( - vi'' tw - ,; "'.'i
12
EVENING PUBLIC 'LEDGER-PHIEABEIiPHIA, SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1922
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OF TOUPAN-By James Branch Cabell
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One of the Evening Public Ledger's New Short Stories in the Series of Unpublished Fiction by the Best American Writers of the Day
IjlTIRAMON LLUAGOR had very
fLJ- wonderfully prospered at magic.
JH wa8, as they say, new blessed
.With mere than any reasonable per per
en would ask for, and the most
jtUmant of these superfluities ap
itared te him te be his wife.
They tell hew Miramon was one of
the Leshy, born of a people that was
neither human nor Immortal, telling
kew his home was builded upon the
summit of the mountain called
JVraidex. Here In the old days
'dwelt Miramon Lluager, at a dis
creet remove from the prudishness
of men and the disreputable amours
of the High Gods, living retiredly in
Wi Doubtful Palace; wherein, as
they report also, this wizard de
signed the dreams for sleep.
His taste was for the richly ro re
inantic But his wife Gisele had
quite ether notions, a whole set of
aotiens, and her philosophy was that
of belligerent individualism. And
the wizard te keep peace, at least in
the intervals between his wife's
mere mordantly loquacious mo
ments, would design such dreams a3
Gisele preferred. But he knew that
these dreams did net express the
small thoughts and fancies which
harbored in the heart of Miramon
Lluager, and which would perish
with the falling of his deem unless
be wrought these fancies into
dream that, being fleshless, might
vada carnivorous time. And Mixa-
If James Branch Cabell had
written nothing else, as the
author of "Jurgen" he irenic!
have a unique place in Ameri
can letters. The book has the
distinction of having been sup
pressed in this country. There
is an Eneliih edition that has
reachid these shores. They icere
very enthusiastic ever it in
England. Hut ilr. Cabell's
ether books are an additional
reason for Am high place in
American literature.
Probably no ether writer
would have treated the very in
tricate fub)crt of mnrriarje in
the perfectly delightful fairy
tale stile of "The llriijht liees
of Teupan." After all should
trtists marry? We leave it te
you and Mr. Cabell.
that live, were spoken te quite can
didly, the better it would be for
everybody concerned.
SITE was Irritated by the mere sight
of Flamberge. Se her thinking was
net of silk and honey when, after pol
ishing the sword as was her usage
upon Thursday morning, she came into
Miramon's ivory tower te hang the
weapon in its right place. With Mira
mon Fnt that sleek person whom men
called Ninlan. It was net known te
alt of Nlnr.lnn'n friends that he wn
an evil spirit who had come out of the
Bottomless l'lt te work Iniquity, but
Miramon Lluager knew this and, there
fore, he made arpreprlate use of the
demon and, indeed, upon this Tery
Rfternoen the two were looking at that
which Ninzlan had procured for the
wizard nt a price.
"Geed-day te you," Sir Nlnzlan,"
says Madame Gisele, polltely enough.
And then she spoke, in a different tone,
te Miramon Lluager. "And with what
ar you cluttering up the heue new?"
"Ah, wife," replies Miramon, "these
are the bees of Touran, a treasure be
yond word or thinking. They are net
as ether bees, for theirs la the appear
ance of shining Ice, and they crawl
fretfully, as they hare crawled since
Teupan's downfall, about this cress of
black stone"
"That is a Tery likely story for yea
te be telling me, who can see that the
dl'gunlng creatures have wings te fly
away with whenever they want te. And
besides, who in the world Is Teupan?"
"He is nobody in this world, wife,
and it is wiser net te speak of him.
Let it suffice that he made all things
as they were. Then Keshchei took the
power from Teupan and made all things
as they are. Yet three of Teupan's
servitors endure upon earth, where they
who were once lords of the Yendish
have new no power remaining save te
creep humbly as Insects: the us of
their wings Is denied them, the charmed
stone holds them Immutably, Ohe, but, (
wife, there Is a cantrap which would
free tiem, a cantrap which nobody has
as yet discovered, and te their releaser
will be granted whatever his will may
desire "
"This is some mere of your staff and
nonsense, out of old fairy tales, where
everybody pets three wishes and no
geed out of any of them."
