arlTf"flF
'TWij " "yKaHl "
rWfryrjtr? -'P!ltFVJ JMPb!.'
vpyxyty T;mrapflTO batobtost. arABtirr c, voig:
v
- V- B 'WV-l'i
BBpmiuumm
mrnmoff
" r it
wmmawga
tiM, MH. "'" s'l Co
CHAPTEH I.
, .. ,.-. rrltM IJIiUB BUCKM3.
;..,.a . woman's votcc-tho voice that
nil MA d8wn lhe ",'""'
.". -re they snfe-i
safe nowhere, do
i.nn in n -
iland'"
$. ," nutherford. Idling In Iho shadow
K L .iboff oiv tho steamer rnll, gaz-
'., ftmlly at n0 ,ory of a moonnt
I . .Mniffl.l In mldocrnn, heard this
i
-Lrk-but could not tell whence It
1- In fact, lie lieard without heeding.
ftfr he recalled the tone, the words-
fX "tn's voice, In tones subdued, harsh,
"Lmotorj. broke In:
iiSTh Mi Yo aro a woman' Yo" tnllt
'Fi Lch-too loud. I tell you, when we
" ..if tfew lork-
"" ,..' Ihls w
as the woman
!"NW lot
? .! ..v.w York-I tel
tell you they will
t. mittlM Us ln NCW Y0rkI Cn"
" . .....,eiel,el hands-"
tln,w "'"
(..ofc.t!.h.h." again tho man. "Thoso out.
muted hands will find-whal?"
That a wiiBt x ...
rhey will find-nothing. Nothing, I
;.n i ."
fi-Hoif can you arrango It, then?"
-The mans ansnei ...o D.... ........
t . ... .utnirifrinlfl n-nlentv rrulllble
ire loois ." - . - -
foolJ. They " no lnp "ur"- "" "" '"
Licked one out-a fool-
Whlcn one i i"'
Kh.h.h-h." There was .1 click It
.mei as thouBh somewhere n, portholo
Ictod-perhaps a window.
The yolccs became silent. Crnlg heard
M wore.
And what he liau ncara, iruiu 10 leu,
Bide at the time no Impression on his
iind Later, lioura jaier, uaya inter,
..i. nnrl months later, ho remembered
it-remembered It clearly. That conversa
tion held In hair whispers, uttered by un
ncosnliable voices-save that ono was
(jmlnlne and tho other masculine ctchcil
IUlf Indelibly upon tho tablets o his
aBnemory. .,,,. . , ,
But HOW uraig jiuiucriurii u uuuupiuu
Sitlth olher thoughts. Tho witchery of tho
Unnllt nleht had enst Us spell upon htm
lind the witchery ot some one else tho
eirner ot a veil ho had Just pteked up
from the accK d mo empty sicnmer
'ehalr.
kHutherford was In love. It was useless
for him to deny It longer to his own con
science. Ho must be noncst witn 111111-
lfand in ce the truin. Jie nau Dacueci
Kith his heart ever since he had first
iljjllmpsed the girl who had como up the
'MrMfpIank at Hamburg, and walked seem
(Mlnly straight into his soul. Heroically
ille hid fought the passion, which welled
Sep only the mora fiercely, day by day:
for the girl bore tho namo of another
nan, and Craig was too old-fashioned
he tola himself to Indulge In Intrigue.
Llfoiibelt. he retained possession of tho
ml, and resolutely took his stand bcsldo
th chlr. A slnglo gianco told him that
'the latter had been but lately vacated.
ITha eteward had not removed the rugs
'nd cushions. Tho owner was liable to
'nlsj her veil, and might soon return.
JHIa deductions proved correct, for It
,iru not long before ho heard the tap ot
mall heels on tho deck. Kach separate
Hllttle click throbbed sharply in his breast.
HU DIOCRI Jumped as If It had developed
anew method of circulating. But ho did
not turn his head. He rested his arm
upon the back of the chair, and continued
oaeem absorbed In tho moonlight sceno.
?A girl ivlth brown hair, drawn In a
loose knot rather high on her head, from
irhlch tho wind toro feathery tendrils as
f la piay, came toward him. In spite of
he high heels she walked with the easy
grace and light, long step of youth a
South and physical freedom gained In tho
iweet "communion of tho broad outdoors".
Seeing a tall flguro leaning on her chair,
she hesitated as If about to retreut.
Fearing to lose her, Craig turned his
bead.
"Oh! It's you. Mr. nutherford?" she
laid, coming forward smilingly.
Just a little sentence such as any wcll-
lired woman might utter: yet Cralc
tucht himself flushlnc and trembllnir likn
ichoolboy. This would never do! Ho
tried to think of something witty to say.
1 xntnK so," was his actual remark,
M he. schooled his volco intu a tone of
eonTentlonal friendliness. '
! Thejl'reecz rufTlcd his hair as ho pulled
eft hli cap. He stood smiling down upon
her from his wMI. nmnnrMntn.! lij.lr.1,4- n,
five-eleven.
! "Aren't you sure?" sho parried lightly.
The man's hpart nnAn.il lllff, n flnwf. In
jthe warm satisfaction that pervaded him.
t tie cordiality ot her words. Llttlo as
;" nia ipoken, ho felt tho bond of con
lenlil and friendly spirit. Ho reached
0r the Ulster film pnrrl.l w..t lta nrm
,nd helped her put It on.
