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Show Crawford ByT. HAridn Of iJAftACIHfSCA ,ARfJHUSATCffl AUTHOR SYNOPSIS. Baraka, a Tartar girl, became enamored golden bearded stranger who was and ot a prospecting studying herbs in the vicinity of her home in central Asia, and revealed to him the location of a mine of rubies hoping that the stranger would love her in return for her disclosure. They were followed to the cave by the girls relatives, who blocked up the entrance, and drew off the water supply, leaving the couple to die. Barakas cousin eaad, her betrothed, attempted to climb down a cliff overlooking the mine; but the traveler shot him. The stranger was revived from a water gourd Saad carried, dug his way out of the tunnel, and departed, deserting the girl and carrying a bag of rubies. Baraka gathered all the gems she could carry, and started in pursuit. Margaret Donne (Margarita da Cordova), a famous prima donna, became engaged in London to Konstantin a wealthy Greek financier. Her intimate friend was Countess Leven, known as Lady Maud, whose husband had been killed by a bomb in St. Petersburg, and Lady Mauds most intimate friend was Rufus Van Torp, an American, who had become one of the richest men in the world. Van Torp was In love with Margaret, and rushed to London as soon as he heard of her betrothal. He offered Lady Maud $5,000,000 for her pet charity if she would aid him in winning the singer from Logotheti. Baraka apwith proached Logotlieti at Versailles rubies to sell. He presented a ruby to Margaret. Van Torp bought a yacht and ent it to Venice. He was visited by Baraka In male attire. She gave him a ruby after the American had told her of having seen in the United 8tates a man answering the description of the one she loved. Tne American followed Margaret to the Bayreuth Parsifal festival. Margaret took a liking to Van Torp, who presented her with the ruby Baraka had given him. Count Kralinsky, a Russian, arrived at Bayreuth. Van Torp believed him to be the one Baraka was pursuing. Baraka was arrested in London on the charge of stealing from Pinney, a jeweler, the ruby she had sold to Logotheti. Two strangers were the thieves. Lady Maud believed that Logothetis associations with Baraka were open to suspiVan cion, and so informed Margaret. Torp believed that Kralinsky was the cowboy he had known in his young manhood. Logotheti secured Barakas release, and then, with her as his guest, went to sea on his yacht Erinna. Baraka the explains her plans for revenge on her man who had deserted her and left to die. Logotheti succeeds in moderating her rage. Lady Maud arrived In Bayreuth. Margaret and Van Torp entered Into an agreement to build a tremendous opera house in New York. The thief who stole the ruby from Mr. Pinney was arrested in New York and the stone recovered. Lady Maud confided to Van Torp that she believed Kralinsky to be the Van husband she had believed dead Torp promised lus help to unravel the Van on The gathered party mystery. Maud discovered Torps yacht and Lady husband. He ofthat Kralinsky is her fered to rejoin and be true to her. She refused. Logotheti took Baraka ashore gt Naples to procure her a proper outfit. A CHAPTER XIV. Continued. He was alive this morning, Logoand he is a strong man. But the strong die sometimes suddenly, by accident if not of a fever. It Is emptiness, said Baraka, still He will not die belooking at him. fore I see him. "Allah forbid! But if such a thing happened, should you wish to go back to your own people? Or would you learn to speak the Frank and live in Europe? If he were dead, which may Allah avert, Baraka answered calmly, I think. I would ask you to find me a husband. Ah! Logotheti could not repress the little exclamation of surprise. Yes. It is a shame for a woman not to be married. Am I an evil sight, or poor, that I should go down to the grave childless? Or is there any reproach upon me? Therefore I would ask you for a husband, because I have no other friend but only you among the Feringhis. But If you would not, I would go to Constantinople again, and to the Persian merchants house, and I would say to his wife: 'Get me a husband, for I am not a cripple, nor a monster, nor is there any reproach upon me, and why Moreover I should I be childless? would say to the merchant's wife: Behold, I have great wealth, and I will have a rich husband, and one who Is young and pleasing to me, and who will not take another wife; and if you bring me such a man, for whatsoever his riches may be, I will pay you five per cent Having made this remarkable statement of her intentions, Baraka was silent, expecting Logotheti to say something. What struck him was not the concluding sentence, for Asiatic s are match-maker- s and generally paid on some such basis, and the slim Tartar girl had proved long ago that she was a woman of business. What impressed Logotheti much more was what seemed the cool cynicism of her point of view. It was evidently not a romantic passion for Kralinsky that had brought her from beyond Turkestan to London and Paris: her view had been simpler and more practical; she had seen the man who suited her, she had told him so, and had given ,him the secret of great wealth, and in return she expected him to marry her, if she found him alive. But if not, she would immediately take steps to obtain another to fill his place and be her husband, and she was willing to pay a high price to any one who could find one for her. Logotheti had half expected some such thing, but was not prepared for her extreme directness; still less had he thought of becoming the matrimonial agent who was to find a match worthy of he" hand and fortune. She was sitting beside him in a little ready-madFrench dress, open at the throat, and only a bit of veil twisted round tier hair, as any European won ar might wear it; possibly it was d.