"Ne, my love, because I shall put
them te quite practical uses. Fer you
mut knew that when I have found out
the mantrap which will release the bees
of Teupan "
Gisele showed plainly that his fool feol foel
l'hno' did twt cencprn her. She sighed
nnd hun; the sword Irt its accustomed
place. Oh, but I am aweary of this
endless wizardry !"
"Then, wife," says Miramon, "then
why are you perpetually meddling with
what vim de net understand?"
"I think." said Ninzlan, at once,
for this di'i'nin. tee. was married, "I
think that I had best he celng."
But tSi-e'.e's attention was reserved
for her hii-band. "I meddle, as you se
very politely call It, becau-e jeu have
no sene of what Is rlzlit anu proper,
"And with what are you cluttering up the house new?"
enjejs a really geed dream mere than
I de when I have time for It, with
and in. sense of morals, and no sense , the million nnd one things that are
men hungered for the lest freedom
of his bachelorhood.
His wife also was discontent, be
eause the ways of the Leshy ap
peared te this mortal woman in
decorous. The deem that were upon
the Leshy seemed net entirely in
feed taste te her, who had been born
of a rnce about whom. destiny did
net bother; in fact, it was a con
tinual irritation te her that her little
boy Demetries was predestinate te
kill his father with the charmed
awerd Flamberge. This was a deem
which Madame Gisele found net at
all the sort of thing you cared te
have imminent in your own family;
and she felt that the sooner the gray
Nerns, who weave the fate of all
f cviieihrney, und, in fact, no sense
nt all."
Miramon said. "New, dearest "
Plr Niirtan was hastily picking up his
hat. But Gide continued, with that
ic-i-uc- unu uc-wimi uiig onuew wj.itu i,nwiM ,M no ,- V,1 n
I- pe. iilur te tidal waves nnd the -;'"-"""""-"""'''"'""' -
put npen me. But dreams ought te be
wholesome ; they ought te point an
I utilising moral, and certainly tiicy
ought net te be about incempre-
tuticue of her who i-peaks for her hub-
uati'l s own geed.
'Women everywhere have a hnrd
halfway understand. They ought, in a
word, te make you feel that the world
Is a pretty geed sort of place after
time of it. but In particular de I Dltv all
the woman that Is married te one of "But, wife, I am net sure that It
jeu moon -struck artists. She has net is,'' says Miramon, mildly.
half a Im-tand. she has but the tending "Then the mere shame te you! And
of a baby with long legs " the very Iciibt .ou can de Is te keep
"It ! se much bciter than I thought, such morbid notions te yourself, and
that re'i h new " observed Ninzlar., ' net be up-ettiug ether people's repose
mi iTi-i tixelv . I with them."
" Ami I might have had an earl "I employ my natural gift, I ex-
or a well-thought-of baron, who would ' press tuy.-elf and none ether. The
hiive had tin: decency te remember rose bush does net put forth wheat,
our atitiiMT-nry nnd my birthday, and nor ilax neither," returned the wizard,
in nn.v event would never have been In with a tired shrug. "In fine, what
tie house twenty-four hours a day. would you have?"
Instead, here I am tied te a muddle- ' "Oh, a great deal it means te you
'.id who fritters awuv his time con- what I prefer! But If I had mj wish
tnving dreams that nobody cares about your silly dream making would be
ne w.i.v or the ether, iet U only you
would be sensible about your hilly busi
nes, I leulil put up with the Incon
venience of having you underfoot every
ninmenr. I'eenle need dreams te hell)
them through the night, and nobody I a thing happened te beheld which would
taken away from you se that we might
live sensibly."
OW as she spoke Gisele slapped
cieusly nt the black cress. And
m
have nstenl'hed the mages nnd the en
chanters who had given ever centuries
te searching for the cantrap which
would release the bees of Teupan. Fer
new without any exercise of magic the
scouring rag swept from the Mone one
of these insects. Keshchei, who made
all things as they were, had decreed,
they report, that these bright perils
could be freed only In the must obvious
way, because he knew this would be
the lest method uttempted by any
learned person.