I "Who said that I was going to linger?"
m protested. "It Is late-mid I really
,me back looking for somothlng."
." ,e" mm snuggled down Into tho
I. J1.' ,ho ve,l ,,oeP ln h' Pocket, but
e did not even ask her what It was she
"OUJIlt, Instead. ll gmic-lil- nraln 1.
5!r?mef,lInK brilliant, to coax this won
VJ i, rlrl lnt0 the confidences of a
friendly chat.
tiii, moonlSht Injects a fantastic un
;:'"' cven Into water buckets and
tenner rhfllral" v. -i
all... . -' no uuncrvtru, aiicr ll
mence durine wlii,.ii .Mi,i.AH n i.... u.i
arked the time.
I-...0.y?u tnll,k ll w111 feed crowded If
ftii, ,my chnlr "I"1 HT" sho naked,
mn ft Pretty upward gianco that showed
njB4!xni.pt.,i 1,1... . ,. ... ......
;tcal remark. "'""KmM ule wn,m"
n-. i a" clla,ra mado for two, you
hi hlL. '.,0 replled '" ll amo mood, as
ril0ifTn-t?uarraneo Ule cushions for her.
for iff that 1,e was t0 Ilave le'- alone
it th. ..?r'?l0UB moments, in the glory
mm,. radlan night, Then, as If In an
id ; tTBl hB overturned tho chair
rt-Vif."',"1" Pillows flying.
ika H"..i." WBn mo t0 s,ny7
sho
' "I l.. , '"fi'y.
I'mfV.i ."8 answored bi
rlhi iut ot Ul chair!"
he answered boyishly, "but
the moonlight, so I'm rout-
down ftef a Mfi at him again, then sat
hThii"lUy, terford felt as though
,fiA.had
reproved him for saying too
P"Sh. He w. -..""""., """". "u
But th ni,i.tj r ""VKoeiwiHvo lonignt.
Whine t?,?M Rlai?ce of th0 B'rl had seen
rtnkl in cltar brown eea which looked
eSu-iS.r. 1 hers- Written In physical
ywavcters. he cnrrio.i i,. . j' . ,.,
ffloi,lpoL fle"s. at the hurdles, and
iTwaii V!ia h0UlldB- In his game he had
llmll p.Iaye'' .t0 w'n: and that meant
Qlruiiv. . -?1"1 elasc, he was at onco
, -t .v u connnpnr.. nan ... I.. !.
pence. ' r '" ""
a.h'.11 e,xc!a''ned. looking down at
"ii, ":u ner neaa against the
it watch ti,-r.it?.""'. f uu. "'0.-
utih. ..I "uiiiiKni! u is aancing
upre trying to find out If you were
Uherford laughed at his hlnnri.rinB
WhJi "Pre8s a picturesque Idea. He
Rprtin?0, f8 " lo fn"ura her for the
aa glance she shot upward at him. half
8 siwiM.i slarm- Ue was talking
iL to it, r'?,e "onsnse of a man In
,84 10 turs. Henrv I,,!,.. n.i i.- ,....
ffifd ?h- ve hl? soul ho could not stop.
ifh lh monHsht madness. He knew
r In th. no bumeM even to think of
in the wav ii,.,- nAr.. i.i i. i
Tbhl. thrfuf' hla veins, aud ha had
reuin . UIBl leaP'ns madneaa Bad
F8ten,rl! h"a ,,opea aaint hope that
ead of k " ",e "looa P'opilatartu
Eh.. ,'" " ,hc paseiittr llt waa
" "! a n! Mr H.-nry TalftNt was
N
an elderly Invalid, nnd tho pretty concern
with which the girl had looked after him
had made Ituthorford believe her tho so
licitous daughter. Moreover, they occu
pied scporalo staterooms, her own being
located Juet across the corridor from
Itiitherford's, HUM ho could not bo mire,
and he wa too much of a gentleman to
pry Into confidences that wcro not Invited.
Indeed, thiy hhil been avoided, for the
Tnlcotts had onrned the reputation of
shunning the society of nil on shipboard,
Thus It was that Hutherford had felt sr.
elated at the piospect of a tetc-a-tcto
and now ho had spoiled It nil!
"Vou you don't mind my staying
awhile, Mrs. Tnlcott?" he asked, when
the pauso caused by his own embarrass
ment nnd her evident Intention not to en
courage such nn expressive companion,
had forced him to Indirect apology.
"Oh, no stay," sho said.
Hutherford discreetly cautioned himself,
as ho took tho chair beside her. not to
Indulge In personalities. He would earn
his right to her society by slicking mu
cllnRlnously to commonplaces.
"This la n, night Just made for confi
dences," the girl said, dreamily.
Hutherford started. Womanlike, her
seemingly Idle words had pierced the one
weak spot in his armor that he had Just
been patching. Ho glanced toward her
quickly, and nt once his own selfish Inter
ests wcro forgotten in a lively concern for
her. The moon, peeping down under tho
odgo of the canopy, had Illumined her
face, and It had suddenly seemed to grow
older nnd lined with rare. Ho was sure
that unshed tears glittered In her -eyes.
Impulsively he leaned toward her.
"Mrs. Talcott. what Is it? There In
something troubling you!"
"Why. what did I say?" she asked, as
It startled by what sho might have un
consciously betrayed.
