American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-12-24

"C' ~ inc TtpofteI piedsdut
face.
Who is your friend, Norton ?"
Braine asked indiffer emily, his head
still nnturned.
"Stsrley Hargreave. Met him In
HojsKong when | was sent over to
handle a part of the revolution. Wa
correspondence stun. First time |
ever ran across him on Broadway at
night. We've since had some pow
vows over some rare books. Queer
old cock; brave as a lion, but as quiet
as a mouse"
"Bookish, Ell? My kind. Bring him
over" Underneath the table Braine
Unanswered to touch the foot OF the
princess.
~iubiously. 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."
i haven't the least doubt about
that" the reporter laughed. I'll try;
N ipdiuO III 4 4 III TtUuntu.
He left the table with evident re-
iuctance 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 man I've been want
ing to talk to tonight"
wouldn't you rather talk to a pref
ty woman"
I'm an old man."
Bah! That's a hypocriticaI blufr,
and you know 1t. 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 Braine's
eyes change and was curious to know
why the appearance of Hargreave in
the mirror had brought about that
metally CLEAN. Here were two
unique men; he desired to see them
face to face.
This once. My fault; 1 ought not
to be here; I feel out OF place. What
a life. though. you reporters lead! To
meet kings and presidents and great
financiers, socialists and anarch-
lists, the whole scale of life, and to
slap these people On the back as II
they were everyday friends!"
Now you're making fun OF me. For
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 1t over with"
The introductions we're made. Nor
ton felt rather chagrined. So far as
he could see. the two men were total
strangers. Well, 1t 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
the tenth.
At length Braine glanced at his
watch. and the princess nodded.
Adieux were said. Inside the taxicab
leaned back with a deep, aud
ible sigh.
What 1t is?" she asked.
"The luck OF the DEVILS own" he
said. Child OF the Steppes. for years
I've flown about seas and continents,
valleys and over mountains
FOR what? For the sight of the face
Of that nan we have just left. At
first glance | wasn't sure; but the
sound of his voice a enough. Olga,
he next time you see hat reporter,
your arms around his neck and
Kiss him. What did | tell you? With
tut Norton's help | would not have
been sure. I'm going to leave you at
'our apartment"
"The man of the Black Hundred?"
whispered.
The man who deserted and defed
he Black Hundred. who broke his
'ows, and never paid a kopeck for
he privilege; the man who had been
.ppointed for the supreme work and
Who ran away. In those days we need
d men OF his stamp. and to accom-
'lish this end. ="
There was a woman" she inter
upted, with a touch of bitterness.
always the woman And she was
$ clever and handsome as you are"
Thanks. Sometimes :"
"Ah, yes!" ironically. Sometimes
GU wish you could settle down, marry
nd have a family! Your domesticity
Tould last about a month"
She made no retort because she rec
gnized the truth Of this statement.
There's an emerald l know off, he
aid ruminatively. IT'S quite pos
BILE that you may be wearing it with
l = few days"
Il am mad over them. There Ia
,mething in the green stone that fas-
me. ! can't resist it," I
That's because. somewhere in the {
II past, your ancestors were orien- I
lis. Here we are. I'll see you to-
borrow. ! must hurry. Goodnight"
She stood on the curb for a moment 1
nd watched the taxicab as II whirled q