Show n THE SALINA CALL SALINA- UTAH plunder drawn by Mahmud elephant” “But why the elephant?” my old asked Paul b o The League of Lost Causes ry h m rrnrar ®e“ the Romantic Adrenturei of Paul Lane American Millionaire The Moroccan Treaty (Copyright 1913 by AUL LANE bad spent two weeks tn Paris In dally communication with Jean Rosny secretary to the League of Lost Causes But though be had learned many things he had not yet learned the Identity of the mysterious woman at whose bidding he had gone to Europe to millions for an Impractica- W Q Chapman) daring minds behind the He faltered as he asked: conspiracy ' le— does ' moment “One Rosny know of my projected Mademoiselle mission?” “It is at her own suggestion "And by your Rosny answered of it my accomplishment friend you will undoubtedly win favor with her and hasten the day when her identity will be revealed to you and you will acquire high rank in our councils” Jean Rosny had shrewdly guessed Paul Lane’s secret The American blushed like a schoolboy then rising he answered: “I shall be ready to start when you Instruct me” “Good” answered the other "Now Paul you will have cause to exercise for the Frenchmen are diplomacy utilizing the services of a very notorious character — none less than Mademoiselle Guepin” “Of the Moulin Rouge?” cried Paul In surprise "Precisely It will not be the first time that France will have made use of her women for the accomplishment of her purposes The Sultan Is no-toriously susceptible to the charms of the other sex and it is said that Mademoiselle has already Guepin reached Fez Installed herself in th household of the Shereefa the Sultan’s principal wife and begun to acinfluence over quire an unbounded " her and him So you see Paul that you have a hard problem to solve Waste no time then but take the next steamship from Marseilles to Tanglers and then — good luck to the past you!" At the head of this formidable conTwo days later Paul Lane sailed was believed to be Alfonso federacy for Morocco In his pocket he carof Spain that irresponsible ried bills and gold coin to the value boyish of $20000 adventurous ruler whose chafing It was a case in which spirit typified the revolt of the old as It seemed to him the possession against the new Himself a Bourbon of money would play a considerable and a close friend of the deposed part He longed to acquit himself jManoel of Portugal he led the lesser well of his mission All the way potentates who were allied with him across the Mediterranean he dreamed Against this league of the "Reds” as of (be beautiful unknown Austrian “they were contemptuously termed by whom he had met only to lose so their opponents the kings and states- swiftly upon the shores of Long Islmen of the more powerful countries and That was two months ago had allied themselves in a union Then he had been nothing but a glorl which supposed to have its headquarfled clerk in the huge industrial mill ters In Paris was called the “Blacky of New York — now he was playing a cabinet The struggle was none the man’s part In the world as he had sacrifice his ble ideal' Of the gigantic scope of the new however secret movement he had formed a tolerably clear Idea Working In different countries and under various guises It aimed always at the various end: the revival of the monarchical Idea In Europe and in particular the restoration of the ancient lines of kings In England Its object was to discredit the monarchy by stirring up social disquietude with the ultimate end of replacing the Hanoverian dynasty by a representaIn France ignortive of the Stuarts It aimed te revive ing the Bonapartes the glorleB of the Orleans family In Sweden it supported the heirs of the Vasa dynasty against the plebeian de scendants of Napoleon’s marshal Bernadotte of peasant birth who occupied the throne It was for Manoel In Portugal for the Sobieskl dynasty In Poland for the heirs to the old Tuscan In and Sicilian kingdoms it was sup Italy And everywhere ported by men of the highest rank and position who had turned against and looked back with lovdemocracy ing reverence upon the traditions of less profound because knowledge of it was confined almost entirely to the chancelleries of Europe On the fifteenth morning after his arrival In Paris Jean Rosny called After upon Paul Lane at his hotel an Informal chat the Frenchman suddenly became very serious “You were saying to me only yesterday my friend that you feared we cared more for your millions than "You have ifor yourself” he said Ibegged that you be permitted to display your worth In our movement to make Invaluable to our yourself cause The league is in urgent need bf one who shall go on a delicate You speak Spanish as well as you do French I believe?" "Yes” answered Paul “I spent two years in Buenos Aires as representative of my father’s firm” Then let “Excellent my dear Paul jne describe the situation to you You are aware that events of moment are You have in Morocco? impending f them in the newspapers of :read course and have made no sense out of them as with us all England seem and Germany France Spain to be striving each to obtain possession of that unhappy country The real situation Is this: “England and France are united In Each their opposition to Germany side is desperately endeavoring to checkmate the other there who Spain — our poor Spain alone of all nations is entitled to the of the Moorish empire — is reversion In the face of her mighty powerless antagonists Her claims are put by Alfonso for a purpose as yet unsuspected: to set Europe by the ears In others words if Spain can