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Show hfctME WHITE ELACEEmM. " . -BaB-BaanBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB-B'B'Ba-B'B'a'P CHATTEE XI. Oontinawt "No imitation would ' stand the trail," Hlyn interrupted bim hoar-ly. hoar-ly. "Aad vou II verv soon and your-elf your-elf inside th four walla of a cell, my friend, if you try any forgery of that , sort. Yon raa take mv word for that, kviuieil 'n the real rivet, and with out nte the rent of your precious rhain isa 't worth a, nap of my fingers. " Mr. Johlinir subsided into a heap and was staring at him oen t-uouthed. but HIvb said nu more for a moment or two. Outwardlr quite calm and matter of fat, ho mind waa in a seething turinnil. If all the inept rogue beside him bail said were truo lie could scarcely restrain an impulae to get to hia feci and ahuut for juv. The lawver seemed to have nothing mora to nay, either. And Hlyne, having somewhat recovered command of bim elf, at leugth roac, toaaiuir hia cold cigar awav with aa angry oath. "It makee my. Mood boil, said be, tu think hut for the aheereat acci dent yeu'd be a dead man by now, aud where would have boon then! You doa't deeerve such stupendous lurk, and, .by the Lord Harry! if 1 And you play iag the fool again You're goiug to put yourself intu my hauda from now on, d'y heart And, in the Drat place, 1 must aee tbos papers you spok ot; if ther'r in order J 'II aee the thing through. W ran t work without each other, unfortunately for me. or " "You're going too faat, " intervened Mr. Jobling, atill teated, and with eoiue faint abow of apirit. "You're taking too much for graufed, air. 1 don 't aveo know who you are, and w muat eome to term of some aort before "V He ahrank aiude aa Hlyn stepped forward with twitching finger and eyei aflame. "You'll take whatever terma vou get -and b precious thankful biased Hlyne. stooping over bun. "You'll do exactly what you 're told do more, and ao leea. And yon won't forget again, will you, that you'v met your maater ia met" Mr. Jobling. gazing aghast into the muzzle of the cheap revolver which had proved no ineffective ia hta owa hands, at last regained voir enough to sub-crib sub-crib solemnly to thea stipulation aud from that moment weat uncomfortably uncomfort-ably in fear for the life he himself had hee trying to take not aa hour before. That was prnbablv the ft rut time he had ever been tbreatsaed with personal violence, vio-lence, and a life spent chiefly ia Chancery Chan-cery Lane does not always foster aa excess of thai calculating eourago needed need-ed to deal with ooe of Slyne's dangerous danger-ous sort. "Lome oa, then," said blvse, and Mr. Jobling got shakily up from the bench, "iou needn't be afraid that 1 woa't deal fair generously with you, but thia is aa time to b haggling here. We havea 't a moment to spar. I muat ar thus paper at one, htep outl " The ball porter at the Metrnpole raised his eyebrows over Mr. Jobling't . somewhat disheveled appearanea, but promptly lowered them again ia r-ponx- to a look from Hlyn. "Tell t-hem to (end up your bill," said Hlyne to tha lawyer. ""If vry-thing's vry-thing's sJI right, l'l settle it asd put you up it the Paris," And Mr Jobling very meekly did aa h waa bidden. He could not well help himself, just thea. Hut his spreaioa was aoi at all properly grateful as he ushered Hlyn into th room h himself had sever expected to again, and there proceeded to display to that masterful mas-terful adventurer the mass of papers on which their further partnership was to depead. Hlyn picked out th more Important .of these with an aruuiea which would have done Mr. Jobling himself every credit; and for busy hour th two sat poring avr one dog eared document after another, Hlyn s mask of iudiUer-ese iudiUer-ese deserting him by degrees as he grasped point after point of th ease, till he threw th last dowa with a smile of triumph, and, rising from th table, paced to and fro for a moment, rubbing hia hands ia as ecstasy of snrtation. " Kverything's all right," h announced an-nounced confidently. " My our fortune for-tune as good as made; and I'll tell you what, Jobling. you shall have to -er ent of th immediate caah for your bar. How does that strike von, h1 littered decks except th watchman on duty, whoa sola saint to him as he stepped carefully up the insecure gang plank waa a aulien cowl. But that might have len deemed quite a hearty welcome ia contrast with hia reception by f'aptain Iove. Captain Dove waa, in point of fact, furious whaa he opened his little, red rimmed eves and became aware of hia former friend 'a intruaion upon hi privacy. Hitting up in hia frowsy bunk, with the blanket, huddled etwiut him. looking ludicrously like an incensed gorilla, he aged and aworr at hit gratuitous visitor until hia voice gave out. Hlyne, forgetful in hia new enthu.i asm of the terms on which they bad parted, was at first aomewhat taken shark bv that outburst: but onlv ! first. And hie aangume anticipation, enabled him to endure it unmoved. It also gave him time to collect hia ideas lie couild ace that hia errand was not going to prove unite, so eay a he had siperted, and that he muat plav his new cards with discrimination. Aa soon s the evil old man in the bunk hsd rs hausted himself in invective Hlvne spoke, atnooth and cuttingly. " J came back to do vou a god turn. But if that's how you're going to take It, you foul mouthed old rapparee! 