-- s tn at made what she said theti answered, peace-maker- e sound strangely In his ears, though it would have struck him as natural enough If she had been muffled in a yashmak and ferajeh, on the deck of a Bosphorus ferry boat. He said nothing in answer, and sat thinking the matter over. I could not offer to pay you five per cent., she said after a time, because you are a king, but I could give you one of the fine rubies I have leTt, and you would look at It sometimes and rejoice because you had found Baraka a good husband. Logotheti laughed low. She amused him exceedingly, and there were moments when he felt a new charm he had never known before. Why do you laugh? Baraka asked, a little disturbed. I would give you a good ruby. A king may receive a good ruby as a gift and not despise It. Why do you laugh at me? There came two German merchants to me In Paris to see my rubies, and when they had looked, they bought a good one, but not better than the one I would give you, and Spiro heard them say to each other in their own language that It was for their king, for Spiro understands all tongues. Then do you think that their king would not have been glad if I had given him the ruby as a gift? You cannot mock Baraka. Baraka knows what rubles are worth, and has some still. I do not mock you," Logotheti anI swered, with perfect gravity. laugh at my own thoughts. I said in my heart: If Baraka asks me for a husband, what will she say if I answer. Behold, I am the man, if you are satisfied! This was my thought. She was appeased at once, for she saw nothing extraordinary in his suggestion. She looked at him quietly and smiled, for she saw her chance. It is emptiness, she said. I will have a man who has no other wife. Precisely, Logotheti answered, I never had one. smiling. Now you are indeed mocking me! she said, bending her sharp-draweyebrows. No. Every one knows it who knows me. In Europe, men do not always marry very young. It is not a fixed custom. I have heard so, anBaraka swered, her anger subsiding, but it is very strange. If it be so, and if all things should happen as we said, which Allah avert, and if you desired me for your wife, I would marry you without doubt. You are a great man, and rich, and you are good to look at, as Saad was. Also you are kind, but Saad would probably have beaten me, for he beat every one, every day, and I should have gone back to my fathers house. Truly, she added, in a thoughtful tone, you would make a desirable husband for Baraka. But the man I seek must marry me if I find him alive, for I gave him the riches of th earth and he gave me nothing and departed, leaving me to die. I have told you, and you understand. Therefore let us not jest about these things any more. What will be, will be, and if he must die, it is his portion, and mine also, though it is a pity. Thereupon the noble little features became very grave, and she leaned back in her chair and folded her hands in her lap, looking out at the violet light on the distant volcano. After that, at dinner and in the evening, they talked pleasantly. She told him tales of her own land, and of her childhood, with legends of the Altai, of genii and enchanted princesses; and he, in return, told her about the great world in which he lived; hut of the two, she talked the more, no doubt because he was not speaking his own language. Yet there was a bond of sympathy between them more natural and instinctive than any that had ever drawn him and Margaret together. When the sun was up the next morning and Logotheti came on deck to drink his coffee alone, he saw the magic straits not many miles ahead, in an opalescent haze that sent up a vapor of pure gold to the pale blue enamel of the sky. He had been just where he was now more than once before, and few sights of nature had ever given him keener delight. On the left, the beautiful outline of the Calabrian hills descended softly into the still sea, on the right the mountains of Sicily reared their lofty crests; and far above them all, twice as high as the highest, and nobler in form than the greatest, Etna towered to the very sky, and a vast cloud of smoke rose from the summit that streamed westward as far as the eye could reach. Let her go half speed, captain, said Logotheti, as his sailing-maste- r came up to bid him I should like my guest to see the n good-mornin- straits. Very good, sir. We shall not go through very fast in any case, for the tide is just turning against us. Never mind, Logotheti