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Show CiuwroBD vTMAhhjn bfiWHOR Of, VMAatiCdCA" "ARETHUMt'tTCM V JQ07 BY nttAfUOM CRAWFORD SYNOPSIS dltferently, but surrey Ing the two men through the white mist of her became enamored thick veil. . ar.strantf-r who was f,un bearded in the "Yes," said Mrs. Rushmore with demi Antral Asia, and t''rfKher hom in and almost whispering in her PV'L i.im the location of a mine light, "He has seen us, and iV,.i. i it tlmt th utranKor would excitement. now he's telling the count who we the cave by the to lowed i.i 1. nn lha Mil. are." " Xhw off the water supply, Margaret was used to her excellent coimln .a,'"'n .unle. to die. Baraka's . , old friend's ways on such occasions, C tn ,.i,mh r hlir ilrllffHoV.klnK the .nine: was and gave no more heed to them than ....... n.l Uuiiri pkr. she would have given to a kitten tunnel, and scampering after a ball of fI"? I way but oF rlth.and string. The ,l rtlnf. "iTur gatheredcarrying all the Kiuen would certainly catch tlte ball In pur- - in the end, and Mrs. Rimhrnore I raVry. aiid'Marted would (Margarita da as Muririirel Hon. became the capture surely donna, , prima, to Konatan In Lo- -t Mr. Van Torn raised his hat whon in l".ndon Greek financier. Her Leven. he was within four nr na t Countess L Vend wai ..... ivhnun husband me laaies, and his companion, who ..... iiu .any m.nirtin hi. bomb a n hill'", "y. .",.,. Int mate was a head and shoulders taller than v i nun a ami I i.',,c,,. Van Torp, an Amerl. he, slackened bis pace and stopped a WHS .. . i nna nne ill ine rn:ii-i" '" ' : Z Torn wa In love little way behind him as Mrs. UuRh-morvn a u'nd rushed to shook hands and Margaret I He "'" h lw betrothal. V Her pet nodded pleasantly. P. mly Maud "May 1 present Count Kralinsky?" If Khe would am ' wl I. asked the American. M "I've met htm a ruby to before, and we've Just renewed our le HI v'r: Y.''n.1"r,, i,v acquaintance." V' ' him k ave Mr. Van Torp looked from Mrs. " of hPr nld "lt, r tn.- A'oi Rushmore to Margaret, and tried to n ii.cn in'' ' of the one ahe see her expression u the through her veil. followed The American .... .i..l foot I Margaret She answered his look by a very . l'livreinn i'inii" in,i.r r Van Torn, who pre. slight inclination of the head. !md Tr with ii iilira,ka "We shall be delighted," said the a believed elder lady, Bpeaking for both. Vanl Torp Hivretith. it the' one Haraka w? pursuing on the In Iindon HM arretted a jew-- ,' f atealinK from llnney. to sold Logotheti. nibv ahe had rii cers were the thieves. Idyhllevd that UiKOineui s Bswwmw ou. kith Haraka were Margaret. UU so informed .irUr 4 "ly. f rot IN LET X Ttafel , but .V tl t 'ould am h uuanj DO good I d to tr; it I had J Cuticunl e t iges, it J i with ft. prV-ent- cd k used tor iigthemi! with thfJ . eh;!-- I in to thiu 11, but Cuticunl tl igns ot bird aid : commei i ieled ol : yielded it '.,, ,r . m-i- n say tkl a strong HAPTER VIII- - irer saw t a or mor- - Continued. i mars' liout . furtber consulting I.no naui ocawcu Vi nracil f hofnro sslng table. Potts proceeded to blacK straw the thick brown hair; she then an immense white veil over it, Bt under her mistress' chin and id it in a way that would nave a seaman. n Margaret was putting on her Mrs. Rushmore herself came door, knocked and opened dlabefore there was any answer, dear child," she asked, "what world is the matter? Nothing Robert :., '""""""" ."!' W'vL body tii l s one poor ,., in. : enumerating their acquaintances. Kralinsky was surprised at the number of Mrs. Rushmore's friends, but the count seemed to know everybody, from all the grand dukes and arch dukes In Russia, Germany, and Austria, to the author of the latest successful play in Paris, and the man of science who had discovered bow to cure gout by radium. Kralinsky had done the cure, seen the play, and dined with the royalties within the last few weeks. Mrs. Rushmore thought him one of the most charming men she had ever met. In the rear Mr. Van Torp and the prima donna were not talking; but he looked at her, she looked at him, they both looked