New for an Instant the wnlls of the
Ivery tower were aqulver like blown
veil. And the bee passed glltterin,'..
te tlie window, and through the eleir
glass of the closed window, leaving a
unall round IieIp there, as the creature
went te join its hcvun fellows in the
Pleiades.
Teupan, afloat in the void, unclosed
his undent unappeasable ecs; and
Jack returned te his aforetime estate
In the moon, and all plants nnd trees
everywhere were withered, and the sea
also lest its greenness, and there were
no mere emeralds. And the High Gods
were appalled te see their deem se
near at hand, and thev cried out te
Keshchei who devised tlicin.
Keshchei answered: "Have pa
tience I 'When Teupan is released I
fall with you. Meanwhile, I have made
nil things as they are."
And in that instant Miramon Llua Llua
eor, as he steed blinking In his ivory
tower, was aware of n touch upon his
forehead, as if a damp sponge were
passing ever it. and he perceived that
he had forgotten the secret of his wiz
ardry. Se.mething he could yet recall,
they say, of the magic of the I'urin
nnd the cast stones, of the Herse and
the Bull of the Water, and most of
the lore of the Apsarasas and the Enid
bin remained te him. He could still
make shift, he knew, te control the
bitter Ducrgar. te build -the fearful
bridge of the White Ladies, or te con
trive the dunce of the Kened. He kept
his mastery of the Shedecin who dev
astate, of the Slichlreem who terrify,
and of the Mnzlkeen who destroy. But
such accomplishments, us he despair
ingly knew, were the stock In trade of
my fairly competent sorcerer anywhere,
and that supreme secret which Imd
made Miiamen Llunger the master of
all dreams was gene away from him
completely.
He was very angry. "Accursed wom
an!" he. cried out, "new indeed htw
your common sense completed what your
nngglng began. This is the deem of all
1 artists that have te ae with well-con'
ducted women. Truly has it been said
that the ninrriage-bed is the grave of
art. Well, I have put up with much
from you, but this Eettles it, and I
wish jeu were in the middle of next
week."
WITH thnt he caught the soiled
scouring rag from the bund of
Gisele, nnd he slapped at one of the
remaining bees, and brushed it from
the blitck cress. And this bee de
parted as the ether had done.
Teupan new moved his wings, ex
ulting, and by his moving the worlds
In that pnrt of the universe were dis
lodged and ran melting down the sky :
(iiiuracy swept the fragments together
and formed a sun Immeasurably grtater
than that which he had lest. And the
High Gods were frightened new with
reason, for In tlu intolerable glare
they showed as flimsy and Incredible
inventions, "and they knew that If ever
the last remaining bee were freed from
the cress, the dizain of the Pleiades
would be completed, and their day would
be ever, and the power would return
te Teupan.
Yet Keshchei, lifting never a finger,
said only. "Eh, sirs, have patience!
and I knew new It is my safeguard
that I have made them in two ways:"
But Miramon, in his ivory tower
upon Vraidcx, knew only that his wish
had been granted, for Gisele had gene
Just as a bubble breaks.
And a geed riddance, tee," says
Miramon. He turned te Mnzlan, that
smiling fiend. "Why, did you ever see
the like of such outragceusncssl"
"Oh. very often," replied this Nin
zlan, who tee was married. Then Nin
zlan asked. "But what will you de
next?"
Says Miramon, "I shall wish te hnve
back the secret and the selace of my
art."
But te Ninzlan this seemed less ob
vieus. "Yeu may de that by releasing
the third bce. Yes, Miramon, you can
get back your art, but you will be
left defenseless against the deem which
is appointed. Ne, friend, by my ad
vice you will employ the cantrap as
you at first intended, and will secure
for yourself eternal life by wishing that
Flamberge may vanish from this world
of men." And Ninzlan wared toward
the. sword with which the Nerns had
foreordained that Miramon Lluager
must be killed by his own son.