1 'II save my breath and he off again. What the deuc d'ye mean by shooing at tne as if I were a drunken deckhand! Hpeak to me shove a whier now and you'll aee what 'II happen to vou. That the police boat pulling past." Th opportune splash of oara had suggested to him that plauaibl threat. Captain Dove, liateniag intently, crouched back against the bulkhead, bis blinking, hot, suspicious eyes on Hlyne 's. The boat passed on. But he had found time to observe that Hlvne was ia evening dress, with an expensive fur eoat to keep th cold out. Aad Hlyne ' cool contempt for hi ill temper would seem to have impreesed him ao less than Hlyne ' air of solid prosperity. II himself, it appeared, had had care and adversity for his companions avar sine parting with his former friend-Hi friend-Hi chief aim ia calling at Oeaoa had been cheap coal and cheaper repairs, and a thought that h was less likely to he recognised there thaa elsewhere ia th Mediterranean. But coal, he had fouad, had risen to a miaous pric In eonaequeac of a rent strike among th miners in Kngland; and for even th most trifling repairs h would have to wait at least a week, because the dockyard people wer already working vertime to mak way for a man of war. Credit of any sort was not to be had. His portage bill bad fair to -swamp his insufficient cash resources even although three of hia anw canty can-ty craw had already deserted. And whs could foretell what might happen to him if they should get wagging their tongue ton freely in som win shop ashore! While, aa if for climax, tha customs authorities had been displaying display-ing a most suspicions interest In htm and his ship, fader such circumstances evea a saint might have beea par doned, as h pointed out, for showing a temper something short of seraphic. "Aad you'v beea doing mi good turnsby your way of it for some time past' he continued, ia a stifled, vehement whisper lest his voice shouH still reach the receding boat. "Though " H waved a rlawlik haad about him, words again failing him to describe de-scribe adsqustely his sufferings in consequence, con-sequence, aa who ahould say, "He the result for yourself." Hlyne sat down on the ofa opposite him. not even condescending to glance, in response to that invitation, round th squalid, poverty stricken little cabin. "Never mind about some time past." he advised, more pacifically. ' ' You '11 never get rich quick yesterday. Today 'a when I'm going to mak my pile. And I meant to let yon ia " "To another hole," Captain Dove concluded skeptically. "1 only wish you 'd show m on surs way out i th on 'm in." Hlyne looked his aunoyanc at that further interruption, and mad aa if to rise, hut did no more thaa draw his Aad at that Hlyne mad hi nest considered move. "All right," he said la a ton of the most utter routempt. "That's enough. I m otf. "I came back to do you a good turn although few men ia my position would aver have looked Bear you again." h paused in th doorway to remark acridly. "But I raa ar now what's th matter with vou and I only wish I bad noticed it In time to save myself all it has rot me. It' semis decay you're aufferlugg from. You're fsr too old to be of any more use even to yourself. You 're in your dotage, aud vou 'II soon be in an asylum for pauper lunaticsf" "Now you're talking!" he retorted approvingly, "hay. what' in your mind traightforwardly, and we'll 'anon come to an understanding. Hit down again, you atrutting peacock, and tell me what it is you want ' Hlyne did not sit down again, however; how-ever; to do ao would srarrelr have been ligniflcd. II staved in the doorway, silent, a thin, atream of cigarette jiiiok slowly altering from his nostrils His cold, calculating eves, were once more on Captain Dove's. And it was Captain Dove's would be meeting glance that at length gave way. "You offered to g, e me Hallie if I pid you 1(H,0im). " .aid Hlvne iudi eiallv. "To see you safclv married to her," Captain Dove corrected him. Hlvne nodded, in grave assent. " Well, I 'm going to hold you to vour offer." said he. "The money's ready and waiting for vou just aa aoon aa we can settle a few trifling formalities. I have Hallio'a promiae to marry me " "The devil you have!" aaid Captain Pove, not slow to seise opportunity ither "1 thought heard her sav ' -Hlvne' face darkened again. 'And if you'll com ashore with me now." ha waat on; controlling his temper, ' I v prove to you that your money is perfectly safe.'' Captain Dove lay back in his bunk and laughed, most discordantly. lie laughed till hia red rimmed evea acre drip, while Myne aat looking at him. He waa atill laughing when r-ivn roue and, flicking th cigarette end from between two nicotine stained Augers, began to button his coat. He stopped laughing then, by calculated degrees. "Hit down sit down!" said he wheexily. "What's your hurrvt You haven't told me yet what those few trifling formalities arc. And how am I to know whether " But Hlyn was already beyond th doorway, fumbling with a last button. "If you believe I've come here to talk simply for th sake of talking." aid he with somber magnificence, "I needn 't wasta any more breath on you. Ooodby. " Captain Dove jumped out of his buuk. He was clearly impressed, in spite of himself, by th other's indomitable assurance as-surance "Com back, vou fool!" he called angrily. "Come back. I want to know " "I'll go ashore with vou," he shouted, raising his voice, since Hlvne wa already on his way to th gangway gang-way But Wlyna did not seem to hear. "I'll take your offer for Hallie, " cried Captain llov. in a slighflv lower tone. Hlyn hesitated in hi stride, stopped and turned back into the alleyway which led to the saloou. "What wa that vou saidf" he demanded de-manded of Captain Dove. "Cora oa inaido, " requested Captain Cap-tain Dov, more