Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-07-25
CHATTER Y11-{ContInusS.}

CHAryEH I11-(Cont1nusS.}
Mer-ick merely raised his eyebrows
II have heard all men are when
they find themselves under the gaze OF
the Princess Olgavitch."
She frowned and then laughed.
"Ah! surely not you, monsieur, moi
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 OF
right. Stromboloff is a Cossack OF the
Don, whose peculiar habits cling tc
him even in Paris, while the other
has lived SO long amid wild border
scenes in Africa that he has learned tC
take what he wants when tho 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, fol
your warning, and on your part pray
believe that we are not ungrateful fol
your kindness because We have al
ready been placed on our guard"
He showed a desire to break away
Though evidently piqued more OF
less by her inability to fascinate him
the clever woman knew how to play
her cards too we'll to think Of precipi.
tating matters.
II hope we shall meet again, mon
sieur, when perhaps you will be able
to give me . little more time" she
said, archly, holding out her hand tc
him.
THAT will be a pleasure shall look
forward to-" he r,plied. CALAMITY. as
he 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 demure little
figure seated in a window at the far
end of the parlor figure that bore
moro or less resemblance to the South
African heiress who had attracted his
attention and caused memories tc
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
than 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 poor excuse of grin, "the
Joneses amt used to much. I'll 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 we'll crumpled and
soiled, yet sheet of paper upon
which not single stroke of pen CT
pencil could be discovered.
That was all!
Somehow the comical side Of the
matter presented itself to Merrick. an
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. an
about to order cab and go back"
ITO the monastery"
"TO 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 rough cross Some one put that
there in order to remember a trus
from a false. Perhaps the dummy
was arranged in order to meet soms
possible emergency such as theft"
UNLESS you object. | should like you
to occupy my chair and smoke my
cigars until I take the turn around
Given three-quarters Of an hour, and
I shall be back, unless I am detained
unusually long at the other end"
Merrick thought he noticed a mean.
ing back of his words, and was quick
to say so.
You expect company here?'
"Well it is always possible. Those
fellows are not built on the order Of
cutters. We shall see more of them
sooner or later, perhaps the former
Merrick dropped into an easy chair
with his face toward the door, he
opened the cigar box and selected q
weed, which he lighted, then from his
pocket he drew little piece of steel
mechanism which he laid upon the
table beside him.
Merrick sat and smoked and ponder.
ed. Perhaps a panorama of the stir
ring events that had marked his career
in South Africa foated before his men.
tai vision, for he smiled several times
though his face finally clouded over
and long sigh forced itself from his
lips.
The last scene might have been a
tragedy that brought pain rather than
pleasure.
At any rate Merrck jumped up and
began to walk the floor. firing OF
tramping back and forward, he aguin
dropped into chair.
No visitors yet, and almost half an
hour had elapsed-why, Jones must be
on his way back and would soon show
up. either exultant or respondent.
His cogitations were finally inter