Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-03
CHAPTER XVII.-Continued,

"Aliard." he said, you have the fac
ulty Of finding yourself in posts of dan
ger and making yourself famous. 1t il
an art. or destiny, that Of being apro
pos. Three years ago you acquired I
| scar and a star in protecting me: nov
you have repeated the exploit for Feodor
Come here
Wondering Allard turned.
Pardon. SIRE he objected. Il die
nothing at all for the grand duke. HI
| himself destroyed the bomb: merel!
looked on and tried to help
"Ah? Well. the grand duke and thu
| rest of the capital do not agree witt
you. In the newspapers of several con
| tinents YOU a-c e.."-ing as an example
of self-possessed bravery and devotion
| to our house: probably you do not care
but the world must have it's sensations
/ And since Feodor cannot give the tinse
| toys that accompany such events. affair.
are left In my hands. Bend your heat
80"
He had lifted slender, glittering cor
don he himself wore and deftly threw i
around the others neck with the las
| word. Completely taken by surprise Al
| lard had no time for retreat.
sire, should prefer mott! he exclaim
ed, decidedly, almost angrily. 1.-THE
, have no place between u.s. Forgive ms
and allow me to decline"
Il do not care in the least whether vol
prefer or not Adrian replied. with thu
most perfect indifference. "Or whether
you earned 1t or not 1t is simply 4
question of dignity. This is expected Of
me, and l refuse to have 1t said thai
place a higher valuation on my owr
! life than on that of any one else. You
will accept and wear the order. OF course
| you do not prize the plaything; neither
do I. Shall we go?"
i The presentation was sufficiently in
congruous. indeed the whole scene wal
| typical of Adrian himself in it's min
| two men in their half-opened motoring
coats. and beneath the CLEAN of thu
| quaint ancient. gemmed symbols. An(
the emperor added the final touch by
picking up the hideous goggled mask anG
putting 1t on.
LET us CO. he repeated.
Allard looked down at the pendant Nal
tese 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. con
tritely
'If you choose. But I would rather
have you remember In the future that
gave you the decoration before we tool
this drive, not after"
1t was useless to endeavor to under.
stand Adrian's enigmatical moods. but
that sentence puzzled Allard for many
hours, whenever 1t required to him.
The walk to the garage was accom-
plished as often before. Several times
they passed men whom Allard recognised
as belonging to the secret service. and
doubtless passed many more whom he
! did not know, all letting the emperor's
favorite go by, unquestioned. with his
companion. But he sighed with relief
when they finally reached the garage
and he 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 city
they slipped, merely one OF many We
hicies The streets were filled with walk.
ing people, without destination or object
walking only from consuming restless.
ness or excitement. The murmur OF
countless voices rose above the throb-
bling voice of the automobile 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