curtly. "I don't believe I will," Hlvne declared, de-clared, inwardly elated over the winning win-ning of that somewhat risky move, i j" ,on't another rhanc. And, if I do give you another, vou needn 't suppose " "Com on inside," begged Captain Doy., shivering, in bo can to listen to any lecture. "Come on, and wii'll talk sense. Don't wast any more g od time." Slyn followed hi in In .again, con gratulatlng himself on his Amine.. He felt that h had gained the whiphand of the old man, and be meant to keep if tha money's there you raa count me in." "Me isn't the sort of lawyer you've been accustomed to. Dove," said Hlyne. "You'v got to go to him." Captain Dove did his est to nutstarc him, but failed. "Aad, what's mora," said Hlyn, playing a trump card with great outward out-ward indifference, "you can mak bim Iy you for your time instead of you paying him. I told you I came back bore to do you a good turn. There's more than a hundred thousand dollars of casv n'ouev for you in tins deal if vou go the right way about it. " But don t take mv word for anything. any-thing. ' aptain Dov had palpable difficulty in supprei.ing the obvious repartee to that la.t bit of advice. But cupidity and cunning kept him quiet for a space. "All riglit, I'll go with vou," he agreed very gruffly at last. And Hlvne liehved a silent sigh of relief;, h hsd 'cared more than onee that the contest -if wills would, after all, go against him. "You're a ise, " he commented rare-le.elv. rare-le.elv. "It will pay you. "You'd botter see Hallie now. don't von think, and tell her- " "I'm not going to interfere between vou and her till I get my ruonev from vou," declared th old man with a erftv grin. "You muat tackle her vouraclf. Hhe'll be up by now, break faat won't be ready for half an hour. If I were vou, I'd take that coat oft and let her have a sight of those diamonds dia-monds of vours. ' ' Hlyne did not wait to hear any more, lie was already on his way aft. a somewhat, some-what, incongruous figure on toe decks of the olive Branch. When he reached the companion hatch on the ppop he was smiling sardonically. "I do believe it was' mv 'diamonds' that finally fetched th old riittain," said he to him.elt. "If they have the .nine effect on Hallie I won't grudge the few frnncs I paid for them!" He tiptoed down the short stairway, and, having tapped vrv quietly at the door of the nfter saloon, entered witu-out witu-out more ado. II judged that he might have difficulty in gaining adruiv.iou it lie delayed to ask leave. The saloon was empty. But from an adjoining cabin came the sound ot splashing, and from its neighbor the snuffle of heavv feet, a faint suggestion sugges-tion of deft hands bu.y among rrip niualiu and aibilant silk. Hlyne hesitated; he wanted to be very tactful and vet was unwilling to give up the advantage he had thus gained. He closed the j)onr carefully behind him. It creaked a little. Krom the room whence had come the runtle of feminin garments an uncanny looking figure appeared and darted an angry, apprehensive glance about the saloon. The sound of splashing had ceased. "Morning. Ambriwtte," said Hlyne. briskly, and standing his ground. "Is vour mistress up v"tf Tell her I have Captnin Dove s loae to pav her a call." The dumb black dwarf 's scowl grew darker, but her hand fell awav from her breast aud she hshcTl as Hallie ' voice snuuded from within. "Is that vou, Jasperf " it ejaculated. "What do vou want f I thought " 'I've come back with good news for you, Hallie wonderful news!" said Slyne. " And I'm in no end of a hurry to be off agnin. Call Ambriitette in and get dressed as quick as you can. Captain Dove's waiting breakfast for inc. aud l mustn't delay him. How long will you bef" "What sort of news is it!" asked Hallie, no less dubious than her maid hsd boon: and called her maid in, notwithstanding not-withstanding her well fouuded doubts as to the nature of y news he could bring. For Hlyne bad held out to her the samo jure that the serpeut offered to Kve, and her womauly curiosity would not allow her tu order him at once from her domain. Hlyne smiled slightly aa he sat down in a" basket chair, to look about him while she waa atill busy within. The little after aaloon which had been her home for so long waa finely furnished; more so. perhaps, than waa apparent to Hlyne, whose taste in that ree;ect inclined in-clined to the florid. But he could not on, hurriedly. "Captain Dov' absolutely abso-lutely at the end of his wita for money, and bow I can pay him hi prio for you if you'll keep your promise to me by and by. Otherwise I can't; bo matter mat-ter how willing 1 might be, 1 caa't, I wear to vou. "He feels, too, that you owe it to him to mak up in on way or another for some part at least of what he and I hav lost through your your interfering inter-fering so much lately in hit affairs. And, if you don't hsek me up now he'll have to take the Olive Branch east as best he can. He'll tak vou, too, .and you'll never eome baca. "You don't understand. I'm not really trying to force you to marry me, but to save you from a fat far wnrs-than wnrs-than th worst you could imagine. You don't understand that it' really free dnm I'm offering vou, and that your only option is lsver. "You'd rather have a white man even me! for vour husband, wouldn ' youf than a vellow one or brown or maybe Mark! CHAPTER Xlg- A Matter fitroke Hallie sat down quickly in s cusk inued chair, and lav back, tremblin'; like a raptured bird. Hlvne was not bevond feeling somewhat some-what anhamed of himself, but found easy solace in th reflection that all be had said was for her good as