The fallen wizard, answered, "Of
what worth is life if It breed no mere
dreams?" And Miramon said also, "I
wonder, Ninzlan, Just where is the
middle of next week?"
Sleek Ninzlan spoke, secure In his
infernal erudition. "It will fall npen a
Wednesday, but nobody knows whence.
Olybrlua states that It is new in Aratu,
where all that enter are clothed like a
bird with wings, and have only dust
and clay te eat in the unchanging twi
light "She would net like that. Sha bad
always a delicate digestion."
"Whereas AslnluA Pohie euggeata,
net unplausibly, that it waits beyond
Slid nnd Gjeld, in the blue house of
Nostrand. where Sereda herds the un
born Wednesdays, under a reef of
nlnitcd sernents
"Dear me, new that would never
suit a woman who had an almost morbid
aversion te reptiles I
"But Sesiclcs declares it is in
Xibalba. where Zlnacna and Cnbrakan
piny nt handball, and the earthquakes
are at nurse "
"She would be none the happier
there. She does net core for babies.
she would net for one moment put up
with a fractious young earthquake, and
would make things most unpleasant for
everybody. Ninzlan" nnd Miramon
coughed "Ninzlan. I begin te fear I
have been n little hasty."
"It is the frnilty of all you artists,"
the fiend replied. "In any event, you
have one wish remaining, nnd no mure.
Yeu can ut will desire te have back
again the control of your lest mnglcs,
or you can have back your wlfe te
control you."
"Yes," saysi Miramon, forlornly.
"And, Indeed," the demon went en,
with that glib optimism reserved for
the dilemmas of one's friends, "indeed.
it is in many ways a splendid thing for
you te have the choice clear cut. No Ne
imdv can succeed alike at being an
artist and n husband. I held no brief
for cither career, because I think that
art is an unreasonable mistress, and I
think also that a wife is amenable te
the sanie description. But I am cer
tain no man can berve both."
MIBAMON sighed. "That is true.
There is no marriage for the maker
of dreams, because he Is perpetually
creating liner women than earth pro
vides. The touch of flesh cannot con
tent him who has arranged the shining
hair of angels and modeled the bieasts
of the sphinx. The woman that shares
his bed Is there, of course, much as the
blanket or the pillow Is there, and each
is an aid te comfort. But what has
the maker of dreams, what has thnt
troubled being who lives inside the crea
ture which a mirror reveals te him, te
de with women? At best, these ani
mals afford him models te be idealized
beyond the Insignificant truth, some
what as I have made a soul-contenting
portent with only a lizard te start en.
And nt worst, these animals enn live
through no half hour without meddling
where they de net understand."
New Miramon kept silence. He wns
fingering the magic colors with which
he blazoned the first bketehes of his
dreams. Here was his white, which
was the foam of ocean made solid, and
the black he had wrung from the burned
yellow slime of Scyres, and i
clnnnbnrls composed of th0 m,J7J
bleed of behemoths and drmrn. . .
horn tvna flia rtrtlaiM- i.t. '
Putcell. And Miramon, who " "
longer n potent wizard, considered tt
lnrikltnnna sin I hnprn. t.i.j.i
age he had known hew te cvek il
these pigments, he who had
cvk itj
new m
Fer 1 made ull things ns they arc, bones of nlne emperors. Here wns the
power te lend life te his designs ,!1
kept just skill enough it might b 1
place the stripplngs en n barber'. Ju
And Miramon Lluager. snld: "t
would be a sad happening if ...
never again te ewny the sleeping IJ
men, nnd grant them yet mere dftim,
of distinction and clarity, of beauty ua
urbanity. Fer whether they like It
net, I knew that It is geed for tht
and It affords te their starved living flu
wlilt, 4t,A,a1n1r ..1 ..!.,. . .
.... luv, .v. euu uuiiui 10 nave."
'A A Htl.llmAH .nl.1 1 .
