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Show 1 A WARRIOR BOLD. I M :p Dy ST. GEORGE R.ATIIB03NE, $ Author ol . M llllont," "Th Spldcr'i H eft," "Mlf ;" taprUe," "Dr. Jaia's Widow." Lie, Lie ft ij ij l oerrmhl, tent, bl Slml nj Ktnltb. Nrw York ) II A IT t II IV. And the Prolissor. Too. rVhaps It wan a rath renolve pon-1 pon-1 Cuarlle Btuart should have a--the baron's well-meant warn-llfor warn-llfor Its full value, and have left lerp by the first train. Hut It wan only (he word of the baron again! nlown powers of perspicacity, ami Civile did not see why he should D!4 so easily. Il other words, he wan not ready to Mive In the story the wonderful harm had related, without more taidant proof. Pirhaps he might even doubt it until th action of Arllne Ilrand convinced el of her guilt, or her own sweet lipa confesned It. That was Charlie's Idea of frlend- With the disappearance of the baron ftoei the scene, Charlie eupP"ed the tow waa over for tho morning. He was mistaken. While he stood there on the curb, a tnj to distracting thoughts, he was Wing closely watched by a man who M been lounging Juat Inside the entrance en-trance of the Kteen courtyard. When Stuart started to move away, 1st gentleman appeared to lose the bat veatlge of control which be pes-axed. pes-axed. He ran after the retreating figure. The patter of footsteps Just behind sin naluarlly caused Charlie to half ttra; perhaps he thought It might to the baron, with yet another choice bll of Information with which to add It his stock of cheerfulness, or mayhap Irtemus desirous of overtaking him. He was Immediately undeceived. A florid-faced gentleman, who look-si look-si aa though he might have been dal-trlng dal-trlng with the wine too long, but witla kit passion glowing In hla eyes, was done upon him. Even aa Charlie stepped back a pace. Ifelnklng the man waa drunk, or In a peat hurry to catch a train, to bla Intense In-tense surprise the stranger slapped I sUo Charlie's face a pair of kid (loves ( te carried. Luckily. Btuart had a cool head tor ne of hla rare, or they would have sad It out then and there In the re-ipectable re-ipectable atreet of the flteen. ,. He aaw that the man had a grievance,' griev-ance,' though utterly lu the dark as to. what Its nature might be, "See here! Who are you?" asked Charlie. "Aha! I am Herr Professor Jllchter Of Dresden." Charlie shook hla head. "HUH I am groping In the dark. To my knowledge 1 never had the pleasure pleas-ure of meeting you. professor." The Uerman scowled angrily. "Which Is one good thing for you. sir: and now that you have met me. you shall give me tho satisfaction of a gentleman. To morrow morning II must he. with pistols or do you prefer swords? Illood aloue can wipe out the base insult" "Suppose you tell me. Ilc rr Profev aor, how I have offended you. Hurely. It could not he a matter serious enough to call for a duel." "How?" roared the German, dancing up and down, hla eyes glaring, his hands working an though eager to clutch the other's throat. "After destroying des-troying my honor, you profess Ignorance, Ignor-ance, scoundrel! Then 1 will tell you. even though every gonslp In Antwerp learn of my ahaiue. Uy running away with my wife!" "What?" Charlie was so staggered by the accusation ac-cusation that he could hardly catch his breuth. He bad passed through some strange experiences during his life, but this was really the first lime ho bad ever been accused of such an es-capade. es-capade. "Hut, Ilcrr Professor, I swear to you I never set eyes upon the lady In question." "You lie, rasral! Pld I not with my own eyes see you put her In the carriage, car-riage, and aland there watching her drive away! You are guilty!" Poor Charlie felt as limp as a dish-rag. dish-rag. Thla connection with Artemus and hla Irrepressible drnmstlc fever win bringing about the moat agonizing e-suits. e-suits. "Well, all I say Is, I must have done It In my sleep. But I gave you my word, and If I cannot prove my innocence, in-nocence, I will give you the satisfaction satisfac-tion you demand." "To-morrow, at sunrise?" eagerly. "As you say. There Is my card, professor. pro-fessor. Leave the particulars at my hotel." Btuart atood looking after the learn-td learn-td disciple. "She the wife of that bow-leggrd, eavy-bralned scholar? Perlah tho thought! There la another Infernal mistake about It. This iiieer old town la all upset, It seems. " Then he suddenly remembered the card she had given hltn, with her address; ad-dress; aa he had not thought to look at It, so he hastily drove Into his pock-et pock-et and drew out the case In which he had placed It fresh from her hand, only to receive a Bad shock as ho cad: "MADAM SOPIIli: ItlCHTKIl, Hotel de la I'nilx, Antwerp. Dresden." V.