The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-08-20

FADS AND
NEWS FOR
be Game and
Tbe Gamble
(Continued.)
BY Eleanor N. ingram. G


81 do not care in the least
whether you prefer or not" Adrian
replied, with the most perfect In
difference. "Or whether you earned
1t or not. 1t is simply question
of dignity. This is expected of me,
and l refuse to have it said that |
place a higher valuation on my own
life than on that of any one else.
You will accept, and wear the Or
der. Of course you do not prize
the plaything; neither do l. Shall
we go?"
The presentation was sufficiently
incongruous, indeed the whole
scene was typical of Adrian him
self In its mingling of medieval and
ultra modern: the two men in their
half-opened motoring coats, and be-
meath, the CLEAN of the quaint an
cient, gemmed symbols. And the
Emperor added the final touch by
picking up the hideOus goggled
mask and putting it on.
'Let us CO. he repeated.
Allard looked down at the pend
ant Maltese cross of rubies as he
buttoned his coat, then caught up
gauntlets and cap, and went to
open the door.
Dare l offer my thanks after
being so ungracious, sire?' he
asked contritely.
IF you choose. But I would
rather have you remember in the
future that l gave you the decora-
ton before we took this drive, not
after"
1t was useless to endeavor to I'M
derstand Adrian's enigmatical
moods, but that sentence puzzled
Allard for many hours, whenever
it required to him.
The walk to the garage was &C.
complished as often before. Sew
eral times they passed men whom
Allard recognized as belonging to
the secret service, and doubtless
passed many more whom he did not
know, all letting the Emperor's IA
vorite go by, unquestioned, with
his companion. But he sighed with
relief when they finally reached
the garage and stepped into the
low, silver-gray machine beside his
pretended chauffeur. A man flung
open the wide doors, Adrian bent
forward with truly professional
ease and nonchalance, and they
were out in the damp night air.
Through the humming. fevered
fevered city they slipped, merely
one of many vehicles. The streets
were filled with walking people.
without destination or object,
walking only from consuming rest
lessness or excitement. The MUIR
muir of countless voices rose above
the throbbing voice Of the automo-
bile as 1t wound in and out among
the crowds. On every corner men
were collected in groups, noisy or
quiet according to their class, but
alike in grim earnestness. Police
men and soldiers were everywhere
spurred by the Emperor's threat
the chief of police was sitting the
city grain by grain for the criminal
of the morning.
Not to the cathedral did the gray
car take its flight. and Allard' S
amazement reached its elimination
when they halted before one of the
capitals main hotels, under the
glaring electric lights. For the first
time it dawned upon him that there
was an object behind the apparent
capriciousness of the trip.
Il am to descend?" he hazarded,
as his companion did not speak.
NO; you are to wait for me-"
"l-yOu-
Adrian deliberately stepped down
and crossed the bright. crowded
sidewalk into the lobby, deigning no
explanation whatever. Utterly stu
pefied. powerless to interfere. AL
lard watched him: saw him hand a
card to the attendant who ad-
vanced, then follow on into the ele-
vator and disappear. The huge hall
was filled with chatting men and
women, many of them moving In
the court or diplomatic circles; to
the watchers excited fancy it
seemed impossible that they should