Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-18
The Mischief Maker
Bu E. PHILLIPS OPPENE4ELM

reminded her. 1--WE fight with the pen.
with diplomacy, with all the weapons
OF, statecraft and intrigue, If you will.
But this IS not now the Paris of Dumas.
one does not assassinate"
my friend" she said earnestly, you
don't know Herr Freudenberg. If, in
deed, you have become during these last
few days his enemy, by this time next
week you Will surely have passed into
some other sphere of activity. There
are no methods too primitive for him,
no methods too subtle or too cruel. He
can be the most charming, the most
winning. the most generous, the most
romantic person who ever breathed; or
he can be a Nero, a cruel and brutal
butcher, murderer either Of reputa-
lions or bodies-he cares little which"
presently Julien declared, 81 shall
begin to feel uncomfortable"
"Oh! you have courage. Of course"
she admitted, with scornful little
shrug Of the shoulders. mo one has
ever denied that to your face. But you
have also the unconquerable stupidity
which makes heroes and victims Of
your soldiers"
Julien smiled.
''well, am at least warned, and fol
/ that I thank you. Now let me ask you
another question. You have told me this
very strange thing about yourself and
Herr Freudenberg. You have told me
Of your feelings concerning him. Yet you
have not really told me exactly on what
terms you are with him at present? For
give me If I find this important"
st do not receive him." she replied "I
/ have no interest in his comings or his
! goings. I have a solemn promise, a
promise to which he has subscribed upon
his honor, that he shall not seek to cross
the threshold OF my house. He sent me
an ambassador once, quite lately, to
make me a certain proposition connected
with you"
with me?" julien repeated.
: She nodded.
He has great faith in my powers"
she went on, looking him full in the
face, "also, apparently, some belief in
/ your susceptibility. Is that unkind of
me? Never mind, II is the truth. He
imagined. perhaps. that might help him
to rid Paris of your presence. There was
\ just one thing he could offer me which
I desired. He came to offer it."
you SefusedT' Julien exclaimed.
Her eyes rested upon his. Her express
sion was family provocative.
How could I accept an offer7" she
not belong to met You have shown no
signs at present, Sir Julien, OF becoming
my abject slave"
The car rushed through a struggling
asked, Ito deal with a thing which did
village All the time she was watch
| ing him Then she threw herself back
among the cushions with little laugh.
"a week or so ago." she murmured, IT
had a fancy that If I had tried-well,
] that perhaps you were not so different
from other men. 1 should have loathed
my conquest. should probably have
/ loathed you, but I think that I should
have expected it. At the present mo-
ment," she went on, glancing into a lit
tie gold mirror which she had picked
up from a heap of trifles lying on the
table before her. "at the present mo-
men I am disillusioned. My vanity is
wounded though my relief is great. New
ertheless, Sir Julien, tell me what has
happened to you during the last few
daysY''
| Work" Julien replied, ''the sort of
work 1 was craving for"
mot only that" she insisted. setting
down the mirror with a sigh. There is
something else"
IF there is" Julien assured her, 81
am not yet conscious of it,
They had emerged from Ehe country
/ lane along which they had been travelling
] N~@OAAo
the broad highroad. They were going
at a fair speed when suddenly a huge
racing car came flashing by them, COW
cred with dust and with all the indi-
cations of having come great distance.
Madame Christopher leaned forward
IN her seat and clutched her companion S
arm. Her eyes were fixed upon the fig
ure of the man leeaning back by the
side of the driver.
you seer" she muttered.
rHerr Freudenberg" Julien gasped
She nodded. Already the car had
vanished in cloud of dust.
HE is Just from Germany or from
the frontier. He very seldom comes all
the way by rail. The car is always
waiting"
IT shall see him, then, tonight" Ju-
/ lien declared. Already without a
| doubt he knows. Already he is my en-
envy. What about you, Madame Chris
, tophor?"
my friend" she promised. you will
have nothing to fear from me. So LONG
as can forget your sex, rather like
you"
"Are you going to answer my ques-
ton about the little girl who sent me
to your" he asked
81 will tell you, if you like" she
said. ''AIademoise1le Sem was once in
my service. She occasionally executes
commissions for me in London. She
knows everybody. 1t was in obedience
to my wishes that she gave you that
message"
But why?" Julien demanded. What
interest had you in me?"
None" she answered a little coldly
mo personal interest. 1 sent tina
message because I discovered that Tie
individual who has just passed us IN
the automobile was framing certain