"You only mentioned confidences: but It
la tho way you look that makes me"
"Isn't that a natural subject for a
night like this? It was a trite remark.
I know. You must forglvo mo If I am
not entertaining but it Is so restful to
bo trlto now nnd then."
Sho spoka with purposeful archness, tho
conversational fencing with which a
clover woman leads tho talk away from
dnngcrous themes.
Hutherford was a curious compound of
boyish candor coupled with a. man's firm
ness. At the risk of seeming rude 'he
persisted.
"Pardon me, Mrs. Talcott, but I am
sure that something Is weighing upon
your mind. I have thought so beforo to
night. And you have seemed so alone
so unprotected. Your Mr. Talcott seems
to bo an invalid. If I could only b ot
somo assistance"
Ho was llounderlng ngaln, but the girl
turned to him with n candor as complete
and more tender than his.
"Mr. Hutherford, I am afraid I have
seemed ungracious, and I do beg your
pardon. You misunderstood, though.
What I Bald had no particular signifi
cance" ".Mrs. Talcott," said Craig, leaning still
closer, "you nro honost In saying you do
not want to seem ungracious. But I know
you nro hiding somo secret anxiety. I do
not urge confidences. Hut If you aro ever
In need of a friend, will you call upon
mo?"
"I will remember and indeed I thank
you. Ono nover knows"
Sho stopped suddenly, as the sound of
footsteps renched their cars.
Down the deck at some distance from
them, but much too near to suit Huther
ford, a man moved forward Into the
bright moonlight. Ho waa smoking, nnd
seemed oblivious to them. After ap
proaching thein In a series of Jerky
strides, he turned and retraced his steps.
But Rutherford's hopo that lie was tak
ing himself way nnd leaving them In
solo possession pf the deck was- doomed
to disappointment, for back he turned
and paced ngaln In their direction.
"Hclderman," observed Hutherford.
To his surprise and regret, Mrs. Tal
cott wns rising.
"You nre not going!" he exclaimed.
"Oh yes. I must! T came out to find
my veil, but I forgot."
And with scarcely a word of adieu sho
hurried away. - Rutherford's hand still
Bnuggled into tho folds of the veil,
which he had no Intention of restoring
to her. but sho had given up Its search
so hastily that ho looked around In be
wilderment for somo reason for her
flight.
All he saw was Helderman pursuing
the same eccentric walk that had caused
him to Bo Identified so readily a few mo
ments before. Indeed, who of tho first
cabin passengers did npt lnow nnd re
mark upon tho eccentricities of Holder
mnn? Now it dawned upon Craig that
the man wna turning back along a new
route, ono which would bring him nearer
to tho spot where ho had been chatting
with Mrs. Tnlcott. Could It be that this
tall, ungainly man had been the cnuao
of her hasty departure? And the veil
might it not have been left to serve as a
pretext for a meeting with Helderman?
Hutherford grew furiously angry with
himself the Instant these thoughts
formed In his mind. He Initinctlvoly dis
trusted Helderman, and quite as Instinc
tively ho trusted Mrs. TnJcott. But of
ono thing ho was certain: tho easy con
geniality of their tete-a-teto had ended
the moment Helderman appeared. And
no matter how deftly she might cover it.
ho wna sure thnt Mrs. Talcott had some
secret anxiety. With his usual directness
of attack, that had made him a formid
able antagonist In college football and
later on the polo field, and .wna still later
lo bring him his larger success In life,
ho determined to npproach thla man who
seemed to hnvo some Influence over her.
"Tho top of the morning to you, Herr
Helderman!" he said, sauntering forward
and Bpeaklng deliberately to this man,
for the first tlmo during tha voyage.
Helderman stopped In his walk, drew
out his watch, and glanced nt It before
replying. It was a. showy timepiece, and
Its owner hold It In such a way that the
moonlight rioted over the dlnmonds that
decorated Its dial.
"Ha!" he said In tha dramatic way
that fcecmed characteristic with him.
"You are right It Is morning very much
io-to be sure!"
Ha spoke In de?p. abrupt tones which
harmonized curiously with his atrong,
jerky stride. He placed a monocle In his
left eye, and trained his keen glance'
upon Craig, who noticed that tho eye
behind the glass had an uncanny way
of acting Independently of Its fellow.
"But why do you call mo 'Herr'?" he
queried,
"I look you for a German," Craig re
plled quietly.
He watched tho Jerk of this man's
shoulders, with a sort of fascination. It
impressed him that Helderman eeemed
to luxuriate n mannerisms.
"No," Helderman protested, "except
In name, I am an American an Ameri
can of the Americans a New Yorker
among New Yorkers!"
"New York!" exclaimed Craig, quite
unable to see In this unaaslmllated Ger
man one of the foreigners who hava be
come genuine Americans. "I should have
said almost any place else. Berlin, or
"Vienna, or even Paris."
Helderman drew a showy cardcaae.
elaborately ornamented with a gold
monogram, from hla pocket. In this, as
In all his other actions, ha seemed to
take pains to be conspicuous. Ha drew
and presented a bit of pasteboard, with
a flourish.
' You oan read fine print in the open
air tonight." he remarked.
Hutlierford'a llpa twitched a trifle a
he av the lettering. It waa certainly far
A BAFFLING MYSTERY
"I TEhh
from fln In largo, blHck letter type, In
heavy deep engraving ho read tho fol
lowing: BARON" IIUI.DURMAN
BANKER.
