Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-23
xx111.1 5
Something About Heroes.

,
the waxen sheets Ito which so much care
and labor had been given writhed and un-
folded, curled and cracked, and blackened
on the logs; the cold wind and rain blew in
through the opened window; the lamp
fared and fiickered inside its green shade;
a legion of heroes peered out from the book
cases, no doubt much astonished at the
sight of this ordinary hero of mine and his
mean, ordinary clothes. I have in my
minds eye the picture of good D'Artag-
mans frank contempt, Athos' magnificent
disdain, the righteous q had almost said
honestly horror of the ultra-fa shionable
Aramis. and the supercilious Indignation of
the bourgeois Porthos. What! this a hero?
Where, then, was his rapier, his glittering
baldric, his laces, his dancing plumes, his
fine air?
Several times in the course of this MARIA
tive have expressed my regret in not be-
ing an active witness of this or that scene
a regret which, as / am drawing most of
natural. What must have been the varying
expressions on each face! Warburton, who,
though there was tumult in his brea St.
coolly waited for Karloff to make the next
move; Annesley, who saw his terrible Sc
cret in the possession of a man whom he
supposed to be a stable man; karloff, who
saw his house of cards vanish in the dart
ling tongues of flame, and recognized the
who shall describe the dozen shadowy emo
tions which crossed and recrossed her face?
From Warburton's dramatic entrance
upon the scene to Karloffs first movement
scarce minute had passed, though to the
girl and her father an eternity seemed to
come and go. Karloff was a brave man.
Upon the instant of his recovery, he sprang
toward Warburton, silently and with pre-
determination: He must regain some frag-
ment of those plans. He would not, could
not, suffer total defeat before this girls
eyes; his blood rebelled against the thought.
He expected the groom to strike him, but
James simply caught him by the arms and
thrust him back.
No, count; no, no; they shall burn to
the verieSt criSpt"
STAND aside, lackey. cried Karloff, sob
of rage strangling him. Again he rushed
upon Warburton, his clenched hand up
lifted. Warburton did not even raise his
hands this time. So they stood, their faces
within a hands span of each other, the one
smiling coldly, the other in the attitude of
striking blow Karloff's hand fell unex-
pectedly, but not on the man in front of
him. Good God. no! gentleman does not
strike lackey! Stand aside stand aside"
They shall burn, count"-quietly they
shall burn, because L am physically the
stronger" Warburton turned quickly and,
with the toe of his boot shifted the glow
ing packet and renewed the flames. Il
never realized till tonight that l loved my
country half so well. Lackey? Yes, for
the present. 't
He had not yet looked attthe girl
ALI Karloff cried, intelligence lighting
his face. You are no misunderstanding
his voice
James smiled. You are quite remark
able III
who are you? I demandzto know!
First and foremost, 1 am a citizen of the
United States; have been a soldier besides.
1t was my common right to. destroy these
plans, which indirectly menaced my coun-
try's safety These, pointing to the bank
notes, 'are yours, l believe Nothing
further requires your presence here"
have beenr' Karloff struck his forehead
in helpless rage. Il never observed you
closely till now. I recall The secret serv-
ice: Europe. New York Washington; you
have known it all along.-Spyf'
That is an epithet which3 easily re-
bounds. Spy? Why, yes;qI do for my
country what you donfor yours" ~
THE name, the name! I cannot recollect
the name! The beard is gone, but, that does
not matter,''-excitedy.
Warburton breathed easier While he
did not want the girl to know who he was
just then, he was glad that Karloffs men,
DRY had taken his thought away from the
CRATE and it's valuable but rapidly disap-
pearing fuel.
Father! Father, what is it?' cried the
girl, her voice keyed to agony. Father
The two men turned about. Annesley had
tainted in his chair. Both Warburton and
karloff mechanically started forward to
offer aid. but she repealed their approach.
DO not come rear me; you have done
enough. Father, deari' She slapped the
coloneis wrists and unlooSed his collar
The antagonists, forgetting their own bat
tie, stood silently watching hers. Warbur-
toms mind was first to clear, and without
a moment hesitation he darted from the
room and Immediately returned with glass
of water. He held it out to the girl. Their
glances clashed; thousand mute, angry
questions in her eyes, thousand mute,
humble answers in his. She accepted the
glass, and her hand trembled as she dipped
her fingers into the cool depths and fiecked
the drops into the unconscious mans face.
Meanwhile Karloff stood with folded arms,
staring melancholically into the CRATE,
where his dreams had disappeared in smoke
By and by the colonel sighed and opened
his eyes. For a time he did not know
where he was, and his gaze wandered misti-
ly from face to face. Then recollection
came back to him. recollection brstling
with thorns- He struggled to his feet and
raced Marburton. The girl put her arms
around him to steady him, but he gently
d1Sengaged himself.
Are you from the secret service, sir? If
SO, am ready to accompany you wherever
you say. L, who have left my blood on
many battle ground, was about to COM
init reasonable act. Allow me first to
straighten up my affairs then you may do
with me as you please. 1 am guilty of a
crime; l have the courage to pay the pen
atty" His calm was extraordinary, and
even hafioH looked at him with a sparkle
OF admiration.
AS a plummet plunges into the sea. SO
the girls look plunged into Warburtons
soul; and had he been an officer of the law
ne knew that he would have utterly disre
garded his duty.
L am not a secret service man, SIR" he
replied unevenly. IF I were"-pointing to
the crate, your plans would not have fed
the fire."
Who are you, then, and what do you in
my house In this guise? '-proudly
Il am your head stableman-for the pres
ent. 1t was all by chance 1 came into
this room yesterday to get book on veteri-
nary surgery. l accidentally saw a plan.
have been soldier. 1 knew that such
thing had no rightful place In this house.
l was coming across thee lawn, when
l looked into the window. ssos 1t is not
for me to judge you. sir. MY duty lay in
destroying those plans before they harmed
any one'' IN
No, it is not for you to Judge me-" said
the colonel. Il have gambled away my
daughters fortune To keep her in ignor-
ance of the fact and to return to her the 1
amount had wrongfully useddI consented
to sell to Russia the coast ifortification
plans of my country, such ash could draw
from memory. No, it is snot for you to
judge me; only God has Gthe right to do
that" - rs
Il am only a groom" said, fwarburton,
SimDly. "Whaf 7 hava I,aarJ 1T shall for.