New-York tribune., 1912-02-11

I.....''' ftFlt.l btllllll, at bllI tlIl bl Nl4t
.a.r Ho'hought Of nothing now but keep
.-g his feet. He must not fall, he told him
-.t t.sh'v-np must not fall, or he would bc
DRAGGED. He did not care whether he lived
.- .-. bur he did not want 10 be dragged.
CHAPTER III. The Price
DURDITA. Of the cafe, had not yet come
FL. decision when late the following
afternoon The Shoulder silently entered. He
SAW that III once, and smiled sardonlcally.
~-. price is too heavy" he asked softly.
I'll. -.r' stared at him, hatred plain IN her
eyes II aonot know, she answered simply.
81 r help YOU to decide, said the man
from .re Village Negre. Look upon those
look well. for the thing in rags which IS
.ha,..--g -gtoitsclf ike an ape Belmont.
". pointed 10 a group OF horsemcn that
were coming along the street. lie had timed
his l,-. well.
Tn. -.~l came up and looked. All the
blood --inei slowly from her face as she
stared. Despite his rags, his unShaycd chin,
his drawn and ghastly face and his almlcss
wu,.g~-g. she recognized the man She loved.
"A-ar~ She said ina lOng-draWn whisper Of
Di'v and tenderness. For full minute after
there was silence. Pcrdita kept herfacc away
from -n.wan standing beside her, clcnCh,ng
her hands. gazing StOnily AT the shambhng
wreck that ploddcd along behind the horses
Of the Arabs. chained like tired dog.
The Shoulders evil little Singer sounded
n her -noulder as the group turned corner
and o.. brown hand Of the Spanish glrl stole
10 her bosom. Never was The Shoulder
nearer death than at that moment But
the ouch Of the concealed dagger seemed
10 'w her. Il was not yet time for the dag
yer The anger and misery died out from
her ..autiful face, and She turned, smiling
.- rarely smiled She had made her de-
-r.- at last.
81 paw your price" she said, and her smile
W ycrilously sweet. 81 pay.
The man stared long into her glowing eyes,
long and scarchinglv, as though he would see
FL. her very heart.
For the sake Of that gibbering thing; he
said amazed, even though he had expected
her 10 Weld at sight Of Belmont
But she shook her head. "No, no. She
said. Il pay it a little because Of the man
once loved, not for the man he has changed
into. But perhaps pay the price most Of all
.lr the man | love now. Her voice Was
'nguOrOus and subtle, and it sounded true,
even 20 the man from the Street Of Seven
Delights.
Ha seized her roughly. as that true;
D. no., play with mc-dO not lie 70 me.
u dared into her eyes again, trembling with
81, sion. vet still suspicious. His grip tight
,-.l upon her. Listen 20 me, Pcrdlta.. he
. ir Il sort Of whispered roar. If YOU are
d, ing. if YOU lie, shall know before many
G..s-and will 50 deal with YOU that the
dogs Of the Village Ncgc shall in the end
feed full upon YOU.
She smiled, leaning full % him. Why
should hc>" She whispered. Get that cold
ErgIishman his rclcasc-and see if | lic."
The suspicious Of the man vanished. q
believe he said hoar-cly. and drew her to
linn. They kissed, sealing their compact,
md The Shoulder was satisfied.
But the lips Of Pcrdi'a the coffee seller
a.-e cOld-,hcv were cold. for all their glow
ing color And no art Of hers nor kiss Of any
man but Belmont could warm them.
The Shoulder stood back, breathing deep.
you will be my wltc," he asked as though
80 roassurc himself.
"Whcn the Englishman is pardoncd-
yes, she said.
The man from the Village Ncgrc thought
for moment; then, at is well, he sad
81 will attend 20 that He kissed her agar
and hurried out, his eyes smolderng VIII
triumph
But be could not see the look that fol-
lowed him.