The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-08-28
THEBEAUTIFUI1
WHITE DEVIL
GUY soorHsz
9x
GUY BooTHBY
Author Of "A Bid for Fortune" SSsESS "Dr Nikola"
THE Marriage Of Esther" Etc Copyright 1898, by D.
Appleton 8, Company. &c &c Ss

again. Two months later Vesey-you
know Vesey-of Johore street, probably
the richest man in Hongkong, met
woman staying at this very hotel She
pretended to be just out from home and
no end innocent
"Well, Vesey was so awfully smitten
that he wantca to marry her-bad as
all that. She took him in hand and one
day got him to take her for cruise in
his yacht. Of course he jumped at the
chance, and off they sailed. Out at sea
they were met by a white schooner. I
believe Vesey was in the middle of pro-
testing his undying love, and all that
sort of thing, you know, when my lady
clapped revolver to his head and babe
him heave to. A boat put off from the
stranger, and both lady and friend
boarded her. The long and the short of
it was, when Vesey was released he
had signed a check for $50, 900, and,
by Jove, the money was paid on the
nail! Chinese government had score
against her for abducting mandarin of
the gold button. They tried to catch
her, but failed. English cruiser went
after her for two days and lost her near
Formosa. Silence again for three
months, then new governor and wife,
Sir Prendergast Prendergast, were COM
ing out here on the Oloomoo. Her lady
ship, who, you know, was mixed up in
that Belleville business, had her famous
diamonds with her-said to be worth
$50, 900. There was also $50, 1000 in
gold going up to Shanghai 1t is sup
posed that the purser must have been
bribed and in the business. At any rate
when they arrived at Hongkong both
bullion, diamonds and purser were mys-
teriously missing. Couldn't find trace
of em high or low. Whether they went
overheard in fog, whether they were
still slowed away on board, nobody ever
knew. They were gone; that was
enough. The governor was furious and
worried the admiralty SO with dis
patches that two cruisers were sent off
with instructions to look for her. They
pottered about and at last sighted and
chased her to the Philippines, where
they lost her in fog. Those are tho
principal counts against her, believe.
Rum story, amt it?"
Extraordinary Has anybody ever
seen her?'
II should just think so; sultan Of
Surabaya, Vesey, native prince and all
the people staying at this house when
she was here.
What description do they give Of
her?''
."Quite young woman-eight and
twenty at most, tall and willowy; beau
tiful features clear cut as cameo; ex-
quisite complexion and ripping golden
hair, a voice like flute, figure like
Venus and eyes that look through yours
into the uttermost depths of your soul. !"
And isn't she worth being enthusi-
astic about? By Jovel I'd like to know
her history"
And do you mean to tell me that
with the English, American, French,
German, Chinese and japanese fleets
patroling these waters it's impossible to
catch herr"
"Quite-up to the present Look at
the facts of the case. She's here today
and gone tomorrow. White yacht seen
near Singapore today-copper colored
off Macassar on Thursday with
white ports near Shanghai the week
following. The police aud the poor old
admiral are turning gray under the
strain.
By Jove! I'd like to see her. -
Don't say that or you will. Nobody
ever knows where she'll turn up next.
1t is certain that she has agents every
where and that she's in league with
half the junk pirates along the coast.
Glad I'm not man worth abducting. ;"
But in spite of what you say can
hardly believe that it's possible for a
woman to carry on such trade. It's
like a romance.
Its not like it; it is romance, and a
pretty unpleasant one too. Sultan of
Surabaya and poor old Vesey were glad
enough to see the final chapter of it,
can assure you. You should just hear
the latter's description of the yacht and
its appointments. He used to make us
creep when he told us how this woman
would sit OH deck, looking him through
and through out of her half closed eyes
till he began to feel as if he'd have to
get up and scream or sit where he was
and go mad. He saw two or three things
on board that boat that he says he'll
never forget, and gathered that he
doesn't want any more excursionsN in
the lady's company. !"
He must be a man without imagina.
ton.
"He'sa man blessed with good sound
common sense. That's what he is -
1T seems Incredible that she should
have escaped so long"
Pickle took up his cue again.
Hear, hear, to that. And now, Ben
we'll, my boy. if you don't want to go
to sleep in that chair turn out and finish
the drubbing you've begun. must be
getting aboard directly"
Benwell rose and went round the ia
BILE to where his ball lay under the
cushion. The inperturbable marker
called the score as if there had been no
pause in the game. and the match was
once more getting under way when the
swing doors opened and an elderly man