The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-24
she knew that she held her jailer at her

she knew that she held her jailer at her
mercy.
What does monsieur mean to do with
me?" she quietly said.
Dick stared at her gloomtly. III could
do with you what you deserve would put
you in prison." he growled.
"Ah but since monsieur cannot do that,
and since he cannot keep me here without
sacrificing an innocent young girl who
loves and trusts him? He Is not sure I
speak the truth, I know that we'll. or it
would be easy to decide. Yet If he hesi-
tates long In making his decision. tho
proof that have lied in no single particu-
lar will arrive after a time by post, In a
packet so terrible that monsieur will pray
for his own death; and then 1t will be too
late to wish, in an agony Of regret, that
he had believed and acted differently
Dick continued to stare at her. frowning.
"She has found out what she came on
board to find out" he said to himself, and
was tempted to tell the woman in so many
words what he read in her actions. her
words and her battling eyes; but he would
not. for fear Of putting her on her guard.
and afterwards repenting his rashness
"She knew what she wanted to know
when she saw tho packing case I was fool
enough to show her. From that moment
she was different creature; holder, more
self confident A frightfu1 crime has
been committed-a crime scarcely paral-
leled. perhaps-and If she wasn't a party
to it, at least she is in the secret. She
awaited news in Tangfer and she heard Of
the Xenia as a derelict; but evidently she
expected something more, which didn't
happen, and because 1t didn't happen she
was dying for an excuse to get on board,
where she hoped to pick up a lost clue.
Whether she's pleased with what she has
discovered or not, who can tell? But at
all events she knew that things were very
wrong from her point Of view before she
came on, and now she's quite ready to 60
All she wants Of me is permission to leave
and an assurance that I'll not NEEDLE any
further in what concerns her and her
friends. That's all; but to me it's every
thing. To abandon tho search IS to give
up Eve: yet not to abandon tt daren't
think of the alternative II it's true that
Eve has been Kidnapped"
- What is 1t that&you want mo to do:"
he asked, slowly.
ITO let me go at once. You know that
monsieur"
And IF do?"
IT will then send word to those who
await a message from mo that I am safe,
and the girl Of your love Will also be
!safe-for to-day"
You talk no moro now Of magic mir
7ors.' You admit that Miss Markham has
been kidnapped by your friends
w I'LL tlldL i 1ldVo uOtI1lll8 " w. <Ao 1
said Of her, monsieur, am but an instru-
tment In powerful hands. If you choose.
4 can be to you an instrument Of good.
For good or for evil-it must be one or the
other. There is nothing between"
You say, If let you go. she will be
safe for to-day What do you mean by
,that?"
II mean that no harm shall befall her
for the present. But unless monsieur
nd thA cI,t no
will not be returned to her father, nor can
Il answer for her safety beyond to-mor-
row
What If leave the Xenia and go to
Tangier?''
Monsieur can do that If he likes, pro-
vided that he does not go before me, nor
in the same boat with me, nor send any
to follow me. Not that they would
learn anything if they did follow. But 1
would not permit it,
What, you would trust me to move OFT
the Xenia If you were not on hand to spy
and trust me to keep my word If gave
1T for lot Of other things?"
Il do not need to spy, monsieur. I have
my way Of finding out, when it is neces-
sary, as you have seen. If monsieur
stayed on the Xenia after promising to
go away, or if he engaged any person to
follow me, or to act in his stead in his
present capacity. I should know; and 1t
would be his love who would pay for his
breach Of faith.''
What, then, do you think my 'capac-
ity' is on beard this yacht?'
II do not think; know. You are here
as a detective. 1t is simple to see tina t;
besides. it is known in the town.
IF you know so much, you must also
be aware that it's not in my power to
order the authorities here to leave the
derelict yacht alone
II do not expect that. But the author
tiles should be left to act for themselves >
"You mean that you're not afraid Of
them. You don't want interested per
sons or experts to engage in investiga.
tions?"
LAS to that you must be Of the opinion
which pleases you best. monsieur. Bu
time is flying. If do not send my SEC
ond message early this afternoon-'
Don't repeat your brutal threats. The,
sicken me, and would you If you were
even half human. Look her, I will max.
this concession. I'll take you off tn.
Xenia myself into the town, and Will
which I won't ask to see the address,
you can get an answer, with messag,
dictated by Miss Markham, concerning
something which no one but she and
could possibly know, I will believe tina
your story has truth in 1t. and rather thai
risk some foul cruelty to her on tho par
of your INSCRIPTIONS friends I'll let 20,
go back to Tangier scot-free. Do 70,
agree to that?"
The woman thought for a moment
Yes, agree to that. SO far, so good,
she said in her odd French. But after
wards; you leave the xenia? You Civ
UP the work you are doing?"
IT will answer that question when
have seen reply to the telegram which
Of