Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-24

gartner made such a point of excluding
me from any knowledge of his visitors
last night that he would be positively i'll
If he guessed I had friends on board the
Nancy"
And Mrs. Baumgartner-
'She is dear creature. but much in
awe where her husbands business affairs
are concerned. She and / passed the
evening together. She would not hear Of
my departure. but she warned me not to
say a word about my afternoons adven-
lures. M. Baumgartner is of a nervous
disposition. suppose he thinks all the
world is watching him because he is
rich man.
There is method In his madness this
time laughed Warden. Let me tell
you quite caEdidly that If some one told
him my name and occupation. and added
the information that L kept a close eye
on the Sans Souci between the hours OF
$50 and pm. last night, he, being OF
plethoric habit, would be in danger OF
apopleXy''
They were walking to the station. Eve
Ign, unable to decide whether or not to
take his words seriously, gave him shy
look.
"You knew 1 was safe on board" she
said.
For some reason the assumption that
| he was thinking only of her caused the
blood 70 Jingle in Warden's veins.
That is the incest thing you could have
said" he agreed. and she. In turn, felt
her heart racing.
"Of course you are very we'll aware
that I did not imagine you might not be
differently occupied" she protested.
Let not quarrel about meanings.
You were delightfully."- right. 1t Is the
simple fact that before you were many
minutes in the Sans Soucfs cabin-by the
way. where were your?
I'm Mrs. Baumgartner's stateroom."
"Ah. Well-to continued was nearly
| Sob wi of rrr1f0
But why?"
You have no idea whom Mr.. Baum
gartner was entertaining?"
None"
Souci after yourself was the Portuguese
land pirate l mentioned to you yesterday
He was accompanied by three chiefs of
the men of Oku. Do you recollect my
description of the mask on the gourd?"
She uttered a startled little cry.
Are you in earnest?" was all she could
find to say.
Il was in deadly earnest, about
! o'clock last evening 1 assure you. Had it
not been for most amazing Intervention
you would certainly have heard me de-
handing your instant appearance ON
deck
Then what happened?"
Il must begin by admitting that l was
worried about you. 1 got into the dinghy.
intending to see you on some pretext. A
launch containing this precious gang
crossed my bows. and l returned to the
Nancy toto secure Peters assistance.
We were near the Sans Souci on the Sec
ond trip when another launch arrived,
and there stepped on board the yacht
gentleman whose presence assured me
that you. at least. were safe enough. You
will credit that element in strained
situation when I tell you that the latest
| arrival was the emperor"
1.-The emperor she almost gasped. do
you mean
ears we are surrounded by listeners. But
l am not mistaken. l saw him clearly. L
heard Baumgartner's humble greeting.
And the really remarka BILE fact is that
Peter and you and l share very i'm
portant state secret"
II don't understand" she said, be-
wildered.
''Of course you don't. Not many people
| could guess why the most powerful mon
| arch on the continent of Europe should
wish to confer with four of the ripest
| scoundrels that the West African hinter-
land can produce. Nevertheless. 1t Is
! true"
Then that is why Mrs. Baumgartner
kept me closeted in her stateroom nearly
| two hours"
Yes. BY the way, has she engaged
you?"
| Yes She was exceedingly kind. The
! terms and conditions are most generous.
| l rejoin the yacht and meet her daughter
/ at Milford next Wednesday. Then we go
to Scotland for some shooting. and the
| Sans Souci returns to Portsmouth to be
/ refitted for a cruise to Madeira and the
| Canaries during the winter months. Alto
gether she sketched a very agreeable
program. But you have excited my curl
osity almost beyond bounds by your de-
scription of the goings-on last night My
share of the important state secret you
| spoke of is very slight. 1t consists IN
being wholly ignorant of it. Can you en-
| tighten me?"
..rhere is no reason why | should not.
II will invest the Baumgartners with
romantic nimbus which. judging solely
from observations. might otherwise Do
lacking.
The girl laughed.
.Tney are pleasant people, but rather
COMMONPLACE she said.
well, we can talk freely in the train"
You are not leaving Cowes this morn
ing on my account?
Perhaps her voice showed a degree or
restraint Though she was beginning to
like Capt. Arthur Warden more than she
cared to admit even to herself. he must
not be allowed to believe that their
friendship. could go to extremes.
(To be continued tomorrow