The Washington herald., 1908-06-07
BY GERALD YHLTERS-STUART.

his hand
Heaven knows" he said, "Tve got
only too little right 10 judge you. In
Baltimore they would say l had none. I
had expected, from all I had heard, 10
find a besotted swine. and find man.
I'm Wiling 10 charge the past up to the
system. which puts too much tempta-
ton in one mans way, il you are willing
to prove your manhood by seeing this
scrap out"
Vandraken's face lighted UP with the
Joy OF battle.
slap DASH" he said. 'if you will put
me in the way of a real good rough-and-
tumble fight-not cannon at two miles
I'll be your debtor for life; but We won't
shake hands till the work is done"
LAS you like" muttered Dashmore.
''Sit down and have a drink, and tell
me all about IL and about yourself How
do you happen 10 be in that fancy dress?"
Not much time TO talk, Vandraken.
We've got to get busy. I'm a deserter
from the Chasseurs d'Afrique. Knocked
my captain down for conduct unbecom-
Ing an officer and a gentleman-that on
general principles. more particularly for
reflections on my nationality Awful
swine. he wasi I Joined the Rough Riders
after my little difference with the faculty.
OF course, the faculty were right. I had
no business 20 thrash that professor.
though he was a swine, too. We learned
the art Of war in Cuba. Came balk TO
baltimore hero. got taken once more
INTO the bosom Of my family. and grub
staked all over again; came over 10 Paris
to celebrate and maybe study art. Got
into the DEVILS own row with some Off
cial-pulled some chains OF office off
VnFr ~
was Monsieur lie Marie or Monsieur lie
President. At any rate, he was-a big gun,
and II was a correspondingly big row
Stoney broke. too; so enlisted In the Chas-
! seurs d Afrique, at Marselles; learned
more OF the art OF war and the ways OF
these heather countrles-their language.
TOO. Might have risen to be a field mar
J shall If my captain had behaved himself.
Say! What do you think he said? Why.
that Teddy Roosevelt was no soldier
That was the last straw That's why I
did him dirt. II they catch me. they
won't do thing to me. will they?"
They mustn't catch you, Slap Dash.
You must stay on this yacht You'll be
all right"
m going ashore in few minutes-as
soon as ever this campaign IS planned.
After the ladies are rescued We will talk
/ about my affairs. AS a matter Of fact.
| they wouldn't dream Of connecting n run
away trooper with the conquerors Of Mu-
/ ley Zidan; and mind, I lick Muley, or Mu-
/ ley gets my scalp. It's a la mort 10 fin
ish How many men have you got that
would be any good in this sort OF a fght?''
Twenty-Five. anyway; and YOU know.
/ Slap Dash, moneys no object. and we
ought 20 be able TO pick up some useful
rufiians in the town; and for arms revolt
vers, and knives. I suppose"
They are all right as far as they go.
my boy; but I once figured out, during a
| scrimmage. that IL had good sound
ak slung round my wrist. I could make
war 20 beat the band at close quarters. 1
may DO reaCtiOnary. Vandraken, but 7 be-
/ lieve in the battle-ax. Now, how are you
! fixed for battle-axes?"
/ There's the fire companys axes" an
swered Nandraken. excitedly. Gee! but
that's great idea, Slap Dash, Whoop!
Just think Of lamming into them al close
, quarters, Say! I wouldn't miss this fight
for twenty millions. Who are the cap
tured women
| Remember Florence Sidcombe. OF Bal
timore. who turned the frozen face TO me
after 1 got turned down at Harvard
That's the American girl I forget who
the English women are. They've got han
dies TO their names. though. They were
taken in the ruins Of Nebosh. little wav
south Of here. II was tipped off 10 Muley
| by their dragOman. It's only known. so
| far, among the natives. What I propose
is this: Let II leak out that YOU are go
ing TO view the ruins at a certain time to-
morrow - the rich American from the
yacht. and HIS friends. who are fine. pick
ed fighting men. Muley Will capture YOU
and your crowd and take you back 10 his
stronghold in the hills where the ladies
are. You treat It as a joke. and be nice
| 10 Muley Zidan, promising no end of a
| ransom. which will be brought TO him
from the yacht. III bring the ransom
on mules. Five men with me wouldn't
arouse suspicion. dressed as natives. That
makes twelve Of u.s. Your lob is TO guard
the women at the beginning Of the trou-
bic until can fight my way through 10
you. Wen have 20 begin the fight with
twelve because the rest will have TO be
out Of sight in the rear. and not show up
| TIL the row is under way, and we are at
close quarters They won't dare TO shoot
then. for fear of killing one another The
axes will be on the mules; they won't
arouse any suspicion. The chances are
the axes they take away from you will be
within reach: and YOU won't be tied. Mu
ley trusts 20 the cul-de-sac where his lair
is. and TO his sentries. for the safety OF
his prisoners. Remember. the great thing
is to keep In the thick Of the fight Once
we begin TO scatter well be potted-no
prisoners and no survivors! The odds are
about two 20 one, but when once we get
the axes going. Wen reverse that In short
order. Now suppose you send for the
captain. and tell him to take orders from
| IN oh 81
men with his help"
Vandraken rang the bell, and sent word
to the captain. Through the open door
came the sensuous monotone Of nautch
dance music and the sound of drunken
laughter.
What's all that?" asked Dashmore.
MY friends enjoying themselves" an
swered Vandraken, laconicaliy He had
suddenly become aware that the glamour
Of vice was growing pale in the excite
ment OF promised action.
why do you not come to the nautch
Standish? / have q surprise for you-s
new But who Is this?''
II was the Cobra standing in the door
way. A elinging iridescently spangIed
dress of black outlined the curves Of her
svelte figure. a diamond snake coiled
round through her hair, the head resting
on her forehead.
'Whew,' whistled Dashmore softly
THAT woman he thought "and all the
unpleasant things that have been said
and Vandrahen looking as unsullied as
when I last saw him at Harvard a fresh
mani It's incredible! Aloud he said: Il
don't need any introduction, senorita- II
you have forgotten me, think Of a little
street off the Prsdo. in Havana. and a
man with a knife sticking in his right
eye. How did you escape that night7''
"Oh, It was very easy, Monsieur TAmer-
icaine did make love to the young off,
Ger, and he open the cage"
you sent for me. Mr.. Vandraken ?''
said the captain. entering, and absolutely
ignoring the presence Of the Cobra.