at Kralinsky's back, and then they once more looked at each other and nodded; which meant that Van Torp had recognized the man he had met selling rubles In New York, and that Margaret understood this. "I'll tell you something else that's quite funny. If you don't mind dropping a little further behind," he said. Margaret walked still more slowly till a doen paces separated them from the other two. "What Is It?" she asked in a low tone. "I believe he's my old friend from whom I learned to whistle 'Parsifal,' " answered the American. "I'm pretty sure of it, in spite of a good many years and a beard two things that change a man. See his walk? See how he turns his toes in? Most cowboys walk like that." "How very odd that you should meet again!" Margaret was surprised, Chicaf.1 broad-brimme- ge. j in even. whid Ttl ifter leavd ows bri he rules 1 1 ked playerl at the :1 ;d "robberl hone thej Ids you it, I t the nerl a long he: and count-a other illy allow: r outlaws.- - ILI lit W quietly on without turning her head, being absorbed and charmed by conversation. "You may as well read the newspaper cutting now," Margaret sajd when they bad begun to walk again. "That cannot attract attention, even If she does look round, and it explains a good many things. It's in jhe thinner envelope, of course." Van Torp fumbled in the pocket of his jacket, and brought out the slip of newspaper without the envelope, a precaution wbicn Margaret noticed and approved. She watched him Intently while he read the printed report, but his face did not change In the least At that short distance she could see every shade of his expression through the white veiling, though he could not see bers at alL He finished rending, folded the slip carefully, and put In Instead ot return into his pocket-booing it to the envelope. "It does look queer," he said slowly. "Now let me ask you one thing, but don't answer me unless you like. It's not mere inquisltlveness on my part." As Margaret said nothing, though he waited a moment for her answer, he weut on. "That ruby, nowI suppose it's to be cut for you, isn't It?" "Yes. He gave It to me In and I kept It some days. Then he asked me to let him have It to take to London when I came here." "Just so. Thank you. One more question, tf I may. That stone I gave you, I swear I don't know that .It's not glass anyhow, that stono. does It look at all like the one that was stolen?" "Oh, no! It's quite another shape and size. Why do you ask? I don't quite see."( "What I mean is, If these people are around selling rubles, there may be two very much alike, that's all." "Well, if there were? What of it?" I'm only supposing, "Suppose mind, that the girl really bad another stone about her a good deal like the Kra-Husky- 's k "Yes. He tried to make me think he wasn't sure whether the creature was a boy or a girl." "Maybo he wasn't sure himself, suggested the American, but the tone-In which she had spoken the word. J "creature" had not escaped him. He was really trying to put the cas in a fair light, and was not at all maneuvering to ascertain her state of; mind. That was clear enough now. How far she might go he could not tell, but what she had just said, coupled with the way in which she, spoke ot the man to whom she waa engaged as "Mons. Logotheti." mad it quite evident that she was pro foundly Incensed against him, and Vsut Torp became more than ever anxiou not to do anything underhand. "Look here," he said, "I'm going to tell you something. I took a sort of Interest in that Tartar girl the only time I saw her. I don't know why. I dare say I was taken In by her just ordinary 'taken In,' like a tender foot. 1 gave her that fellow's ad dress In New York." He nodded to wards Kralinsky. "When I found L was here, I wired Logotheti to tell her, since she's after him. I suppose I thought Logotheti would go right away and find her, and get more. mixed up with her than ever. It was mean of mo, wasn't It? That's' why I've told you. You see, I didn't kno MaaaMBaaMsaaMMSBaMHs trust?" nothing," Margaret answered, forward to meet her, and find- - natural