well as his own. lie could see that his lasr brutal argument had struck home. For Hallie could no longer doubt now, in the lurid light of her recent experiences, that Captain Dove looked upon her as a mere rhattel, to he turned into caab as soon as occasion should offer. In a little .he looked up at him again out of pleading, desperate eye. Home most unusual Impulse of pit stirred him. Hhe was only a young girl yet, and her helplessness apoke its own ppenl. even to him. He made up bis mind again, quite apart from any ques tion of policy, to deal with her as generously gen-erously a" might be practicable. "Will Captain Dove let me go now if I promise to marry vol, .laaierf' she asked. And be nodded solemnly. "And not unless I dot ' ehe insisted. "Yon know I didn 't bi-fore. although ynu say I did." "I swear to tiod. Snllie. " he declared, de-clared, "that I can t raise the mnuev the old man wants aur other way. And I won't aav another word about ahat 's past and done with. "If you'll reallv promise to niarrv me," he said eagerly. "I'll prove toj you that all I have told you is true he ) fore you need even lev Captain Dove; I won't ask vou to go a step farther with me until you're perfectly satisfied; I'll take you safely to your own home as oon as yon Br satisfied that you cau trust me. And I won't ask you to keep vour promise till " Aii irrepressible light of longing had leaped up -behind the despair in her eves. "You say that all I must do in the meantime is to sign some papers," she interrupted. "You sav vou won't a me to niarrv vou right away. Will you wait a veart" "A venr! I couldn't. Hallie!" he cried, and her pale lips drooped piteoua ly again. "How long, then?" he asked in a whisper. "Hix months f" He bad made up bis mind to be generous, gen-erous, and he felt that he had not failed in his intention as he answered, "Three months, and not a dav longer, Sallie." Hhe sat still and silent for a while, considered that, and then, "All right. Jasper," she agreed. "Take me safe home, and I'll marry you three mouths from the dav we get thereif we're both alive when the time comes." Ho turned away from her for a moment. mo-ment. He had won all he wanted in the meantime, aud he could scarcely contain himself. When he presently held nut a hand to her she took it, to hind that bargain. "And you won't have any cause to regret it, Hallia. " he assured her, bis voice somewhat hoarae in spite of his saying how much aior w might both mak. " Captain Dov rose and retired into his sleeping cabin without further word while Hlyn, picking out with a two-pronged fork the cleanest of th beans hia plate, smiled sneringly to himself. "What's the latest long short fash ion, Hlynef" th old man asked after an interval. Hlyn kaew by hi ton that he had dismissed dull car from his mind and was prepared to b quarrelsome quar-relsome again. "It wouldn't suit a flgur like yours." he answered coolly, and was gratified to hear another hoarse growl, for strange though it may seem. Captain Cap-tain Dove was not without vanity. "All vou really need to worry about is how to keep sober. And I waat it t b understood un-derstood from the start" "Not so much of It now" snarled Captain Dove from hia csbin. "You attend to your own buaineas and 1 1I attend to mine. I know how to bebnv mvaelf among gentlemen. And, don't you forget, either, that I'm going ashore to play my owb hand. 1'v a card or two up ray sleeve, Mister Hlyne, that will maybe euchre your game for i you if you try to Muff too high." Hlyne swore hotlv. under his breath. I He would have given a great deal to i know enact ly what the old man meant by that mysterious threat, and only knew that it would be useless to ask him. There was nothing for it but to put up with 4iis capricious humora aa patiently as miht be although Hlyne shivered in anticipation of the strain that might entail till be could be dispensed dis-pensed with or got rid of altogether. Nor, it presently appeared, wer his fears at all ill founded. For Captain Cap-tain Dove emerged from hia cabin got up for shore going in a guise at sight of which Hlyne could by so means suppress an involuntary groan. "I'm all reedv now," Captain Dove, announced. "Will you pay for a cab if I call one!" "My car'e waiting." Hlvne returned, and, as the old man whistled amazedly oveV that further and unexpected proof that his former accomplice' fortunes bnd changed for the better. "You look like a foo in that outfit," said hlvne. "The right rigout for motoring ia a tweed suit and a soft cap." Captain Dove was very visibly annoyed. an-noyed. He had been at particular pains to array himself properly. "You waul to be the swell in tha party of course," he grunted. "You'v jealous, that's what a the matter with you.' And he tell to poliahing his furry, old-fashioned old-fashioned top hat, with a tail of th scanty, ill lifting frock coat h had donned along a noiaome waistooat ia honor of th occasion. Hlyn shrugged his (boulder despairingly, despair-ingly, and. having mad an end of hi unappetizing meal, prepared for th road. Then h lighted a cigar very much at hi leisure, while Captain Dov regarded him grimly, and led the way on decs; without further words. ftallie was ready and waiting at th companion hatch oa th poop, a pretty as a picture in th sables Captain Dov had given her a year before after a very lucrative eaaod ot poaching on th Siberian coaat. As aoon as she caught sight of them eh cam forward, followed by Ambrizette, whoa appearance, appear-ance, in cloak and turban, waa even a worse offense to Hlyne ' fastidious taste than Captain Dove's had been. "What