The Washington times., 1911-09-14

thanks to an excellent con-
stitution, he came safely
through the ordeal"
I'VE must take care of him, your
highness."
Eyes, indeed" said Aribert solemnly
His life is very precious to Posen."
At that moment Eugen, hereditary
Prince of Posen, entered the audience
chamber. He was pale and languid, and
him.
His hair had been slightly ruffled, and
there was look of uneasiness, almost
of alarmed unrest, IN his fine, dark
eyes. He was like a man who is afraid
to look behind him lest he should see
something which ought not to be there
But, at the same time, here beyond
doubt was royalty. Nothing could have
been more striking than the contrast
between Eugen, a sick man in the
shabby house at Ostend and this Prince
Eugen in the royal apartments of the
Grand Babylon Hotel, surrounded by
the luxury and pomp which modern
clVlnzatlon can offer to those born in
high places.
All the desperate episode of Ostend
was now hidden, passed over. 1t was
supposed never to have occurred. 1t eX-
listed only like secret shame in the
hearts of those who had witnessed it.
Prince Eugen had recovered: at any
rate, he was convalescent, and he had
up again the dropped thread of his
princely life.
The lady with the red hat, the in
corruptible and savage Miss Spencer, the
INSCRIPTIONS and brilliant Jules, the
dark, damp cellar, the horrible little
bedroom-these things were over.
Thanks to Prince Aribert and the
RacksOles, he had emerged from them
in safety. He was able to resume his
public and official career.
EsnDnpTnr hapO n Of
his safe arrival in London, after an I'M
avoidable delay in Ostend; his name
once more figured in the court chronicle
of the newspapers. In short, everything
Only-only, Jules Rocco, and Miss
Spencer were still at large; and the
body of Reginald Dimmock lay buried
IN the domestic mausoleum of the pal
ace at Posen; and Prince Eugen had
Still to interview Mr.. Sampson Levi.
That various matters lay heavy on
the mind of Prince Eugen was beyond
question He seemed to have with
drawn within himself.
Despite the extraordinary experiences
through which he had recently passed,
events which called aloud for explana-
tions and confidence between TIE
nephew and the uncle, he would say
scarcely a word to Prince Aribert. Any
allusion, however direct, to the days at
Ostend, was ignored by him with more
or less Ingenuity, and Prince Aribert
was really no nearer full solution of
the mystery of Jules plot than he had
been on the night when he and Rack
sole visited the gaming tables at Os-
tend.
Eugen was well aware that he had
been kidnapped through the agency of
the woman in the red hat, but, doubt
less ashamed at having been her dupe,
he would not proceed in any way with
the clearing up of the matter.
You Will receive IN this room, Eu-
gen?' Aribert questioned him.
Yes" was the answer. given pettish-
ly. why not? Even If I have no
proper retinue here, surely that is no
reason why I should not hold audience
In proper manner? Hans, you can 60"
The cid valet promptly disappeared.
'Aribert," the hereditary Prince con-
tinued, when they were alone in the
chamber, ''you think I am mad
My dear Eugen," said Prince Ari-
bert. startled in spite Of himself, don't
be absurd"
think that that attack of brain fever
has left its permanent mark on me.
Well, perhaps ! am mad. Who can tell?
God knows that 1 have been through
enough lately to drive me mad"
Aribert made no reply. AS matter
of strict fact, the thought had crossed
his mind that Eugen's brain had not yet
recovered its normal tone and activity.
This speech Of his nephew's, however,
had the effect OF Immediately restoring
his belief in the latter's entire sanity.
He felt convinced that If only he could
regain his nephews trust, the old
brotherly confidence which existed be-
tween them since the years when they
played together as boys, all might yet
But at present there appeared to be
no sign that Eugen meant to give his
confidence to any one The young
Prince had come up out Of the valley OF
valleys shadow had chung to him. and
It seemed he was unable to dissipate it.
by the way" said EUgen suddenly,
az must reward these RacKsoles, I sup
pose / am indeed grateful to them.
II / gave the girl bracelet. and the
that meet the case?"
NV dear Eugenr exclaimed Aribert,
ashast. "A thousand guineasi Do you
know that Theodore Rscksole could
out making himself q pauper? A thou
sand guineas:. You might as well offer
him sixpence.'
Then what must I OFFER"
Nothing, except YOUR thanks. Any
ythinG else would be an insult. These
are no ordinary hotel people"
Cant 1 present the little girl a
bracelet" Prince Eugcn gave sinis-
Aribert looked at him steadily.
NO." he said.
"Why did YOU kiss hcT-that night?"
asked Prince Eugen carelessly.
kiss whom?" said Aribert, blushing
AMI angry despite his most determined
efforts to keep calm and Jnconcerned.
The Racksole girl"
when do you mean?"
81 mean" said Prince Eugen, that
night in Ostend when I was i'll. You
Thought I was in a delirium. Perhaps |
was. But somehow / remember that
with extraordinary distinctness. 1 re-
member raising my head for fraction
Of an instant, and Just in that fraction
of an instant you kissed her. Oh! I'm
Gle Aribertv'
Listen, Eugen, for Gods sake.
love Nella Racksole. shall marry
her.
"You!" There was a long pause. and