voice. "I'm sorry if pt you waiting. so unlike you, my dear," Mrs. lore said, with emphasis; "and looked quite grave when she t me your message half an hour r Mothers.! f every bti nd 8urerrl i n, I , lying on the counter where any one could take it is Blmply incomprehensible. That's what you heard In my voice when I said that men are credulous." Mr. Van Torp thought he had heard even more in her accent when she bad pronounced Logothetl's name. Besides, she generally called him "Logo," as all his friends did. The American said nothing for a moment, but he glanced repeatedly at the white veil, through which he saw her handsome features without their expression. "Well," he said at last, almost to himself, for he hardly expected her to understand the language of his surprise, "that beats the band!" "It really is rather odd, you know," responded Margaret, who understood perfectly. "If you think I've adorned the truth I'll give you the police court report. I have It in my glove. Lady Maud sent It to me with a letter." She added, after an instant's hesitation, "I'm not sure that I shall not give you that to read, too, for there's something about you in It, and she is your best friend, isn't she?" "Out and out. I dare say you'd smile if I told you that I asked her to help me to get you to change your mind." "No," Margaret answered, turning slowly to look at him. "She tells me so in this letter." "Does she really?" Van Torp had guessed as much, and had wished to undermine the surprise he supposed that Margaret had In store for him, "That's just like her straightforward way of doing things. She told me frankly that she wouldn't lift a finger to influence you. However, It can't be helped, I suppose." The conclusion of the speech seemed to be out of the logical sequence. "She has done more than lift a finger now," Margaret said. "Has she offended you?" Van Torp ventured to ask, for he did not understand the constant subtone of anger he heard In her voice. "I know she would not mean to do that." "No. You don't understand. I've telegraphed to ask her to Join us here." Van Torp was really surprised now, and his face showed It "I wish we were somewhere alone," Margaret continued. "I mean, out ot and have been more sur she had burst out laughing," ret said viciously. dear," Mrs. Rushmore an I "I'm astonished at you! omething has happened. I t. You are not yourself tnis would f Years, ve Always ig e Up. the bab: statement so evidently that it could not be answered a fiat contradiction; so ret said nothing, and went on tig her hand into a perfectly was a lurse take f giving It d r. Wanting. utth in deep 't k- keep Houston C llted States Ideal Foum. ho kills & ler or later him. iivkiiifr Imr itt, in Ktirtni.w iU.', IW '." w vnuill! m,: sister. . . v have not even your letters," Mrs. Rushmore led severely. "Except that,' llded. noticing the loose sheets liy Maud's letter on the toilet that you ? aret gathered them up hastily Into a crumpled package rust them Into the empty en For once, she had forgotten Minn, but she retrieved herself hlng the thick letter Into her She Watched Him Intently While He Read the Printed Report. flovo, much to Potts' distress new made an ugly lump. She made Mr. Van Torp Introduced the count but not deeply Interested by this Mar- development. to then and Rushmore pse by forclnc in the second to Mrs. "Well." said Van Torp thoughtfulw, which contained the news garet, calling her "Miss Donne." and "if I'd known I was going to meet ly, handsome was man the saw that she cutting. him had He somewhere, I'd have .said this as well as tall and strong. ready now," she said. clear was as likely a place as any to find Rushmore turned and led the a magnificent golden beard, a uncertain blue hi id In. now that I know what it was Itli stately steps; she was al complexion, and rather he wore a sin-gl- he whistled. Hut I admit that the miKwIng, but when sho was eyes, In one ot which He other matter hns more in it. I wona string. without was monumental. The two eyeglass . der what would happen if I asked no wore ut In silence, and walkly slowly