with cannons。〃
〃If you mean that the opposite way；〃 I answered； 〃as they say women do； I'll see what I can do。 The papers are full of this diplomatic row in Russia。 My people know some big people in Washington who are right next to the army people； and I could get an artillery commission and〃
〃I'm not that way；〃 interrupted Chloe。 〃I mean what I say。 It isn't the big things that are done in the world； Tommy； that count with a woman。 When the knights were riding abroad in their armor to slay dragons； many a stay…at…home page won a lonesome lady's hand by being on the spot to pick up her glove and be quick with her cloak when the wind blew。 The man I am to like best； whoever he shall be； must show his love in little ways。 He must never forget； after hearing it once； that I do not like to have any one walk at my left side； that I detest bright…colored neckties； that I prefer to sit with my back to a light； that I like candied violets； that I must not be talked to when I am looking at the moonlight shining on water； and that I very； very often long for dates stuffed with English walnuts。〃
〃Frivolity；〃 I said； with a frown。 〃Any well…trained servant would be equal to such details。〃
〃And he must remember；〃 went on Chloe； to remind me of what I want when I do not know； myself； what I want。〃
〃You're rising in the scale；〃 I said。 〃What you seem to need is a first…class clairvoyant。〃
〃And if I say that I am dying to hear a Beethoven sonata； and stamp my foot when I say it； he must know by that that what my soul craves is salted almonds； and he will have them ready in his pocket。〃
〃Now；〃 said I； 〃I am at a loss。 I do not know whether your soul's affinity is to be an impresario or a fancy grocer。〃
Chole turned her pearly smile upon me。
〃Take less than half of what I said as a jest；〃 she went on。 〃And don't think too lightly of the little things； Boy。 Be a paladin if you must； but don't let it show on you。 Most women are only very big children； and most men are only very little ones。 Please us； don't try to overpower us。 When we want a hero we can make one out of even a plain grocer the third time he catches our handkerchief before it falls to the ground。〃
That evening I was taken down with pernicious fever。 That is a kind of coast fever with improvements and high…geared attachments。 Your temperature goes up among the threes and fours and remains there； laughing scornfully and feverishly at the cinchona trees and the coal… tar derivatives。 Pernicious fever is a case for a simple mathematician instead of a doctor。 It is merely this formula： Vitality ＋ the desire to livethe duration of the fever the result。
I took to my bed in the two…roomed thatched hut where I had been comfortably established； and sent for a gallon of rum。 That was not for myself。 Drunk； Stamford was the best doctor between the Andes and the Pacific。 He came； sat at my bedside； and drank himself into condition。
〃My boy；〃 said he； 〃my lily…white and reformed Romeo； medicine will do you no good。 But I will give you quinine； which； being bitter； will arouse in you hatred and anger…two stimulants that will add ten per cent。 to your chances。 You are as strong as a caribou calf； and you will get well if the fever doesn't get in a knockout blow when you're off your guard。〃
For two weeks I lay on my back feeling like a Hindoo widow on a burning ghat。 Old Atasca； an untrained Indian nurse； sat near the door like a petrified statue of What's…the…Use； attending to her duties； which were； mainly； to see that time went by without slipping a cog。 Sometimes I would fancy myself back in the Philippines； or； at worse times； sliding off the horsehair sofa in Sleepytown。
One afternoon I ordered Atasca to vamose； and got up and dressed carefully。 I took my temperature； which I was pleased to find 104。 I paid almost dainty attention to my dress； choosing solicitously a necktie of a dull and subdued hue。 The mirror showed that I was looking little the worse from my illness。 The fever gave brightness to my eyes and color to my face。 And while I looked at my reflection my color went and came again as I thought of Chloe Greene and the millions of eons that had passed since I'd seen her； and of Louis Devoe and the time he had gained on me。
I went straight to her house。 I seemed to float rather than walk； I hardly felt the ground under my feet； I thought pernicious fever must be a great boon to make one feel so strong。
I found Chloe and Louis Devoe sitting under the awning in front of the house。 She jumped up and met me with a double handshake。
〃I'm glad； glad； glad to see you out again！〃 she cried； every word a pearl strung on the string of her sentence。 〃You are well； Tommyor better； of course。 I wanted to come to see you； but they wouldn't let me。
〃Oh yes；〃 said I； carelessly； 〃it was nothing。 Merely a little fever。 I am out again； as you see。〃
We three sat there and talked for half an hour or so。 Then Chloe looked out yearningly and almost piteously across the ocean。 I could see in her sea…blue eyes some deep and intense desire。 Devoe； curse him！ saw it too。
〃What is it？〃 we asked； in unison。
〃Cocoanut…pudding；〃 said Chloe； pathetically。 〃I've wanted someoh； so badly； for two days。 It's got beyond a wish； it's an obsession。
〃The cocoanut season is over；〃 said Devoe； in that voice of his that gave thrilling interest to his most commonplace words。 〃I hardly think one could be found in Mojada。 The natives never use them except when they are green and the milk is fresh。 They sell all the ripe ones to the fruiterers。〃
〃Wouldn't a broiled lobster or a Welsh rabbit do as well？〃 I remarked； with the engaging idiocy of a pernicious…fever convalescent。
Chloe came as near to pouting as a sweet disposition and a perfect profile would allow her to come。
The Reverend Homer poked his ermine…lined face through the doorway and added a concordance to the conversation。
〃Sometimes；〃 said he； 〃old Campos keeps the dried nuts in his little store on the hill。 But it would be far better； my daughter； to restrain unusual desires； and partake thankfully of the daily dishes that the Lord has set before us。〃
〃Stuff！〃 said I。
〃How was that？〃 asked the Reverend Homer； sharply。
〃I say it's tough；〃 said I； 〃to drop into the vernacular； that Miss Greene should be deprived of the food she desires…a simple thing like kalsomine…pudding。 Perhaps；〃 I continued； solicitously； 〃some pickled