The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-08
THE BEST THING ON THE MIDWAY.
A PAN-AMERICAN EPISODE.
By
A PAN-AMERICAN EPISODE.
BY S. B. ROGERS.

| You must make your mind as blank as
! possible if I succeed. I do my best"
/ Rexford placed his hands as he was
hidden upon the dark forehead Of the
! Egyptian, and endeavored to render his
/ mind as blank as possible. He was con-
| scious of the extreme nervous tension OF
| the man whose head he was holding. and
| of the curious magnetism of his topaz
/ eyes, which sent faint electric thrill
across the Americans composure. Sud
denly the Egyptian freed himself from
| Rexford's hands and sprans to his feet
| with a gesture Of fatigue.
/ You shall see her to-day he said,
simply.
| Rexford sank back in his chair with a
| sigh of mingled relief hnd anger. a faint
smile Of cynical disbelief showed be-
meath his moustache.
Mon dieu. and still Monsieur does not
| believer said the Egyptian, with his
| confident. inscrutable smile.
The American regarded him kaenlS
| from his clear blue eyes.
You're very clever at II" he said,
"undeniably clever. I've seen a great
many tricks in my day, but yours is the
| host of them all since It seems SO like
| the truth.
But it is the truth. I have told you
| all the truth. / am no charlatan, Mon
sieur.''
| Ihere came a dangerous Sk'dAnAS AZ SiAS
| yellow, Oriental eyes.
| You have lied to me just now" went
| on the American, with some heat. GU
have told me that I shall see the person
about whom I asked the question. that l
| shall see her to-day. and you
| have told me a lie. for she is
dead.
| For two years he had not dared trust
| himself to speak her name. but anger
/ ~, uHice clear and
co)dly scornful as he arraigned the I'M
noster before him. But the dark scoWl-
| ing face of the Egyptian lit up with
| smile so charmngly sunny and ingenious
! that ReXford's anger vanished complete
| lv before it. The scamp actually seemed
delighted at the discovery of his trick
cry.
| sieur There was some unusual mystery
i I ought to have suspected what 1t was
| which prevented the conditions. But now
| that YOU tell me that she is dead. all IS
! explained.
| sudden revulsion of feeling shook
| the American. For two years no one
| had yentured to mention her name In MS
presence. and now a Vaga noho hgS , u
| rharlatan had smiled when he had learn
| ed that she was dead. He turned abrupt
| lY on his heel and went out into the
| rri,,i,nt light and laughter of the MIG
/
way. 4+,, In
some way-I cannot tell how-Monsleur
shall see her to-day
| The echo of the soft, conndent voice
followed him out into the riotops con
fusion of the Street of Folly. But Re&-
ford was no. longer in holiday huinor.
| The gay clamor and medley OF oiza ai
| fierres Jared inexpressibly upon MS
| mood. He hurried away from the JOY
Gus throng, and after drifting aimlessiy
about the Exposition grounds. wandered
| into the Art Building and sat downSex-
| hausted upon a bench.
! Directly before him hung Abbey's
..Penance Of Queen Eleanor" and it
| reused his vivid admiration and SYM
| patty as he gazed at 1t. The poor. love-
center of the picture, barefoot, in her
white raiment, holding up her candle
! that in the midst OF the grinnins. jeer-
Ing faces of the crowd about her, the
King might miss no token of her open
shame.
Behind him. as if alive. he saw a tall,
/ young woman with smiling. morning
/ face. looking down upon him from life-
/ size canvass upon the wall. but he turn
/ ed back again to the maddened Queen VINO
seemed to suit and express his own mood.
What had a grief-stricken man like HIM
/ self in common with all that fresh, young
i i1s np:pess behind him.
- Rex ford bad never pretended to art