The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-11-12

him In his most dangerous moods ~
well ~ in his best moments, would
have thought . similar comparison
with an elemental force quite ~ truly
descriptive Of him, II 1t had occurred
to her. The enterprising Greek had
really attempted to carry her on By
force on the night Of the Nnal 70.
hearsal before her FIRST appearance on
the stage. and had only been thwarted
because . royal rival had caused him
to be locked up. ~ II BY mistake. in
order to carry her Oh himself; in
which he also had failed most ridicu-
lously, thanks to the young singers
friend. the celebrated Mime. Bonanni.
That was very amusing story. But
on another occasion Margaret had
found herself shut up with her orr.
entail adorer in room from which
she could not escape. and he had quits
lost his head: and II she had not been
the woman she was. she would have
Jared Ill. After that he had behaved
more like an ordinary human being.
and she had allowed the natural a.
traction he had for her to draw hel
gradually to . promise Of marriage:
and now she talked to Lady Maud
about her gown. but she still put Oh
naming day for the wedding, in spite
OF Logotheti's growing impotence.
This was the situation when the
London season broke up and Mr.. Van
Torp landed at Southampton from an
ocean greyhound that had covered the
distance from New York in days II
hours and 81 minutes, which win
doubtless seem very slow travelling II
any one takes the trouble to read this
tale 20 years hence. though the pas
sengers were pleased because 1t was
not much under the record time for
steamers coming east.
Five hours after he landed Var
Torp entered Lady Maud's DRAWING
room in the little house in Charles
street. Berkeley Square, where she
had lived with the departed Lever
from the time when he had been at
tached to the Russian embassy till he
had last gone away. She wasA giving
1t up now. and 1t was already half dis
mantled. 1t was to see Van Torp thO
she was In town In the middle OF
August. instead Of with her father al
Craythew or with friends in Scotland
London was as hot as 1t could be.
which means that . New Yorker would
have found II chilly and an Italian de-
lightfully cool: but the Londonera
were sweltering when Van Torp ar
rived, and were talking Of the oppres
siye atmosphere and the smell OF the
pavement. not at all realizing how
blessed they were.
The American entered and stooe
still a moment to have q good look a,
Lady Maud. He was a middle-sized
rather thick-set man. with rude hands
sandy hair. an over-developed Jaw
and sharp blue eyes that sometimes
fixed themselves in q disagreeabls
way when he was speaking-eyes thai
had looked into the barrel Of another
mans revolver once or twice without
wavering. hands that had caught and
saddled and bridled many an unriddel
colt In the plains. a mouth like q car
pet-bag when 1t opened. like a closed
vice when 1t was shut. He was not ,
handsome man. Mr.. Rufus Van Torp
nor one with whom any one short Of
prize-fghter would NEEDLE, nor one
to haunt the dreams Of sweet Is. II
was not for his face that Lady Maud
good and beautiful. liked him better
than any one in the world. except her
own father. and believed In him and
trusted him. and 1t was assuredly not
for his money. The beggar did not
live who would dare to ask him for
penny after one look at his face, and
there were not many men on either
side OF the Atlantic who would have
looked forward to any sort of contest
with him without grave misgivings.
WELL" he said. advancing the last
step after that momentary pause, and
taking the white hand In both his
own. "how have you been? Fair to
middling? About that? Well-Pm
glad to see you. gladden. than q sitting
hen at sunrise!"
(To BE coNTINUED.)
Ruskln on Railways.
One can imagine nerhana the foal