AUU UUIUUUII DUtu UI80! "Iff U
would be another sad happening vim
my peer wife permitted eternally t
scold the shivering earthquake In tl
middle of next week. What dots U
matter that I de net especially UW
her? There is a great deal about n,
self that I de net like, such aj n
ww; a UHUU.UCM, nuu luq BuiaU AM
which makes ludicrous the face I vim
but de I hanker te be transformed ta
a sturdy man-at-arms? De I vinr fti
snout of an elephant with covetenattj
Why, but, Ninzlan, I am astenlshid a
your foolish talking I What need dm
I of perfection? What would I hm
In cemmdn with anybody who wag n,
tlent with ma and thought highly aim
doings? Ne, Ninzlan, it la In rata mi
yen pester me witn your runtlimsj
talking, for I am as used te her Asfr
comings as I am te my own shorten
ing. I regard her tantrums with ts)
resignation I extend te lncleBss)
weather. It Is unpleasant. All tss
pests are unpleasant, Ah, yes, bat
life should become an endless dear Kg
afternoon we could net endure its ti
who have once been lashed by atom
would cress land and sea te leek tat
snow nnd pelting bail. Just se, te hm
Gisele about keeps me perpetually fait.
ted, but new that she is gene I an
miserable. Ne, Ninzlan, you may ipin
your talking, you need eay no inef
I simply could net put up with belag
left te live In comfort."
Sir Ninzlan had heard him threnri
with that patience which is requisite te
menus. And rvlnzlnn. shrugging, ull
"Then de you cheese, Mlrnmen, fef
your wife nnd no mere dreams, or for
your art and loneliness?"
"Such wishing would be evcr-waitt-
ful," Miramon replied, us he diiitd
away the third bee. "Since I can kit
te give up neither my wife nor my art,
no matter hew destreyingly they jtetk
against each ether, I wish for ever
thing te be put back just where it wu
uu hour age."
rpiIE last bee flew in a wlde circlt,
- and returned te the cress. Lift
rcawoke in all which had perished U
that hour, and Gnurney's baleful sua
was gene, nnd the dislodged worlds ail
satellites were revolving trimly In their
former places. And the High Geuire.
jelced, for there were only seven Plel-
tides, and Teupnn. afloat In the veli
again bcemed harmless enough, beenim
the eyes were closed wherein is tirelts
and unappeasnble malignity and a fore
knowledge which is perturbing te tit
gods,
Keshchei said enly: "What nnl
was there te worry? Did I net null
my creatures male nnd female? And did
I net make the tie which is betnta
them that cord which I wove equally of
leve nnd of disliking? Kb, sirs, bit
that is a strong cord, and though ill
things that are depend upon it, cj
weaving holds.
But Miramon. in his ivory tewtt
knew nothing of hew he had played
havoc with the universe; he only knew
that upon the b'nek stone cress tlrtJ
bees were crawling fretfully, and tint
his wife, Gisele, had come back te Ml
enrnged.
"A pretty trick thnt was te playe
me!" she says. "Oh, but I P'ty
wemnn thnt is mnrrieil tn nn artist!"
"But why de you perpetually medfll
without understanding?" he replied, H
fretful nH the nccursed bees, as angryU
the Intolerable woman
And they went en very much asw"
fore.
'cpurtght, lest, &y United Peatwr BvMi
ah rieuj rcscruea. ueproaueuim renw
JACH
w
&j
UBGrMENT
An Unusual Story of a Blackmailing Gang and a Mysterious Avenger, by the Auther
of "Green Rust," "The Daffodil Murder," "Clue of the Twisted Candle"
By Edgar Wall
sice
TIIK steky n rn '
0OZ.0XEI. l.V WOIVIMI.V, e fat. '
ecarse-aralncd but uwinnt'i cimt
tadrr f e 'jnna of preiA hm b""fni
elarmciJ (it fc. nit e 0 Icnar et - nbi.
tianrd '. ' ) Jmlam'nt " alt'r
Ot lis lip.'iltl Oil ul i "ii'h "re iubt y
dft't'fil tu rnrii h him vitheut rtikine thi
law's pmelll'J. ' tries te duann us us
ptcteiu (nfliciiiK around him lu com cem com
plelnlno tu
BTAFFOIH) IS IX tl. of the Londen Crim
inal ntcltiecnct Force.