-r'A, ther. It ' In black ami ' ' '''' the tuli- erable evidence before hla eyen. Still he was grimly determined to keep hla engagement for that evening, come what might. Oh! sublime faith! It would require re-quire mountains to crush a positive belief in the conviction of hla own eyes and his own Intuition, Dinner rame next. He could amuse himself with a thousand and one theories bearing upon the case. Charlie wan enjoying his dinner with a fair amount of satisfaction, considering what a load he earn., I upon his mind, when Artemus, who hail been given hla address, made his nrpenranee. Htuart Immediately decided to make a full disclosure. An opportunity rame In good lime whereby they could converno without being overheard. Then Charlie let loose. He fairly staggered hla companion with his first volley, containing the account of tho famous baron end his charge that Arllne Ilrand was the mo-tt dangerous aa well aa notorious adventurer adven-turer In nil Kurnpe, While Artemus was yet gasping from the effect of thla hot shot, Charlie Char-lie poured In grape and rannlater. He sketched the dramatic advent of the profeasor on the scene, the challenge to a duel he had llung at the supposed disturber of hla family peace, Charlie's amaxed questions concerning yellow hair and blue eyes, and finally the solemn sol-emn agreement that bad been reached reach-ed between them. Charlie, having exhausted hla repertoire, reper-toire, now turned the tables. "What became of you, my dear boy?" he asked. "I waved you farewell," Artemus aald. "Then you were nut In the second coach?" "Ay, ay. You see, the fair ladr neglected to favor me with one of her cards, and I waa compelled to adopt measures of my own In order to discover dis-cover her residence. Bhe went to the hotel In the Hue de Mennlstars." "That'i the De la Pali," with a frown, remembering the card he held. "Yea, my boy, the same. I waa satisfied sat-isfied that I had found out Just where she put up hut curtnelty Induced me to waylay the doorkeeper, be who opened the carrlagea and exercised the functions of fsctotum. Bo, putting put-ting a bit or sliver In bis hand. I asked ask-ed him who the lady might be she with the veil over her face. He scratched his head as though a bit puttied himself, and then suddenly annweret!, as though at random: "'Mile. Ilrand.-" Charlie had been listening eagerly. He gave vent to an exclamation of satisfaction. "Arteniii. you are a brick!" "Ho." continued the other, with a grim tniUe. as though he could scent something that bad not yet become visible to the naked eye. "I came to the conclusion the young lady bad given un her true nnme, after all, though she hinted at possessing audi au-di her." "Yes; why (lid she say that?" mused Charlie. "Hut ono thing seems clear-there clear-there Is an Arllne Hrand. nfter all; and to-night I am bound to discover what relation, If any, connects her with this bold, Intriguing rotinlcss, or the runaway run-away wife of the Herr Profeasor either that, or to-morrow I am booked for a duel." Charlie Btuart saw the shades of night close in upon the old city of Antwerp with a sigh of deep satisfaction. satisfac-tion. teaching the hotel he boldly asked to see Madam Bophle Hlchter. Borne time elapsed while he waited. He waa on needles and pins bung up, as It were, on tenter-hooks by suspense. sus-pense. "The lady awaits melnherr In the little parlor over yonder," at last rams the message. Charlie drew In a long breath and entered. He felt a sensation of tremendous relief. For the lady, while pleasant and even handsome In her appearance, was a stranger. He bowed courteously to the lady. "I am a stranger to you, lady an Ktigllnhman, Htuart by name. Through some misadventure I have become, much against my will, I assure you, mixed