Show rcfirDiviVs 1 1 VMARlON Cll WTORDft Jl0 X Hjry J X T w Ju V T JL L Jtw JLX AUTHOR vIlRACrcSfIlJ jIl7I1UJIIElfEl I1 LJJTRATIOficI5Y QWEIL CVPYRCW7 907 BY f 1ARON CRRWfVRD I = IIi II r l i U aai 4j I 1 I i J r Mr Van Torp Was Puzzled SYNOPSIS Barakn a Tartar girl became enamored tt a golden bearded HtranRor who was prospecting and studying herbs In the Iclnlty of her homo In central Asia and evealcd to him the location of a mine f rubles hoping that the stranger would ove her In return for her disclosure hey were followed to the cave by tho Irls relatives who blocked up the en ranee and drew oft the water supply eavltiK tho couple to die Barakas cousin aad her betrothed attempted to climb own a cllft overlooking tho mine but ho traveler shot him The stranger was evlved from a water gourd Sand car led due his way out of the tunnel and epurted deserting tho gIrl and carryIng has of rubles Bnrakn gathered all the ems she could carry and started In pur ult Marsartt Donne Margarita da ordova a famous prima donna became nsaKod in London to Konstantln Io othetl a imllliy Greek financier Her ntlmata friend was Countess Leven noun as Lady Maud whose husband mil been killed by a bomb In St Peters urs and Lady Mauds most Intimate rlend was Rufus Van Torp an Amerl lan who had been a cowboy In early fe but had become ono of the richest lien In the world Van Torp was In love Kith Margaret and rushed to London as loon as ho heard of her betrothal He Iftpred Lady Maud ri60000n for her pet fJet parity If she would aid him In winning the singer from Locothetl llirnkn approached ap-proached Lopolhetl nt Versailles with Rubles to bell Ho presented a ruby to Ilargarct Van Torp bought a yacht and lent It to Venice lie was visited by araka In male attire I CHAPTER IVContlnued I But Barak now understood what hens he-ns going to do and ran before him nd stood before the door In an attl ude which expressed entreaty so learly that Mr Van Torp was puz Red I Well he said standing still and Boklng Into tho beautiful imploring pes what on earth do you want e Bow Miss Barrack Try and explain ourself A very singular conversation by Hgns now began Barak pointed to the waistcoat pock I Into which he had put tho stone I we matter concerned that of coursed course-d Van Torp nodded Next though Jtcr considerable difficulty she made Bm understand that she was asking > w he had got it and when this was ear he answered by pretending to Bunt out coins with his right hand the palm of his left to explain that had bought it There was no nits Biking this and Barak nodded quick fid went on to her next question IK8 wanted to know what kind of a iBjin had sold him tho ruby She im fcvlsod a pretty little dumb show In I Men she represented the seller and Van Torp tho buyer of tho ruby d then by gestures she asked If theo the-o who sold it was tall I iBtan Torp raised his hand several pea higher than his own head Ho 2r d bought the ruby from a very tall l n Putting both hands to her chin t 1 then drawing them down as If Wng a long beard she inquired If 1 man had one and again the an C er was affirmative She nodded ox edly and pointed first to Van Torps it dy hair and then to her own short li ek locks The American pointed to 0b i own and then touched his watch S6 P situ smiled The mans hair Bt fair and oven golden Dy a aim f I ii ° H she ascertained that his I tuo and not black and her j ow Lust of all sho tried to ask where the man was but it was some time beforo she could mako Mr Van Torp understand what she meant As if to help her out of her difficulty ho sun shone through the clouds at that moment and streamed into the room she pointed to it at once turned her back to it and then holdout hold-out her right hand to Indicate the east and her left to tho west Oh yes said Van Torp who had seen Indians do the same thing It was west of here that 1 bought It of him a good way west Ho pointed In that direction and thrust out his arm as If he would make it reach much further if he could At this Barak looked deeply disappointed Several times to show that she meant London or at least England she pointed to the floor at her feet and looked inquiringly at Van Torp but he shook his head and pointed to the west again and made a gesture that meant crossing some thing He spoke to her as If she could understand Ive got your meaning he said Youre after the big man with the ellow beard who Is selling rubles from the same place and has very likely gone off with yours Ho looked like a had egg In spite of Ills handsome hand-some face He turned his eyes thoughtfully to the window Barak plucked gently at his sleeve and pretended to write In the palm of her left hand and then went through all the descriptive gestures ges-tures again and then once more pretended tended to write and coaxlngly pushed him towards a little table on which she saw writing materials Youd like to have his address would you Miss Barrak I wonder why you dont call in your Interpreter and tell me so It would be much simpler than all this dumb crambo Once more he made a step towards tho door but she caught at his sleeve and entreated him In her own Ian gunge not to call any ono and her voice was so deliciously soft and beseeching be-seeching that ho yielded and sat down at the small table and wrote out