The Washington herald., 1914-03-08

He turned to her. and began speakins
very quietly.
The night before. as luck would hays
IL. two clerks were working overtime Il
was their monthly balance. One Of them
was young Rough And the morning af-
ter I took those bonds, Rough disap-
peared. and he cannot be traced GOD
only knows why-I don't But the police
think they know. and they'll track him
down and catch him-he's too young to b
sIippery-and he's got no money. And he
will never be able to clear himself. He u
ruined. Great heayeni''
He was up from the divan, and pacing
the room. forgetful of Anna Stuart, who
sat watching him.
I've been declaring personal faith IN
his innocence. ]. with my dirty hands.
trying to whitewash that clean boy !
remembered, you see-my Cod ] remcrn-
bered when ] was a clean boy. and my
brothers hands tried feebly-as tried
to whitewash me; but they put me in
prison. and killed all faith. all love. an
hope. ! can't get young Rough out Of
my head. He is ruined-he is blasted
he is dead. A boy like that-an orphan
fighting his world alone" He turned
upon her. See what have done through
you. See what you have done!'
Her small face was serene as a flower.
My good friend"' said she.
II wish I could curse you. madam"
said Charles Captain husixily.
BE calm. my friend. Be quite calm.
The boy Rough will not be caught"
"a woman's illogical comfort! How do
you argue that?'
She was cool enough to laugh.
HE was merely n decoy for the guns.
His instructions were only to run, and
He is one of my Hundreds and Thou
sands.''
What. madam? Then"
We put him for the purpose in Ruff
ford's Bank. We have a good many bank
clerks in the band. We supplied him
with a respectable solicitor uncle as ref
erence. as his parents were dead: the
uncle also being one OF the Hundreds and
Thousands
Charles Captain could have laughed in
saneIy.
And you have gained for your war
chest. madam, a hundred thousand
pounds Well. are you satisfied
with the piece of work. sir? Certain
ly. I am very pleased with you all" She
stood up, her flower face flushed, her
voice thrilled. "a hundred thousand
pounds. 1t will build me another ship.
and have many already. Another ship
for me, Ny ships, Ny ships, Ny shipsr'
And she stood entranced. as IL already
she saw in a vision her aerial fleet soar
ing over London.
The bonds your brother took for me-"
said she. "aIso built
cry startled her. and she looked with
anger at the interrupter: then stood
silent. subdued. and for all her naughty
bravado. very pale.
Madam" said Charles Captain.
She did not reply to his challenge. only
looked at him. He went on:
so my brother took those bonds for
you-''
We'll. Mr.. Captain"
DO not assume any royal airs at the
moment. I cannot stand them. have
said that I wish I could curse you"
Can you not?''
You know it,
His chest was heaving, his breath fast.
his hands working. his eyes half furious.
half beaten. as il he looked on the fraud
OF the world. stark and cruel. knowing
that it had knocked him to his knees
Again he went on:
1T was you who stole my brothers soul,
you who blasted me. who put me in pris-
on. took all hope from me. 1t is you who
have KILLED my brother. Once he and l.
We loved each other. had no other re-
lation. 10 other friend
You are not" she said softly dropping
the. merciless resaIity. and stretching out
her 5aIlurins hands, in that case now
Charles-I. Anna Stuart. am your friend.
can he stanch fricnd-Charles."
He looked at the alluring hands.
1T was you who-were you waiting for
me to come out OF jaI?''
We'll. II so-what them
You waited for me, having taken nv
brother. He played into your hands when
he killed himself You had your berth
open for me. Madam, the devil Is a cum
ning workman. but he would take on his
nat to you" With efforts that brought
sweat to his forehead he seemed to mas
Ter himself enough to continue: There
Are questions should like to ask"
You may ask them
only one. then. Why, having marked
,ut my brother. did you mark me?'
And he fixed on her haggard eyes, filed
With a thousand emotions.
Il can answer you simply" said Anna
stuart. Your brother did his work we'll
I anticipated the same-eff-
'iency-in you" She smiled slightly. Il
vas not mistaken
You took two human lives, and
rushed them"
"only one." she almost pleaded. you
hall rise. be healed. live. There are
many things in life for you. and I will
lelp to obtain them. Charles-you are my
ervant?"
He looked at her, and saw now just a
woman, in white. lovely. appealing. He
wanted what MAN. tired men have want
d and sought forrest. II her triumph
lad been satanic. her pity seemed divine.
lie approached her slowly, with dragging
eet. She sat down on the divan, pulled
ilk cushions at her back. put her white
hod feet on a footstool. All Of this he
ratched patiently, then understood that
{ he kneeled down he might put his head
pon her shoulder. She-Helen, Lucrezia,
,irce-drew it there within two arms
leek as satin. 1t was the only reward
which, at the moment, could have kept
lin. and this We may suppose that she
new.
1t was here that he made his real allie
lance. t,,.