The Washington herald., 1914-03-22

hall knew nothing Of II. There h no hope
that way. II was taken by Q visitor, q
client. 1t is lost to Us forever. And had
watched and waited FOR that necklaces,
madam, for weeks"
She was so furious that she had no
sympathy for him.
So" said she, slowly. Charles Cap
tain has taken away from Us one Of our
most profitable sources Of revenue and
prevented loan on the Radztwan heir
| looms"
Madam. think we may. at the low
est computation. put the Possible loss
at half a million"
Send Charles Captain TO me-"
But even as Ragtar turned TO leave
her. a servant entered the room.
| viii you see Mr.. Captain. madam
Bring him here" said Anna Stuart.
The young man entered lightly: smil-
ing. debonnair; tailored by, saviIIe Row.
He WAS aware Immediately Of Ra&tars
presence. though his eyes were all for
the girl in white. sitting at the head Of
the table. her knees crossed. and one
foot swinging very slowly to and fro,
sure sign Of her temper.
She surveyed him like ice.
Charles Captain, stand where you
are"
He stood
Last night you 'raided' my Baker
| street house.
Your house. madam
The young mans face changed a little.
| but merely with genuine surprise-no
| sorrow.
My house. you fool, You have driven
away the clients. broken up the estab-
lishment. You have defrauded me of
incalculable profits
II did not know, madam I assure
you" said Mr.. Captain. that the house
was one of our many enterprises. But
hearing that it is so. I rejoice all the
! more at what I have done
DO I not tell you that you have
smashed a good -cheme?'
"On the contrary. I have saved the
bank
Saved the bank?'' she echoed.
Saved the bank Ragtar sneered-
THE bank needed no saving Charles
Captain
"On the contrary. your majesty
he gave her this title he could never keep
the laugh from his eye-"the bank was in
imminent danger from genuine source.
forestalIed Inspector Low. OF Scotland
Yard. and some police officers by about
twenty minutes Inspector Low visited
the house to play on the previous even
ing. assure your majesty that my raid
wa1 timed to annex the bank
Anger changed to establishment, aston
ishment to interest. interest to pleasure
half unwiIlng-in her face. She looked
at Ragtar. No pleasure was visible in
him.
She began: eff this is true"-
"It can be proven. madam" Captain
! answered, by a reference to this ever
ing's papers,
why were you not aware?" this TO
Ragtar, ''of police suspicion? Why do
W keep a highly salaried person like
Sourbon's encyclopedia if not TO find out
4
course. pleased. Charles Captain. that
you were able to save the bank"
She had become gracious: she covered
the discontinue following on her neces-
sary change of front.
Il consider" from RaEtar. that Mr.
Captains whole method was foolish and
theatrical in the extreme. AS private
could have been communicated to-the
clients present. The house could have
been emptied in ten minutes, and" ha
turned TO Anna Stuart. Il could have
kept the chance of raising the loan on
that certain object
Hi: secrecy. so evidently intended 10
offend Captain. merely caused a smile.
Anna said:
True. Mr.. Captains unfortunate
method has without doubt lost us-the
object of which you speak, my good
RaStar."
Her majesty must not be distressed"
His assurance was so tender that she
felt blush coming and strove to check
it, while Ragtar gnawed his lips, and
looked madder than ever. Il have yet
to explain the real object of my visit
He took a big twist of tissue paper
from his coat pocket, UNFINISHED it deli
cately, and drew out coils and coils and
coils of pearls like the coils and coils
and coils of long white serpent.
When one of my police officers had.
according to instructions, turned OF the
Very quietly but quickly Ragtar left
the room. Charles Captain was alone
with the last descendant of the young
pretender. Still she leaned back. with
customary insOuciancc. in her chair, but
the hand which she stretched out to the
necklace trembIcd.
Charles Captain looked only at her.
She tried for composurc.
Il do indeed congratulate and thank
you. my good Charles"
And she held out her hand to allow a
kiss. He kissed it. Tho contact was
fatal. Fire leaped TO his eye and ran
in his cheek.
Your promise. madam
She tried to recall il. "Ah! your
commission. That you might ask what
YOU choose. Certainly. I keep my prom
Use. Ask
Il hardly dare-yet do not know why.
a short while ago / had no hope in this
life-being what l am"-he had been, till
so recently, In Portland prison, though
for no sin of his own-"and therefore no
fear. What is coming to me? l fear. Is
it because. perhaps. begin to hope? May
say what is in my mind?'
u have said Ask I"
''On the first occasion when met you,
you explained your circumstances TO me.
You said: am that last OF my house
In a few ycars-queen or not-I must
take a consort.' Madam, when a man
begins to hope. no hope is too wild. and
when he loses fear. there is nothing he
dare not"
Your commission said she, making
herself snow and ice.
"Madam-to be-your consort / love
and adore and worship you"
She rose. gathering up the necklace
What supreme insolence! I-marry .
thief"
And she stood in possession of the
stolen pearls.
Upon the table was the glass, half filled
still with a light wine. from which she
had drunk. He raised ii, turned the rim
round against his lips, so that they could
not miss the spot where hers had
touched. looked at her to see how she
&c ok this-she was outwardly cold-then
drank.
Here's to the light that lies in
woman's eyes-and Hes-and les-and
lies