The Cairo bulletin., 1904-09-21

riously and then requested him to take
a seat upon his right.
"You are a newcomer" he said, "and
wish information. You have come to
the proper source. 1t Is two years since
| first visited this charming club"
The colonel breathed again. If Mr..
Nautilus had frequented the place for
two years, there could be little danger
for the prince in Il single evening. But
Geraldine was none the less astonished
and began to suspect mystiiication.
"What!' cried he. "Two years! |
thought-but indeed / see | have been
made the subject Of a pleasantly"
by no MEANS" replied Mr.. Nautilus
mildly. My case Is peculiar am not,
properly speaking, a suicide at all, but,
as it WERE an honorary member. /
1 rarely visit the club twice in two
months. My infirmity and the Kindness
Of the president have procured me these
little immunities, for which. besides, |
pay at an advanced rate. Even as ii
is, my luck has been extraordinary"
II am afraid" said the colonel, that
must ask you TO be more explicit. You
must remember that am still most inn
perfectly acquainted with the rules of
the club"
IAN ordinary member who comes
here in search of death, like Yourself =
| replied the paralytic, returns every
evening until fortune favors him. He
/ can even, If he Is penniless, get board
and lodging from the president; very
fair, believe, and clean, although, of
course not luxurious. That could hard
ly be, considering the exiguty, if may
so express myself, of the subscription.
And then the presidents company Is Il
delicacy in itself"
Indeed" cried Geraldine, "he had
not greatly prepossessed me"
"Ah" said Mr.. Nautilus. "Iou dc
not know the mantle drollest fellow.
| What stories. what cynicism. He knows
| life to admiration, and, between our
selves, is probably the most corrupt
rogue In Christendom."
| And he also" asked the colonel, sis
a permanency. like yourself, IL ! may
| say SO without offensef'
"Indeed he is peiInanency In very
different sense from me-" replied Mr..
Nautilus. Il have been graciously spar
ed, but / must go at last. Now, he new
| err plays. He shuftles and deals for the
! club and makes the necessary arrange
| ments. That man. my dear Mr.. Ham
| mersmith is the very soul of ingenuity
! q hn hns N /
don his useful and. think | may add
| his artistic calling and not so much as
| a whisper of suspicion has been once
aroused. believe him myself to be in
| spired. You doubtless remember the
| celebrated case six months ago of the
gentleman who. was accidentally poi
soned in chemists shop. That was
one of the least rich, one of the least
racy, of his notions; but, then, how
simple. and how safer
"You astound me-" said the colonel.
"Was that unfortunate gentleman one
of the he was about TO say vic
! Tins" but, bethnking himself in time,
he substituted members of the club?'
In the same fash of thought IT oc-
Cured TO him that Mr.. Nautilus him
self had rot at all spoken in the tone
of one VINO is In love with death. and
he added hurredly.
"But ! perceive am still In the dark.
You speak of shufliing and dealing.
Pray, for what end? And, since you
seem rather unwilling TO die than 9th
erwise, must own that / cannot con-
ceiye what brings you here at ALL"
"You say truly that you nre in the
dark" replied Mr.. Nautilus, with more
animation. why, my dear sir. this
club is the temple of intoxication. IL
my enfeebled health could support the
excitement more often, you may depend
upon it / should be more often here.
II requires all the sense of duty en-
gendered by long habit of Ill health
and careful regimen TO keep me from
excess In this, which is, may say, my
last dissipation. have tried them all,
SIR" he went on, laying his hand on
Geraldines arm, "all. without excep-
ton, and declare TO you. upon my
honor, there is not one of them that
has not been grossly and untruthfully
ovcrrated People trife with love. Now,
/ deny that love is a strung passion.
Fear il the strong passion. II is with
fear that you must trine IL you wish
to taste the intensest joys Of living.
Envy me-envy me. SIR" he added,
with n chuckle, II am cOward!'
Geraldine could scarcely repress a
movement of repulsion for this deplOra-
BILE wretch, but he commanded himself
with an effort and continued his in
quiries.
How. sir" he asked. "is the excite
ment so artfully prolonged. and where
is there any element Of uncertainty
II must tell you how the victim for
every evening is selected returned
Mr.. Nautilus. land not only the victim.
but another member. who is 10 I've the
instrument in the clubs hands and
deaths high priest for that OCCASION.
"HeavensF' said the colonel. do
they then Kill each OtherT'
.-Tbe tropble Of suicide Is removed in
that way returned Nautilus. with
mol.