The San Francisco call., 1904-04-10
pleased him. 1 think, though his face

But wait This is more difficult
mission than you have thought. First,
of all we are gaining in Quelparte in
these days, nothing is to be kept perma-
nently EXCEPT this very Lynx Island. If
Port Arthur cannot be retained for any
reason, Wun Chow Bay is to be the ter
minus of the Siberian railway. Our
agents on the yacht Dulcette. are at
work there now making private puT-
chases which will enable us to control
Lynx Island and it's bay. Thus the ef-
fort TO obtain the sarcophagus must not
be allowed to jeopardize these negotia-
tions now pending"
When at last Colonel Oranoff, though
by implication only, gave me an oppor-
tunity to decline the service, drew up
quickly and saluted. for 1 would not
have withdrawn for worlds, and l
knew he knew it.
a squad of Quelpartien cavalry with
Colonel Yon Ii and twenty Cossacks
disguised i'm Quelpartien uniform will
await you when you are ready tC go.
said Colonel Oranoff, and, though he
walked away to his table, 1 knew by
the slight rising infection of his words
that he meant to ask me how soon that
could be.
L shall be ready to so. Colonel :,
Oranoff,'' said /, with as much candor,
1 hope, as earnestness (and l looked =.
him honestly in the face as 1 said the
words), when ] shall have seen and
said good-by to Dulcine."
He was sorting the papers on his ta-s
BILE when 1 said these words, the mean:
ing of which could not have been mis-
taken by any man. he paused as 1
uttered them, and pretended to exam
inc more carefully a paper he had
lifted from the table. But his eyes
were looking over it and he was star
ing at the green table cover. He stood
still a moment. then gathering his
papers quickly lin very little order) ir-
to a secret drawer, he turned frankly
upon me and held out his hand.
BE seated and / will call her. Col
onel Ii will await you on the barracks
parade at daylight. Remember you can
telegraph me from Han Chow"
1 looked at my watch. 1t was
o'clock Then Dulcine came smiling
sleepily, but anxious and full of ques-
tions. We presumptuously drew the
Kings taUny throne up to the fire and
sat down. Colonel Oranoff entered a
little room off from us which contained =
his private desk and sat down to pile
of papers which he stirred busiy now
and then.
What is it, Robert?" Dulcine whis-
pered, coming suddenly close to me.
Il am TO go away"
"Away?" she echoed: there was
something more than surprise in her
tone.
I am ordered with Colonel Lii to
Lynx Island tc bring back the body of
the murdered Queen"
Dulcine started at the words, and I
felt surer than before that there was
something about this miserable Queen
that 1 did not know-and God knows L
knew enough, 1 kept silent, ready to
seize upon the girls first words.
why you rather than Dejneff?" she
said, at last, after looking into the fire
awhile.
"Oh, perhaps to remove an obnoxious
quantity" I answered with assumed
lightness.
Father does not send men on err
rands like this to rid himself of them"
/ saw my chance.
What do you mean by 'errands like
this'?'
1t was a moment before the answer
came, and then it came slowly as
though with pain:
Have you not heard the talk of
Tuen?"
1 had not. 1 knew Prince Tuen Of
China had, through his agents, caused
tne murder of the Queen and that he
longed for the downfall of Whang-Su.
the King of Quelparte. More than this
/ knew little.
1T began with the King" Dulcine at
last replied: he said Tuen was paw
ing Quelparte over for the dead Queens
BODY
What the devil the Chinese Prince
wanted of the remains of the former
Quelpartien Queen was more than 1
could guess. / kept a crowd of ques-
tions back, and at last Dulcine crept
nearer me and / felt her tremble as she
whispered:
You have forgotten Dejnefs legend
that insanity comes upon the relatives
of the dead who are desecrated."
Rot" burst out, angry with myself
for the chill of fear that ran through
me at the wild words. mo wonder Col
onel Oranoff chose another man than
old Dejneff. He knows too much and
believes ii ALL"
For to know is to fear" whispered
Dulcine: she did not trernble now.
knew she liked my uncompromising at
titude q had always laughed those
legends to scorn out of principle),
though she did not possess the guile to
counterfeit it as 1 did.
II thought father would trust Del
neff anywhere she said thoughtfully.
He is more needed here than 1, and
your father happens to dare to trust
me-" / did not know how the words
would sound until blurted them out.
The girls hands went to her face. and
the echo of my own words cut my heart
right and left.
Forgive me, Dulcine," and / seize@
her bended shoulders in both arms;
"you would not have me refuse, would
you?"
The wet face was slowly lifted to
mine. You know I would not, Rob
ert," she said. And 1 drew her to me