Induce the Sultan to assign to her the protectorate of the country England and France will be at the throat of whose puppet they believe Germany And so it Is necessary Spain to be to induce the Sultan to sign a protectorate over his country to Spain You understand Paul?” "A difficult problem" answered “Even the MoorPaul thoughtfully ish Sultan is not going to barter away his empire” answered “On 'the contrary” Rosny “the Sultan dreads and fears "France whose envoys are even now Fez the capital with a approaching The Sultan treaty in their hands and the Moors still hold a more exidea of the power of Spain aggerated than she is entitled I fear to expect If you can forestall the Frenchmen all that the accomplish you will Of course Spain league asks of you will gain nothing by It but at least there will be the chance of a Euroweakpean war and the consequent and ening of the power of England our strongest enemies not Germany restorof a to speak of the possibility ation of the Orleans house in France” at the Paul Lane was astounded and scheme empires Kingdoms seemed but as checker pieces to the ways longed V’Beeause pull a dozen man Monsieur Mahmud to that load equivalent horses” answered the would of a circus alls of solid masonry a through bronse door’ which the minister opened and immediately closed behind him Paul found himself alone completely shut off from access to the other portions of the palace— no not alone for there in the center of the court confronting him with raised trunk and gleaming tusks was a huge bull elephant As Paul stared at this apparition the monster trumpeted shrilly and rushed toward him Its swinging trunk like an enormous flail There existed no doubt whatever as to Its intentions Paul dodged agilely and ran past the beast which too bulky to turn swiftly butted Its massive forehead against the masonry Immediately behind the place which Paul had occupied "The passage to the halls of paradise is always a difficult one monsieur” exclaimed a charming female voice "Walk Mahmud through! will not longer desire to hurt you In front of you Is a door In the ma- “And this Mahmud of yours?" "Alas he too is in Fes He would not leave Mademoiselle Guepin for she had acquired a wonderful power over him It was a strange contrast that frail delicate woman and the beast A rogue elephant he great was monsieur a furious monster of I Even whom all stood in dread But ceuld hardly manage him Mademoiselle Guepin could make him heed her lightest word and by reason of her power bver him she has acquired the reputation of a prophetess superstitious the among Moora he continued They say” “that she la a secret agent of France Of that I know nothing except that At any all women love to intrigue rate If France does not make use of sonry” that admirable woman she will not Stumbling forward humiliated and be the France Paul found the entrance I know and love for chagrined with aid Morocco Is already hers” so cunningly set In the wall that it had the He entered Paul was greatly Impressed by escaped his notice an apartment decorated sumptuously circus owner’s naive confidences Here was a problem requiring all the in the French style to find himself strength of his courage and the re- confronting a woman of about thirty sources of his brain years attractive of face but someA treacherous what bold of aspect and dressed in beautiful unscrupulous womruler the latest Parisian fashion an and a rogue elephant “So you are the gentleman who It was In the guise of a concession her a given much to have the freedom of the French camp again After waiting for half an hour in dire perplexity he began to examine his surroundings There was a large hall adjoining the room in which he sat and Paul strolled Into it It was a small narrow chamber without outlet and evidently formed the inmost portion of the palace for it was heaped with an of treasures astonishing display A sound at the outside door distracted him from his speculations and he passed back hastily into the- anteroom just In time to give the impression of having been waiting there to a Short fat man of middle age attired in an Immaculate who strode white robe and turbgn fiercely in accompanied by the cringing Interpreter whom Paul had left at the palace gates Behind them apShe smiled peared the Frenchwoman at Paul no longer but ranged herself at the side of the Sultan and began He In tones passionate speaking listened and nodded then spoke curtly to the interpreter "What do you want?” asked the latter briskly of Paul “Tell him" said Paul slowly "that I will speak with him In the presence of his council” The woman interpreted and the darkened He scowled Sultan's brc savagely at fft)l "His majesty says that he will Bpeak yrith jrgu In he present surrounding the market placa were! thousands of Moors and they wore all uttering exultant cries and pointAnd in the cening at the prisoner ter of the court a writhing blur of! black" against the white pavement1 flags was the rogue elephant struggling in the chains which 60 men held in their iron sockets fixed in the ground and trumpeting blasts Muley Abdul stood up and a suddem hush fell upon the assemblage so that his thin tones were clearly audit ble on all sides of the market place He spoke and cackles and shouts ofl derlaion his sentences punctuated When he had concluded his speech! the Interpreter rose and addressed Paul Lane “His majesty says” he began "that you are a Spaniard who has come here to steal away this country Therefore you shall test your strength against France in the market place If you conquer then