The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-03-29

A waiter brought the card to the
sitting-room door of the suite of
rooms which the semi-paralyzed gen.
tleman had engaged, and gave it to
the valet. The valet took 1t in to his
master, Mr.. -, appropriately named
by prophetic parents. Napoleon"
Prince. Mr.. Napoleon Prince was
having breakfast, it being only
eleven o'clock of hot August morn
ing His sister, small and slim, with
her hair dressed a la Josephine, and
a high-waisted frock, so that together
they looked rather like an impression
OF the First Empire, was with him at
the table. He passed the card to her
with a silent laugh--not a smile
and she read the inscription. She bit
into her red lower lip with little
white teeth, and grew paler.
Bring the gentleman up, Dapper,"
said Mr.. Prince to the valet
Dapper, who was really one Of those
incorporates so rare among the class
that ministers. complete fool, had
noticed nothing of the Josephine
girls agitation. Descending to the
lounge he found the visitor waiting
in seat beneath the palms. Mean
while Napoleon was saying to his sis
ter:
There is really cause for nothing
but amusement here, Ellen" tapping
the card.
She smiled, and helped herself to a
peach.
There was shown into the room a
tall, fair young man, burned red and
brown by foreign suns. He wore fan
mel shirt and brooches, long boots the
worse for wear, but scrupulously pol
ished, a softly flaming tie, and carried
q cowboy hat in a manicured hand.
He had presumably made what con-
cessions he was able to the conven-
tions of a call by the boot-cleaning
and the manicuring. There was about
him, in spite of the Colonial outfit, an
air of English universities and creamy
society. He stood just inside the
door. and bowed, as If uncertain of
his reception.
You may go, Dapper," said Napo-
leon|to the servant, who withdrew.
He leaned back on his wheel chair
and looked at Mr.. John Luck by the
door.
"Glad to see you, Mr.. Luck" said
he. Very glad. indeed. Let me see
we met, think, about three weeks
ago, in Bung Creek, remarkably
nasty little mining town in North.
west Canada. Will you breakfast, or
have you breakfasted? Do come fur
Their in, sit down, and never mind the
hour of your call. love informali-
ties. You must have come over on
the same boat as my sister aud my
self"
"Steerage," said Luck, coming for
ward. which accounts for our not
meeting on board. You had just re-
1ieved a friend of mine in Bung
Creek of his responsibilities :"
"Of the Barney Collection" said
Napoleon, with his noiseless laugh.
Just so. And have you followed me
TO compel me to disgorge? That will
not be possible, | am afraid, since the
collection is already scattered among
hundred dealers In Europe and
Asia Its value, may add, is gath
cred together, and lodged at my
bank"
Luck put his elbows on the break
fast table, helped himself to fruit, bit
into 1t. and replied, looking across at
Napoleon from a pair of daredevil
eyes.
let the Barney Collection go
hang! I want to be taken into part
nership.'
Napoleon did not reply, but turned
to his sister.
Ellen" he asked, shall we7"
She nodded.
81 told you in Bung Creek" she
said to Luck, 'that you were a fool
to scrape along on a peppercorn re-
mittance from home"
Wen take you into partnership"
Napoleon added His incaution
about the arrangement was superb.
Fri put you at once on trial job.
! can plan, but I can't always do My
inhrmity renders me so helpless, as
well as bringing me into conspicuity.
We are not in London for nothing,
Ellen and !. as you may surmise. We
are never anywhere without purpose.
In this undertaking shall be head.
you my hands. Ellen"
hope that Miss Prince" said Luck
quickly. may in future be able to
avoid personal risks. Surely you
Napoleon looked at him with a
glance like the fight of an arrow.
May be, may be-" he agreed "I
see your view. Meanwhile. will YOU
work, II necessary. blindfold?"
Luck assented.
when ! know you better" said Ma
pcieon. Il shall, of course. give YOU
more confidence. You're the kind OF
man / like. wouldn't work with q
cad. You are gentleman. | don't
want to know your story or youl
antecedents. You carry YOUR birth
mark. If the world has used yor
hardly, so much the better. You viii
have mo scruples about hitting bacI
as I hit. Scruples of any so-T mus
go-my partners may have honor blu
not honesty; pride, bnt no nrinci
pies; manners, no morals. You fol
low met"
"I'm your man." replied Johnn,
Luck, simply.
Undoubtedly you are" said Mann
leon. Have you any money!"