a calamitous circus! ' 1 h muttered mut-tered between set teeth. "I must get rid of those two somehow and soon. But till then "My car's at the back of those coal wagons there," he told Captain Dov with great dignity, and Captain Dove turned to the engine room natch. "Below there!" he called down, "Is that Mr. Brassef I'm off now, Brass. You'll carry out all my instructions, ehf And don't quarrel with Da Costa, d 'ye hear!" "Ay, ay, sir," answered a dreary voice from the depths below, and Captain Cap-tain Dove faced about again to find Hallie, Hal-lie, flushed and anxious, waiting with Ambrizette at th gangway. "Come on," lie ordered irascibly, and Hallie followed him rlnsti the lant deuc I'm to hip mvself I don't know." In th corridor at which they got out h caught eight of Mr. Jnhliag approaching, ap-proaching, asd hurried Captain Dv lato th sitting room of hi suit. "Give sis five minute to ehang my clothe," he requested of th eld man "And don't get straying about, r you 'II lose yourself. " Mr. Jobling met him oa th thresh old as he shut the door. That gentleman gentle-man had marvelouslr recovered from his over night' nervous breakdown. A sound sleep, a visit from the harbor, a bath aad a liberal breakfast had all helped to alter him outwardly and in wardly for the better. He was oar more the respectably prosperous, self confident solicitor. "I believe you've beea out alt night," he observed ia a jocular ton of reproof, a waggish forefinger up lifted. "I've covered a eoupl of hundred miles in the car while you'v been asleep," answered Hlvn. turning intu his dressing room. "'I've brought the girl back with me and th old man. her guardian. We're going to have trouble with him unless wcrr vry care fill. Ho listen, and I'll tall you how things stand." Mr. Jobling composed hia features into their most professional apet, but that gave plar by degree to a variety of other expressions, whil fSlya, husy changing hia clothes, related all h him self knew a to hallie' past history. "And bow tha old man thinks he is entitled to put a price on her," Hlyne concluded. "Hhe a promised to niarrv me, but ha won't let her go till I hand him a hundred thousand dollars." Mr. Jobling lay bark limply la hia chair. In all his career h had never, k asserted, hear) a more scandalous suggestion. "Never mind about that." fllyne cut him short. "Th money's ao ohjrt to me. But you raa undurstand what a difficult fallow he ia to deal with. And what I'm going to do, merely as a precaution against hia playing us false in th end, is to give him my not ot hand for the amount he demands, in dor.ed by vou. and payable th day I marry his adopted daughter." Mr. Jobling sank still lower In hi seat. "In retura for that," Hlyn went ou. "he must sign a clear deliverance from any further claim on any of us, subject, of course, to du payment of th note. "Then I want a document drawn up to confirm my engagement to tha girl and granting me the fulleat possible power of attorney on her behalf, both befor and after our marriage. Hhe ' so simple aad inexperienced that I must do everything for her. "And lastly, you'd batter make out a brief privat agreement between your elf and me just a matter of form, you hnow to the effect that yon are willing to act in my interests through out, in return for a commission of 1" per cent ou tb accumulated revenue- of the Jura estate at th dat of m marriage." Mr. Jobling looked at htm for a time aa a man suddenly bereft of hi spine might. " There'i no tim to para," Hlyne mentioned, "t want all that sort oi thing settled right off tha reel before lunch. "If the old mas make any kick about anything, vou must back me up in all ii ay. Although, if he tries to raise hi pric by a lew thousand we needn ' stick at that. The great thing is to get him to sign the deliverance in return for our not. Th girl has al ready agreed ' ' "Aad what if I refuief" croaked his companion with the courage of despera tion. It was evident that Mr. JoMmg saw through hia daring scheme. "What if I insist on mv fair shard What it I " Myne silenced him with a eontemptu oub gesture. "What ever you do will make no difference to any on in th wide world but yourself," said felvn. "If you do what you're told you'll get a great deal more than you deserve out of it. It vou don't D'ye think I'd have "taken you into the team if d didn't know how to drive you!" h asked, his eyes beginning to Diaz. "Why, my i m - ii ti . . ij ..... '. 1 do t say that vou deserve six- con .. jidrration "from me, but I m ready to let bygone b bygone, and 1 want you tb work for m with a will." His self aaeurauc was contagious. Mr. Jobling, after the merest moment of hesitation, roe in hi turn, holding out a hand, which Hlyn grasped ffso-tionatelv. ffso-tionatelv. --And tbul they cania to an ainicabl understanding, without mors words. "Pack up, now." commanded Hlyne, pleasantly peremptory, "and we'll run aero to the Paris. I've any amount to do yet, befor I cau snatch a ele-sp." "I'll be very thankful to get into my bed," said Mr. Jobling, already busy among hia belongings, aud more titan a littl dau-d by the march of events. "I'v hsd a most trying day." It did not tak lonv to hav his hag-gag hag-gag transferred to the other hotel, and ther Hlyn put him under confidential charg f th manager, with very strict order that he was not, ou Bay pretext whatever, to be allowed to decamp peading Hlyne 's return. Whereafter that activ man of affaire sent to the garag for his ear. with word that his chauffeur need not b disturbed, and. having deposited his still uncounted winnings with the cashier, started east