Morocco will place herself under tlfie protection of your country but if you lose you will be torn to pieces by the wild elephant Let Allah decide!” Paul did not wholly understand but he was not long in doubt when with a bound that would have done credit to any acrobat Mademoiselle Guepin flung aside her cloak and sprang into the market place displaying herself a commanding figure in tights and" spangles whfi a Iq- -j Spanish cloak' such as matadors wear dropped from her shoulders and fluttered in the As she wind at every motion vanced the Moors at her Bhouted released the chains which command held the filuphaftt bnd the great fcesjjt leaped to its feet &fi4 stood unsteadifepicej ly & the center of th while hkbglii trumpeting shrilly hnd from its neck legs the Stout chains clanked at every movement With its angry little eyes peering out on either lids of Its enormous trunk Its curved tusks sharp as scimitars menacingly thrust forward It was a spectacle to appall the stoutest heart Yet p A 4 when Mademoiselle Guepin apits trunk quivdropped sank on its knees before her Thus with head humbly lowered it received her caresses Mademoiselle arose and Guepin aside She whispered In the leaped elephant’s ear and motioned to It to rise Then standing some distance with folded arms she quietly away surveyed Paul as he stood waiting the ouset of the great lumbering proached it ered and ' beast The elephant stood watching him Another word from the woman and it broke into a shrill scream of fury raised its trunk and bore down upon He stood appalled by the American the terror of the spectacle until it was within five yards of then I6t'‘wtne he sprang to one side monster careen past him A shout of delight went up from the throats of the encircling multitude This was the finest sport that they had seen The elephant turned and charged down upon Paul again he Again sprang to one side but this time the beast was warier It turned him but the sweep of its trunk was so near that Paul felt a thrill of terror go through him The stoutest nerves could not endure that It was a question of moments long He looked up in front of him only the guards had ranged themselves with drawn swords before their sova hostile wall of Moors ringed ereign him in the center of the market- W to do At Tanglers he spent several days familiarizing himself with the conditions of the country Then purchas ing camels and the necessary outfit he joined a caravan which was proceeding into the- interior under the protection of a bodyguard of French troops He was amazed to find that the presence of the Guepin woman was already known to the men and even the purpose of her mission Her life had been an adventurous one Born on the road into a company of strolling players she had acquired a reputation second to none among the adventuresses of olden times Ministers of state publicists leaders of France had fallen victims to her before it occurred to some high dignitary of France to utilize her for the conquest of the Moorish Sultan She had arrived jn Tanglers a month or two before and had gone into the interior with a circus company then parading throughout Morocco with its trained lions and performing elephants to the Intense delight of the natives After a week in the capital the circus manager had withdrawn toward the coast loaded with honors— but Guepin bad remained the protegee of the Sultan’s principal lady in her magnificent bouse in Fez hunter that he went to the Sultan’s So much Lane learned further de- palace immediately after his arrival tails came to him unexpectedly on the leaving his equipment In the French when there came camp outside the walls French troops tenth morning were In possession of the citadel the Btraggllng along the road the remnants of the very circus which had city was French— but Morocco was to Fez not yet taken Guepin French and technically “Never again do I enter Africa France was merely his majesty’s ally Paul monsieur” said the proprietor to against the rebellious tribes Paul as they sat that night over the found everything in confusion at the palace The Sultan morose and decampfire "Had I not gone to Fez should now be In possession of my spondent had shut himself up in his animals —the finest lot that ever left palace with his favorite wife the He had executed two of France and all Imported by me from Shereefa Monsieur Hagenbeck’s menagerie at his ministers as traitors and had dismissed of and owh off remainder all my had cut the Hamburg training relations Now — see what Is left! with the French garrison Assuredly France must recompense me for my and alternately planned war upon them losses” and sent presents to Comman“But his majesty’s presents — " In- der Calllard In token of fealty Under plea of indisposition the Sultan terrupted Paul France was all gone “Gone monsieur” cried refused to see them the owner wringing his hands "Stol- growing impatient the treaty must en by the accursed Moors And the be signed acknowledging the French If Paul could present star of my collection the beautiful protectorate and unrivalled Mademoiselle Guepin his credentials and obtain his majesthe French would be — even she is lost to me ty's signature Ah monsieur I worshipped that woman with checkmated and the struggle would to the chancellories blind devotion And she left me for be transferred of Madrid and Paris while England neFor Moor monsieur a a what? gro — for what else are these Arabs and Germany would instantaneously a mobilize their but negroes masquerading p8 branch of the white race? For a “Tell him” said Paul to his black man