, 1891-11-14

when she drew ner breath again it was
with a smile.
"Do you always carry a revolver she
said. I'VE are alone in the house, ex-
cept my maid. l could have protected
myself, but l am sufficiently protected
by circumstances 1t has been arranged
that if anything happens to me Olympia
will not long survive me-"
"Haye We not had enough of this?:n
asked he. do You really expect me to
accept your statements as facts."
Il might leave you to suffer the conse-
quence of not accepting them. But /
wish to spare You the pain of uncertainty
if | an. Let me see. What can l do?
Would you like TO see something of hers?
Did you not give her an engagement
ring? And did she not wear it on the
evening when you last saw herr
He shrugged his shoulders. 81 have
given her many things-no doubt a ring,
among others. She might have lost it,
and it might have been picked up; ]
cam say"
cat any rate, l will restore it to you"
said Sallie. sit is not mine, and since
she no longer wears it you should have
the charge of it."
So saying, she drew the box toward
her, opened it and tool out a ring. 1t
was a black diamond in an antique set
ting. 1t was m of the jewels that had
been contained in Napoleon's treasure
casket, and the count had given it to
Olympia as the pledge of their betrothal.
Such another ring did not exist in the
world. He knew that Olympia would
never willingly let it leave her finger.
The proof that the worst was true was
complete. He slipped the ring on his
w finger, and said, ''Well?"
"Well, then, 1 return to my question:
said Sallie, leaning back and stirring her
tea. What would you be viking to
sacrifice to save her life?"
81 see no reason why l should discuss
the question with you" said the count.
II prefer to deal with those who have
the immediate charge of her. | under
stand your plot, and that l am to blame
for the success of it. / allowed Garcia
to obtain hypnotic control over her. You
won the poor creature to your service, by
means 1T is easy to surmisel and pre-
vailed upon him to use his power to draw
her into our hands. But Garcia, hav-
ing received from you the price-the fa-
vor-promised him for his act, is now in
n condition to bring forth fruits of re-
p%entance. l shall find means to induce
him to give me the information that l
require. AS for you, you have already
supplied all the information l care to
trouble you for"
These words were slowly and deliber-
ately spoken, while his eyes were steadi-
| lU n yA1 T1nOn har fana Ha uau alfnn n
final chance, with such imperturbability
as he could command. And, indeed,
since it was true, rs Sallie had herself
said, that no human being can be quite
sure of another, it was possible that
Garcia, who had already betrayed the
count, might now betray Sallie-assum-
ing that the count was right in his guess
as to Garcia's part in the affair.
But Sallie, if she felt uneasiness,
showed none. She clapped her hands to-
gether once more and the maid reap
peared.
"Step over to the corner" said her
mistress, ''and tell Mr.. Garcia / want
him"
The maid went out, and a moment
after the count heard the street door
close.
81 am sensitive on some points" Sallie
observed, and you hurt my feelings. /
am building no house of cards, Count de
Lisle; / am perfectly in earnest, and l am
not 80 childish as to attempt to fight you
with shadows-as you fought me? AS to
your insinuation about my purchase of
your friend, / will not deny it; you shall
judge for yourself. 1t is your doubt of
my intelligence that gals me-not, of
course the other INSULT"
The count made no reply. The point
had been passed with him where words
that were not also acts seemed worth
uttering. He continued to gaze with a
certain gloomy curiosity at Sallie. In
heart more savage and cruel than a wild
beast, in morality a F~austina-and all
this incarnated in gentle, low voiced,
patrician hammered beauty.
Sirens in Tophet must be like her..
and that she was a woman was almost
enough to damn the whole sex. She
WIS not restless under his gaze; she in
vIted HIM TO take some tea, and on his
maintaining his silence she poured out
another cup for herself, favored it,
tasted it, altered it, and finally, when it
suited her, drank it, just as the door
opened to admit Garcia.
you know the Count de Lisle, Gar
cia," said Sallie in her musical tones.
He wishes You to tell him where Olym-
pia ave- is, so that he may go and res
cue her. You know the reward he offers
ten million dollars, is it not? On the
other hand, l tell him that unless he
agrees to certain very unreasonable con-
ditions of mine l will nave the girl killed.
The count has been kind to you. You
know best whether or not 1 have been
kind. Have you the heart to let that
poorinnocent girl perish, when by a word
you can save her, ruin me, and do your
self the highest service? Tell the count
plainly and relieve his suspense"
Garcia turned to the count and gave
him a dark, Indifferent look, as if there
We're in him no instinct of human broth
erhood.
You had better do as she wishes" he
said in a cold tone. "She has the power
to do what she threatens, and she will
carry 1t out if You defy her."
you know where Olympia Raven
isY' said the count.
SYas. I charmed ba- @ho-s