V. S. A.
"So you nro thnt Helderman," com
mented Craig. He remembered now,
vaguely, something about Helderman
and Wall atreet l)o recalled some coup
d'etat, somo stroke of genius. But It
was a memory that eluded him the do
talls ho could not recollect.
The eye behind tho monoclo gleamed
with a cynical smile.
"Yes, 1 am that Heldrrinan. Docs It
make any dllferenco yes?"
"It docs," replled Craig a hit cynically,
too. "It signifies whether ono Is Just
Helderman, or Helderman the bnnkor of
U. S. A. That Is, it does to most people."
And then it came to him. He recalled
the postnge stamp. Hcldeiman wna tho
man who. a few short years bofore. hud
put In a bid for a hugo block ot United
States bonds his bid had cost him but
a postngo Hlanip. Ilo was awarded his
block of bonds he had sold his bid at
a large advance he had made big money
and all out of a 2-ccnt stamp.
This trick had taught Wall street and
the Government a leseon. After this
stroke of Heldcrman's. they asked se
curity of blddors. That didn't affect
Helderman. Ho had been there first,
that's all. Craig remembered this ho
recalled other things, of Helderman. He
wns an unknown quantity Helderman.
At times ho was spectacular, nnd then
for months he would drip completely out
of sight.
"That Helderman." repented Craig,
"yes, to most people it would mako a
difference."
Helderman rosnrded this frank-faced
young mnn mcaaurlugly. Ho was evi
dently used to a bit more adulation than
Craig afforded him.
"But It does not signify to you?" ho
queried. "Is that what you Infer?"
"Not particularly," returned Craig,
checking a shrug ot hla shoulders.
"Of course I am not so narrow as to fall
in nnknowlcdclne what success to the
financial world means; but I am not In
clined to regard tho mere possession of
money aa a virtue. To me. you nro what
you are, and I am what 1 am, Independ
ent of our worldly goods."
He aa!d this half contemptuously, and
yet the moment he had spoken, he was
ashamed ot this Impulsive expression ot
his opinions. However, Helderman's
manner had impelled him to It. His
blatant self-apprcclatlon had seemed to
him the unjustified confidence which tho
merely rich nasumo In tho unlimited
buying power of their money.
"And who aro you, pray?" Helderman
inquired, either a trille miffed nt.the
other's speech, or pretending to bo so.
In order to draw him out still further.
Rutherford was not going to fall Into
a trap. He knew what tho question
meant: What Is your position In the
world of money? To one of this typo the
only measure of excellence waa In dollars
and cents-and bucIi genius as might
produce dollars and centa. Craig took his
own card out and handed It to Helder
man. It bore nothing savo tha name of
his club, following his own.
"I oh, I'm nobody, as you see," he
said aententtously.
Helderman looked ot the card shrewd
ly, and realized that his new acquaint
ance might, In fact, bo Boinebody. Ex
perience had taught him that a nobody
never owns up to hU own unimportance,
Tho young man beside him was smiling.
He ltnew that It would hardly Impresa
Helderman to bo told that Craig Ruth
erford was a trained athlete und sports
man of International fame, And as for
the rest, It was not within Craig's pur
pose to Inform this man, that he, Ruth
erford, had recently purchased the controlling-
Interest In a Wall Street trust
company, and proposed to leam the busi
ness ftom the bottom up. Craig kept all
thla to himself.
But Helderman scrutinized htm care
fully. "You have great power, youns friend,"
ha said abruptly. "Why do you not join
me In my enterprise?"
Craig stared at htm aghast, "What
great power .have I?" he queried.
Helderman regarded him Intently. "A
great quality," he exclaimed; "that ot
Impressing your sincerity upon people
That 1 your strength, young; friend. You
are sincere always sincere. It u a great
atset-an asset that nlne-tentha of tha
AND BREATHLESS TALE OF ADVENTURE
By WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE
Author of "Tho Red Mouse," "Tho Hunning Fight," "Cntspnw," Etc.
YOU SHE'S A DANGEROUS
people have not got. Sincerity I need It
ln my enterprise." ""
"What Is your enterprise?"
Craig.
Helderman lowcicd hln voice,
my great ambition to own nveiy
company In New York."
Cinlg laughed nloud. "Hitch
asked
It Is
trust
your
wagon to a star you'ru crazy, man,"
said. "It would tnko billions to buy
the trust companies In New York."
lie
up
Helderman smiled superciliously. "Not
billions," he returned, "haidly a mil
lion." Craig phook his head. And then he
nooded. "I'm Interested," ho said. "Let
me hear about It."
Helderman touched him gently on the
nrm. "Give mo a million and a few
frank-faced young men llko you, and l
can do It." Ho tapped his forehead. "Be
hind it all Is this It needs Helderman
to push It through. Let mo explain. First,
a million dollars less. Mnybo half a mil
lion. Wo buy ono trust company Its
stock. Wo buy control. This trust com
pany has assets. We control those as
sets, becauso we control tho stock. What
do wo do with these assets and this
stock? Wo buy another trust company
ami wo put up tho stock, and possibly the
assets, na collateral security for the pur
chase price of tho second trust company.
