The San Francisco call., 1907-02-17

with the disappearance Of the dis
tinsuished looking foreigner. They
were evidently working together for
the accomplishment OF = common pur-
pose. The Government must have had
the same thought, for the two fugitives
were described IN the same cfrvdiar."
mo; not in the same circular. 70
was In separate circulars"
Everyone turned around at this re-
mark which had come SO unexpectedly
from Count vefasquez.
No" rejo,ned Barnes. delighted at
this interruption. 'T recall fs quite
well; IL was in the same circular"
"Ah," said the Count, with . flourish
OF the hand, ''ths gentleman r1saas we'll.
but he 10 mistaken"
"what do you know about Il. Counts"
asked the Chief, with brutal abrupt
ness. "wers yeu thexe7"
Fer q moment 1t looked az X the
Count. generally 50 ssif-contained, was
about to be overwhelmed with oon-
fusien. Eut he quickly recovered him
self.
"I-r-read about Il in the French
famous smile which always displayed
those remarkable teeth.
Barnes and Clancy made some excuse
for leaving the room for o moment. An
they moved Harvey innocently noticed
the missing circular sticking out OF
the Counts pocket He reached ever
and drew II toward him.
Count" he exclaimed, ~here'B tho
circular ~e thought was lost
The nobisrnan betrayed extrenaa agf-
tation.
"of oours. you're . friend Of nins'
are you nct?"
Certainly was the puszisd re-
sponse.
well, then, destroy that circular"
because it viii eniy imriieats some
poor fellow
AZ II fearing he haa cvsrdcns his
part. he changed HIS tone.
my dear Harvey" he exclaimed, with
great effabiiity. there is the circular;
Of course. as you said, you ara gcing
to destroy It."
Yes. yes" said the other. irritabiy.
II promised you. and my word Il good;
but want to take another look At IT,"
While Harvey was trying to read the
circular, printed In q language he
scarcely understood. the Count
drunan1ed nervousiy With his fingers on
the sill OF the cabin window. Once or
twice he hummed snstcnes from his
favorite operas, but there was q quaver
In his voice which rendered IL iudicrous
and untunefui This continued for some
minutes, when both men were startled
by the appearance OF newcomer.
Harvey made as IL to conceal the cir
cular, but ii was too late. 50 he held
it down defantIy while lie Sazed up
at Clancy-for il was the customs oper-
atfye-in an insoient manner.
'sWeii?" asked Harvey.
"Oh, nothing replied Clancy. II
was simply walking around the boat
for want OF something better to do"
"oh. you were, we're your" was the
kneertnE comment.
Yes" responded the other. deter
mined to keep his temper. and aching
to get his hands on the circular.
Count velasdnez and l." said Har-
vsy, with an attempt at dignity, were
having q private discussion"
"Oh." exclaimed Clancy, II beg your
pardon. 1 won't intrude. I'll leave
you"
He turned on his heel to 20 away,
but almost In the same instant resolved
that he would not be dismissed in thar
the circular he would at feast give
these two men bad quarter OF an
hour. Harvey had raised his hand
the hand containing the circular.
Clancy turned on him Ike q lash.
''fistioi" be exclaimed, there's the
circular Barnes lost in the cabin. I
see you've found IL. How lucky. TX
you'll give It to me I'll see that he
gets it,
He extended his arm in the direction
OF the circular. Harvey drew back and
held the precious bit OF paper toward
the floor.
Yours impertinent," he said hoarss-
ly. why don't you mind your own
businessT'
my dear sir,- said Clancy. deter
mined not to lose any advantage. "r
don't see any occasion for anger. You
have In your possession bit OF prop
erty belonging TO my friend Barnes. I
presumed that you had found 1t.
didn't suppose IL had ccmp into your
possession in any other way. In any
event, ask you to let me return IL to
Barnes. You refuse?"
''whyi whym he spluttered. "Sim-
ply beeause--because I intend to hand
Il to him myself
Then" shouted Clancy, with triumph
in his voice, "you'il have the opportuni-
ty at once, for Barnes 10 coming here
now"
Harvey was aghest. He wondered
wildly what ha could do or say. He
looked Questioningly toward tha Count.
VelasQuez was the picture OF death.
His face was as white 90 snow--even
to the lips. His eyes had q dull. CLASSY
little beads on his forehead. He did
not return Harvey's glance. His lips
we're dumb.
In the meantime Harvey, glued to his
seat, held the awful circular between
the ciinched fingers OF his right hand.
Clancy stood over him in q threatening
attitude, like an avenging angel, while
Barnes came along the corridor toward
+ the cabin with the rapfdity OF fate.
Once again Harvey looked toward the
Count IN helpless pantomime. Why did
not the man speak? Why did he not
utter one word OF instruction? The
seconds licked by with the weight OF
hours. When all seemed over the
Count moved his bulky form. Harvey
bresthed. The Count was coming TO
his relief. yelasquez put his hand in
his pocket and produced--a cigarette.
Harvey could have screamed with
I angry disappointment. But the Count
magniacentiy ignored all OF this. and,
STOPPING down with deiiberation, strucI Z
match on the sole OF his shoe, and
thcn calmly lit his cigarette and leaned
back on the cushion OF his seat with a
placid smile on his face.
What does he mean?r groaned Har-
vey to himself. But he looked admir-
J insiy at the man who could be SO calm,
In such a crieis.
Suddenly hfa attention vas dfstrackel