The Washington herald., 1906-11-10
CHAPTER XXII-COntinued.

And she shall have it, The Turk
sprang at Desire and. grasping her be-
/ fore she could elude him, dragged her
roughly to the door. then kicked her with
brutal force into the corridor without.
He had resumed his chair, and returned
the counts smile Of appreciation before
the girls shril screams Of pain had died
away.
Madame looked at him fixedly. You
! will regret that. Jibaloff," she said.
Jibalon, muttering a curse, approached
Francine. The Englishwoman threw back
her head with a gesture Of magnificent
/ disdain and looked him full in the eyes.
/ She uttered no word, she was helpless In
her gaolers' hands, but so great power
was in her glance that the brutal Turk,
/ eucountering il. writhed, paused. and
faltered. He stood dubious and abashed,
and presently his eyes fell before hers.
Suddenly he did a graceful thing. He
bowed reverently. almost humbly.
''AIademoiselle,' he said, Il beg a thou
/ sand pardons. You are beautiful You
! shall be the queen Of my harem."
He then swung on his heel and ad-
I shall pay you your price
The count uttered a low. sardonic
chuckle "'Tis the triumph Of mind over
matter" he said grimly; "and now the
mind faints." He pointed to the girl.
Francine was swaying wildly to and fro.
/ Suddenly she tottered and fell TO the floor
in deep and merciful swooB; and there
her gaolers permitted her TO rest.
! The Turk stared at her as If unable TO
| wrest his glance from her graceful form.
Il shall pay you your price" he re-
peated.
Pardon. smiled the old man; Il warn
ed you what to expect, my friend Ny
price has advanced
/ What is it?"
Ten thousand pounds"
Il agree"
/ The count smiled. 1T is almost mid
night" he said; "let US resume our play.
"No, I am sick of 1t" cried Jibalon-
/ But I am not" returned the count.
My dear count, I must go, Harkl
what is that2" As he spoke there came
10 their ears a hollow, rumbIing echo that
seemed TO issue from beneath their feet
! The castle for a second trembled and
vbrated and the library windows ratified
as though shaken by a sudden gust ot
wind. The old man paled a little, and
neryously clutched at the arms Of his
chair But in I moment recovering him
self he smiled 1T is nothing. my deag
Tussef, or almost nothing This house is
built over old mines. as you know; the
water trickling through the passages
often eats away supports, and then fol-
lows crash Of stone. There is no dan
ger, though"
Jbaloff appeared uneasy, in spite Of this
explanation, and he got 10 his feet
Really" he said. 1T is time for me tc
go"
You shall not leave here until mid
night" said the count coldly. and hC
turned 10 one Of the negroes who stood al
th- door on guard. ''Goi find out If any
! steamer has been sighted from the look.
out yet"
"ExcelIency." returned the man, "a
message has this second arrived; there i:
none"
THE more time for us TO play" said tht
count Come. Jib2lon,"
Il tell you I am sick Of it."
Come"
well. then. let us fix a limit; I an
sick TO death OF IT, Let US say thre,
throws for the same stakes we played fol
last"
Ten throws"
NO, three. I'll dice no more.
We'll. three. You throw first
The Turk threw six, the count three.
Jibalom drank a glass Of wine. and tool
up the box again Six" be cried. II,
was right
The count threw an ace.
/ 'One hundred thousand pounds" Criet
the Turk, for the third time taking ~
the box 7 shall win again; 7 canno
lose tonight But, in spite of his con
hdenCe. his hand trembled violently as h,
threw.
six" The word was a yell Of triumph
The count eyed him with an evil sml,
and, scarcely rafting the dice, threw Tn,
number was again an ace.
! Jibalof sprang to his feet. 1T is n,
lucky night he muttered, hoarsely %
have bought a sutana among women. Z
priceless pearl Of beauty. and I have woJ
/ a hundred thousand pounds"
He met the counts eyes at the las
word, and suddenly falteTed. his face pal
ing a little. for the gaze he encountered
was fun Of menace.
But the count dropped his eyes anC
smiled My dear friend. you are indeed
fortunate" he drawled. Shall I pal
you now?'
: Howe" Avariee struggled with tn,
! mans fears, for he feared the count tha'
moment ike the devil. How would yol
pay me2" he stammered.
In gold or
"Or what?
Jewels"
The Turks face lighted UP. "Ah"' h,
cried: you have told me often of YOU
jewels
Would you care TO see them?"
Now
Yes"
JbaIofs fears flooded his soul again
"Oh, / can wait" he answered. with al
/ afectation OF tranquility; there is n,
need Of haste
The old man shook his head I mus
your settlement at once. I never permI
myself to allow a debt of honor to res
unsatiSiied longer than the termination
OF the game.
Jibalof was entieed by the Others
earnestness into feeling of security
Well if YOU insist he said.
VIII you be so kind. then, as to get Z,
/ your feet Thanks you see that rug
, kick it aside. Many thanksr'
The Turk was surprised to find tha
whore the rug had rested now appeared
A patch of bare floor about four fee
square.
Il am about to show you my treasure
closet" said the count. Prepare to have
your eyes dazzled, for very few men hav,
ever been privileged to look upon SO great
a mass of splendid gems as 1 possess.
r confess that / am sad 10 think that my
treasures viii presently be thinned-bu
/, it is the fortune of war; l must not re
, pine. You will find, my dear friend