So far, so good. Wo now have two trust
companies. Hut trust company number
two It also has stock which wo control,
nssota nlho. Wo put those up to buy
trust company number three. What fol
lows Juat this: What wo can do once
wo can do a hundred times"
"An endless chain,' murmured Craig. Ho
waa right when ho said this Interested
him. It did more It startled him.
"An endless chain," echoed Helderman.
"Exactly, and wo start It with less than
a million dollars."
,"Vhat about tho law?" queried Craig.
"Tho law," returned Helderman, dismis
sing tho law with a wave ot his hand.
"Tho law deals only with failures thlH
plan will be a great success. What 1
tnuoh tuniH to gold."
He waved his hand toward tho ship, ns
If ho owned It.
"I occupy tho royal sulto. I am known
on board na the man who occupies, who
can pay for, tho royal suite I"
Again ho waved his large, while hand
ewoeplngly, and the moonlight broke into
brilliant splinters on tho facets of a huge
and flawless diamond ho wore.
"Money? bah I" ho exclaimed.
Rutherford did not amlle, nor was ha
disgusted. He might have been amused
by the grandiloquent ostentation; he might
havo scorned It as showing n lack of
brains and breeding. But another lively
thought possessed him. He knew beyond
perndventure that tha man possessed an
extraordinary Intelligence, thnt he was al
ready recognized as a peculiar power ln
the Wall Street world, nnd this
was the conviction that came to Ruther
ford tho posing and the blatant preten
sion were only a mask purposely assumed
for tho time, in order to hldo some other
object or scheme ot a brilliant and wily
mind. Knowing this, or feeling It Intui
tively, tho young man divined that he
must be on his guard.
They had reached the stern of tho ship,
where the deck ran from rail to rail.
"Shall we return?" said Helderman.
Without walling for a reply, he wheeled
sharply nnd started back. Rutherford
wondered If ho were overworking his own
Imagination. Awhile ago, he had fancied
that Mrs. Talcott wanted to escapa from
his or Helderman's neighborhood; and
now he fancied that Helderman was seek
ing to elude some undesirable meeting.
"Just a second," said Cralff, stepping
closo to the cabin wall, as If to light a
fresh cigar.
"Ah!" ho breathed conftrmatlvely to
himself. Out of the tall of his eye ho had
caught sight of a slender and graceful
woman emerging from the shadow of tha
aft deck.
Helderman had turned back, without
pausing, and the woman seemed to ap
proach him, aa though unconscious of the
younger man who had stepped Into the
shadow to light hla cigar. Apparently
without observing her, Helderman threw
back his head and puffed a succession of
I-white smoke rings Into tho blue night air.
The woman scarcely altered her pace or
direction as she passed on; yet Craig was
certain that aha had observed tha signal
and had been warned away.
Ho stared after her as she hurried
along the deck. A long, dark veil, flutter
ing about her head and shoulders, com
pletely disguised the contour ot her head
and tho color of her hair. Yet he had
seen a certain eray ulster too many times
not to recognize It now. He had watched
Its wearer too often so be told himself
not to know Juat how becomingly It set
off the slender figure. And not 15 miuutea
before again h told himself he had en
Just such dainty white slippers resting on
the runs of the steamer chair.
J-
WOMAN
Tho tinln nf thought which this set up
wns particularly displeasing to Iluthcr
f"nl. yet at tlii samp time held a power
ful fascination for him. Had he, In fact.
i evented a nni'iet Interview twice in tho
fliitno night? What could It mean'.' What
hold. If 1 1 1 1 . did this unscrupulous finan
cier have upon tho troubled woman who
had seemed to Invito his confidence? He
wns swinging fnrunrd, absorbed hi pain
ful thoughts, when Helderman again
turned abruptly.
"l.ct'.s get back Into the moonlight," lie
suggested, suiting the action to the word.
"Why?" asked I'rnlc.
".lust the lady'a reason hecause."
Craig's dominant trait straightfor
wardness, catno to tho front again. lie
would question Helderman about their
mysterious visitor, and see If he would
vouchsafe any In formation.
"You noticed the lady wiici passed u?"
ho asked.
"Ah!" exclaimed Helderman, dramatic
ally, "even a man with a monoclo notices
curies like hers!"
Rutherford wna silent, lie was angry,
and yet ho felt helpless to reply, as he
seemed to hnvo Invited tho remark.
"She Interests mo amazingly," the
other man continued, as If he found
Momethlng mentally stimulating In the
silent nntngonliin of his companion, t
"Vou know her then?" Craig aaUed the
question in spile of himself. Ho disliked,
unutterably, to make tho woman of his
thoughts the subject of seemingly idle
gossip, and with a man whom he dis
liked intuitively.
Heldermnn laughed a short, quick, al
together disagreeable laugh. Craig had
nover thought of It before, hut now knew
that a man's laugh may revcat phases of
his chnracter, which every other manner
ism may cloak.
"I may deduco Hint you are referring
to Mrs. Henry Tnlcott"" Helderman in
terrupted hla laughter to ask.
Rtherford was stlnglngly conscious thnt
he had not mentioned her name, but had
useil tho pronoun with tho vague par
ticularity of a bashful lover. Ho sum
moned nn excess of dignity, nnd an
swered: "Your deduction Is entirely correct."
"Ah!" Helderman ngaln posed dramat
ically. There wns to much suggestion of ironic
fun-poklug in it nil that Ciaig'a hands
clenched unconsciously. How he would
like to double this fellow on the deck!
