The Washington herald., 1908-05-21
THE SOUL OF CROESUS
BY GERALD YILLIERS-STUART.
Copyright All rights reserved
BY GERALD YTLLIERS-STUART.

wires crossed and Abdul listening at the
telephone. Poor old Abdul. the heather
tho Dago-the fakir!"
He went to Yandraken and took of
the collar. Then he put his hard on his
head. and Vandraken rose from the
glass stool. stepped out onto the floor.
and began stretching himself and rub
bing his eyes, What ghastly dream! !'
he muttered- Then he went 10 Won Tar
senheim and touched him. Yes. YOU are
real. It was only a dream. nightmare.
/ am awake, Say I am awake"
'O1 course you are awake. Come and
see the other man. He is asleep. I leave
him asleep little longer" He made a
pass over him. undid the collar OF
/ sponges, and drew the curtain
Nandraken put on his collar and looked
at his watch.
"why-rve been here nearly two
hours."
Won Tarsenheim went to the door, OPEN
ed II, and called out: Elsa Elsai Bring
some more winer'
All right"' came the answer.
so / will see the pretty maid again?
She's a peach. that maid OF yours-a reg
ular TippeT-and innocent as a child. You
ought TO throw her in for the hundred
thousand, Won TaTsenheim
Abdul only smiled sardonieaIly. "Oh.
yes-the hundred thousand, Give II 10 me
now"
An right. I suppose you have done
what you promised. though I don't see
how ] am 10 know"
Wei. you must Try. You must do
something that should make you feel
ashamed, and see-you will feel no shame.
no remorse. / should be glad thar Won
make the trial. The other man will haT-e
the shame, the remorse-at first very
much. very keen: but with use his con
science-no, not his conscience. but vour
conscience within him-will lose its edge
then he viii not feel so much. Only on
his face VIII be the record. Yes 1 should
like 10 see the first effect"
Ny. but you are plausible. von Tar
Senheim-damned plausible! But I don't
see much temptation TO sin In this room.
Elsa entered, still in her maids apron.
which showed the pretty curves of her
figure. she put down the bottle and look
ed anxiously about the room.
Where she began.
Before her lips could end the sentence
they were smothered by Vandraken's
hot kisses. She felt herself whirled from
the floor into his arms, swooning in q
storm of passion which beat down her re-
sistance. Strange, unknown thrills ran
through her. She felt the stain on her
maidenhood, and. revolving from his
touch like some wild thing. put forth one
great effort and freed herself from his
embrace. threw herself down or a chair
by the table and sobbed wildly. Her
tears. which would have moved most men
20 shameful contrition. left Vandraken
untouched He looked more as though he
were about 10 embrace her again than
apologize.
There was cry OF anguish from be-
hind the curtain, a cry which carried
composite notes of horror shame. and
anguish. Then Fabian burst through
the curtains. pale. coilarless. and trem-
bling with excitement
Vandraken hastily put on his motor
mask, but Dare had not seen him. He
had eyes for Elsa only, and by her
he threw himself on his knees.
Elsa, forgive me! Elsa. I did not
mean to! 1t is impossible! It is sacri-
lege! l don't understand it, What have
l done? Say you forgive me- I shall
Kill myself! 1 must have been madr'
Abdul Won Tarsenheim looked at Van
draken triumphantly, the spirit OF sue
cessful invention incarnate swamping any
paternal instinct he ever had Vandrak-
en- took 8 bundle of notes Of large denom-
lnation from his pocket.
''Ycu viii And a few thousand over, I
think. You're great Won Tarsenheim-
simply greatf'
There was g loud knocking at the out
side door.
The detectives! I'd better 60 down
to them Good-by. You ought TO let
me have the maid. though"
"She was my daughter"
Your daughter Vandraken whIs-
tied. and went out, Won Tarsenheim fol-
loS .ng him.
Elsa raised her tear-stained face and
looked down at Fabian What is n?
Why do you ask fOrgfveness2 II was not
you. II It had been you, perhaps No.
] don't mean that. But. chi what is the
matter with your"
I have sinned against you. I have
desecrated you'll. who held you sacredtf
But It was not youi-it was the man
in the mask. on. what have they done
to you?
Fabian staggered to his feet Then
Il was a dream? Forgive me! I must
/ must seem an awful ass-and yet I
felt your reproaches, your hatred. and
] can't shake of the feeling"
Elsa looked at him pityingly. "Oh. II
Is something they have been doing to
you! It is all false-ali a trick"s She
held out her arms. and hung her head.
'You-you may kiss me, and you viii
see that I DO not cry.
Kiss your Etammered Fabian.