The Washington times., 1912-05-04
Behind the Curtain"
---- BV -
CHARLES STEPHENS
Copyright The Frank A. MunBey Coz
All Rights Reserved.

Call her Rosalie," said Bellair, with
smile. ,".Rosalie, the prairie fower.
you know"
Why cried. and again I was filled
think it was Rosalie!'
"Oh, nonsense said Bellair ANY
how. 1t doesn't matter. Call her Mrs.
Anselm."
Kemp,s only daughter--a beautiful heir
ess. of course. Well-(Rosalie? OF
course, it was Rosaliel Anyhow. Ford
fell in love with her. The old man died.
man when he began life, owns the
whole business and is counted as one OF
the magnates of the island
But that love-story runs too smooth
ly to be interesting" said Bellair, look
ing at me keenly.
Perhaps it was my knowledge that
there was more to the story, put u
| certainly seemed to me that Bellair was
drawing me out.
The rests only hearsay."
"Hearsay Is always the best part of
a story" chuckled Bellair. How does
it.S9?s,i, romo,,,.r r..a,nr =, t,,r.
name, of course; but he was come of
good stock-English-an honorable, be-
lieve, and heir to a title. The honorable
Ford, went to visit cave-quite a
| natural wonder, they tell me. 1t was
kind of outing. you know. Those
caves are very common in the islands:
in, a hole which sinks to Lord knows
where. You drop stone and you hear
It boomIboom-boom, until You cant
hear hear Il It, boom COM apy more; The yonns J,
so down the hole on a rope. The rope
slipped, and that was the end of a
| promising scion of noble family. They
say the girl was really in love with
And Lord DunfIIayne died only last
week, y observed Belair. helping him.
| self to cheese.
Everybody knows it," said Marcus
Bellair,. staring rather stupidity at me
His death was in all the papers"
But that was the young fellows
and Rosaile9 on" / added stiffiy, "yor
| pense."
prehension leaped into his eyes.
Not at all" said he calmly. "You
caught me of my guard. see; Gettys
must explain. Indeed, I think ! owe
you an explanation for that other mat,
ter, too"
You mean" began. for my mind
had suddenly gone back to my vis-
lonary starvation experience.
| Just what you mean," he said laugh
ingly. "Gettys. have 1t in my power
TO make or mar human happiness"
j looked at the man. The bright spots
on his cheeks had spread, and his voice
was pitched to the reckless mockery
poor man who is describing himself as
| a millionaire.
Yes, the power to make or mar hu.
man happiness, he repeated. (which
shall do? / have the power to pre-.
vent all misunderstanding: the power
to let half of the world know how the
other half lives; the power to right the
Wronged and detect the guilty; and all
this without raising phllanthropic mil.
lions, without the aid of your law courts
finger"
rs this a dream or scheme?" ]
asked, hoping to humor him.
snoM mMeither; u;a said he: 1T isIwhat
fact. On the other hand. I have 1t ir
my power to show the world its wicked
ness; to take the human heart brain
and soul, and hold them up, bare. fol
at, laugh at-and weep over"
You will parden me II l seem in
credulous," | said.
Il should be disappointed If you were
dreamed it, let us say-waiking uT
roadway the other night. You wert
starving. Your name was Arthur
I n hhoH Win "A pasta
past. You were not quite sane, l re
gret to say. You were about to enc
your life in the East river. some hours
later. when you encountered me-"
] l0nkedinto' BellairG face wa
stuptlted with amazement, but as
stared I realized ;hat the man whom
as Arthur Trcmlett, did not know. bu
thought rTesem5le'd certain picture o
Here was the same naliid face. aIthougI
now flushed with triumph. the sam
/ cameo.like features. he same Grea
eyes and commanding brow.
II will not ask If YOU are convinced,
continued Marcns Bellair. Tic Incl
dent "f my, meeting the man. Tremlett
did occur, however. exactly as yOu eX
Derienced 1t, and as he would be willin
tu admit, | have no doubt. il YOU CalIc
on him 1T the Court Hotel, where he
staying He sails for England torool
row Upon his arrival chere he vii! b
pl O''lainIrd Lord Dunfllayne."
There was silence. NY voice wa
gone My brain refused TO act. tithe
, the man before me was mad-a Cah
maniac who might become violent upo
the slightest prOvocation-or ! was /
tho presence "f myctery which m
sIOw-thinking processes were unable t
cope with.
Tonight. I promise YOU" he SAID
'"Thut is why I asked you down. Thi
I cheese is really excellent. No? per
: feet night tor an exposition. Listen
: the rain outside. All! Was that tn
hell. Hnlstein,s arrival. know YOU ar
, fond of music. Come with me. II
Goin= TO introduce you to Bluebeard'
chamber"
\ Confirmation Of This Story VII
r BE FOund IN Tomorrow
Issue OF The Times.