PINTO Sll.VA, a iU'tk man about town,
forces M altmtieni cm an acfrj, uuj
rebuffs Mm .sh is
VAIBIE WTJ. dntiffhtrr et Sellu Whl,
" one et the Bang who wl'hrt te retire,
Bh ts interested in Stafferd.
IOLL1V M WSIl, a dell-faced but e!evr
girl, who acts as "vamp" of the btacfc
mailing aang.
. CROOK CUEWB, one a eentleman, new
a thief.
CHAPTER X
The Grerlt
TnE upbuilding of the Boundary gang
had neither been nn accident, nor
was it exactly designed en the lines
which it ultimately followed.
The main structure was Boundary
himself, with his extraordinary fmnnclnl
enius, bis plausibility, hU lightning
exploitation of every ndvnntage which
Offered. Outwardly he was the head
Of three trading corporations which
tjbmplled with the laws, paid small but
fespectable dividends, aud cloaked ether
iterations which never appeared in the
IBBclal records of the companies.
The slde lines of the guns came
(Jirpugh force of circumstances. Men,
feed, bad, and indifferent, weie drawn
lte the orbit of its (tctlvltles, us extra
ordinary clicuinstauces arose or dire
necessities dictated. Throughout the
i .1. .,.! I.f.mltli nf Itrltnin tlimliizli
Prance, Italy, and, in the days before
the war. m iicrimiiiy, in mi siu, nun
the Unlteu Mines, wcv men, who,
they could net be described uu ugents,
ut lvnut ready tools.
,tBrr1 finger in every unsavory
p-?!. " " ""
n i .r.3
jail did net ask Colonel Boundary te ' realization of these wonderful visions
finance him In the purchase of a new ' which the Greek agent had se care
kit of tools an tip-te-dato burglar's fully sketched.
kit ce-ts a considerable amount but j In hnlf a dozen Reuth American
there were people who would lend the towns the proprietors of as many dance
money, which eventually came out of halls would loekCnver the new Importn Impertn
the colenel'd pocket. tlens approvingly and remit their bank
Heme of the businesses he financed ' drafts te the merchant of Mincing
were ou the border line of respectability. ( Court.
Seme Inte which his money was snnk I The colonel dpparted from his usual
were frankly Infamous. But it was practice and met the Orcck himself,
a popular fiction that he knew nothing the place of meeting being a small
of these, or, if be did knew that he i hotel In Aldgate. Whatever ether pro pre
was financing a scoundrel, It was In-1 tenses the colonel made, he did net
hinted that that scoundrel was engaged ; uttempt te continue the fiction that he
In se far as the colonel knew legiti- ! was ignorant of the Greek's trade,
mate enterprise. "Paul," he raid, after the first greet-
Paul Phillopelts was a small Greek Ings were ever, "I've been a geed friend
merchant, who nail an emce in .iiinciug w "u
Court a tiny room at the top of four
flights of stnirs. On the glns panel
of its deer was the anneuncement:
"Gencrnl Exporter."
Mr. Phlllopells spent three or four
hours t his etiice daily, and for the
rest of tlie time, particularly toward
the evening, was te be found 1
cafe in Soho. He wns a dark little
man, with fierce mustache nnd a set
of perfect white teeth which he dis
plaved readily, for lie was easily
amused. His most Intimate anuuint
iiiuei knew him te be an exporter of
Greek pieducts te Seuth Amei-'ii, and
he was, in the large bense of the word,
Linineniiy respeciuuie.
Yeu have indeed, colonel," said
the man gratefully. He spoke English
with a very slight accent, for he had
bet-n born and educated In Londen.
"If ever I can render you a service
"Yeu can," Bald the colonel, "but
rani it H net going te be easy,"
n a i The Gieek cjed him curiously.
"Easy or hard," he said, "I'll go
through with It."