answered The slower the better till we have Etna well astern. CHAPTER XV. It was eight oclock in the morning when the I.ancashire Lass steamed slowly into Messina and dropped an- - LLUSTPATmjJY &.WJU rOPYRJGHT J907 SY PlAtAROS QRAWPORP but audible tone of intense satisfaction. Logotheti had also seen Van Torp, and waved his hand in a friendly manner. Ask the gentleman if hell come aboard, captain, said the American. "I cant talk through your cornopean anyway. I suppose we can send the naphtha launch for him if we stop, can't we? Cant stop here, answered Capt. Brown. "The currents might jam us into each other, and we should most likely get aground in any case. This is not even a safe place for going slow, when the tide is running. Well, you know your business, and I dont. Tell him we dont want to interfere with any arrangements hes made, and that if he'll kindly set the pace he likes well trot along behind him till we get to a nice place, somewhere where we can stop. I suppose he cant run away from us now, can he? Capt. Brown smiled the smile of a man who commands a boat, and proceeded to deliver the message in a more concise form. Logotheti heard every word, and the answer was that he was in no hurry and was quite at Mr. Van Torp's disposal. He would be glad to know whom the latter bad on board with him. Lady Maud Leven, Miss Margaret Donne, Mrs. Rushmore and Count Kraanswered linsky, Capt Brown, prompted by Van Torp. The latter was watching the Greek through a pair of deer stalking glasses and saw distinctly the expression of surprise that came Into hla face when he heard the last of the names. Tell the gentleman, said Van Torp, "that if he'll bring his party with him when we stop, I'll be very glad to have them all take lunch with 23-kn- me. Captain Brown Got Information About the Erinna. chor out in the middle of the harbor na and show him to that Tartar girl. to wait while Capt. Brown got infor- Shed know in a minute. He can't be mation about the Erinna, if there were her man and Leven, too. There's only one thing to be done that I can see. any to be had at the harbor-master'- s office. What? asked Lady Maud sadly It would have been folly to lun out of the straits without at least and incredulously. Tell him youll take him back on looking in to see if she were there, lying quietly moored behind the fortress condition that hell shave. of San Salvatore and the very high Mr. Van Torp, who was in dead mole. earnest, had just given his best friend She was not there, and had not this piece of sound practical advice been heard of, hut a Paris Herald was when the door opened, though he had procured in which it was stated that not rung, and the steward announced the Erinna had arrived in Naples, that the second mate had a message "owner and party on, board. for Mr. Van Torp. He was admitted, Well, said .Mr. Van Torp, lets and he delivered it. The owner sprang to his feet. get to Naples, quick. How long will it take, captain? By thunder, weve caught 'em!" he About eight hours, sir, counting cried, as he rushed out of the deck saour getting under weigh and out of loon. this crowded water, which wont take Lady Maud leaned back and stared long, for the tide will soon turn. at his empty chair, wondering what Go ahead," said Mr. Van Torp. was going to happen next. Capt. Brown prepared to get under This was what happened. The Lanweigh again as quickly as possible. cashire Lass reversed her starboard The entrance to Messina harbor is engine with full speed astern, put her narrow, and it was natural that, as he helm hard over to port, and turned r was in a hurry, a huge Italian back towards the straits in the smallshould enter the harbor at that est space possible for her, passing very moment, with the solemn and less than a cables length from the safe deliberation which the move- Scylla rock, and nearly running down ments of ships require half a dozen fishing boats that pulled when going in and out of port. There like mad to get out of her way; for was nothing to be done but to wait they supposed that the steering-gea- r patiently till the fairway was clear-I- t had broken down, unless her captain was not more than a quarter of an had gone raving mad. hour, but Capt. Brown was in a hurWhile this was going on, Capt. ry, and as there was a fresh morning Brown himself, with the international breeze blow ing across the harbor he signal code in his hand, was calling could not even get his anchor up with out letters of the alphabet to a quarsafety before he was ready to start. termaster, and before his ship had The result of all these delays was made half a circle the flags ran up the that at about nine oclock he saw the single stick the yacht carried. Erinna right ahead, bows on and only My owner has urgent business with half a mile away, just between Scylla your owner," was what the flags and Faro, where the whirlpool is still meant in plain English. a danger to sailing vessels and slow The Erinna was going slow, for Basteamers, and just as the tide was raka was only just ready to come on turning against her and in his own deck, haste being in her opinion, an favor. He did not like to leave the invention