The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-06-13
CHATTER III-(contInued.l


they find themselves under the gaze OF
the Princess Olgavitch."
She frowned and then laughed.
"Ah, surely not you, monsieur, not
you. But the danger of which speak
is genuine 1t springs from country
man of mine and his friend, the great
and bold Count Leon Villebois. They
have trap of some sort set for you,
should you threaten to win in the
game you are playing. They are men
without any regard for the law or
right. STRONGHOLD is a Cossack of the
DON whose peculiar habits cling to
him even in Paris, while the other
has lived so long amid wild border
/ scenes in Africa that he has learned to
ttake what he wants when the mood
comes on. So you will see that they
make a dangerous combination, and
they seem to hate your friend espe-
cially"
"A thousand thanks, princess, for
your warning, and on your part pray
believe that we are not ungrateful for
your kindness because we have al
ready been placed on our guard"
He showed desire to break away.
Though evidently piqued more or
less by her inability to fascinate him,
the clever woman knew how to play
her cards too well to think OF precipi-
tating matters
81 hope we shall meet again, mon
sieur, when perhaps you will be able
to give me a little more time" she
said, archly, holding out her hand to
him.
That will be pleasure 1 shall look
forward to-" he replied, CALAMITY, as
ne pressed her hand, nor did the prin-
cess fail to return the squeeze.
Yet when he passed from her sight
Mark Merrick gave the beautiful wo-
man no further thought, nor did he
dream that their interview had been
intently observed by a demure little
figure seated in a window at the far
end of the parlor, a figure that bore
more or less resemblance to the South
African heiress who had attracted his
attention and caused memories to
throng his mind as he surveyed her
through the glass that same morning
in the Bots de Boulogne.
Merrick went straight to the room
which his companion occupied.
=. No sooner had he entered, however,
,1fhan he saw there was something
wrong, for Jones had a look of dis
gust upon his face.
more trouble, my dear boy" he
said, with a poor excuse of a grin, "the
Joneses amt used to much, III admit,
but this is pretty rough treatment even
for them. After all our work, this is
the barren result"
He held up the open packet so that
Mark could see what it contained
a sheet of paper well crumpled and
soiled, yet a sheet of paper upon
which not single stroke of pen or
pencil could be discovered.
That was ALL
Somehow the comical side of the
matter presented itself to Merrick, AMI
for the life of him he could not resist
smiling.
"But-there is no system-at least
died with the man who broke the
bank" said Merrick, selling the paper
and examining it carefully.
Then he was struck with the keen
expression of his companions face.
What! you still have faith?" he
demanded.
"Well, it dies hard with me. l am
about to order a cab and go back"
ITO the monastery"
ITO Father Anselmo."
"Ah! you suspect him?"
mot of having Intentionally deceiv-
ed me, but of having made a mistake
See here, on the outside of the packet
is a rough cross. Some one put that
there in order to remember a tru;
from a false. Perhaps the dummy
was arranged in order to meet somt
possible emergency such as theft"
"Unless you object, I should like yot
to occupy my chair and smoke my
cigars until take the turn around
Given three-quarters of an hour ant
k.aJ shall be back, unless l am detained
\ unusually long at the other end"
Merrick thought he noticed mean
ing back of his words, and was quicl
to say so.
"You expect company here?'
"Well, it is always possible. Thos'
fellows are not built on the order o
cutters. We shall see more of then
sooner or later, perhaps the former.
Merrick dropped into an easy chair
with his face toward the door, h
opened the cigar box and selected
weed, which he ligEted, then from hi
pocket he drew a little piece of stee
mechanism which he laid upon tn
table beside him.
Merrick sat and smoked and ponder
ed. Perhaps a panorama of the stir
ring events that had marked his caree
in South Africa floated before his men
tai vision, for he smiled several times
though his face finally clouded owe
and long sigh forced itself from hi
lips.
The last scene might have been
tragedy that brought pain rather tina