The foletiel nodded.
"Hew Is the business in Seuth
America?" he asked suddenly.
The Greek spread out his hands in
deprecation.
"Very peer," he said tragically.
"All these beautiful girls waiting for
music-hall engagements and impossible
rwnKinnnllv he would be seen away ' te send thorn becnuse of the unsettled
from his customary haunt, discussing conditions of their countries. I mubt
with a compatriot some very urgent have lest thousands of pounds,"
i,m incss. which few knew nbeut. Ter "The demand hasn't slnckened off,
I there were ships which cleared from eh''" asked the colonel, and the Greek
the Greek ports, carrying cargoes te binllcd,
!.. nnW of Mr. Phillonells which did "Seuth America Is full of money.
net appear In any bill of lading. They have millions billions. Almest
Armenian girls, girls from Seuth Bussla, I every ether mun Is a millionaire. The
from Greece, from Smyrna, en route te I music halls have patrons but no
a premised land, looked rerwara te ue talent."
"She doesn't want te go and she doesn't knew she's going, but I want
her out of the way"
The colonel smiled grimly.
"Put flint tii(V i. lit Piillt " he K.ll(!
brutally, "and let us get down te facts.
There's a gin in l.oiiuen et e.ccp e.ccp
tienal ability. She hm annenred in
n music hull here, and she's us beauti
ful tin n dream.
"English?" asked the Greek.
"Irish," said the ether. "As pretty
as a picture, 1 tell jeu. She will make
a great hit."
The Greek looked puzzled,
'Hees nhe wnnt te go?" he asked,
und the colonel snarled round tit him.
"De you think I should come and
nsk you te book her pnssngn if she
wanted te go?" he demanded. "Of
course she doesn't want te go, and she
doesn't knew she's going. But I want
her out of the way. Yeu understand?"
Mr. Phlllopells pulled a long face.
"Te take her from England!"
"Frem Londen," said the colonel.
The Greek shook his head.
It Is Impossible," he said. "Pass
ports arc required, and unless she was
willing te go It would be impossible te
take her. Yeu can't kidnap n girl and
rush her out of the country, colonel."
Boundary interrupted him impatient
ly. 'Don't you think I knew thnt?" he
asked. "Your job Is, when she's in a
fit state of mind, te take her aeiess
and put her bomewhere where she's net
coming back for,,a long lime, and net
caring much whether she ever comes
back. De you understand?"
"I understand thnt part of it very
well," said the Greek, "Yeu get her
te Kleand I'll de the rest."
"You'll get her te UIe," said Bound
ary. "I'm net te be mixed up in It.
The only thing I can premise you is that
she'll go quietly. I'll have her pass
ports fixed. She'll be traveling for her
health you understanU7 And I pro pre
mise you that her health will be se bad
Lthat she'll give you no trouble. When
you ft te lewth AaHitw X want je
..'!. I
'
te tnlte her into the interior of tlie
country. You're net te leave her in
one of these const towns where English
nnd American tourists are likely te
meet her."
"What de I get out of it?" asked
the Greek frankly,
"You'll get out it what she's worth
te the music halls," said the colonel
shortly; "you knew your own beastly
business better thnn I de. I tell you
blie's worth a geld mine,"
"But hew are jeu going te "
"That's my business," said the
colonel. "Yeu understand what j'eu
have te de. Ill send you the date you
leave, nnd I'll pay her passage and
yours. Eur any extra expenses you can
send the bill te me; you understand?"
Obviously It was net u job te the Ilk.
lug of Phlllopells, but he had geed
iciiMjii iu i ni r me coienci ami ac
quiesced with a nod. Boundary went
back te where lie had left Pinte and
found the Portuguese biting his finger
nails a favorite spare time occupation
of his.
"Did you fix it?" he asked in u low
voice. "Of course I fixed it." said th..
colonel s'liuiplj.
"I'm net going te have anything te
de with It, said the ether, und tlie
colonel smiled.
"Mnybe jeu'll change your mind,"
he said significantly.
