Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-15

she inquired.
He glanced at the linen night.gown that in
closed his limbs Thanks" he answered surlily;
"but where am /, where are my clothes|
lie attempted to sit up, but he was very sore
and weak, and he fell back with groan that
made Madame's cheeks blanch.
Forgive me-" he muttered. "I didn't know l
was so bad; that brute must have let himself 60.
I'm aching all over. Are any bones smashed, do
you knowW
no." sighed Madame and murmured: Frank,
dear, you must not blame me for this l did
what conld to stop him, but he was mad and
struck as we'll"
did he, the cad! All, I'd like to have him
in my clutches for moment, weak and i'll 1
am But tell me, what ship is this we're ON"
"The Argonaut."
Whose, aud where bound?"
my father owns it, we are going to him."
81 suppose you be frank with me now, eh {?
Where does your father live%
con one of the Isles Sanglnaires Attala it
is caled''
Never heard of such place-have pity on my
ignorance"
'Tt lies off the Corslcan coast"
"Ah then, Klein lied TO us after ALL"
Madame smiled. What could you expect dear
Ny father chooses his agents well; indeed he has
to-"
kate, before lost my senses there was some
are saving me for?" he pointed to his bandages.
Madame shook her head. "My husband is a
dreamer of dreams; your fate will really rest in
my fathers hands"
"And who is your father? Tell me of him,
Katherin."
"He is Count of Attala. a Corsicsn noble''
More. more-how is it he became Nihilist?"
My poor boy, what does it matter, the knowl-
edge wouldn't profit you?"
But / am curious, beg of you to tell me-"
"You would do better to sleep and try to get
we'll"
'Kate"
''Well then If it must it must; but there is lit
tie enough to tell you, dear. 1t all happened ages
before was born; he has been chief of the Nihi-
lists for nearly three-quarters of century. He
is an awful old man, Frank. He must be over a
hundred years old, but is still active and ener-
getc as a youth He is horribly cynical and cold,
and although he loves me / have always been
afraid of him, and dread going home almost as
much as you can should. He always terri
bly, ambitious, and once he tried hard and
thought to make himself King of Corsica, but a
rival bafhed him. In revenge he sold his con-
federates to the French and rove his rival into
exile. but did not better himself by the exchange,
for the French broke their promises and laughed
at him. I think he turned Nhilist in order to
revenge himself upon the French, for he has new
er forgiven them and still hates them like pois
on. I was with him when news reached us of the
death of Sadi Carnot in 1894 He turned to me
and said with a smile that froze my blood
'Katherin, l could die happy if that man hac
been a king"
"He planned Carnot's murder them" gasped
Cresingham
Madame laughed at the horror of his voice
"Ah, bah! what murders, you call them, has
he not planned? His aims have been always
chiefly directed against France, though. Twice
he ATTEMPTED Louis Phillippe's life, three times
hat of NaDo1eon III and nrpSldpnt since
then, at one time or another, has stood in mortal
peril 7 do not think that Monsieur Loubet will
live long, but he has been warned, he may re-
sign to save himself
''He must be the fiend incarnate!" cried the
young
Madame yawned. "I think I shall retire, if
you'll excuse me, Frank. I'm very weary"
Zone moment" Cressingham implored. ''Who
are the other two leaders-there are two, are
there not"
Madame drew herself up with gesture of pride
and her lip curled scornfuly. "Figure-heads!''
she cried. "My father is not the man to share
authority"
But who are they. these figureheads?"
"They often change" said Madame with a
frown; "when they outlive their period of useful
ness they die The present living first,
my husband, you know him. thnk"-(she
smiled)- other is Yussef FL Jibaloff, Rus
so-Turk, and natural son of Prince Skoboleff.
friend of the Sultan
''Rumor says he has another accomplishment
Kate have heard it whispered-a mighty lady
killer"
Madame gave him burning glance 'T know
your meaning Frank, but You are wrong. The
man is brute, and / hate him. He misused me
when I was quite child, and in my fathers
house"
But your father, Kate?"
Laughed when I told him and babe me run
away and play. l was Just fifteen, and that was
nv first lesson in the school of life. Do you won
der that with such able tutors | have become
what ! am?"
There surqed into Cressinghams heart flood
of warm and generous pity for the woman. Had
YOU no mother?" he whispered.
She shook her head. 81 never knew her; but
NV old nurse has told me much about her She
was the daughter of one of my fathers victims,
and very beautiful He abducted her and made
her his wife When ] quite baby, he
struck me because my walls annoyed him. My
mother chided him. and in fit cf rage he killed
her. | think he did not mean to do it, indeed, I
feel sure that he has always mourned her, for he
has never since had anything to do with women,
and before he met and loved her, he was verit-
able Turk"
'Thank you Kate, for telling me all this said
Cressingham. "It has given me clue to follow
Won. | was so much in the dark before But
nIease before we say goodnight, tell me one
thing more: Miss Elliott is she imprisoned on
this island of your father'sY
Crank you love that girl!'
He shook his head "It seems in any case that
I shall not be allowed TO live to love her long"
Madame sighed deeply. "she is there Good
night, Frank"
Madame reached the door and turned
Frank"
''Yesi"