Show deih lit 44 tz t t WW 04 0 4 te IV A R R 10 R BOM A by ST G GEORGE E ORGE RATHBORNE P author of little ms millions 1 the spiders web aless XI y caprice dr jacks widow etc lie lic Z it I 1 M copyright 1901 by and smite new york I 1 t A Z ys y ti f Y ir M I 1 k 4 r M K at ff ak Y W t W S K 1 n and tile the too perhaps it was a rash resolve poi ably viably charlie stuart should have re ac apted the baiona well meant warning tor for its ita full value and have left antwerp by the first train dut but it was only the word of the baron against hla his own powers ot of perspicacity and ami charlie did not see why he be should yield so brally in other words worda he was not ready to believe la in the story tile the wonderful baron had related without more abundant proof perhaps he might even doubt it until the action of arline drand brand convinced him of her guilt or her own sweet nog cs confessed it ahat I 1 hat was charlies charlie B idea of friendship with the disappearance of the baina froni from the scene charlie supposed the show was waa over for the morning lie ile was waa mistaken while lie ho stood there on the curb a tirey prey to distracting thoughts lie he was being closely watched by a rain man who had been lounging just inside the entrance of the steen courtyard when squirt started to move away the gentleman appeared to lose the last vestige ot of control which he poa lessed ito ho ran after the retreating figure the patter of footsteps just behind him film natu arlly caused charlie to halt half turn perhaps he thought it might ao 20 the baron with yet another choice lilt bit ot of information with which to add to ko his big stock of cheerfulness or maylian artemus desirous of overtaking oveita avei taking king him lie he was immediately undeceived A florid faced gentleman who looked fla As though he ha might have been dallying with the wine too long but with ith lot hot passion glowing in his ayea was close upon him even as charlie stepped back a pace thinking the man was drunk or in a creat hurry to catch a train to ills his intense surprise the stranger slapped into chaillee chailles Ch chai ailles lies faco a pair of kid gloves ho he carried luckily stuart had a cool head tor for one of ills his race or they would have had it 11 out then and there in tho the respectable spec table of the steen ile he saw baw that the roan man had a grievance though utterly in the dark as to what its nature might be hero herel who ate aie you 1 asked charlie ahal I 1 am herr professor richter of dresden charlie shook ills head still I 1 am groping lit in the dark 10 lo io hy by knowL knowledge dge I 1 never had the pleas tre ire of meeting vou professor pio fessor the Ger german niRil scowled angilly which la ili one tood thing for you lr and now that aou ou have met me ou oil shall give me the satisfaction of A gentleman to morion morning it must be v with ith or do you pi pieter efer swords blood alone can wipe out the base insult I 1 suppose you tell me protestor how I 1 lave have offended you surely it could not be a matter serious enough to call tor for a duel how V roared the german dancing up tip and down don ills his eyes glaring his hands working as though eager to clutch the others throat after des my honor you profess ignorance scoundrel then I 1 will tell you even though every gossip in antwerp learn of my shame by running awa with my wifel wife what charlie was so staggered by the accusation cusa tion that he be could hardly catch his breath ile he had bad passed through some strange experiences ills his life hut but this was really the mat time he had bad ever been accused of such an escapade ica but professor I 1 swear to you I 1 never set eyes upon the lady in question you ile aasal did I 1 not with my own eyes see eee you put her in the carriage and stand there watching her away ion ou fire are guilty poor charlie felt as limp as a dish lag this connection with artemus and his irrepressible dramatic fever wet was fringing bringing about the roost most agonizing e suits well sll all I 1 say Is I 1 must have done it in my sleep kut but I 1 gave you my word and it I 1 cannot prove probe my in nogence no inoc cence euce I 1 will gle give you the satisfaction you demand tomorrow to morrow at sundle eagerly As you say there Is my card pro teaser fessor leave leate the particulars at my hotel stuart stood looking after the learned disciple the she the wife of that how bow legged heavy scholar peri li tho there Is another r infernal tn litake about it this fautu old town to la all upset it seems then he be suddenly the card she ehe had bad ghin mm bim with her ft ad d dress as ill bp had not thought to look at it so BO he be hastily droe into his prick pork ot and drew out the case in I 1 lu had placed it fresh from liar hr atril enly aly to receive a sad ead shock as he be tead ead MADAM MADA 1 l SOPHIE mf ow hotel otel de la praia antwerp D 1 well it v N ia j in black and N i NN th ml erable evidence beffie hla his eyes still he was grimly determined to keep hla hia engagement for that evening come what might ohl oh sublime faltot it would require mountains mount alna to crush a positive belief in the conviction of his own eyes and hla his own intuition dinner came next lie ile could amuse himself with a thousand and one theories bearing upon the case charlie was enjoying his dinner with a fair amount of satisfaction considering what hat a load he carried upon his mind when artemus who had been given his address made his appearance stuart immediately decided to make a full disclosure an came in good time whereby they could converse without being overheard then charlie lot let loose lie he fairly staggered lite hla companion with ills hla first volley containing tile tho account of the famous baron and hla his charge that arline arllano brand was the most dangerous as well as aa notorious adventurer in all europe while artemus was wag ct gasping from the effect of this hot shot char lie ile poured in grape and cannister ile he sketched the dramatic advent ot of the professor on the scene the challenge to it a duel he had flung at the supposed disturber of ills his family peace Charli charlied ej amazed questions concerning yellow hair and blue eyes cypa and finally the solemn solema agreement that had been reached between them charlie having exhausted hla his reper tolie now turned the tables whit became ot of you my dear boy he asked I 1 waved you farewell Ar arterius Arter terrus rui said bald then sou aou were