Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-05

GAY" whispered Hooper to me, Karl looks
- like high priest of Baa leading Steindal to
- slaughter a sacrhcal bull
| babbled something, it matters not what All
my eyes were bent on the strange meeting between
those two. Karl, suavely stern, motioned Stenda1
to a chair a table laid for four. They faced each
other Hooper and l took the vacant places.
Jules, of course, FASTENED to us, and his attendant
sprtes relieved the travellers of overcoats and
hats.
Steindal nanifest1y i'll at ease, glanced around
the crowded restaurant He recognized
eral habitues. One man, well-known Stock
Exchange broker fastened to greet hi n. While
they were speaking, murmured to Karl:
Under the circumstances is this wiser"
At any COST shall punish the man. he said
Il had almost forgotten his existence, Fate sent
him here tonight. regret it for one reason, but
rejoice for many
Steinda1 who had drawn somewhat @
apart in earnest conversation with his Az
friend from Cape Court, came back to g.
US. He looked confidently enough at a.
Karl Evidently he determined to h9S@
brazen out difficult situation.
81 feel little h0rS in these garments n
he said affaby, speaking in the smooth, siblant
voice which reminded me of Karls 1kenng his
utterance to that of a boa-constrctor.
"Ah, you speak French too" exclaimed Karl
with grim geniality. THE last time met
you INDUCED mostly in Spanish
The last time? We have met before.
I-er-think have heard of you from named
Constantine.
arranged himself comfortably at the table The
chef of the Pail Mall Hotel had great name for
appetizng dishes, and Jules lowering about,
with alert pencil and memoranda tablets.
Yes. Poor Constantine! Killed himself didn't
he? Did you hear why?"
Karl l noticed, had his hands clasped and rest
ing on the table The significance of this attitude
dawned upon then He thus completed some
magnetic circuit of intense potency.
Never heard word, said Stendal who seemed d
to accept Karls presence with greater compacency o
each moment. That is to say, l knew he was !,
worried about some girl. As if any
worth sucidel Sango Ia Mcdonna!" "
That is like the Stenda of old though il
the appeal is to strange patroness," cried Karl.
Oh do not worry, Jules. Give fish flesh and D
fowl, and bring the best wine of France. We leave Y
details to you. T
The head waiter whsked off. That sort of order
IS comprehensive. The diner surrenders dis G.
creton, matter what the charge W
Your references to past acquaintance puzzle n
me- said Steindal, politely keeping to the thread d
of the conversation. a
Then l must be mistaken Perhaps Con- fl
stantine gave picture vivid that it burned
itself into my memory.
That is a popular attribute of the Fiend, and
hardly fattering to me" laughed the other.
well, there is some truth in it, and it may
contain germ of adulation. Unless l again.
you played Mephisto to Constantine's Faust eh?"
Very likely. | knew many Margarets in those
days" &c
| expected explosion after that singular1y Ia
apt yet unfortunate reply, but beyond a slight
contraction of the eyelids and twtching of the W
noStrils Karl gave sign. Steindal al
tuously candid, shielded by the armor of money
and concet, that l deemed him impenetrable to III
the hidden lightning with which Karl envelop- al
L.