ward again in such hast that he would not even wait to chaug his thia evening even-ing clothe. Hlyne was. In fact, fiercely excited. His particular providence seemed to be holding out to him such a rhanc ia life as he could earrly hav conceived himself in hi wildest dreams. And he was ia such frantic hast to grasp that chance which iueved o aiuch more than th mere money that he had quite forgotten his recent fear of. M. Dubois. "I think I'v got you this time, mv Erl," said he to himself gleefully, as e once mure slowed down to stop at th Italiaa frontier. And that waa the burdea of all his thoughts a h raced madly along tha Cornich road ia his high powered car. Ia the darkness before be-fore dawa. his evea intent oa the long whit ribbon of highway endlessly slipping slip-ping toward hit headlights, he saw only roseate vision! of what fh futur now held for him. A th sua rose to burnish bur-nish th "bare, brow a mountains before him; he nodded happily to himself, and his lip moved agaia to" tha glad refrain, "I think I'v got you quit safe this tim, iy girll " CHAPTEE Til Th Pric of rr-Mdom. filync's aostrils curled a h observed th dirty and disheveled apct of th Oliv Branch, lying Id 1st ia Uenoa harbor har-bor aloagside th coal chutes where the day 'a work had aot yet begun. U had grown extremely fastidious again within with-in tha vary short space of tin which had passed tinea he had last sees her. There was ao on visible about her gold cigarette case from his pocket. 11 kaew that Captain Dov waa merely mere-ly trying to aggravate him, and it would not hav bea politic to stray from th matter in hand. II lighted a eigarett at his leisur aad waited for what should com next. II had changed his mind to taking th old inaa fully into hia confidence. He thought he could see hia wy to get all k wanted for a very great deal less thaa that might hav cost him. "Want a drinkf Captaia Dov demanded, de-manded, no doubt with tha idea that a dose of spirit might snrv to stir up his visitor' temper, and looked nr prisd at Hlyne 's curt head shake, still more surprised over his resHBse. "I can't afford to drink at all hours of th day and night now," said Hlvne austerely. "That sort of thing was' all very well at sea, but The business I have in hand isn't ef the sort that can be carried out on raw brandy. And you'll have to taper off, too, if you want to come in. " "Strike me skv blue!" exclaimed the old man. and Hlyne held up a reproving re-proving hand. "I ran do with a good deal less of your bad language into the bargain, " he mentioned coldly, "if vou don't mind. In short, I want you to under stand from the start that you've got to behave aa if you were a" reasonable huniaa being and not a dangerous In natie, or I'll leave vou to rot in the hole you've got yourself into." Captain Dove, ararrelv able to credit th evidence of hia own ears but, none the less, apparently, thinking hard, darted a verr ugly glanc at him and noticed th diamond in his shirt front. 1 nder th strongest temptation to rail in a couple of deckhands and have him thnown off the ship. Captain Itove obviously ob-viously paused to consider whether those could be of aay intrinsic value. II was, of course, satisfied that he knew exactly how much or, rather, how little money Hlvne had had in his pockets when he went ashore. And if Hlyne had already, within four and twentv hours, been stile to turn that over at a profit snffielsnt to provide himaelf with a fur coat and diamonds it might tnerhap pay Captain Dove to hear what he had to propose. Hlyne, reading all the old man's thoughts, could se that h had desided to tern poriz. "But I can do with a damn sight lest of your back chat!" rumbled Captain Dov, not to be put down without pro-test. pro-test. "If you've come back on board to offer me a founder's shar in- anv new gold, brick factorr fir straight ahead and be short about it. It'll sav time, too. if vou 'II take it from me again Jhat I'd rather have your room thaa yeur company.'' . i ' -. '' - i it. lie eurtty rerused again Captain Dov 'a more hospitable offer of some refreshment, and, while his aggrieved host was clumsily getting into some warmer clothing, talked to him from th saloon through th open doorway of hia cramped sleeping quarters, ft was easier to arrange matters so than under Captaia Dove's direct observation. observa-tion. "You'll pay me cash, of course," Captain Dove stipulated, as though he had been bargaining about a charter party. "Ill par yu cash." Slyne agreed, "th day Hallie marries me. And meantime I 'II give vou my note of hand at thirty days for th monev. " He listened lis-tened intentlv, but Captain Yove, struggling strug-gling fretfully with refractory buttons, maintained an ominous silence: l "I'll have it backed bv a London lawyer, to keep you aaf." said Hlvne. "And listen!' I'm not a.Ving vou to risk anything, or veo to take niv note at its face value. I want vou to com ashore with me and find out for vour-elf vour-elf from my lawyer that you can depend de-pend on the money. If' vou don't feel satisfied about 'that afU-r vou 've seen him ynu needn't go anv further, we'll call the bargain off; you ran get hack on board your ship at onee and no harm done. "And. even aa regarda Sallie, I'm going out of my way to keep vou right. I 'd give a great deal to get Vour hundred hun-dred thousand in rash. Kvervthing's fair, square and above board now. I 'in not asking you to risk anything. "And where in the wide world can vou expect to do better for voureelf!" he argued. If you go east "vou 'II get no more for the girl and look at the expense! You 'II be sorry