There was a knock at the deer and
the colonel himself nuswered it. He
took the card from the servant's hand
and read: "Mr. Stafferd King, Crim
inal uiieiiigeuce iiepartment." He
looked from the card te Plute, then
said: "Shew him in."
Tlie Colonel at Scotland Yard
03i two. mea, had net met alnce
they had parted at the deer of the North
i.nmDetli reiice Court, nnd there wns
in Colonel Heundary's smile bemethlnz
of forgiveness nnd gentle reproach.
'Well, Mr. King," he said, "come
In, come In, won't you?"
He offered his hand te the ether, but
Stafferd apparently did net sec It.
"Jse mnlice, I trust, Mr. King?"
said the coienci genially. "Yeu knew
my friend, Mr. Sllvn? A business as
sociate of mine, a director of several
of my companies,"
"I knew him all right," said Staf Staf
eord, and added, "I hope te knew him
better."
Pinte recognized the underlying sense
of the words, but net a muscle of
his face moved. Fer Stafferd King
the hatred with which he regarded the
law took en a personal character. This
man was something mere than a thief
taker and u tracker of criminals. Pinte
chose te regard him as the close friend
of Malsie White, and, as such, his
rival,
.i i"A'V1. . wlmt "re wt indebted for
this visit " asked the bland colonel.
1 he chief wants te see you."
"The chief?"
hir htunlpy Relcem. Being the
chief of our department, I should huve
thought you hud heard of him."
.i lr .'Im1-'' Ill,l." repented the
ether. Why, of course, I knew Kir
Stanley by repu.e. May 1 ask what
he wants te er me about? And hew
''J' J"ung fr'einl ei MI-s White?"
c. -U,,cn.'1 Km l,er '"St," replied
Stafferd steadily, "she wH loel ng
pre y wel be far as I could tell."
Indeed!" said the colonel politely.
I have a considerable interest in thu
welfare of MJlH White. May I a"k
when you last saw her?"
"Lest night," replied Stafferd. "She
was ataml nv at th. .1. i.. .. a "
menUtalDeuihtV "&";
little talk with your friend" he nedfcl
te I'inte nnd Pinte started. "Alie,1
added the cheerful Stafferd. "aneti
mutual friend of ours, .Mr. Crewe, wil
within balling distance, unless I W
greatly mistaken."
"Se you were watching, eh?" bunt
out Pinte. "I thought after the leaei
J'OU hud a C0I1 Die of weeks ni-e TOll'll
have "
Let me carry en this convent'
tlOIl if Teil don't mln.l " tntH til
.colonel, nnd the fury in his eyes silenced
me I'ertUBUcc.
"We have agreed te let bveenet
bygones, Mr. Kinir. ,m.l r nm sure U
is only his excessive zeal en my bebill
tJint induced our friend te be B'
discreet its te refer te the unplcasttt
huppeuingH which we will alie
Pass fl'OIll nep mmunxlnu
Se the girl was being watched. T
made things rather mere difficult thu
he had imagined. Nevertheless
anticipated no supreme ebsta.de te
actual abduction.
His plans had been made that me
llllt. W'hell tin Lliiu ! l.n milinntia of
dally newspaper a feur-line adieru
"-in which, te a large extent. ";
cleared away the greatest of hU ""
"And if Mr. King Is looking aW
Hilt. win. ii r..l l M.I.I. ItH.lta Ul
-. ,uub inraii, .luusie i mivi -.
daughter of one of our dearest buslne
UNSIlclnlni ml,., T I... I Im 'W
:"" "j a in burnt "v i.
en heartily. "Londen, Mr. Kln- ,7
a pluce full of danger for veuB K1
tinrthiiiliirli l.ncw. ...i. ...... .L.tirlped 01
II IIIWOU 1,1111 llll' llll'l"-
uiu loving euro of a parent, unu
..F ,1... .1.I..I ... .. . w ..
" uiu i-iuci iiiiracnniifc, it i "
allowed te say se, which the police
"" me, is tee Knowledge thai iuw
the protectors of the unprotected,
Kuaruians oz tne unguarded.
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