Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05

when she dropped on EN- after supper.
I've always thought her bit Of a cat"
agreed Tagg. An Fat did you say?"
Say! l tole i'm to do his dirty work his
self. Mark my words, Tagg, he'll not tackle
the job, for fear it comes to the gals ears. You
watch him close up like an oyster"
Stump was a prophet worthy of honor,
though Dick did not appreciate the Barons
friendly solictude about his affairs till long
afterward. But he did learn by chance how
amply justified Irene was in her fear that he
might be asked to leave the ship. The Aphro-
dite was spinning down the Gulf of Suez late
when Royson went aloft to assure himself that
a stiff pulley on the forward was in good
working order. He found that it needed a
slight readjustment, and the alteration was
troublesome owing to the strain of steady
breeze. He persevered, put matters right,
and was climbing down to the deck, when,
through the foresail. he heard voices discuss
ing none other than himself
Mrs. Haxton and Won Kerber had strolled
forward, and were leaning over the side of the
ship, never dreaming that the man they were
talking OF was within a few feet of them above
their heads, though hidden by the sail.
was exceedingly surprised to find that
he was not sent ashore with the pilot at Suez,"
present position may be, he is Baronet's
nephew and prospective heir, it would seem.
1t is sheer madness on your part to keep
man like him on board"
But ! tell you that asked Stump to dis
charge him, and met with a blank refusal"
replied the Baron irritably.
That is even more amazing. Are not these
men your Servants?"
Yes, in sense. Try to understand me,
Maud. l had to select men of good character,
or they might fail me in the hour of real need.
II you hire pirates, you must expect them to
act like pirates yes? Stump favors Royson;
so he pointed out that as had engaged him
must dismiss him. And YOU know quite well,
action on my part could hardly fail to arouse
some measure OF doubt in Fenshawe's mind,
which IS the very thing we wish to avoid"
think you are wrong, nevertheless.
GU should not say that, If You are not pre-
pared to tell me how | could arrange an awk-
afraid of! He is as keen any of us for the
adventure and he will be well paid if it sue
ceeds.
You are poor consprator, my dear
Franz, laughed Mrs. HaXton disagreeably.
=" If you were really the clever person you
think yourself, you would know that such
man may leaven the whole crew with his ideas
OF honor. And when the pressure comes, he
will have an excellent helper in that girl. She
too should have been left at home. Oh, nom
sense Had you given me the ordering of
affairs, neither she nor this young down at
heels aristocrat would be here to-day. l am
not saying this merely to annoy you, as you
seem to believe, but to warn you. Be on your
No great fortune ever Vet won without a
hitch or two on the road, and We are not far
from the Five Hills now
They moved away. Dick went back to his
pulley, surveyed the deck over the foreyard,
and deferred his descent till Franz" and
"Maud" were at the other end OF the vessel.
Since they came on board they had been
g Baron Won Kerber' and :" Mrs. Haxton' in
the presence of others. What desperate game
were they playing that demanded these small
deceits! What hazard of fortune was it that
gave rise to the womans Cassandra like fore
bodings? Won Kerber had been candid enough
in the statement he put forward voluntarily
at Marseilles. Anyone could guess the uncer-
tainties of quest depending on document
two thousand years DID, while its dangers
were manifest. Fenshawe and Irene must be
cognizant of the open risks, and it was idle
to suppose that they did not appreciate the
unobtrusive way in which the yacht was being
hurried to her destination. Why then should
Won Kerber and Mrs. Haxton share some Sc
cret understanding the outcome of which
was doubtful and above all else why should
they fear the influence that young and I'm
known man might exercise on the crew!
Egypt is the land of riddles" unused Dick
as he gazed at the russell and purple hills
which spring up suddenly to guard the
strange thrust by nature into the bosom
of fiery land. my best course is to adopt
the attitude of the Sphinx: l shall keep my