The Yale expositor., 1902-05-16
By St. George thb0rne.


ANh'o anu AhtilNdu nduooo udutllub
In her train. so why not a general?"
"Ah. not General Mercier. There
can be but one explanation OF his pres
ence."
And that" demanded Mark. curl
ously.
'tie has come personally TO see her
leave the French capital. and the
quiet-looking officer in their rear will
accompany her all the way"
you mean she Is suspected and Is
being chased out OF France?"
That Is literally true"
oh! well. IL doesn't interest us a
bit.' remarked Merrlck. carelessly.
Perhaps there were others on this
early train for the South who might
interest our two friends did they but
know OF their presence.
The afternoon dragged.
There were numerous stops at places
OF Importance, and cramped by mac
ton. our friends found themselves
compelled to step out in order to
stretch their limbs.
Jones had rather dreaded this. fear
ing lest his comrade should I'm some
manner. he knew not just how, fall
under the malign influence OF the adj
venturcss
or course she discovered them. and
Mark was OF necessity compelled TO
obey the white hand that imperiously
beckoned him to the open window.
where milady reigncd supreme, with
maid. and accompanied by the dig
niied old officer General Mercier had
appointed TO see her over the border In
safety.
IL was only for a few minutes. and
OF course she begged him 10 take ad-
vantage OF the abundance OF room in
her compartment. SO that she might
entertain him during the long journey
with some OF the novel things she had
experienced.
Merrick was equal TO the emergency.
and offered rs an excuse that he and
his friend were engaged upon match
in their own carriage, which his ab.
sence would break up.
AT least one pair OF eyes had noted
his warm reception by the dainty and
vivaclous woman who leaned from the
window OF the frst-class carriage. and
beamcd upon him with such an ardent
gaze.
II was from the very compartment
adjoining the one our friends occupied
that this gentle eavesdropper-lf one
could dare bestow so harsh a name
upon so love y little creature as the
South African heiress-was enabled to
obscrve without being herself seen.
and the fact that she would thus stoop
20 a procedure that her soul must
have abhorred, was positive evidence
OF an interest In tho young man OF far
mere than ordinary Intensity.
Nor could the fact that on the pre-
vious night he had carried her from
the burning hotel at the risk OF his
own life wholly explain her oagerness
to fasten her eyes upon his face.
Whatever emotions stirred Con-
lance Dare. as she crouched there. and.
holding her breath, pceped from be-
hind the half-drawn curtain. she made
no move toward addressing Mark
even when he passed within yard
Of her, saunterlng back TO his own
compartment when the cries OF the
guards gave warning that the south
ern train was about TO pull out.
Jones followed him-Jones who had
remained on guard and watched IL all
II required keen eyes like those OF
Jones TO discover that the wonderful
princess meant business for perhaps
tho first time In her life-that she had
conceived a passion for the daring
Young fellow who had chased her run
away motor on wheel and succeed
cd In saving her spill that might az
least have rlskcd marring the beauty
which was her capital.
And. knowing this. shrcwd Jones
feared for his friend. though he hardly
knew himself In what way danger
could como II Mark continued in the
same frame OF mind as at present.
We'll" he said. lighting n cigar.
lets drop the princess for the pres
ent. We hive other fish 60 f-v. that
"rc good enough for the Joneses.
While YOU sw1rped g'ances with that
cnchantress. looked around"
And from your tone. / imagine you
discovered something"
jones thrust his thumbs into the
"rmholes Of his vest, as he said. In n
dramatic whisper:
only tfis-tfat our dear Count
Leon and his ye low-toppod Russian
bear occupy the next compartment TO
the rear"
When Jones made his astonishing
announcement Merrick did not appear
shocked.
Hint" was the way In which he
commented upon the matter. they are
very affect.onato TO snuggle up to us
that way"
Yes" returned Jones. dryly. I'VE
quite won their hearts by the warm
reception we gave the brethren at the
monastery meeting"
Mark laughed In a cynical way.
Seriously speaking. have you any
idea as 10 what q In TIE wlnd7"
Jones shook his wise old head In the