of Shaitans. Logotheti, bridge, even for a moment, and sent who wished her to see the straits, was the second mate with an urgent mes- just inside the door of the deck sasage requesting Mr. Van Torp to come loon, waiting for her to come out of up as soon as he could. her cabin. The officer of the watch Five minutes earlier the owner had read off the signals of the other yacht, sat down to breakfast opposite Lady ran up the answering pennant, and Maud, who was very pale and had sent for the sailing-mastebut could dark shadows under her eyes for the of course do nothing else without orfirst time since he had known her. As ders. So th,e Erinna continued to go soon as the steward left them alone, slow. All this took some minutes, for she spoke. the officer had naturally been obliged It is Leven, she said, and he to look up the signal in the code bewants me to take him back. fore answering that he understood it; Mr. Van Torp set down his tea un- and in that time Van Torp's yacht had tasted and stared at her. He was not completed her turn and was nearly often completely taken by surprise, alongside. The Lancashire Lass but for once he was almost speech- slowed down to the Erinna's speed, less. His lips did not even move si- and the two captains aimed their meglently. aphones accurately at each other from I was sure it was he, Lady Maud their respective bridges for a little said, hut I did not expect that." pleasant conversation. Capt. Brown, Well, said Mr. Van Torp, finding instructed by Mr. Van Torp at his his voice, he shant. Thats all. elbow, repeated what his signals had No. I told him so. If I had been meant. The other sailing master andressed I would have asked you to put swered that he had already informed me ashore at Messina. I thought you his owner, who was coming to the were going to stop there the stew- bridge directly. At that moment Logotheti appeared ardess told me where we were, but she knew nothing else and now we're There was not much more than a off again. cables length between the two yachts, means 200 yards. "I can't help it, Maud, said Van which in land-talTorp, almost in a whisper, I dont be- Van Torp also saw a slim young lady lieve it. I dont believe in impossi- in blue serge, with a veil tied over bilities like that beard of his. It may her hair, leaning on the rail of the sound ridiculous in the face of your promenade deck and looking towards recognizing your own husband, but him. With his glasses he recognized it's a solid fact, and you can't get the features of Baraka. Got 'em! he ejaculated in a low over it. I w ish I could catch the Erin man-of-wa- j k J near at hand; that the meeting shoult take place sooner than had been ia tended hardly surprised her, bec&uM she had been so perfectly sure that It was near. Her only preoccupation now was about her appearance In hei ready-madserge and blouse, whn she had meant to show herself to Km linsky in the glory of a beautiful and expensive Feringhi dress. But Logotheti explained that evna the richest Feringhi ladles often won little blue serge frocks on yachts, utl told her to watch the Lancashire Laos with her glasses, as there were thras very great Feringhi ladies on boorA and she might see one, and be rsa sured; and presently she saw Lad) Maud walking alone on the proas enade deck, in dotheB very like hoi own, excepting that they were black instead of dark blue. So Baraka wat satisfied, but she never took her eyat from the following yacht, for she hoped that Kralinsky would come out and show himself. All at once he was there, taking oil his white cap to Lady Maud, and the) stood still facing each other, and talk ing. I see him, BaraVa said in a lew voice, without lowering her glasses. It is he." Logotheti, who had been much ah sorbed in thinking about his coming Interview with Margaret, raised Ml glasses, too, for he was curious to ae the man at last. He had knowi Leven for years, though never latt mately, as he knew a vast number el people in London, and he was struck at once by the resemblance in sine, build and complexion. "He is fatter than he was, and paler, Baraka said quietly, but It is he. He ip speaking earnestly with the beautiful1 woman in black. I can bm well. He likes her, but she does nol like him. I think she is telling him so. I am so glad. But she is mart beautiful than Baraka, even in those clothes. When he sees me, he wlD deny me, because he likes the beaut) ful woman in black. I will tell Splrs to be ready. It is a pity, but I see there will he no other way. It is hii portion and mine. It is a great pity, for I have been happy with you. Instead of any look of anger, Logo theti now saw an expression of pro found resignation in her lovely young features. If he had been less anxiotu about his own affairs, he would have smiled at her simplicity. When we are on that ship you will let me talk with him a little apart from the rest, and Spiro shall go bo Mind him and wait, looking at me. II he denies me, I will make a sign, and Spiro shall shoot him, and then kill me. It will be very easy and quick." And wbat will become of Spiro?" inquired Logotheti gravely. I do not know, Baraka said quietly. "Perhaps he will