an address from memory He handed her the halfsheet of paper when he had dried the writing and had looked over It carefully Poor little thing ho said In atone a-tone of pity If you ever find him hell eat you Barak again showed signs of great emotion when she put the address Into an inaido pocket of her mans coat but It was not of tho same kind as before Sho took Van Torps big hand in both her own and bending down she laid It on her head meaning that ho might dispose of her life ever afterwards But he < id not understand under-stand You want my blessing do you Miss Barrack Some people dont think Brassy Van Torps blessing worth much young lady but youre welcome to It such as It is Ho patted her thick hair and smiled as she looked up and her eyes were dewy with tears Thats nil right my dearl he said Dont cry I She smiled too because hla tone was kind and standing up she took out her little leathern bng again quickly quick-ly emptied the twists of paper into her hand selected one by touch and slipped tho rest back She unwrapped a largo stone and hold It up to the light turning it a little as sho did so Van Torp watched her with curiosity and wlh an amused suspicion that sho had perhaps played tho whole scene In order to mollify him and Induce In-duce him to buy something So many people had played much more elaborate elabo-rate tricks in the hope of getting money from him and the stones might I bo imitations after all in spite of Ix gothutls penciled line of recommenda I onBut I But Baraks next action took Van Tarp by surprise To his amazement she pressed the ruby lightly to her heart then to her lips and last of all to her forehead and before ho know what she was doing sho had placed it In his right hand and closed his fillers fill-ers upon It It was a thnnk offering Nonsense objected the million are smiling but holding out the stone to her Its very sweet of you but you dont mean It and I dont take presents like that Why Its worth a thousand pounds In Bond street any day ayBut But she put her hands behind her back and shook her head to show that she would not take it back Then with her empty hand she again touched her heart her lips and fathead and turned towards the door Here slop said Mr Van Torp going after her I cant take this thing See here I say Put it back Into your pocket She turned and met him and made a gesture of protest and entreaty as If earnestly begging him to keep tho gem lie looked at her keenly and he was a judge of humanity and saw hat she was hurt by his refusal Asa As-a last resource he took out his pock etbook and showed her a quantity of folded bank notes Well he said since you insist Miss Barrack Ill buy the stone of rOil but Ill be everlastingly Jiggered If Ill take it for nothing Baraks eyes suddenly lashed In a most surprising way her lower lip pouted and her cheek faintly changed color as a drop of scarlet pomegranate juice will tlngo a bowl of cream She made one step forwards plucked the stone from his fingers rather than took It and with a quick but girlishly girlish-ly I awkward movement threw It towards to-wards the window as hard as she could stamping angrily with her little foot at the same moment Mr Van Torp was extremely disconcerted as ho sometimes was by the sudden actions ac-tions of the sex he did not understand under-stand Fortunately the stone hit the wall Instead of going out of tho window win-dow Im really sorry Miss Barrack he said In a tone of humble apology and he went quickly and picked up the gem I hadnt quite understood you seeShe She watched him and drew back Instinctively in-stinctively towards the door as If ex peeling that ho would again try to give It back to her But he shook his head now bowed with all the grace he could affect which was little and by way of making her feel that he accepted the gift he pressed It to his heart as she had done and to his lips but not to his forehead because he was afraid that might cause some new mistake as he did not know what tho gesture meant Baraks face changed Instantly she smiled nodded and waved her hand to him to say dint It was all right and that sho was quite satisfied Then she made a sort of salute that he thought very graceful Indeed as If she were taking something from near the floor and laying it on her forehead and she laughed softly and was out of the room and had shut the door before ho could call her back again lie stood still In the middle of the room looking at the gem In his hand with an expression of grave doubt Well he said to himself and his lips formed the words though no sound articulated them thats a queer sort of a mornings work anyway Ho reflected that the very last thing he had ever expected was a present of a fine ruby from a pretty heathen girl In mans clothes recommended to him by Logotheti Though he almost laughed at the thought when it occurred oc-curred to him ho did not like the Idea of keeping the stone yet he did not know what to do with It for It was more than probable that he was never to see Barak again and if he ever did I it was at least likely that she would refuse to take back her gift and as energetically as on the first Oceanian i At that moment it occurred to him that he might sell it to a dealer and give the proceeds to Lady Maud for her good work and taking his bat and