Perhaps tho other observed tho action.
Carelessly, and as In good nature, ho laid
his own hand casually upon Craig's right
arm; hut there was nothing casual In the
grip that followed the motion. Tho vlse
iiko clasp of the long, sinew fingers
mails Lralg catch hla breath In astonish
ment. Himself a trained athlete, ho
knew at once that few men would bo n
match for this man physically; nnd the
gesture might have been a quiet hint for
his own restraint.
"Do I know Mrs. Talcott?" Helder
man naked, seemingly fond or repenting
tha name. "To my regret, no. I have
dono a little clever scheming, to no pur
pose. Hut I have heard her voice. I
have seen her throat ripple. I"
Rutherford wrenched himself from the
other'a grip.
"I have even felt," continued Helder
man quietly, as If nothing had happened,
"that atmosphere which surrounds a
joung and beautiful woman, as a (lower
is encircled by Its own fragrance."
Craig looked at him resentfully. The
language ot a man of feeling and senti
ment fell from the other'a lips as easily,
and with far greater effect, than hla
arrant boasting had done. He continued,
as though speaking to himself:
"Mrs. Talcott has not only her youth
aud her beauty; aha has charm and Intel
lect, that distinction of breeding, that fine
aloofness which puts her out of the reach
ot ordinary men and lures tho man of
brain and passion. For this reason, I
regard her as a dangerous woman a
very dangerous woman."
"What makes you think so? How do
you know?" Craig asked Impulsively.
"I do not knowt but like a good Ameri
can I gueas and I usually gueas right "
Rutherford had the disagreeable con
sciousness that he was getting the worst
of the interview. He felt that Helder
man was amused at his expense.
"Perhaps we are discussing with tin
warranted freedom a lady unknown to
both of us," he observed crisply; "let's
change the topic."
"Ah! our American chivalry! How
proud we should be ot that, we Ameri
cana 1"
Rutherford felt the red rage which had
seethed In him Intermittently through
out this conversation boll up dangerous
ly. Both Halderman'a tone aud manner
wre unbearable. Juat now be seemed an
obnoxious mongrel claiming a citizenship
ha utteri failed to appreciate, except as
it afforded mm financial opportunity
ns n. ralmme thousrht suddenly Hashad
acroai Cral s mind The man either hacljjjj,
a lively Interest In Mr. Tnlcott or was
assuming It In order lo nrouso him and
draw him out. ilo must meet cold steel
with cold steol; ln other words he must
hold himself lit hnnd.
The sinister, monocled eye flashed him
n look of oblique amusement, ns If It
Mere following tho young man's mental
processes.
"If you will allow mo to mention one
more matter," remarked Helderman; "ll
concerns the lady wo are not lo dis
cuss." "Proceed," snapped Rutherford.
"Mrs. Talcott conslnnlly wears a cer
tain ornament. You sit Just across from
her at table, perhaps you havo noticed
It'"
"Yes, I have," returned' Rutherford
short U
It could scarcely escape even a dull
man a notice," Heldermnn obsorved am
biguously, though politely. "It Is nil the
I moro noticeable from her wearing It with
enrli nnd all costumes. Shall I accuso
ao rhnrinlng a lady ot poor taste?"
Ileldprmnn paused ns If determined to
draw his tnclturn companion Into the
conversation. Rutherford had. Indeed,
wondered often nt tho curious orna
ment, which wan a part of ovcry cos
tume In whjch Mrn. Talcott appeared.
) ft looked peculiarly out of place this
evening ' persisted Helderman. "On
that simple but dainty gown ot gray ln
nhi'ti fhe raino down to dinner It looked
like a ilnik blot. Did you notice what it
wnp
l l burkle-a large blue buokle
evirienti nf steel." answered Rutherford.
Mr n lilup buckle!" Helderman re
pen'eo ftlnuU.
Well, wlint of it?" Rutherford axked,
ii'Minied b the "banker's" evident desire
lo Ini n sinister atrcss upon an Innocent
fetr.inino foible.
Take lny word for It, sho Is a danger
ous woman:" Heldermnn Insisted, again
laving his surpilslngly powerful hand
upon Craig's nrm.
Cats endured tho grasp silently. Ho
wna thinking dceplv. Why was Helder
man trving to convlnco him that ho did
nor know Mrs. Tnlcott? Why was lie
seeking to poison his mind? Why had
iline been a piearranged interview If
t'leio had bepn a prearranged Interview?
And was he eel tain that tho second
woman had been Mrs. Tnlcott?
A rebellion quite out of proportion to
the length of time ho had known of her
eistence lose 111 his mind against the
thought that she wns 111 nny wny con
cerned with llclileininn. He knew how
moiip and power could Influcnco beauti
ful riid ambitious women. But alio was
not if that stamp she could not be ot
that stamp! Blindly but positively he ro
atllinied his faith In her; and tho words
nf hla new confession of fnlth were:
"I fall to attach any special signifi
cance lo a blue buckle!"
II.
TIIH SECRET MESSAGE.
"My friend, como with me," suggested
Helderman suddenly.
Craig was about aa well disposed to
ward this blatant financier nt that mo
ment as ho would have been toward the
advances of a man-eating tiger.