lose his head. How can I tell? But he Is a good servant, and will obey me. Afterwards it will not matter, for he is really a Mussulman, and will go at once to paradise if he dies, because be has killed a Christian. "But you are a Mussulman, and he is to kill you also. What about that?" "I am only a woman, answered Bar raka with supreme indifference. "Now I will call Spiro and tell him what h is to do. He has a good revolver. Logotheti let her clap her hands and send the steward for her man, and she rose when he appeared and made him follow her a little waj along the deck. The interview did nol last long. She handed him her glasses and made him look carefully at ths intended victim; then Bhe apparently repeated her brief instructions again, pointing here and there to the deck at her feet, to show him how they were to stand; after which she turned quietly, came back to Logothetis aids and sat down again. He understands, she said. It will be quite easy. But Logotheti, looking past her as she came forward, had met Spiros eyes; and he felt not even the slightest anxiety for Kralinskys safety, nor for Baraka's. He was still wondering what he should say to Margaret At a distance, Logotheti had sup posed that he could somehow account to the diva for the position in which he had foolishly placed himself, because he had done nothing and said nothing that he would have been ashamed of before her, if she knew the whole truth; and he fancied that even if they quarreled she would make up with him before long, and marry him in the end. He had a goou opinion of himsplf as a desirable husband; and with reason, since he had been persecuted for years with offers of excellent marriages from mothers of high degree who had daughters to dispose of. And beneath that convio tlon there lurked, in spite of him, ths less worthy thought, that singers an actresses were generally less squeank ish than women of the world about the little entanglements of their Intended husbands. e Capt. Brown delivered the message. short distance he did not even have to raise his voice to be heard through the megaphone. To Van Torps surprise, Logotheti nodded with alacrity, and the answer came that he would bring his party with pleasure, but thought that his visit would he over long before luncheon time. All right, good-by- , said Van Torp, as if he were at the telephone. Ring off, captain. Thats all. Just let him give us a lead now and well follow him through this creek again, since you say you can't stop here. As he went off the bridge to return to his breakfast he passed close to the chief mate, who had turned again, though it was his watch below. I say, Mr. Johnson, he asked, have we got a barber shop on board this ship. No, sir, answered the mate, who knew better than to be surprised at anything. It's no matter, said Mr. Van Torp, I was only asking." He went back to his breakfast with an improved appetite. When he the saloon Lady Maud was still leaning back in her chair, staring at his empty place. Well. he said, theyre both coming on board as soon as we get to a place where we can stop. Have you really seen the girl? Lady Maud sat up, as if she were waking from sleep. Oil, yes! There she was, looking over the rail, as neat as a pin, in a blue serge dress, with a white veil tied over her hair, watching me. We've got em right enough, and that's going to be the end of this mystery! Did you see any one else on the ya lit? Logo. Thats all. He and I talked At least, our captains talked for us. They do know how to yell, those men! If the girl's the party, Logo beats the band for brass, thats all I can say!" It Is rather cool," said Lady Maud If he's alone with her, thoughtfully. it will be all up with his engagement. They talked a few minutes longer, agreeing that she should tell Margaret what was going to happen; but that Mrs. Rushmore and Kralinsky should be kept in ignorance of the plan, the American lady because she might possibly yield to temptation and tell the count, and the latter for obvious reasons. It was not likely that any of them would be on deck much before Logotheti came on board. There is good anchorage out of the tidal current at Scaletta, some few miles below Messina, on the Sicilian side, and towards this well known water the Erinna led the way, followed at a short distance by the Lancashire Lass. Logotheti and Baraka watched her, the girl recognizing Van Torp on the bridge of his yacht, without even using glasses, for she had eyes like an eagles, and the American millionaire stood alone at one end of the bridge looking towards her. Logotheti had told her that Kralinsky was on board, and that she should see him as soon as both yachts could anchor. He explained that it (TO BE CONTINUED.) was an unforeseen coincidence, and that Mr. Van Torp must have taken Right In Papas Line. him on board somewhere on the previWhatever became of that young ous day. To the Greek's surprise, Ba- sport who used to call on you?" raka showed no outward sign oft emoWell, you see. papa is great on outHe had promised to take her door sports, so one night tion threw to the man, and had Baid that he was im out." Kansas City Jo id i At such a six-fo- |