up In your domestic arrange-menta, arrange-menta, and I have come here to throw myself upon your mercy and beg your gentle Indulgence as an Intercessor." The lady looked astonished. "Sir, explain. Who seeks to do you harm, and of whom am I to beg Indulgence?" she asked. "Madam, there Is at large In Antwerp Ant-werp a man who has sworn to have the life of the wretch who has robbed his quiet home of Its one bright Jcw?l who prowls hither and yon, regardless regard-less of his personal appearance, breathing vengeance and ready to sacrifice all he has on earth If be can but avenge hla honor." "You nally menu that the professor profes-sor In here In Antwerp?" "Raging around like a mad hull." "That at lust he has left his musty old hooka?" "Very much In evidence. I assure you." "Then our stiategein worked," she! I Inurhrd. I 'Tatdon my Ignorance, madam. I but I am Inclined to think It worked only too well, since I. an entirely Inno- , rent mnn, am booked to meet the prvv fessor In a duel to-morrow a sunrise, 5 because, forsooth, he cbnnced tu see . me place a lady In a rah Indy wh, t ' had fold 'ii lockn, and whom the old : ; I mean the jealous profeasor rhose to f fancy wan the wife of hln bosom." , The Indy laughed aloud. "In H duel! He fight for me! Oh. . chnrmlng! It In too good! Wh."t will k Counln liltdcgsrde say?" ?j "I'm sure I don't know; but I'm i anxious to convince this old flre-ealer that he haa gotten hold of the wron; mnn. and I am certain you will assist ' me to prove my Innocence." (' "Oh. sir. most certainly; especially an there Is no mnn In the matter at , all. and the object of our little enca- I pade haa been accomplished. Bln-e t you have been put to more or less In- V convenience in the premises. It would I be only fair for me to explain." c The story was nothing new, though I Its sequel gnve evidence of ennnlder-able ennnlder-able originality, thankn to the appearance appear-ance of the brlgbt-wltted Hlldegarde on the scene. Madam and the professor had not been the happiest couple In the world. L He was wedded to his hooka, and neglected hla pretty wife. 1-ong hal nhe suffered, and doubtless would have continued to do so, only that hla cousin took the bull by the horns and suggested a atrategem whereby the student should he arnunrd and made to realise how dear to his heart thla wife of hln really might be. It was the old principle over again of not missing the water until the well ran dry. And one day, when the learned man found hla blue-eyed spouse gone, and few lines simply signed II. begging her by her love to meet the writer In j Antwerp, which note she had appar- sntly dropped In the haate of her departure de-parture the profeasor threw his books to the winds and started in pursuit "To think he would even light and for ne!" she said, almoat Incredulously. Incredu-lously. . "Indeed, he Is distracted enough to defy Kate Itself. Hut, madam, you may do me a favor," boldly. "You have but to name It. air." "This lady whom 1 had the pleasure pleas-ure of serving thla lady whom your furious husband aaw me put Into a carriage gave ma a card and Invited me to call upon her here at the hotel t to-night" t "Ah! yes." with a bright smile. J "She gave me a card. I did not I look at It Juat then, but after the rldl- 1 rulous encounter with your husband, - -I In which be accused me of stealing hla wife, and threatened me with death on ' ' I the Held of honor, I took occasion to Investigate, and found this." lie handed the card to her. t One glance, and the professor's wife 1 laughed. ' t I "Yea, It la my rarte-de-vlslte; but. on my honor, Melnherr Btuart, I did not give It to you." i "That I know very woll. What 1 '.. I wlah to discover Is, who did? There ' ( Is a young lady, also with such gold- i en hair and blue eyes as you yourself possess; she la stopping at this hotel. Now. you must have at aome time exchanged ex-changed ranis with her. Can you not remember the circumstance?" The professor's wife nodded eagerly. "Well do I remember; It was only yesterday. Bhe quite charmed me with her naivete and her luitlery. 1 had never before met one so fusclnut-Ing." fusclnut-Ing." "It was the Countess Isolde Brabant." Bra-bant." "And her name?" asked Charlie, his heart sinking. (To be continued.) |