The Washington herald., 1911-02-15

clever, might stumble upon something.
Well, till against that time.
His room was pleasant, a corner OF
which gave two excellent views, one OF
the sea and the other OF the orchard.
There was no cluttering of furniture:
it was simple, substantial, decently old.
On the plain walls were some choice
paintings. A landscape by Constable,
water color by Fortuny, and a rough
sketch by DetafIle: and the inevitable
marines, such as one might expect in
the house OF a fighting sailor. He ex-
amined these closely, and was rather
pleased to find 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 It
in the pillows on the lounge, in the
curtains dropping from the windows, in
the counterpane on the old four-poster.
Did Americans usually house their pri-
vate secretaries in rooms fit for guests
of long and intimate acquaintance? All,
yes; this sailor was a rich man; and
this mansion had not been erected yes
terday. 1t amused him to think that
,, these walls and richly polished floors
1t seemed incredible, but it was true.
Pirates His laughter broke forth
not loudly. but deeply, fired by a broad
and ready sense OF humor-a perilous gift
for a man who is seeking fine hazards
1t was droll: it was even fantastic.
To cruise about the world in search of
pirate treasures, as if there remained a
single isle, shore, or promontory known
to have been the haunt of pirates, which
had not been dug up and dug up again!
And here, under the very hand. He
struck his palms. why not?"
He ran to the window. The sleek
white yacht lay tugging at her cables
like an eager hound in the leash. Sea
worthy from stem to stern. Why not?
No better cloak than this. I may not
make you a good secretary, admiral, but
the gods propitious, I can. if needs say
must, take you treasure hunting. 1t will
be fine stroke. Is it possible that for
tune 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 1 have, never to have
spoken, never to have forgotten. France
knows and Germany knows, but only me,
not what 1 have. They have even tried
to drive me to crime. Wait, fools, watt"
He drew his arms tightly over his heav-
ing breast for he was deeply moved,
while over his face came that indefinable
light which, at times. illuminates the
countenance of a great man. 1t came
and went; as a flash of lightning betrays
the oncoming storm
The chimney! His heart missed a beat.
He had forgotten the chimney. The re-
action affected him like blow. A snarl
twisted his mouth. What was this Chin
ney 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 expression in his face; it was
the tiger, waking. There could be only
one way.
Swiftly he dashed to his trunk. knelt
took out the documents more precious to
him than the treasures OF hundred Capt
Kidds. Instantly, he returned to the win
dow. Nothing was missing. But here
was something he had never noticed be-
fore. On the face of the slip of parch-
ment--a diagram. dim and faded-was an
oily thumb mark The oil from the lock;
nothing more; doubtless he himself had
touched il. How many times had he
found an unknown touch among his few
belongings? How often had he smiled?
Still, to quell all rising doubts, he rubbed
his right thumb on the lock. and made a
second impression. TIE daylight was now
insufficient, so he turned on the cleo
tricity and compared them. Slowly the
scars deepened till they were the tint of
cedar. Deaths head itself could not have
fascinated him more than the dissimi-
larity OF these two thumb prints. He
said nothing, but a queer little strangling
sound come through his lips.
Who? Where? His heart beat so vio-
lently that the veins in his throat swelled
and threatened to burst. But he was no
weakling. He summoned all his will. He
must act and act at once, Immediately.
Fitzgerald? No; not that clever. idling
fool But who, who? He replaced the
papers and the lock. A hidden menace.
Question as he would. there was never
any answer.
He practiced the pleasant Deceit that
the first mark had been there when the
diagram had been given to him. 1t
was not possible that any one had dis
covered his hiding place. Had he not
with his own hands contrived IT, alone
and without aid. under that accursed
mansard roof: Not one OF his coad-
venturers knew; they had advanced him
funds on his word. His other documents
they had seen; these had sufficed them.
Still, back Il came. with deadly insis-
tence: some one was digging at the
bricks in the chimney. The drama, was
beginning to move. Had he waited too
long?