"Oh, come on!" Hclderman urged, good
naturedly, Ignoring tho young man's ob
vious disapproval of him. "It's really
worth your while, Mr. Rutherford, to Join
mo. You may hear something that will be
to our Interest. Certainly It will bo
entertaining."
"What Is It?" asked Craig.
"Como nnd sec."
Tho financier turned, In hla usual Jerky
fashion, nnd led the wny. Craig followed
him, acarcely knowing why. In spite of
his aversion, Hclderman held his atten
tion and demanded his consideration. The
man had brains and a certain compelling
magnetism which he used to advantage.
If he had somo sinister hold upon Mrs.
Tnlcott. Rutherford wanted to know It,
either for his own piotectlon or for hers.
Without an idea ns to their destination,
he followed. Interested from tho start in
the mannerisms of the tall, eccentric fig
ure Just ahead. AH the tricks of motion
which ho had formerly observed now
Impressed themselves indelibly upon his
mind. It was perfectly plain to him that
the jerks and twists and turns In the
man's gait were affected, put on to at
tract attention. Just as certainly ns were
the enormous diamonds nnd tho monocle.
However, ho had practiced them so ns
alduously that they had actually become
a part of the man himself.
Abruptly as Helderman had begun his
walk, he atopped and waited for his com
panion to come up with him: then reached
nut a long, thin hand, and rested It on
Rutherford's shoulder.
"Your are Interested In mysteries?'
he asked In an undertone.
"Thnt depends," Rutherford answered.
He had a feeling that tho other was
playing for nttentlon, nnd also that what
he had In store would Justify It. That was
the queer nnd nttractlvo thing about
Helderman: ho unfailingly rewarded the
curiosity that ho awakened, by proving
himself constantly diverse nrjd entertain
ing. "Follow."
Ho spoke but the one word, yet Craig
experienced a thrill. Into one of the dimly
lighted corridors Helderman plunged,
with Craig right at his heels. They de
scended to the lower deck, tho older man
moving quickly but with caution, the
younger mnn Intently observnnt and
keenly alert. Ills thoughts pursued one
another faster than the quick steps bore
him In his companion's trail to whatever
mvstery might await him.
Helderman waa Indeed a good showman,
and Rutherford's curiosity had no ohance
to languish. From time to time the
former would glance back, as If to make
sure that the young man was following,
and always In n peculiar way. First, he
would steal a slow, furltlve glance over
ono shoulder, then would quickly turn his
head and look back stealthily over the
other, nutherford noted, after he had re
peated the strange action several times,
that he always began the backward
scrutiny by glancing over the right
shoulder. He would twitch his head as it
he had the, Impulse to look, but restrained
It. Then he would turn his head slowly
until he caught sight of Rutherford. A
few seconds later, he would repeat the
performance over the opposite shoulder.
So, In groups of two, his singular actions
continued, until Rutherford had ceased
to be merely Interested, and felt that he
had actually come under the spell of some
hypnotic, suggestion.
Certainly he no longer weighed or
doubted, but followed eagerly. A growing
sense of the Importance of the mystery
came over him. Once ho wondered If ho
were being led to some place whera his
freedom or safety might be endangered.
Downward they plunged, Into the semi
dar knees of the lower decks. Unconscious
ly he was tiptoeing forward, ln Imitation
of the other's step. The great ship
seemed asleep. The purring noise ot Its
steady progress through the water was
like Its own deep breath In slumber.
Amazingly familiar with every corridor
In the huge floating hotel, Helderman
twisted and turned with scarcely a pause.
Suddenly he gave up the downward route,
and began ascending to the upper decks.
Rutherford wondered If, after all, he
had not been made the victim of some
practical Joke He debated practicing
some of the same kind of feeble humor
on the banker. The corridor which 14
m3 own loom offered a convenient way,
Ho could quietly desert and let the
facetious Hclderman go on alone. But
there might be a method In the other'a
madness; he would see It to the end.
Now they had i cached tho upper deck,
and were greeted by a sound like the rip
ping of strong flllk. Hclderman seized
tho knoh of n certain stateroom door and
opened It. Ah ho did so the sharp, Insist
ent nolso rushed out In trebled volume.
It was tho room in which the wlreteis
apparatus carried on Its marvelous con
versallona with the Invisible world across
tho moon-laved sea.
Rutherford stopped In frank disgust at
this commonplace ending to the adven
ture, lie was turning away silently when
Hclderman ngnln reached out a lean fin
ger. "Walt!" ho commanded, "Come In'"
Craig cntcicd tho room nfter hla guide.
The operator, a ruddy checked hoy not
out of his teens, rose up nnd saluted
tho visitors effusively.
"A friend of mlno," Paid Helderman,
twitching his chin In Craig's direction,
"a gentleman who, like myself, nover
sleeps of nights, nnd who wants to know
what's going on lit tho world,"
The operator bowed nnd smiled elab
orately, evidently schooled to admiring
tho feeblo Joata of wealthy visitors. Ruth
orford read In his servile attitude toward
tho financier that he waa a victim of
Helderman's money.
"Be seated, gentlemen," ho snld, turn
ing again to the Instrument, which wns
calling him stridently.
Craig sat down and held his cap be
tween the leaping flame nnd his cyos.
Himself In the shndow, he watched atten
tively the powerful subtlo lace of his
companion, and the boyish, rosy face of
tho operntor. It waa a. (.cello worthy of
Mephlsto. and probably quite ns true to
the tempter's rote.
