Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-03
THE MESSAGE
BY LOUIS TRACY.
Copyright by dvar Code)
Copyright, 1908, BY Edward ]. Clode.)

| of the fateful letter that alluded to him
self and his affairs. He puzzled it out,
word by word
Where him lib for?" he demanded
That was written by Miss Dane and
intended for Capt Warden. l came by it,
no matter how, and l mean to make use
of it in some way"
With a rapid movement he stuffed the
sheet of notepaper into a pocket
Il keep dem letter." he announced.
Certainly. 1t is only copy. Savvy?
/ have the real one safely put away"
Figuero swallowed something. His thin
| lips We're bloodless. and his tongue mois-
tened them with the quick, darting action
of snake. Rosamund, who was really
somewhat afraid, trusted to the daylight
and the fact that they We're traversing an
open road, with cottages scattered
through the glen.
You cannot humbug me- she went on,
but I want to assure you again that 1
am no enemy of yours. Now. listen.
mean to marry Capt. Warden. but have
reason to believe that he is engaged.
promised, to Miss Dane. | am trying to
stop that, to break it off. Can you help?"
You ask hard t'ing-in dis place. In
Africa we get Oku man make ju-ju."
She shuddered The cold malevolence
in his words recalled stories she had
heard of those who had died with unac-
countable suddenness when 'Oku man
make ju-ju.''
Il don't mean that, she cried, vehe-
mently. Tell me what is taking place
and how it will AFFECT Capt. Warden.
Then l can twist events to my own pur-
pose. can warn him, perhaps prove my
self his friend Above all-where are you
going tomorrow? Mr.. Baumgartner sails
in the Sans Souci, 1 hear. Does Miss
Dane go with him, or is she to be sent
away because she is aware of your
plans?"
Figuero did not answer during whole
minute.
He saw light. dimly. but growing more
distinct each instant. Warden was a
deadly personality in the field against
him, and his active interference was now
assured beyond cavil. But, with two
women as foils, both beautiful. and one
exceedingly well equipped with money.
there was still a chance of circumventing
the only man he feared
You steal dem letter. he said, unex-
pectedly.
AT any rate. it has not gone to Capt.
Warden" was the acid reply.
An you write m. What you say.?"
"Oh. nothing that affects the case"
You tole him me here?''
mo. That can wait" which statement,
as shall be seen, was strictly untrue.
well, den, dem yacht lib for-for some
where's tomorrow. Dem girl, Mees Dane,
go wild me. You tole him dat ting as
you say las night. 1 make wife palaver
to dem girl"
What good will that do?" she said
'In week, ten days, he will hear from
her again"
No. 1 take dem letter. You glib me
Capt. Warden writin'. an / keep eye for
dat Savvy?
But can you carry out what you PROM
ised?'
Two. tree months. yes. After dem
yacht lib for Madeira, no. P'raps dem
girl be wife dem
ROsamund's dark eyes narrowed to two
tiny Sits. If Figuero could really keep
Warden and Evelyn apart during SO long
a period the utterly hopeless project on
which she had embarked in a moment Of
jealous rage might become feasible. OF
course. the suggestion that he would
marry Evelyn was preposterous, but
there was no reason why she should hurt
his pride by telling him So Her heart
throbbed madly. while her active brain
debated the pros and cons of the all
important queStiOn-should she post the
letter already written? Yes. 1t was the
outcome of her earliest thought. She
would follow it up with another in diff
ferent strain. The two would be vastly
more convincing than one. and the dates
would have a significance that no mere
contriying could impart.
BY this time they were at the post
office, from which mails were dispatched
by later train than that caught by the
groom. Rosamund dropped her letter in
the box She was quite pale with sup
burnt. She heard the fall of the en-
velope into the receptacle, and the ap-
palling notion possessed her that the
sound resembled the fall of earth on a
coffin. She breathed heavily and pressed
a hand to her bosom. Figuero was watch
ing her.
HNow you done dem ting" he said.
''you dash me some money"
She started. Did he mean to levy black
mail for his services?
Why she asked, summOning all her
strength of character to meet his gaze
without f1inching.
ME buy present for dem girl. II
make wife palaver dat cost many dollar"
II am not buying your help. You trade
with me one thing for the other. If you
refuse, / write TO the government about
the men of Oku.
The Portuguese laughed more naturally
than she had yet heard him. If his arch
enemy, Arthur Warden was well ac-
auainted with the mission he and the
chiefs had undertaken. this pretty and
passionate woman counted for very little
in the scale against him.
You dash me one hummer poun'," he
said. cheerfully Jus dat no mo- If
you say no. dem girl no lib for yacht.
Mr.. Baumgartner say go one-time. Me
tell i'm take dem girl-savvy?"
Mrs. Laing sawed. She gave him
thirty pounds-all she could spare from
her purse-and promised to send the
balance to an address in London. He
was fully satisfied. He was sure she
would not fail him. When he needed
further supplies she would pay willingly.
In an intrigue based on such lines Miguel
Figuero was an adept.