The Washington herald., 1914-11-22
tcoHhsh.. Isll.J

Id idency of the republic ! had not
known NJ. Casimir-Perier per-
sonaIly, and he was still little more
shan name to me at the time of the
transaction / am going to describe.
myself had not been very long es-
tablished IN Paris, and was only just
beginning to make myself felt as a
force IN international politics, so that
Il need excite no surprise that should
have been equally known to NJ CAST
nir-Perier.
Apparently, however, my reputation
had already extended beyond the limits
of western Europe, for my secretary,
Carrot, who had then newly entered my
service, oame to me one day in state
OF plsasurable excitement to tell me
shat Turkish gentleman wanted 10 see
= ne on confidential business.
/ was not then so inaccessible as I
have become since my clientele has
been practically restricted to royal per-
soaages, and / allowed the visitor to
come in withdAt further introduction.
The moment he entered I saw that
Carrot had made a mistake natural
enough on the part of person of lin
tied knowledge. The stranger was a
dark-complexioned Oriental, dressed in
the sort of collarless frock-coat affect
ed by Turks of the educated class, but
the shape of his fez at once informed
me that he was a follower Of the Shiyi
sect, or at all events Persian.
He saluted me with that Difference,
exaggerated to our notions, which
forms part of Oriental manners. But
as he faced me IN the chair which had
offered him there was something in his
expression, more particularly in the
, hard, sensual lines of his mouth and
the fixed stare of his unwinking eyes
they were like the eyes of an opium
eater-which impressed me disagree
ably.
felt almost as though 1 were look
ing at a dangerous serpent, and I ex-
perienced an unpleasant sensation Of a |
wholly novel kind.
My visitor seemed to observe the ef-
feet he had produced on me, and to be
willing to prolong it. He said nothing, |
and 1 was obliged to pull myself togeth-
er and ask for his name.
His reply to this question was to slip
his hand into his breast, draw out a
banLnote for 1000 francs and lay it on
the desk.
will you accept that instead of an
answer to your question:" l hesitated. |
Two hundred dollars looked a larger |
sum to me then than it did later. 1t |
seemed to me that l could at all events |
afford to listen to what the stranger |
had to say, before deciding whether it |
was necessary for me TO know his |
name. With some reluctance | took I'D |
the note.
The white teeth of the Oriental |
glanced for an instant between his
thick, dark lips.
What do you want of ne?" 1 asked
next, finding that my visitor remained
silent. Your true Eastern is seldom in
hurry.
Il want you to hide me, in the first
place." was the startling reply.
gazed at the speaker in consterna-
ton. Only one. explanation of this
strange request occurred to me- The
II SloA mus haNS SOlIlllitlCN SOlhC
crime and be anxious to conceal himself !
from pursuit.
"To hide you from whom" 1 asked
From every one In twelve hours
from now. the whole police force of
Paris will be exhausting every effort to
find me. They must not succeed"
This answer naturally confirmed my
suspicion. put the blunt question:
why"
Again saw the slender but sinewy
hand go up and slip within the folds of
the OrientaPs dress, and again / heard
the faint rustling of paper. But this
time 1 was firm.
81 cannot consent to help you with
out knowing your motive for conceal
ment."
My unnamed client evidently guessed
the reason for my refusal. His lips
parted in another faint smile.
you have nothing to fear on your
own account" he said slowly. Il am
not hiding from justice. AT the pres
ent moment / am as free as you are. /
have come here openly through the L