not in the second coach ay ay you see the fair lidy neglected to favor roe me with one of her cards and I 1 was compelled to adopt measures of my own in order to discover her she went to the hotel in the rue de 1 I 1 hats the do la paix with a frown remembering the card he hold held yes my boy the same I 1 was waa satisfied that I 1 hid had found out just where she put up tip but curiosity in laced me to waylay the doorkeeper he who opened the carriages carrl agea and exercised the functions of factotum so S 0 putting a bit of aller in his wind bind I 1 as t c ed him who the lady might be she with the veil over her vice fice ile he scratched his head as though a bit puzzled himself and then suddenly ansi answered ered as aa though eit it random mile brand charlie had been listening eagerly lie ho give gave lent ent to an exclamation of satisfaction artemus ou are a so continued the other with a grim smile as though he could scent something that had not yet become visible to the naked eye I 1 came to the conclusion the young lady had given us her true name after all though she hinted hintea at possessing another I 1 les es why did she say thata that mused charlie but one thing seems clear there la Is an at ailene line brand after all and tonight to night I 1 am bound to discover what relation it if any r connects her with this bold intriguing countess coun tees or the tha run away wife of the professor either cither that or tomorrow to morrow I 1 am booked A for a duel charlie stuart saw the shades 0 night close in upon the old city of 0 antwerp with a sigh of deep satisfaction reaching the hotel he boldly asked to seo see madam sophie richter some time elapsed while he waited ile he was on needles and atna hung up as aa it were on tenter hooks by pense pene the lady awaits meta berr in the little parlor over yonder fit at tact laut came the asage charlie drew in a long breath alad aid entered lie he felt a sensation of tremendous relief for the lady while pleasant and even band handsome in her appear appearance tuce was wag a stranger ile he bowed courteously to the lady I 1 I 1 am a stranger to you lady aa englishman stuart by name through some I 1 haill hae become much against my will I 1 asure mixed up tip in your domestic arrangements and I 1 har come here her to throw ra aielt belf upon your mercy and beg bee your gentle indulgence as aa an aa intercessor the lady looked astonished sir explain who inho seeks to do to ou harm and of whom am I 1 to bg beg indulgence she asked madam there la is at large in antwerp a man inan who has sworn to bai hae e the lite life of the is wretch retch who has haa robbed lill hl quie home of its ono one bright jewil who nho prowls pi owls hither and yon regard ars or of vs s personal appearance vengeance and toady ready to lie all ho he has hag on carth it if he be can but ange his honor ion ou itally it ally mean that the probes or is iq hero here in anteio Ante ip arta nalup ing around like a mal maa bull thit that at list he has left his hi musty old hool s sa r ri much in evidence I 1 angui I 1 NO then thea our haf laughed pardon parden my ignorance madam but I 1 am irad to think it worked only too well since 1 I an I 1 ino novat man am booked to meet the professor in a duel to morrow at sunrise b because cau e forsooth he chanced t sea nio me place a lady in a cab a lady w who b hid golden cold locks and whom the tbt old I 1 mean the jealous prof professor emor chose to ta fancy was the of hla his bosom the lady laughed aloud in a duel lie fight for me oh charming it is too grodl aud what will cousin say saya 1 I in sure eure I 1 don t know but I 1 ni anxious to convince this old fire eater that he has gotten hold of the wrong man and I 1 am certain you will assist me to piave my innocence oh sir air most certainly especially as aa there la is no man in the matter i it fat t all and the object of 0 01 1 little escapade has been accomplished binte you have been put to more or less in convenience in the premises it would be only fair for me to explain the story was nothing new though its ita sequel gave evidence of considerable originality thanks to the appearance of the bright witted Itil degarde on the scene madam and the professor had not been the happiest couple in the world lie ile was wedded to hla his books aud and neglected his pretty wife long hal she suffered and doubtless would have continued to do so BO only that his cousin colsin took the bull by the horns and suggested a strat egem whereby the student should be aroused and made to realize how dear to his heart this wife of his really might bo be it mas the old principle oter oer again of not missing the water until the well ran dry and one day when the learned man found his hie blue eyed spouse gone and a few lines simply signed 11 II begging her by her love to meet the writer in antwerp which note she had apparently dropped in the haste of her departure the tha professor threw his books to the winds and started in pur pursuit sult to thinkie think he be would even fight and tor for met me she ehe said almost incredulously indeed he Is distracted enough to defy fate itself but madam you may do me a favor boldly you have but to name came it sir air this lady whom I 1 had bad the pleasure of deming sen ing this lady whom your furious liu haaland aland saw me put into a carriage gave me a card and invited me to call upon her here at the hotel to night ali I 1 es with a bright smile she gave me a card I 1 did not look at it just then but after the ridiculous encounter with your husband in which he accused me m of stealing hla his wife and threatened me with deith on the field of honor I 1 took occasion to investigate and found folind this lie ile handed the card to her one glance and the professors wife ito laughed I 1 yes it Is 13 my carte de ate but on my honor Mel Melli herr stuart t I 1 did not give it to 3 ion oil I 1 that I 1 know very well nell what I 1 wish to discover Is who d there Is a young lady also with such golden halt and blue e eyes ea as you yourself posse possess 93 she Is stopping at this ho hotel to now you must have at some time ex chancel cards with her can you not remember em ember the circumstance 9 the professors professor e wife nodded eagerly I 1 well do I 1 remember it was only oily yesterday she quite charmed me ma with her and her flattery I 1 had never before met one bo fascinating I 1 it wa aas the countess isolde brabant 1 and her ber asked charlie his bis heart sinking to be continued |