, 1912-03-21

Never again would the splpndOr at
her beauty burn as II did this night
Laura, alone among them all. went
serenely about her toilet. Shr w1>
puzzle before her feet.
On the bridge the first officer was
standing at the captains side.
Captain he shouted. where Iii
you get that ~Frenchman?"
Picked him up day before yestiddN
Speak fair English an II bit % dago
They're allus handy on II pleasure
boat. He en- keep OF tn ritrrnf boat
Ii An you know what persistent
cusses they be in the Mediterranean
why?"
"oh, nothing. If he's II good sailor
Notice his hands?"
"Why. nor
Soft rs n woman's."
"Y' don't say. Well. well see IN
tough enough before we sigh Fun.
chal."
There was one vacant chair in the
dining salon NJ. Ferraud was indis
posed. He could climb til" highest
peak. he could cross ice ridges with Il
sheer mile on either side OF him. with
never an attack of vertigo. hut Ihi~
heaving mystery under his ieet always
got the better of him the first day ont
He considered t the on" flaw in aIt
otherwise perfect system Thus he
missed the comedy and the TRACED!
of the eyes at dinner nor saw II we
man throw her all and lose II.
rs there anything can do tor you
asked Fitzgerald venrurinG his head
into NJ. Ferraud'S cabin.
Not ling. Tomorrow II VIII all be
gone. | am always so. The be
water" NJ. F'erraud drew the bIankel
under his chin.
When you are better should like
to ask you some questions"
MY friend. you have been very good.
] promise to tell you all when the time
comes. II will interest you"
Fitzgerald shut the door and returned
to the smoking room. Something or
other concerning Breitmnnn he WIS
sure of 1t. What had he done or what
was he going to do that France shuuld
watch him? There was no doubt in
his mind now. Breitmunn had known
OF this treasure and had come to the
Pines simply to put his hands on the
casket.
Then NJ. Ferrnud had tried to fore.
stall him. This much Of the riddle was
plain. Rut the pivots upon which these
hl,.- ,,-. ll-.
more than II treasure in the balance
Well. NJ Ferruud had told him to
wait. There was nothing else for him
to do.
A little rubber at bridge was In prog
ress. The admiral was playing with
Mrs. Cold6eld. and Cathewe sat oppo-
site H~ildegarde. The latter two were
losing. She was ordinarily a skillful
player. as Cathewe knew. u tonight
she lost constantly. was reckless with
her leads and played carelessly into her
opponents hands. Cathewe watched
her gravely. Never had he seen her
more beautiful. and the apprehension
that she would never be his was like n
hand %straininG over his heart.
NH hHN hN SAoSu oh ut
precipice during the dinner hour
Breitmann doubtless would never be
told. A woman scorned is an old story
Still, the story goes on. retold each
day. The red fires OF revenge danced
before H~ildegarde Won Mitter's eyes.
burning the spots on the cards. the
blackness of despair crowding upon
each dash. Let him beware. with "A
word she could shatter his dream-aye.
and so she would. What-sit there and
let him turn the knife in her heart
and receive the pain meekly? No. II
was the thoughtless brutality with
which he went about this new affair
that bit so poignantly. With all her
beauty. intellect. genius and generos.
ity. she Ind not been able to stir him
as this young girl was unconsciously
doing. She held no luminosity for the
daughter OF her lost. She was clear
visioned enough to put the wrong
where II ber"noad