The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1914-12-30
Copyright. 1914, by Harold MacGrath)
BY HAROLD MAC GRATH

Il haven't the least doubt about
that" the reporter laughed. I'll try;
but don't blame me II 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 man I've been want
| ing to talk to tonight"
Wouldn't you rather talk to pref
ty woman"
I'm an old man."
Bah! That's hypocritical bluff,
and you know it. My friends at the
next table have asked me to bring
you over"
81 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; I ought not
| to be here; feel out of place. What
a life, though. you reporters lead! To
J 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!"
Nov 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 it over with"
The introductions were made. Nor
ton felt rather chagrined. So far as
he could see, the two men were total
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 were said. Inside the taXicab
Braine leaned back with deep, aud
ible sigh.
What it 81" she asked.
"The luck of the devils own" he
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. At
first glance | wasn't sure; but the
sound of his voice was enough. Olga,
the next time you see that reporter,
throw your arms around his neck and
kiss him. What did tell you? With
out Norton's help l would not have
been sure. I'm going to leave you at
your apartment"
1.-The man of the Black Hundred?
she whispered.
1.-THE man who deserted and defied
the Black Hundred, who broke his
VOWS, and never paid kopeck for
the privilege; the man who had been
appointed for the supreme work and
who ran away. In those days we need
ed men Of his stamp. and to accom-
plish this end. q.
There was 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. Sometimes
you wish you could settle down, marry
and have family! Your domesticity
would last about a month"
She made no retort because she rec
ognized the truth of this statement.
There's an emerald l know Of" he
said ruminatively. tits quite pos
sible that you may be wearing it with
in few days."
81 am mad over them. There is
something in the green stone that fas-
cinates me. I 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 1t whirled
around corner. The man held her
with fascination more terrible than
any jewel. She knew him to be
great and daring rogue. cunning. pa
tient, fearless. Packed away in that
mind of his there were 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 dimly lighted
hall, smelling evilly of escaping gas.
He donned black mask and struck
the door with series of light blows;
two, then one, then three, and again
one. The door opened and he slipped
inside. Round table sat several men,
also masked They were all tried and