and a handful of jewels! terpreter a shrewd old Moor whom It is a treasure house that palace in he had ngaged at a lavish wage and Fez such as might turn the bead of pledged to silence “tell him that I wish to The marvels monsieur! any woman speak with him upon a matThere are moving picture displays ter concerning the Khalifate” the crowns of gold rubies and sapMuch mystified Paul entered the and as large as eggs phires a palace courtyard pearls passed through mechanical toys and guns of gold and number oft rooms richly adorned silver — it is the wonder of the world! with arabesques and hung with carO for an hour inside and a stout pets of brilliant hues and emerged wagon in which to pack Iny choice of Into a small open space with high Cs place Mademoiselle Guepin stood watching' smiling anticipating her triumph Paul turned and ran blindly panting his fingers clenched at his sides They closed on something in his hip pocket and as he ran he drew it forth He stared at It without comprehension The monster was close behind He turned the elephant turned too and there ensued again that hideous flight and that pursuit behind ffiem appeared But Paul was staring at the thing In his hand now and beginning to reJbe Frenchwoman member how it had come there He had pocketed It while in the apartments of the Sulwishes to see the Sultan" said the council as you have requested to- tan It was a clockwork mouse swish of the Again that flail of a “You may state your morrow morning” said young woman the interwants to me What nation do you preter “Will you have the goodness trunk went through the air Paul turned This time the elephant was come to this represent?" way?” prepared for his manoeuvre but it “I am the secretary of a syndicate At the door half a dozen soldiers in Brussels madam” said Paul glib- sprang from the ground where they did not know which way he would turn It stopped still swinging Its “We desire a land concession for had been ly squatting in the Moorish trunk and watching him with its little the discovery of rubber which is be- fashion Without violence but imbackward lieved to grow profusely near Cape peratively they compelled Paul to ac- evil eyes Paul dodged Juba If his majesty will see me — company them through numerous cor- gained twenty yards— and set down mouse the the upon It ground She looked at him and laughed ridors and rooms each of which was Chirred and rushed straight toward concealed by a heavy curtain until monster "There is no rubber near Cape they arrived at a small cell plainly the The trunk went down The beast Juba” she answered "Rubber Is as- furnished in the European fashion stood still A shrill scream broke sociated with moist climates and Paul spent the rest of the day there from it — and tropical verdure my dear Paul Lane" and the night that came after not and bolted suddenly it turned tall away Paul started up In confusion tasting the food which was brought to across the Its bulk “No but you must assuredly see him for fear of poison Guebetween Paul and Mademoiselle his majesty after gone When the first shafts of the rising pin she had not seen having the cause of Its through such perils” said the young sun struck through his window his confusion But as toward It rushed woman "As a representative of the captors unlocked the door and ushered looked and saw she her with and interests of— Spain is it not? Pardon him into a closed carriage drawn by of piercing shrieks the Honeycomb me if I am forgetful for we have so two Arab stallions which waited outParadise and Footstool of Gabriel many applicants seeking to wring side in the courtyard One of the cast her cloak over her head and something from poor Morocco — as a men entered with him the blinds ran also-- ran of the through clusters representative of Spain you must not were drawn across the carriage win- laughing howling Moors out of the be allowed to return without having dows and they drove for an inter- market place and up the long street accomplished When at last the toward the palace of the Sultan something Besides” she minable period cryadded “Mahmud is very angry about carriage halted and Paul descended ing for aid her skirts drawn taut something this morning and hard as he was almost blinded by the blaze of But far in front of her roaring with the journey was the return from the fierce tropical sunlight which beat fear and dismay lumbered the bulky palace will perhaps prove still more upon him so that for some time he form of Mahmud the rogue elephant arduous” could hardly grasp his relationship to seeking the safety of its cemented She ushered him Into a large ante- the outside world walled enclosure I room “If you will wait here will He was in the palace no longer but Paul Lane drew from his pocket the summon his majesty and your interof the city draft of the treaty of protectorate in the great preter” she said and the door clicked of Fez He stood before a sort of and went up to the place where the behind her Paul tried It It was raised dais on which squatted the Sultan sat locked Moorish Sultan close beside him “Allah has decided” he said to the At that moment In the clutches of Mademoiselle Guepin resting upon a interpreter and held out the docubis enemy who had evidently obtainwhile ranged around ment pile of cushions ed secret Information of his arrival him were his councillors and bodyAnd In big painted Arabic lettera thence in trapped in the gin into which he had guard the the Shadow of Allah affixed his sigExtending so foolishly stepped Paul would have form of a large circle nature completely M r h |