Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-11-13

Dralu0 asked ln~QlHeTenIiy, Ills H0du
still unturned.
Stanley Hargreave. Met him in
Hongkong when l was SEN over to
handle a part of the revolution. War
correspondence stuff. First time |
ever ran across him on Broadway at
night. We've since had some pow
vows rel some rare books. Queer
old cock; brave as a lion, but as quiet
as a mouse"
"Bookish, eh? My kind. Bring him
over" Underneath the table Braine
maneuvered to touch the foot of the
princess.
81 don't know" said the reporter
obviously. He might say no, and
that would embarrass the whole lot of
us. He's a bit of a hermit. I'm sur
prised to see him here"
Try urged the princess. Il like
to meet men who are hermits."
II haven't the least doubt about
that" the reporter laughed. I'll try;
but don't blame me if I'm rebuffed."
He left the table with evident re-
luctance and approached Hargreave.
The two shook hands cordially, for the
elder man was rather fond of this
medley of information known as Jim
Norton.
"Sit down, boy; sit down. You're
just the kind of a nan I've been want.
ing to talk to tonight"
Wouldn't you rather talk to a. pref
ty woman?f
Pm an old man"
Bah, That's a hypocritical bluff,
and you know it. My friends at the
next table have asked me to bring
you over"
Il do not usually care to meet
strangers"
Make an exception this once SAID
the reporter, who had seen Bra1ne
eyes change and was curious to know
why the appearance of Hargreave III
metally CLEAN. Here were two
unique men; he desired to see them
face to face.
This once. My fault; l ought moi
to be here; I feel out of place. What
a life, though, you reporters lead! TIC
meet kings and presidents and great
~fnanciers, socialists and anarch
lists, the whole scale of life, and te
slap these people on the back as Il
they were everyday friends"
Now you're making fun of me. Fol
one king there are always twenty
thick brogans ready to kick me down
the steps; don't forget that"
Hargreave laughed. Come, then;
let us get it over with"
The in%troductions were made. Nor
ton felt rather chagrined. So far as
he could see, the W men were tota
strangers. Well, it was all in the
game. Nine out of ten opportunities
for the big story were fake alarms
but he was always willing to risk the
labor these nine ~entailed for the sake
of the tenth.
At length Braine glanced at his
watch, and the princess nodded
Adieux we're said. Inside the taxicaf
Braine leaned back with a deep, aud
ible sigh.
What it is?" she asked.
sThe luck of the devils own, ~ht
said. Child of the Steppes, for years
I've flown about seas and continents
through valleys and over mountains
for what? For the sight of the face
of that man We have just left, Al
first glance wasn't sure; but the
- 6 hts Xo;oa uroc -ouO,1ph OLGA
the next time you see that reporter
throw your arms around his neck anc
kiss him. What did l tell you? With
out Norton's help l would not have
been sure. I'm going to leave you a
your apartment"
THE man of the Black Hundred?'
she whispered.
1.-The man who deserted and defet
the Black Hundred, who broke his
VOWS, and never paid a kopeck fol
the privilege; the man who had beer
appointed for the supreme work ane
who ran away. In those days we need
ed men of his stamp, and to accom-
plish this end.
There was a woman" she inter
rupted, with a touch of bitterness.
always the woman. And she was
as clever and handsome as you are.
Thanks. Sometimes :"
"Ah, yes!" ironically. Sometime.
you wish you could settle down, MARI,
and have a family! Your domesticitl
would last about a month";
She made no retort because she rec
Lognized the truth of this statement.
There's an emerald l know of" he
said ruminatively. Its quite pos
sible that you may be wearing it with
in a few days"
Il am mad over them. There il
something in the green stone that fas
cinates me. / can't resist it,"
That's because, somewhere in the
far past, your ancestors were orien
tails. Here we are. I'll see you to
morrow. l must hurry. Goodnight
She stood on the curb for a moment
and watched the taxicab as it whirlet
around a corner. The man held hel
with a fascination more terrible thar
any jewel. She knew him to be &
great and daring rogue, cunning, pa
tent, fearless. Packed away in thai
mind of his there were a thousand &C
complished deeds which had reused
futilely the police Of two continents
Braine. She could have laughed. The
very name he had chosen was an in
science directed at society.
The subject of her thoughts soon
arrived at his destination. A flight Of
stairs carried him into a dimly lighted
hall, smelling evilly of escaping gas
He donned a black mask and struck
the door with a series of light blows
two, then one, then three, and again
one. The door opened and he slipped
inside. Round a table sat several men
also masked. They we're all tried and
trusted rogues; but not one of them
! summer miss him and ask where he
has gone. He hasn't gone anywhere.
He is still with them, but they don't
know him. He drops his gold and-black