The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-17
CHAPTER TX.
They Dress For Dinner.

They Dress FOR Dnnnef.
Breitmann watched them as long
as he could. There was no jealousy
in his heart. but there was bitterness.
discomfort. savage self-pilloryinG. He
was genuinely sorry that this young
woman was so pretty; still, had she.
the graces of Calypso. he must have
come. She would distract him. and he
desired at that time distraction least
of all diversions. Concentration ana
singleness OF purpose-upon these two
attributes practically hung his life.
How strangely fate had stepped with
lshm What if there had not been that
advertisement for a private escretary!
How then should he have gained
footing in this house: Well, here he
| was, and speculation was of no value,
save in a congratulstory sense. The
| fy in the amber was the presence OF
the young American. Fitzgerald,
shrewd and clever. might stumble
upon something. Well, till against
! that time
His room was pleasant, corner
| which gave tive excellent views. one
| of the sea and the other of the orr
/ chard. There was no cluttcring OK
| furniture: IL was simple. substantial.
| decentiy old. On the plain walls
| were some choice paintings. land
scape by Constable, a water color b.
: Fortuny, and rough sketch by De-
| tailIe, and the inevitable marines,
such rs one might expect In the house
| Of a fighting sailor. He examined
| these closely. and was rather pleased
| to fnd them valuable old prints. And,
better to his mind than all these, was
| the deft, mysterious touch or sug
| gestion OF a woman's hand. He saw
| IL in the pillows on the lounge. in the
curtains dropping from the windows,
i In the counterpart on the old four
| poster
| Did Americans usually house their
| private secretaries in rooms fit for
guests OF long and intimate acquain-
| tances An yes; this sailor was
rich man; and this mansion had not
been erected yesterday. 1t amused
! him to think that these walls and
richly polished floors were older than
the French revolution. 1t seemed in
credible, but il was true.
1 Pirates" His laughter broke
forth. not loudly. but deeply. fired by
a broad and ready sense of hurhor--'
a perilous gift for man who is seek
| ing fine hazards. II was droll. 1t was
even fantastic. To cruise about the
world in search OF pirate treasures.
as If there remained a single isle.
! shore. promontory. known to have
'
not been dug up and dug up again.
And here, under the very hand He
struck his palms. Why nots''
| He ran to the window. The sleek
white yacht lay tugging at her cables.
| like an eager hound In the leash.
| ''Seaworthy from stem to stern. Why
not? No better cloak than this.
may not make you a good secretary,
, admiral. but, the gods propitious. ]
/ sur "a Ea
! treasure hunting. 1t will be a fine
/ stroke. Is 1t possible that fortune
begins to smile on me at last? Well.
| have had the patience to wait. The
hour has come, and fortune shall not
| find me laggard. 1t has been some
thing TO wait as have. never to have
spoken. never to have forgotten.
France knows and Germany knows,
but only me. not what ! have. They
have even tried to drive me to crime.
Wait. fools. waltz
He drew his arms tightly over his
heaying breast, for he was deeply
moved. while over his face came
that indefnabie light which. at times,
Eliminates the countenance of a great
man. 1t came and went; as fash
OF lightning betrays the oncoming
storm.
The chimney. His heart missed a
ptAt- t1S ftha ttEEotteH tttG CnffuuSs.
The reaction affected him like a blow.
A snarl twisted his mouth. What was
this chimney to any other man? Only
he of all men, knew. And yet here
was some one stealthily at work,
forestalling him, knocking the bottom
out OF his great dream. There was
nothing pleasant in the growing ex-
preston in his face: 1t was the tiger.
waking. There could be only one
way.
Swiftly he dashed to his trunk.
knelt and examined the lock. UNI
screwed il. and took outr-the docu-
.nents more precious 20 him than the
treasures Of q hundred Captain Kidds.
Instantly. he returned to the window.
Nothing was missing. But here was
something he had never noticed be-
fore. On the face OF the slip Of
parchment---a diagram. dim and fad
ed---was an oily thumb mark. The
oil from the lock-: nothing more.
doubtless he himself had touched It,
How many times had he found an
unknown touch among his few be-
longings? How often had he smiled
still. 10 Quell all rising doubts, he
rubbed his right thumb on the lock
and made q second impression. The
daylight was now insufficient. 20 no
turned on the electricity. and COM
pared them. Slowly, theSscars deep
aned TIL they were the tint OF cedar.
Deaths head itself could not have
fascinated him more than the dis
similarity Of these two thumb prints
He said nothing. but q queer little
strangiing sound came through his
lips.
\ who7 Where? His heart beat 90
violently that tho veins In his throat
swelied and threatened to burst. But
he was no weakling. He summoned
Ill his will. He must act. and act
at once. immediately Bitsgeraldg
No. not that clever. idling fool. But
Il who. whof Ha replaced the papers
ana the lock. n hidden menaes.
III sTa - Gontiansd. ss Il