all the rest of your life, too, for I know vou 'd far sooner see her deerntlv settled than sell her to anv dog fared son of a gun of a mandarin! "You ran sav what vou like." tie concluded, although (amain Dove had said never a word "Clean - monev 's nleasanter to snend than dirty anv dav. If I had been horn - wealthy I'd never hnve needed to touch a marked card. And tins vour chance, too. to pull out of a rotten rut that'll sooner or later land vou among the chain gang." Captain Dove came forth from his cabin, indifferently clad, and eved Hlvne with a sarcastic interest which somewhat some-what disconcerted that bomiliat. "Ynu don't look st like a Hand e' Hone!" said thr iT 'ttiss "hut " Hlvne rose again, and IT his lin simulated imnatienee. "Oh. all right." said h. "If you're not interested " f'aptain Dove scowled M him. "I'm interested." he said grudringlv. "I'll aee this lawyer fellow of vours whenever when-ever you lik to bring, him aboard, and '' i . -, ' ; - help noticing how daiiity and neat and feminine waa ita entire effort, with its cushioned cosy corners, suow white curtains cur-tains and draperies. Its purely fragrant fra-grant atmosphero stirred evea &lyne 's conscience a little. He lay back in his heat, and, gazing about him, recalled to mind all he had been able to learn as to Hallie 's strange past. It all fitted in ao perfectly with the fabric of his wonderful new plans that h could Hud no possible tlaw in them. Aud wheu Hallie herself at length came out to him from ber cabin he was optimistically disposed to be very generous in his dealings with her. Fresh from her bath and doubly bewitching be-witching in her clinging intimate (Ira peries, she met Sly no s glad, eager glance with grave, doubtful ee, and igitort-sl eulirelv the hand bo held out to her as he sprang from his chair. Hut he affected not to notice her attitude of distrust, and, greeting her gavly. sucd hi. face h laving his out stretched hand on another chuir. which he set a little nearer hia own. "Won't you sit down?" he suggested suggest-ed with debonair courteay. Biif she shook her head; she was evidently afraid to receive hitn on au.v such friendly footing. Hhe did not even care to ask him what he was do ing in evening dress at breakfast time and on board the Olho Branch. Hut in her troubled eyes he could rcail that unspoken iuquirv. "I've bee traveling all uiuht to get back to you, Hallie. ' he hold her in Ii low, eager tone, "and I hadn't time to change I waa in such ft hurry to tell you the news. I 've rom to take vou away from the Olive Branch-antl Captain love. I've come tu set you free." Hhe ntared at him as though she had not heard aright, her lips parted, her evebrows arched, a faint, puxlcd, ques tioning frown on her forehead. "I've conn- to let you free." he aid again. ' " At what price!" she al,el sud denly, w ilh , disconcerting directness, and his would be straightturward glance wavered. "Don't put it tlnit way!" he urged; "I ask no more than the fulfilment of the promise you made inc. And listen. lis-ten. Halite, 'l 've touud out who you really are and where your home is. I 'II take ynu there if only you "I'm not asking, you to niarrv me right awav, either, remember. Aft you must do in the meantime ia t sign without question some papers that will be required. Then I 'II mak everything quit saf for you aad tak you to your own honi." Th quick doubt in her eyes had liven place to an expression of helpless amazement aud growing diamay. But he did not wait to bear anything she might has to "By. "It' like this, you see," h Went effort to speak quite naturally, "Ho now, as soon as you're ready, we'll all go ashore together, and ' "I'll be ready in twentv minutes." she told him. clasping her hands at her heart, her eyes very eager. "And, Jasper, Jas-per, you mutt let me take Ambrizette with me." "You're free now to do as vou like." he answered, and left her. He felt as if he were treailinir on air on hia way back to the midship saloon. Captain Dove, in the same negligee costume, was busy at breakfast when Hlvne walked in unon htrn atrain, but looked up from his t-'ute for lon enoorh to munible n innlicioiis question. "Yes. I've fixed it nl! up wit'i her,'' Hlvne answered with a-sunied nonchalance. non-chalance. " You c-in always trit me tej know bow to handle a woman. Dove," Captain Dove shot a dcrim - glance in his direction. "Is -die willing to iiuirrv von after all. then?" he de tiisinlcil. feigning u sureris-' v no tneiirs complimentary. "Not iust at once, of couise."' returned re-turned his companion, and Jer't the old man to infer whutevcy he pleased. In resnonse to -i shouted '-rder of Cntdain Dove's a slatternly cn-k stew iinl brourfhf Hlvne a steaimnr platter of beans with h b't of bacon rind on top. and all enninelcd mil!.' containing -t brew v.hicli migbr. 