was quietly dressed and in wh eh him about Miss Barrack?" one e ring, excepting Ktralght, dull street side by Nothing," Margaret answered conruby. r. Rushmore spoke first, aft blazed a large "tallow-toppeof a man fidently. "Nothing would happen. He air unmistakable "ad gone some distance He had the her." and was perfectly at his has never heard of w. she said, "that something of the world, Van Torp's sharp eyes tried in vain m uo raisea he PPened. It was In that letter, ease When a very wime iore...u, to penetrate the veil. fnnot deny it. Margaret It was he disc lowed "That's not quite clear," he obfair hair. There was ttiieu ieuer you folded In that hur- - and short n served. "Or else this Isn't my good mlddl inge inner." no sign of approaching et felt day." but Slarg. or llgure. hcwh was," answered the prima h,s face than he "The girl fooled you," said Margaii vicious. or guessed, that he was older In a low voice. "Did she mention ret P" you so. My dear child, it's looked. name to you?" Mrs. his In her stiffly correct trench, slightest ubb to trv to de "Well no" was enshe Hint ...i.t Fn. I've known you since you "She never saw him In her life, or to mae his cuiid. If bul she ever did, it was she who robbed sweetly lot trying to dncpivn von." and Margaret murmured him of rubles;' and It was not the oth1 asked what had hannened unintelligibly. Men are perfect er way, os you supposed. -"wereu, 'Nothing.' The count speaks Knsh I do not call Inclined to believe what a generally . ... Mr Van Torp. i rank, do von?" . .. girl tells them!" "IIH th(r tn hoirln ' M ' "That's true," Van Torp admitted. ., ... inaii,nr to Mrs. KUHU- J1 Margaret leav ug ii'" ,u" crossly. Rut nil the same, I don't quite under""islimore no longer heard " nmcli to her sratiJnili. stand you. There's a meaning in your " fl-- K to up, her parasol lay back not in the words. Excuba .7ftp that's voice . al.,, ..i i me if I'm not quick enough this morn-Ing- , ier timn before, and the be please. I'm doing my best" r w a social Bmile wreathed Your friend Baraka hns been ar. rested und sent to prison in Uondon lips, ConveraunuuprioMr.grave . I . ,.... in Tarls Van Tnn ' a very valuable ruby for at Versailli H are we from stealing iulte another tone, and U tie dlnn the counter in Plnney's," MargaI am hum e Kurope. had just al VL ai!( un,eM l ta """eh mis- though ret explained. "The stone Know ft t Mons. with have many mutual friends, name !! there Logotheti by taken been T .... v. II1HKV fol- vou may never have heard my to be cut. The girl must have ,'mlow yesterday when he lowed him without his knowing It tlOIm our friend will pre and wntehed her chance, though how old IMnney can have left such a thing r8ay" Margaret answered Inthorn ivR ready tint love. iomo orM ovu vi y?r, is liar. e of-sit- e Jew-elry- on earth (he thinks- e ill 11 nice-lookin- g "v. . "I." II p. TSUSA f'l ;y ance SSI - ; .A labor. lot. I "' s ft "I Took a Sort of Interest In That Tartar Girl." the way of Mrs. Rushmore. She knows nothing about all this, but she saw mo cramming the letters into my glove, and I cannot possibly let ber see me giving them to you." "Oh, well, let me think," said the millionaire. "I guess I want to buy some photographs of Bayreuth and the 'Parsifal' characters In that shop, there on the right. Suppose you wait outside tho door, so that Mrs. can see you If she turns around. She'll understand that I'm Inside. If you drop your parasol towards her you can get the letters out can't you? Then as I come out you can just pass them to me behind the parasol, and we'll go on. How's that? It won't take one second, anyhow. You can Rush-mor- e make believe your glove's uncomfortable, and you're fitting It if anybody you know comes out of the shop. Will that do? Here we are. Shall I go In?" "Yes. Don't be long! I'll cough when I'm ready." The operation succeeded, and the more easily as Mrs. Rushmore went one that was stolen, and that somebody else was the thief. Queer things like that have happened before." "Yes. But old Plnney Is one of the first experts in the world, and he swore to the