Tho wireless ripped and lattled, ns If
it hated tho messago It was bringing.
"Ah-h!" Hclderman breathed. His eves
were fixed unbllnklngly on tho while fire.
When the spark had censed, he took oft
his monoclo nnd deliberately winked at
Craig.
"It Is the witching hour when the
secret messages come In," he said signifi
cantly. "You mean the secret service mes
sages?" Craig purposely spoke In louder and
commonplace tones. Ho was not going
to nllow himself lo bo hoodwinked Into
any more pseudo-mysteries. And he was
beginning to grow weary of this constant
striving nftor tho theatrical.
"Yes secret servlco messages, and se
cret messages; messages that nre not in
tended for tho general car. and which
often carry many a pretty story."
Then he turned nnd addressed the
operator In the crisp tones of an em
ployer to nn employe:
"Come, loosen up! Tell us what you
got Just now out of the wilderness ot
space!"
Tho operator opened his lips as Jf to
obey the gruff authority' back of the
words then smiled nnd shook his head.
"This message Is confidential, Mr. Held
erman "
Tho financier drow- from hla pocket one
ot his superlative fine cigars.
"Perhaps we can smoke out the se
cret," he said Jocularly.
"Nothing doing," tho young fellow re
torted. Helderman silently thrust the cigar
back Into his pocket nnd then brought to
light a generous roll of bank notes. With
out seeming awaro of any Insult In the
action, he took oft tho top bill, a twenty
flollar note, nnd laid It beforo the opera
tor. "Will that start n. fire?" he asked. o
Tho operator, busy with a message, held
up his hand for time. Rutherford's throat
swelled painfully. His first Impulso wns
to protest to help the Incxpeiienccd boy
tesent such an affront. But the operator
onco moro nt leisure long since cal
loused, showed no sign of resentment
Instead, ho grinned broadly nnd answered
suggestively:
"Nothing doing yet Mr. Hclderman."
"luthorford sank back Into his seat
That ono word "yet" had effectually killed
nil his sympathy for the banker's victim
Ho settled bac.t to watch a contest be
tween two knaves.
Helderman placed two twenties on th"
desk, within easy reach of the operator.
The operator regarded them complacently,
"You want to take a message, do you?"
he Inquired.
"Juet that," said Helderman.
"Walt a minute," Bald the operator
Ho pent some seconds In transmitting
Then he picked up tho yellow-backs,
"All right," ho said, still more com
placently, "you can fire ahead."
Ho relinquished the receivers and Held
erman adjusted them. The boy turned to
Crnlg.
"He's made of money," he observed.
Crnlg did not answer. He didn't" want
to nnswer. The flashea ripped and tore
upon the coll. Heldermnn, with the re
ceivers nt his ears, started and bent
closer. The boy winked at Craig.
"Jlmlny." he exclaimed, "but he must
know how to read I didn't think tt of
him. He takes that message like one of
the old guard. Watch him, will you, now "
Craig watched Helderman. Helderman s
face wns Intent the message seemed tn
be of terrific Interest. Suddenly, how
ever, as by some effort, he lounged back
In his chair and his countenance took on
nn expression of merely languid Interest,
Finally he laid the apparatus down. The
flashes had ceased.
"Very pleasing pastime that," he said
Tho boy grinned. "You're quite an ex
pert. Mr. Helderman."
Helderman nodded. "I am expert a
everything," he admitted. He tapped
Craig on the Bhoulder. "Come, my friend."
he exclaimed, "let us depart,"
"Much obliged, Mr. Helderman," said
the operator. He didn't seem to know
what to make of It all. His baffled,
ashamed eyes worried Craig, who wished
himself out In the cool night air.
Helderman drew Craig out upon Ahe
deck. The door swung to behind htm.
"That was a beastly shame," said Craig
Helderman. purposely or not. miscon
strued his meaning.
"You are right. Another Idol shattered.
Every man has his price. It seems. But
he has been useful to me that young
chap. And he may be useful ln the fu
turehe Is worth the price. No man
makes mistakes when he buys up men.
mv friend."
Rutherford might have explained the
true state ot his mind. But Helderman
burst suddenly Into one of his obnoxious
fits of laughter.
"It was worth iO-that," he said.
"What," queried Craig, "the message'' '
Helderman laughed almost uproaroul
"He never suspected he doesn't know
now what happened. Listen. Did you
notice him when I asked leave to take a
message when I handed him his price
He sent a message then a message ta
tome far-away operator, doubtless, to
hand me some balderdash. Well tha
other operator didn't do it. The meaaag
I got was Intended, not for my ear, but
for tho ears of this young operator alone
for his confidential ears. And he thought
I couldn't translate messages I saw him
tell you that while I was listening. Weil.
I heard this one and ha didn't. BJe'll
never hear it now. It waa a masaag
that will not be sent again. It waa alg-nlflcant-ln
the light of recent circum
stances." He dwelt upon the phrase, "In
tho light of recent curcumjtancea to aay
the leaat"
Than he lapsed into slleaae. But hla
glance at Craig invited query.
CralST waited for a decent interval of
time. Then be spoke
(CONTINUED IN MONDAY'S SWNlNQ
1 K1XJER.)
i
i
i
tatmii
i) nirarrr laanatii, r i -mr n i -m nuri
L3jTLgl3Wttt'"''t'' iniHniliiimin