Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-14
GEORGE c. STIEDD


coat carefully over ms knees Wiilie rs
rested his silk hat upon his lap. Wha'
light there was shone full upon his face
and gave me a full view of his features
AS ever. they were placid: his little eyes
twinkled brightly. his round forehead
running into the badness OF his head was
smooth and unfurrowed by any lines OF
anxiety: his beard black and shiny-as
was his mustache. that was waxed to
needle points-had been newly and ciose-
ly cropped to its point on the chin.
Come. monsieur. we'll put aside mere
ly pleasant conversation and talk plain
business" said he.
"Senor, you have me at disadvantage
I'm perhaps intellieent, as you say, but
this rope stops the circulation In my
limbs and dulls my brain. To talk bust
the rope and you will perceive an aston
fishing brilliancy in my ideas"
The complacent smile grew upon his
face.
"Ah. but no. my Charles. I fear the
brilliancy would extend to acts"
"Well, what do you WANT" / asked,
shortly.
THE map. mon ami"
Get 1t. then"
THAT I will do-if must. But let us
see II there be not pleasanter way. AS
you know, I am about to bid my good
friends at Moore House farewell the day
after tomorrow or the day following that.
Let us part in good will. you and !. Give
me the map. in which you have no IN
terest. knowing not even the name or the
fortress or In what country II Is stu
ated. and agree to say nothing Of It or OF
this affair or Of q certain NJ. DUrvtlle,
and all will be arranged agreeably be-
tween US. Good Pilon will row you upon
the water to fish for day or two until
I have departed. Thus you will amuse
yourself and this matter will be settled.
"And would return to Layouche?"
He spread his hands wide in an ex-
pressive gesture.
But why not, Charles?"
Yes, why not? Pilon has a knife. and
so have Descarte and Esper knives.
Senior, It would be very easy to speak q
little word in Pilon's round ear. and then
plump! Charles would dive to the bot
tom like fish. Indeed. my dear Senior
Del Hervalie - D'Crville. I'm laboring
under the delusion that the word ia al
ready spoken
Drawing forth a case, he removed two
cigarettes. placed one to my hips and
lighted it and then served himself. In
could be desired; it was only in larger
ones that his zeal might prove fatal.
ITO be frank with you. my good
Charles" he said. a little sadly. Il fear
the word has been spoken to Pilon. and
Pilon is a ready fellow. For some hun
dred dollars he will do much: indeed. for
that sum he would eat his own soul IL he
could find it,
"A hundred dollars, cheap enough.
els 1t not?"
"still you might have saved the money
said. you are very skillful as a MUIR
derer yourself. senior. l recall Forge, for
instance"
He pulled his cigarette critically.
mot particu arly skillful. those execu-
tons. but necessary. Besides. today 1t Is
different. Behold, am an envoy, a man
Of position
WELL there was something to be said
for that; an envoy and particular friend
has. I suppose, certain proprieties to OBJ
serve It would not look well to engage
in murder; ENJOYS and other public men
must depend much upon favorable inn
pressions, and exception might be taken
by sensitive persons to blood on the ofii.
cial frock. I recognized his position and
the obligations II carried; I went farther
and remarked that l was charmed by
his consideration.
But said I. II can't see my way clear
to deliver the map"
Its not the map so much" he replied
frankly, but 1t Is yourself. my friend
that concerns me and makes this step i'm
perative. Perceive, l am tie intimate Of
Castro. I'm the friend OF NJ. Moore,
you think that care for Venezuela? Bah
1t is a dungheap OF poems. I now have
wealth: brains I have always had. A
year more to consummate my plans and
then I shall return to France. and there
, no longer D'Urville. no longer Del Har-
vale, but"-he dramatically tapped his
breast-'.my real self. I shall become ia
nous. What will money not accomplish
What will brains not contrive? Ten years
-five-and you will behold me rule France
rule Europe!"
(To be continued tomorrow.)