ruby." "That's so," said Van Torp thoughtfully. "I forgot that." "And if she had the other stone, she had stolen R from Mons. Logotheti, I have not the least doubt." "1 daresay," replied the millionaire. "I'm not her attorney. I'm not trying to defend her. I was only thinking." "She was at his house In Paris," Margaret said, quite unable to keep her own counsel now, "It was when I was at Versailles." "You don't say so! Are you sure of that?" "He admitted it when I was talking to him through the telephone, and I heard her speaking to him In a lan guage I did not understand." "Did you really? Well, well!" Mr, Van Torp was beginning to be puz. tied again. "Nice voice, hasn't she?" ', anything about all this, and that makes It meaner still, doesn't it?" Possibly If he had told her these facts 48 hours earlier she might have been annoyed, but at present they seemed to be rather in bis favor. At all events he was frank, she thought. He declared war on his rival, and meant to fight according to the law ot nations. Lady Maud would not be bla friend it he were playing any double game, but she had stuck to him throughout his trouble in the spring, he had emerged victorious and rein stated in public opinion, and she bad been right Lady Maud knew him better than any one else, and she was a good woman. It there ever was one. , Yet be had accused himself ot having acted "meanly." Margaret did not like the word, and threw up her head as a horse does when a beginner holds on by the curb. "You need not make yourself out worse than you are." she answered. ' "I want to start fair," said the millionaire, "and I'd rather your Impression should Improve than get worse. The only real trouble with Lucifer was he started too high up." This singular statement was made with perfect gravity, and without the slightest humorous intention, but Margaret laughed for the first time that day. In spite of the storm that was sliil raging in the near distance of her thoughts. "Why do you laugh?" asked Van Torp. "It's quite true. I don't want to start too high up in your estima tlon and then be turned down as unfit, for the position at the end of the first week. Put me where belong and I won't disappoint you. Say I was doing something that wasn't exactly considering the object, but that mightn't pass muster at an honor parade, anyhow. And then say that I've admitted the fact, If you like, and that the better I KPOW yorj. the less I want to do anything mean. It won't be hard for you to look at it in that light will it? And it'll give me the position of starting from the low-dow- line.' Is that right?" "Yes," Margaret answered, smiling. "Slang 'right' and English 'right!' You ask for a fair field and no favor, and you shall have it." "I'll go straight," Van Torp answered. "I suppose Lady Maud will come, won't she?" he asked suddenly, after a short silence. "I hope so," Margaret said. "If not, she will meet me In Paris, for she of fers to do that in her letter." "I'm staying on in this place because you said you didn't mind," observed Van Torp. "Do you want me to go away It she arrives?" "Why should I? Why shouldn't you stay?" "Oh, I don't know. I was only thinkMuch obliged anyway, and I'll ing. certainly stay it you don't object. We shnll be quite a party, shan't we? What with us three, and Lady Maud and Kralinsky there " Mrs. Rushmore and Kralinsky had stopped In their walk and were waiting for them. They quickened their pace. "I thought perhaps this was tar "Ot enough," said Mrs. Rushmore. course I could go on further, and It's not your usual walk, my dear, but unless you mind" Margaret did not mind, ana said so readily; whereupon Mrs. Rushmore deliberately took Van Torp for her companion on the way back. "I'm sure you won't object to walk ing slowly," she said to him, "and Miss Donno and the count can go as fast as they liko, for they are both good walkers. I am sure you must be a great walker," she added, turning to the Russian. He smiled blandly and bent his head a little, as It be were acknowlVan Torp edging a compliment. looked at htm quietly. CTO BE CONTINUED.) |