The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-03-23

Lake was rather angry. 81 can as
sure you l am not talking for effect.
There are some people who don't, you
know"
"All right" said the doctor, unper-
turbed, keep your hair on. I've got
some tobacco prepared with hasheesh
up stairs. 1t is some that had to con-
fscate. I'll give you pipeful and you
can try it after dinner. Smoke 1t in
your own room, though-not down.
stairs"
Leave 1t alone" growled BrooEes.
Thanks very much" said Lake TO
the doctor. I'll come up with you now
and get it."
The three men rose. AS they did
so the pretty girl from Cincinnati
stepped up to the doctor. "Say, doc
tor, listen to me. Am to give that
man five dollars and half FOR this?"
The doctor took the scarab in his
hand and examined 1t.
mo, Miss Jocelyn," he said.
why not? l call that dandy scar
alb. White amethyst. Genuine an
tique."
ut is not white amethyst and know
the man who made 1.-THE day before
yesterday. If you want it for toy
ten piastres is an outside price. The
man will take that"
My" exclaimed Miss ,Tocelyn.
Thank you vurry much," and she re-
turned to her negotiations.
The three men passed through into the
hall.
After dinner Brookes and DR.. Hen
son-Blake went off to see a friend at
the Savoy. They left with grim, half
chatting injunctions to young Lake to
take care of himself. Lake, little sui
ky, settled himself in one corner OF
the hall to smoke a cigarette before
his experiment.
And suddenly Miss Jocelyn, whom he
did not know, came up to him.
She was a dark girl, pale skinned
and red Tipped. She had little of that
jaunty, almost slangy, American air
of being able to take care of herself.
But she also carried the impression
that this air was superficial and un-
derneath it there might be poetry of a
rather volcanic order. She sat down
quietly on the other side of the table
and said, do you not know me, Mr..
Lake,"
Lake said that at any rate he was
charmed to have the privilege of max
ing her acquaintance.
But" she went on, 81 want you to
behave just as if you had known me
for some time. My aunt Esmeralda is
watching us from away back, and she's
pretty cute. Don't smile too much. Of
fer me a cigarette or order some coffee
for me as II it were an ordinary thing
that you had often done before for
me. Don't look at me all the time
look away now and then. I'll tell you
why I'm doing this directly"
Lake did his best to act the part
and to take things more simply. He
was consumed with curiosity, and for
that reason he said, as he lighted her
| cigarette, ut Is so nice of you to do
| this-to take pity on my loneliness
| that I feel the reason why does not
matter at all. am unquestionably con-
tented with things as they are"
81 just want to tell you. know DR..
Henson-B Blake-we we're on the tour
list boat together. He's playing 1t low
| down on you. That tobacco he gave
you is ordinary tobacco. He wants to
make you say afterward that you got
q lot of funny sensations out Of 1t,
and then he'll say there was no has
heesh in it at all and just laff at you.
You needn't ask me how ! know, but
it's the truth"
81 believe you. The possibility of 1t
had occurred to me. Well, have on
ly to tell him that l got no sensations
at all, and that's all over with this
little joke"
EYES," said Miss Jocelyn, "but you
can get back on him. That's better"
"How?"
"6pin him long story. Tell him you
smoked It and it gave you visions.
Then when he's finished with his laff,
give him his tobacco back again to
prove that you knew his game all the
time"
Excellent" He took from his pock-
ct little box in which the tobacco
was placed, put 1t in one of the hotel
envelopes, and sealed and dated it,
"But the triumph must be yours" he
said.
She leaned forward seriously. lis
ten to me. You don't want to mention
my name, you don't even know it, but
I'm Irene Jocelyn. I've put confidence
in you. See, he's not got to know that
I've had anything to do with It.. You
promise me that?"
Certainly. But I'm puzzled. Why
do you come along to save me from
making myself ridiculous? It's very
kind of you. I'm very glad you've done
it. But why!"
She hesitated and blushed slightly.
For myself, perhaps"