The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-10-10
CHAPTER XVI.
ID ~ ~ DANGER. ?

TT WAS true. as Davis had stated,
that since the opening of the house
Il Herman Gabriel hSd shown none OF
that interest in the Countess Zicka
which had made him appear so eager
for her company the night on the roof
garden.
He had never been numbered among
the crowds Of visitors. he had not even
gone near the place after 1t was certain
that She was Installed therein; lie has
thy skipped all articles in the newspa-
pers relating 90 her, apd II ar ms club
or elsewhere he heard her name men
toned In discussion he would quickly
Yet. as a matter of fact, there was
no one in all New York more interested
in the Woman in the Purple ven
than the young millionaire
He could not shake Off the haunting
spell of her dark, mysterious eyes, nor
forget the impression created on MN
bv his first glance at her pale. pathetic
face A believer In the occult power she
claimed to possess, he found deep at
traction in her supposed mastery OF Sc
cret lore. for he had been taught tndi
none but the spiritually minded and pure
in heart could advance so far.
He dreamed OF her by night. he
thought or her by day; I'm short. as
Davis had half suspected. and Bodine
mad confidently asserted. Gabriel was
in love.
I
/ To avoid everything which could pos
/ sibly remind him OF her existence:
Was IL because his wealth and social
( position made him unwilling TO yield
! 10 the biddine Of his heart, and bestow
his name upon a mere foTtUne-tcilcT,
/ one who at least bore the stigma OF p
Jharlatan2
| cera in the beliefs he had taken up.
however open 20 sSepdcism they might
/ be- and ne would have deemed II the
highest honor. rather than the reverse,
10 win the woman for his wife.
That. in short. was Just the trouble.
| He aid not believe there was any snow
I for him Without overwecning mOdesty,
/ ne REGARDED the case as hopeless. Would
an associate Of the great sW9mlS and
! rnahatmas ~ India. one who held the
/ great forces OF nature and destiny IN
I her grasp COndesCcrd to JOCK with
/ favor on the suit Of a mere neophytc.
/ a simple young business man WIN
| nothing 20 recommend him save the
! possession OF few sordid millions? -
/ well exrect an Empress 70 mate with
! a heggar.
How Ralph Davis would have howled
] II he could have followed these inEenu-
/ Gus reflections. and kT own that ii was
I humility alone which was holding the
/ young plutocr1t away from his idol
/ the Iowly actress Of the "water-tanks.
Strong in his conviction, though,
tbat his love was futile. Herman had
heen diligently striving to Stite his
/ warnings and efface her image from
Tonight, i'm the effort TO distract his
/ thoughts from her. he had invited
! party OF college friends 10 dinner, and
! had busted himself i'm experimenting
l the preparations. carefully selecting
the menu and giving his personal at
4 teutiOn TO such details as the decora-
tions and the wines.
/ The feast was laid in his own luxu-
riOUs bachelor apartments. and with
the arrival OF his guests he tried TO
enter into the spirit Of the thing as
/ the others were dninE-to laugh and
/ crack jokes and ling glees and IN
dulge I'm "high links generally, as II
# We're genuine spread Of the old
! college days.
But tie attempt proved for him
/ sorry failure. His laugh rang hollow,
his stories lost their point, he fell into
/ abstracted sileuCes, for more and
l more iusistcnuy the figure Of the
/ Countess Zicka REQUIRED 70 his mind.
He saw her sweet, sad face. with
/ the midnight eyes" in the curling
clouds Of smoke which drifted up from
I the pipes and cigars of his guests.
He seemed constantly 10 hear under
the riot and noise Of the jovial party
the cadenc@S OF her deep, musical
I voice appealing 20 him, although he
could not make out the message she
j sought 70 convey.
More and more Of an obsession did
IL become with him as the evening ad-
vanced that she was endcaVOr:rS to
communicate with him in some way:
and as she strained his sense 10 inter
pref her meaning he waxcd so nre-
occupied and inattentivc that 70 began
80 be observed and commented upon
by his companions.
Gabriel firmly believed that the "as-
tral presence Of the mystic was I'm
tho room seeking 20 speak to him. and
when one OF the fellows started
story triGe broad IN fits illusions. he
turned on the poor chap with rcbuffe
so singing that distinct atmosphere
OF gloom settled over the company.
Talk about kill-joys. the members
I-of the party whispered Dne 20 another
"he is pretty near the limit What on
him2"
At last. though. dinner was an
nounced. and Gabriel taking the head
of the table. strOVe 10 arouse himself
and properly play his part as host
But before the first course had been
removed. his disordered Imagination got
10 working again. and suddenly he fan
cied he heard distinctly whispered IN
his ear the words
Come 20 me- 7 am IN DANGER
The others saw him start abruptly
10 his feet and stand staring AZ them
for moment
Then with mutteyed Excuse me.
fellows Have good time I've got
TO GO he was or before any OF the
amazed party could stop him to in
quire what was the matter or whittier
he was bound.
Indeed. before they could recover
snatchcd up coat and cap. damned a
revolver into his pocket and was out
OF the house
He did not seek TO guess what the
peril threatening the countess might be.
nor did the argument occur TO him that