The Florence daily tribune. (Florence, Colo.) 1898-1903, 1898-04-23


have cost me my life. Another time I
attended viceregal ball in Colombo In
the capacity of an heiress from England.
In the middle Of the evening the partner
with whom was dancing, q young in
spector of police, apologized for having
to leave me. He said he had received
information concerning the Beautiful
White Devil, who was known to be in
the town. During supper he had been
telling me about his prospects and tho
girl who was coming out from England
to marry him when no got his step 1t
will be good thing for You IL you catch
this woman, wons it2' inquired. Ut
will get me promotion. and that will
mean the greatest happiness Of my life
my mnrriagov he answered. 'Won't
you wish mo luck?' Ibid wish him luck
and then went Off to dance the lancers
with his exoellenoy the governor.
"Do you think it wise to run such
awful risks?" l asked, amazed at her
auGacity.
Perhaps not, but In that particular
case could not help myself. stood IN
need Of somo important information
and could trust nobody to obtain it bet
myself.
at must have been terrible five
minutes for you"
II expect you have been told some
very curious stories about me. DIR. De
Normanville?" my companion said after
a little while. ~ wish could induce
you to tell me what you have heard.
Believe me, have very good reason for
wanting you to know the truth about
| me-.
That is easily told, answered. "I
have heard great many variations Of
the same story, but knowing how nows
travels out here have placed very lit.
tie credenoe in any of them.
You have heard perhaps about the
sultan of Surabaya?"
l intimated that had.
"At first you must have thought that
rather cruel action on my part Ard
yet il you knew all your blame would
probably turn to admiration. You do
not know perhaps what character that
man bore in his own state. the life ho
led, his excuses, his constant crimes,
his tyranny over his unfortunate sub.
1ects. l tell you, sir. that that man was
md Is one of the greatest scoundrels
upon the face of this earth. / had heard
over and over again of him, and when
discovered that his people could OBJ
tain no redress for their grievances
determined to meet him OH his own
ground. arranged my plans according
ly, abducted him, made him disgorgo
large sum of money. half Of which /
caused to DO anonymously distributed
among the poor wretches he had robbed,
and at the same time told him his char
acter for the first and only time In his
heather existence, promising him as
did so that if he did not mend his ways
I'd catch him again and silence him
forever. Punishment was surely never
more fifty earned. Then there was
merchant in Hongkong named Vesey.
l expect you have heard Of him and tho
trick l played him. Well, that man
made an assertion about me in public
place to the effect that was But
never mind what it was. It was 80 vile
that cannot repeat 1t to you, but
made vow l would be revenged on
him for it sooner or later. / was re-
venged, and in the only way be could
be made to feel-that is, through his
banker. He will never forgive me, Of
course. Now, what else have you
heard?"
Pardon my abiding to it." said,
"but-the Vectis Queen-the Oodna-
Data. i"
So you have heard Of those affairs9
Well, l do not deny them. must have
money. Look at the expenses have to
meet. Look at this boat-think of the
settlement maintain, Of the hundreds
Of pensioners l have all through the
east, of the number Of people whose
services it is necessary for me to retain.
And pray do not misunderstood me. To
you it may seem that such transactions
make me neither more nor less than
thief-a common cheat and swindler
In your eyes may be that, but must
own do not look upon it in the same
light myself. / am, and have been all
my life, at war with what you call So
ciety. The reason may perhaps explain
to you some day. know the risk run.
If society catches me- in all probability
my life will pay the forfeit. l know
that, and / am naturally resolved not
to be caught.
lone thing is certain-I prey only on
those who can afford to lose, and, like
the freebooters Of romance make it
my boast that / have never knowingly
robbed poor man, while, on the ether
hand, have materially assisted many.
There are those, of course, who judge mo
harshly. Heaven forbid that they ever
find themselves in the position in which
am placed Think of It'll am hunted
by all men; every mans hand is against
me. l am cut off from country and
friends. A price is put upon my head,
and for that reason am obliged to dis
trust every one on principle. Think Of
kaving the knowledge continually be-
fore You that if you are not constantly
on the watch You may be caught And
them
"And them"