gloves ho went out immediately without with-out even telling Stemp that he was going He walked up at a leisurely pace from his hotel by the river to Piccadilly 1 Piccadil-ly and Bond street and entered a Jewelers Jew-elers shop of modest appearance but ancient reputation which had been In tho same place for nearly a century and had previously been on the other side of the street Outside two welldressed men were looking at tho things In tho window within a broadshouldered smart looking man with black hair and dressed in perfectly new blue serge was sitting by the counter with hU back to the door talking with tho old jeweler himself He turned on the chair when he heard tho newcomers top nnd Mr Van Torp found himself face to face with Konstnntln Logo hctl whom ho had supposed to bo In ariaWoll Well he said without betraying the surprise be felt this Is what 1 call a very pleasant accident Mr Lo othetl Tho Greek rose and shook hands and the American did not fall to observe serve on the counter a small piece of tissue paper on which lay an uncut stone much larger than the ono he hud In his pocket If you are In any hurry said Lo gothoti politely I dont mind waiting In the least I Mr Pluuey and I are In tho midst of a discussion that may lover end and I believe neither of us has anything In the world to do Mr Pinney smiled benignly and put In n word In tho mercantile plural which differs from that of royalty in being used every day The truth Is we are not very busy just at this time of tho year ho said Thats very kind of you Mr Logo Lhetl Bald Van Torp answering the alter but Im not really In a hurry thank you The stress he laid on tho word really real-ly might have led ono to the conclusion conclu-sion that ho was pretending to be but was not Ho sat down deliberately at a little distance took off his hat and looked at tho gem on tho counter I dont know anything about such things of course he said In a tone of reflection but I should think that was quite a nice ruby Again Mr Pinney smiled benignly for Mr Van Torp had dealt with him for years Its a very fine stone Indeed sir ho said and then turned to Logo thetl again I think wo can undertake under-take to cut it for you In London ho < mid I will weigh it and give you a careful estimate As a matter of fact before Van Torp entered Logothetl had got so far as the question of setting tho gem for a ladys ring but Mr Pinney like all the great Jewelers was as discreet and tactful as a professional diplomatist diplo-matist How could he bo suro that ono customer might like another to t know about a ring ordered for a lady If Logothetl preferred secrecy ho would only have to assent and go away as if leaving the ruby to be cut and he could look in again when It was convenient and this was what he at once decided to do I think youre right Mr Pinney he said I shall leave It In your hands Thats really all ho added turning to Mr Van Trop Really My business wont take long either and well go together If i you like and have a little chat 1 only came to get another of thoso ox tra largo collarstuds you make for me Mr Pinney Have you got another We always keep them In stock for your convenience sir answered the famous Jeweler opening a special lit tic drawer behind the counter and producing a very small morocco case Mr Van Torp did not even open it and had already laid down the money for ho knew precisely what It cost Thanks ho said Youre always so obliging about little things Mr Pinney Thank you sir We do our best Good morning sir goodmorning The two millionaires went out together to-gether Two welldressed men stood aside to let them pass and then entered en-tered the shop Which way asked Logothell Your way answered the American Amer-ican Ive nothing to door do-or have I laughed the Greek Nothing In the world What can anybody find to do In London at this time of year Im sure I dont know echoed Van Torp pleasantly I supposed you wore on the continent somewhere And I thought you were In America Amer-ica and so of course we meet at old Plnncys in London Henlly Did you think I was In America Your friend the heathen girl In boys clothes brought me your card this morning I supposed you know 1 was here No but I thought you might bo within six months and I gave her sev oral cards for people I know So she found you out Shes a born ferret she would find anything Did you buy anything of her No Im not buying rubies today Much obliged for sending her all the same You take an Interest In her I suppose Mr Logothetl Is that so I Logotheti laughed a little No indeed Those days were long ago Im engaged to be married By tho bye yes Id heard that and I meant to congratulate you I do I now anyway When is It to be Settled Set-tled that yet 7 Some time In October I think So you guessed that Barak is a girl Yes thats right I guessed sho was Do you know anything about her Logothetl told his companion the story of the ruby mine substantially as It was narrated at the beginning of this tale not dreaming that Van Torp had perhaps mot and talked with the man who had played so largo a part In it and to find whom Barnka had traversed many dangers and overcome over-come many dlfflculUen It sounds like the Arabian Nights said Mr Van Torp as If bo found It bard to believe I V ll t 1 trI tr-I T I 4i1 i I I I