The Cairo bulletin., 1904-09-20
6be Nee, -;
Arabian y
y ! : s$;S., Nights


listen" said the young man. This
Is the age of conyeniences. and | have
to tell you of the last perfection of the
sort. We have affairs In different
places, and hence railways We're In
vented. Railways separated us infaiii-
bly, from our friends. and SO telegraphs
were made that we might communicate
speedily at great distances. Even in
hotels we have lifts to spare US n
climb of some hundred steps. Now, we
know that life il only n stage to play
the fool upon as long as the part
amuses us. There was one more con-
venience lacking to modern comfort
decent, easy way to quit TINT stage,
the back stairs to liberty, or, as | said
this moment, deaths private door.
This, my two fellow rebels, IL supplied
by the Suicide club.
"Do not suppose that you and | are
alone or even exceptional in the highly
reasonable desire that we profess. A
large number of our fellow men who
hive grown heartily sick of the per-
Torrance In which they are expected
to Join daily and all their lives long
are only kept from flight by one or two
considerations. Some have families who
would be shocked or even blamed IL
the matter became public; others have
weakness at heart and recoil from
the circumstances of death. That is, to
some extent. my own experience. |
cannot put a pistol to my head and
draw the trigger, for something stron-
ger than myself wlthholds the act, and
although loathe life, have not
strength enough In my body TO take
hold of death and be done with it. For
such as | and for all who desire to be
out of the coil without posthumous
scandal the Suicide club has been in
augurated. How this has been man
aged, what is its history or what may
be its qualifications III other lands am
myself uniformed, and what 4 know
of its constitution am potent liberty
to communicates You. 10 this extent,
however, | am mt your service-if you
are truly tired OF life, viii introduce
you tonight tosa meeting. and.y ii not
tonight, at least some time within the
week you will be easily relieved Of
your existences. 1t is now consulting
his watch, III O'Clock BY half past ut
latest we must leave this place, so that
you have half an hour before you to
consider my proposal. 1t ismore serious
than cream tart" he added, with a
smile. land, suspect, more palatable."
"More serious, certainly" returned
Colonel Geraldine, and, as ii Is so
much more SO, will you allow me iive
minutes speech in private with .my
friend. Mr.. Gpdall?" I.
ut is only fair" answered the young
man. IF you will permit, | win re-
tire"
"You will be very obliging," said the
colonel.
AS soon as the two were alone,
"What," said Prince Florizel. sis the
use of this CONTINUATION. Geraldine?
see you are Hurried, whereas my mind
is very TRANQUILITY made up l will see
the end of this"
Your highness." said the colonel.
turning pale. "let me ask you TO consid-
Ut tnt vi gOut itit Vh's
to your friends, but to the public inter
est. If not tonight said this madman.
But supposing that tonight some irrep-
arabic disaster were 10 overtake your
highness' person. What. let me ask
you what would be my despair and
what the concern and disaster OF
great nationP
II will see the end of this" repeated
the prince I'm his most deliberate tones,
'.and have the kindness. Colonel Ger
aldine, to remember and respect your
word of honor as gentleman. Under
no circumstances. recollect. nor without
my special authority are you TO betray
the incognito under which | choose to
go abroad. These are my commands,
which | now reiterate. And now" he
added, "let me ask you to call for the
bill"
Colonel Geraldine bowed In submls-
sion, but he had very white face ms
he summoned the young man of the
cream tarts and issued his directions to
the waiter. The prince preserved his
undisturbed demeanor and described
Palais Royal farce TO theiyOung suicide
with great humor and gusto. He avoid
ed the coloners appealing looks with
out ostentation and selected another
cheroot with more than usual care. In
deed he was now the only man of the
party who kept any command over his
nerves
The bill was discharged. the prince
giving the whole change Of the note TO
the astonlshed waiter. md the three
drove off in four wheeler. They were
not long upon the way before the cab
stopped at the entrance to a rather
dark court. Here all descended.
After Geraldine had paid the fare the
young man turned and addressed Prince
FlOrizel as follows:
cit is still time. Mr.. Godail. to make
good your escape into thraldom, and
for you, too, Major Iammersmith. Re
fleet well before you take another step,
and If your hearts say no-here are the
crossroads"
Lead on. sir" said the prince 81
am not the nan to go back from thing
once said
ayour coolness does mo szood" no