't courtesy, have boon called coffee". There was a trav of broken shin's biscuits, a tin containing contain-ing some peculiarly -"nk substitute for butter, upon the table, with tie other eruiallv uninviting concomitants of a meager meal. " Tel'k-tchk' " con-'oei'lcd M"e. nnd sat down to satisfy hit hunger as best he might; while ( aptain Dove, having ocrheard that t-iiticisin, e)od him iniuni-ally ami proceeded tu put a peculiarly pecu-liarly rank cigar in his fiice. "You intent as well be getting dressed now." said HU ne indifferent I . " Itv the time I 'in through here Hallie will bo ready tu go ar-hore.." Captain liove looked very fiorcelv at bi in . but without effect. "Saliie wun't stir a step, from the ship." the old man affirmed, "til! you've handed over the cash." Hlvne louked up in mild surprise. . ' "Itut. dear tne! Dove." he remarked, "vou dun 't expect that the London lawyer's go)ug to take my word for a girl' he's never even seen? I'ntil he's t-atisfled on that point he won't indorso tttT note to vou. Ho we've got to take her along with us. I 'in doing my best to gir you a square deal; and all I ask in return is a square doal from you." "You'd better not try aay crooked games with me," growled 'Captain Dove, and sat for a time sunk in obviously aggravating reflections. "If we get on his soft side, suggested sug-gested blyne insidiously, "there's no : i , v . . . - Ambrizette shuffled fearfully after her, ?nd Hlvne came last, his chin ia the air, riumphaiit. Ho led the way to hia ear and was gratified to obaerv its salutary effect on ( aptain Dove's somewhat contemptuous contemp-tuous demeanor. The little policeman in charge of it ponding its opulent owner's own-er's return, came forward touching hit kepi, which further impressed Captain Dove, uncomfortably. Hlyn handed Hallie Hal-lie into the tonnesii, and Ambrizette after her, tossed the polireman a further fur-ther tip which secured his overlasting esteem, took his own sent at the wheel, and was hHstily followed by Captain ! Dove "Where are we bound fort" asked (aptain Dure, holding his top bat on nith both hands. a. HJyn took the road toward Manipierdsreua at a round pace. "Don't talk to the man at the wlieel." auswered Hlyne, and laughed. "We've a hundred miles or so ahead of us. Better chuck that old tile of .yours away anil tie a handkerchief round your head; you'll find that lest uncomfortable. ' The old man. at a lots for anv more effective retort, pulled his antiquated beaver down almost to his ears, folded his long nruis across the chest of his Mapping frock coat, and sat silent, scowling at the bu'ii'v umbrella between I his knees. Nor did he open hia mouth agniu during the swift journey. But when thev at length reached their destination and Hlvne stopped the car ouiotlv before the imposing pile j that forms the Hotel do Paris, Captain Dove's jaw dropped and his mouth ; Opened iiieclianiealh . j A resplendent porter came hurrying forward and bowed most humbly to the magnificent Slyne. "Take this lady aud her maid straight up to the suit neiu mine. " ordered Hlvne, aa Hallie alighted, wiiile .(aplam Dove listened, all eart. "And Hk Mr. Jobling to iom me in my ait-.tiiu' ait-.tiiu' room. Me s atill here, I suppose! " He gave vent to a heartfelt sigh of , rtsJir-f as the man. alreadv preceding his , i-'ia i gos indoors, paused to answer in the I affirmative. "I needn't book a room for vou," he told l aptain Dove with calculated indifference. "But Hallie must have somewhere tu leave Ambrizette. "Hev! ton. Call mv chauffeur to tako the car around to the garage. " (aptain Dove followed him toward the bureau, attracting not a few glance of mingled surprise and amusement from the elaborate idlers in its neigh bnrbood. Hlyn was furious. "I can't hav him tagging about after me in that ghastly getup! " he told himself on the way to th elevator; ele-vator; aad cuffed the elevator bov 't eart at the sound of a mirthful aneez wich which that unfortunate youth had become afflicted. "Though how th i guua iriius, 14 IU1I IPI uw, II TUH UUM , travel up to your collar, if you ao much as abv at anvthing you see or hear I won't even hurt you; I'll just hand you over to th police. "(Ho mak up your mind now. quiekl " "You'v nothiog against me," qua vered th lawyer. "No, I'v nothing not very much, at least, yet,"' Hlyne agreed, knotting hit tia neatly befor th glaaa. "But that may be bee bus you haven't em bottled any of my money yet." He had most opportunely recalled what the detective Dubois had told him about hit now friend. Mr. Jobling's face was almost green. He got up with an evident effort. "I was only joking," he declared with a most ghastly grin. "I'll be quite satisfied with 10 per cent of the' accumulated incomein fact, we ll call it a couple of hundred thousand pounds, if you lik." "All right," Slyn agreed impor turbablv. "Make it that amount if you'd rather. How long will it take you to get the papers drawn outl It's nearly 1 o'clock. And you won't be safe till they'ra signed." "An hour,' said Mr. Jobling. "I'm a quick writer." "All right,' Slyn repealed. "We'll lunch at 2 after they're all signed Ho off you go, and get busy." The stout solicitor hurried awav. cowed and obedient again, and Hlyn. very smart in an almost new flannel suit, rejoiued Captain Iwva. "I'm too fashionable, that's what' tho matter witli me!" declared Captain Dove with sudden conviction at sight of him, aud gazed very bitterly at his own image in an inconveuient mirror. "Never mind about that," Hlyn ad vised soothingly. "It't not as if ynu were staying her, you know. You'll he back on board your ship bv supper time. And now, T must tell jou linw we've got to handle this lawyer fellow when he fetches in the raft of papers he'll want u all to sign." Captain Dov listened gloomily while he went on to explain, at eoniidernhle-length, eoniidernhle-length, and in his most convincing manner, that they must match their combined witt agaiast the lawysr's for their owe profit. "It's not that I don't trust him." said Slyne, "hut I'll foel mora secure after everything's settled ia writing and signed. He can't go back on us then." . "He'd better not!" Captain Dove commented. "I'll .wring hit neck for him if h trie) "And. a for Sallie." 61vn cut him short, "I've mad things quite " (To be continued.') .Pau' BrrsM pwrsn'ts of cbldr.n vtolatlnar the curfsw law. v ; .. t , |
