Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-17
BOOK II.
CHAPTER XII.-Continued.

CHAPTER XII.-Continued.
Outside in the square the newsboys were
shouting. She had stood before the win
dow for some time when a familiar name
fell upon her ears. She turned around
and touched a bell.
What is it that you want?' her hus-
band asked.
"A paper" she replied.
A very correct butler brought her the
She scanned 1t eagerly. Then it slipped
from her shuddering fingers. She turned
upon her husband.
HE is dead!' she cried. Cant you
read It? Death OF an Englishman in an
explosion in Paris. Mr.. Hendricks. a
journalist. seriously injured; Sir Julien
Portel. the ex-cabinet minister. dead!"
She stood as though turned to stone.
Then something in her husbands face
seemed to bring her back to the present.
She turned upon him. Her face was sud
denly lit with some strange, quivering
fire. 1t was one Of the moments OF her
life.
You miserable worm!' she shrieked
"You dare to stand there and smile be-
cause man is dead. You"
He tried to draw himself up. tried to re-
to stem a torrent.
I've done my best to share your rotten
scheming life" she cried, Ito help you In
your dirty ways and to crawl up into the
places we coveted! Once / saw the truth
Once a real man was kind to me and
heart ever since For your sake and my
own, for the sake of our rotten, miser-
able ambitions. 1 ruined him and sent
him to his death. He is dead. do you
hear? You and did it; We are muir
derers! And to think that / did it for
you! That you-such creature as you
might take his place"
She threw up her hands high above her
head. There had been people who had
doubted her good looks. No one at tina,
instant would have denied her beauty
Carraby's eyes We're fixed upon her and
he was afraid. Even when she had cast
herself face downward upon the couch
and lay with her head buried in hel
hands. he dared not go near. He stood
there gazing at her across the room. Per-
haps he, too. though his understanding
was less, tasted little Of the poison!
In the splendid library Of his palace II
Berlin, the maker OF toys leaned back IN
his chair after a long and hard days
work. There fingered upon his lips still
the remnants Of grim smile. which the
dictation Of a dispatch to London had just
evoked His secretary gathered up his
genial
MY young FRIEND" he remarked, those
letters from Paris-they were stopped just
In time, eh?"
Just in time. indeed, highness," the
young man replied. II have friends who
write me from there. They assure me
that their effect was tremendous. The
cessation Of them was. indeed, an act OF
Providence.
Prince Falkenberg's lips relaxed. There
h. ~ \
mouth. Yet II this were indeed smile
1t was no pleasant thing to look upon!
IAN act of Providence. without a
Doubt" he exclaimed-"Providenc which
watches always over the destinies Of our
dear fatherland.'
Il shall bring you now, highness, the
foreign papers?" the young man sug-
gested.
IF you please" his master replied. 81
read them now, thank heaven, with an
easier feeling
The young man retreated and reap
peared in q few minutes with a pile OF
newspapers. Prince Falkenberg rose and
stretched himself. lit a long. black cigar
and threw himself into a comfortable
chair before the high window.
Your highness will take some coffee,
perhaps?" the young man asked.
Presently
The great minister unfolded his news
papers A reference in the English Times
which only few days ago he had opened
with almost a shudder. He undid the
wrapper, shook 1t open and looked at it.
Then suddenly he sat like a man turned
to stone The cigar burnt out between
his teeth. his eyes were riveted upon that
page, the black letters seemed to have
become lurid. The sentences stabbed, he
was face to face with the impossible. The
paper which he read was dated on the
preceding day. Before him was q fourth
article. dated from Paris, dated less than
forty eight hours ago. signed Julien Por-
tel" The title of the article was THE
Worlds Great Mischief Maker.'' He read
on, read from the first sentence to the
last, read the naked truth about himself,
saw his motives exposed, his secret visits
to Paris derided, his foibles photographed.
He saw himself the laughing stock OF
Europe. Then he leaned over and rang
the bell
"Neudheim," he said. 'let it be given
out that leave tonight for Falkenberg
as usual. Let the automobile be prepared
for a long journey l leave in half an
hour"
The young man stared. He had fancied
that those flying visits of his master
for a time were to be discontinued
"Your highness goes south?'' he asked.
Il drive all night" Prince Falkenberg
replied. See that the Count Rudolf is
prepared to accompany me. Quick! Give
the orders"