Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-21
CHAPTER, XV-Continued.

boys got out their tom-toms and reeds.
and the eerie music affected the white
people hauntingly and mysteriosly For
thousands Of years the high and low
notes Of the drums (hollow earthen jars
or large gourds covered with goatskin at
one end) and the thin. metallic wall OF
the reeds had echoed across the deserts.
unchanged. The boys swayed to and fro
to the rhythm. gradually working them
| selves into an ecstatic frenzy.
Fortune always remembered that night.
Wrapped in her blanket she had lain
down Just outside the circle and had
| fallen into a doze. When the music
| stopped and the boys left the prisoners
to themselves George and Ryanne talked
IT never forget faces" began George.
| mo? That's q gift
"And / have never forgotten yours.
was in doubt at first. but not now.
ST never met you till that night at the
hotel"
.'That's true. But you are Horace
Wadsworth, all the same. the son OF the
| millionaire banker, the man l used to
| admire in the field
"You still think I'm that chap?
"I am sure Of it. The first morning
you gave yourself away"
what did I say?" anxiously.
! 'sYou mumbled football phrases"
| "Ah!" Ryanne was vastly relieved. He
seemed to be thinking.
| do you persist in denying it?''
II might deny it. but ! shan,t I'm
knows something about that chapter. but
not all. Strikes you odd, eh?'' continued
| Ryanne. iron In his voice.. every op..
| portunity in the world, and yet, here l
am, How much do you know | Won
der?"
"You took some money from the bank,
| think they said
"Right-O! Wine, Percival; cards. wine
and other things. Advice and warning
Always 80, Ell? You have heard of my
brother. I dare say Well, he wouldn t
lend me two stamps were to write for
the undertaken to come and collect my
remains. Beautiful history! I've been
doing some tall thinking these lonely
nights. Only the straight and narrow
way pays. Be good. even II you are
lonesome. When 1 get back, If ever do.
it's a new leaf for mine Neither wine
| nor cards nor women ;.
Silence. The fire no longer Dlaze0; II
who is Mrs. Chedsoye?" George final
| ly began anew.
First. how did you chance to make her
acquaintance"
And she borrowed q hundred and fifty
pounds OF you"
"Who told you that?" quickly.
She did. She paid you back"
"And she hadn't intended to- You poor
| Innocent
'sWhy do you call me that"
ITO lend money at Monte Carlo to a
| woman whose name you did not know at
I'll tell you who she is. because you're
bound to learn sooner or later. She Is
| one Of the most adroit smugglers of the
age: jewels and rare laces. And never
| once has the secret service been able to
touch her. Her brother. the major. as
| sists her when he isn't fleeing tender
| lambs at all known games of chance:
| He's a card sharp. one OF the best or
! them He tried to teach me, but 1 never
| could cheat a man at cards. Never
makes any false moves. but waits for the
quarry to offer itself. That poor child
| has always been wondering and wonder
| ing, but she never succeeded in finding
out the truth. Brother and sister have
| time 1 have helped them out. There;
you have me in the ring, too. But who
| cares? The father. so understand, mar
ried Fortunes mother for love; she mar
| any. Drink and despair dispatched him
| quickly enough. She is remarkable
woman. and If she had a heart she would
| be the greatest of them all. She has as
much heart as this beetle as he filliped
| the green iridescent shell into the fire.
But after all, she's lucky. It's a bad
| thing to have a heart. Percival, a bad
! thing. Some one Is sure to come along
and wiring it, to jab it and stab it."
"The poor little girl!''
"Percival. I'm no fool. I've been watch
| ing you. Go in and win her. and God
| bless you both. She's not for me, She S
not for met
But what place have in all this?"
| evasively.
what do you mean by that?"
why did Mrs. Chedsoye pay me back.
when her original intention had been not
| to pay me?"
You'll find all that written in the book
of fate. as Mahomed would say. More I
| cannot tell you"
"Win not?"
"Well, that phrase expresses It."
| They both heard the sound. Fortune.
her face white and drawn. stood imme-
| diately behind them.