l I Wheres She Hiding from You Exactly assented Ixigothotl And I oddly enough tho first of those stories Is about Samarkand which Is not so far from Barakn9 native village It seems to have taken the girl about a year to find her way to Constantinople Constantino-ple and when she got there she naturally natur-ally supposed that it was the capital of the world and that her innn being very great and very rich thanks to her must of com so live there So she searched Stninbonl and Pera for him during seven or eight months She lived In the house of a good old Persian Per-sian merchant under the protection of I his wife and learned that there was a world called Europe where her man might bo living and cities called Paris and London where people pay fabulous fabu-lous prices for precious stones Persian Per-sian merchants arc generally welledu rated men you know At last she I made up her mind to dress like a man sho picked up an honest Turkish manservant man-servant who had been all over Europe with n diplomatist and could speak some French and English as well as Tartar she got a letter of recommendation recommen-dation to me from a Greek banker through tho Persian who did business with him Joined some Greeks who wore coming to Marseilles by sea and here sho is Now you know as ifiuch as I do She Is perfectly fearless and as much more sure of herself than any man ever was as same young women can bo In this queer world Of course shell never find the brute who thought he was leaving her to bo mur tiered by her relations but if she overdid over-did site would cither marry him or cut his throat Nice amiable kind of girl remarked re-marked Mr Van Torp who remembered remem-bered her behaviour when he had refused re-fused her proffered gift Thats very Interesting Mr Logothetl How long do you count on being in London this time Three or four days maybe I dare say No longer I fancy Why dont you come and take dinner din-ner with mo some night 7 asked the American Day after tomorrow perhaps Id bo pleased to have you Thank you very much Logothetl answered Since you ask me I see no reason why I should not dine with you if you want me They agreed upon tho place and hour and each suddenly remembered an engagement By the way said Mr Van Torp without apparent interest I hope Mine Cordova is quite well Wheres she hiding from you Just now tho hiding place is Bay routh Shos gone there with Mrs Rushmoro to hear Parsifal I believe be-lieve Im not musical enough for that so Im roving till Its over Thats my personal history at this moment And Miss Donno Is quite well I believe thank you I notice you call her Miss Domino when you speak of her said Van Corp Excuse mo If I made a mistake mis-take Just now Ire always called her Mmo Cordova It doesnt matter at all answered Logothetl carelessly but I believe she prefers to be called by her own I name amongst friends Goodby till lay after tomorrow then At half after eight All right halfpast I shall remember re-member But nt two oclock on the next day but one Logothotl received a note brought by hand In which Mr Van Torp Raid that to his great rcgiot ha md been called away suddenly and loped that Logothotl would forglvo him as tho matter was of such urgent Importance that he would have already al-ready loft London when the note was received This was more than true If possible pos-sible for the writer had loft town two days earlier very soon after ho had parted from Logothetl In Pull Mall although the note had not been delivered till 48 hours later CHAPTER V I Mr Van Torp know no more about rtayrcuth than about Samarkand beyond j yond tho fact that at certain stated limes performances of Wagners operas wero given there with as much solemnity as great religious festivals and that musical people spoke of tho Bayreuth season In a curously reverent rever-ent manner Ho would have been much surprised If any ono had told him that he often whistled fragments of Parsifal to himself and liked tho sound of them for he had a natural ear and a good memory and had whistled remarkably well when ho was a boy The truth about this seemingly impossible Im-possible circumstance was really very simple In what he called his cow punching days he had been for six months In company with two young men who used to whistle softly together to-gether by the hour beside the campfire camp-fire and none of tho other boys had I over heard tho strange tunes they seomed to like best but Van Torp had caught and remembered many fragments almost unconsciously and ho whistled them to himself because they gave him a sensation which no real music ever did Extraordinary natures like his aro often endowed with unnoticed gifts and tastes quite unlike those of most people No one knew anything about the young men who whistled Wagner tho Lost Legion hides many secrets and the two were not popular with tho rest though they knew their business and did their work fairly well One of t them was afterwards said to have been killed in a shooting affray and tho other had disappeared about the same time no one knew how or cared though Mr Van Torp thought ho had recognized him onco many years later They were neither Americans Amer-icans nor Englishmen though they both spoke English well and never were heard to use any other language TO IMS CONTINUED |