The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-16

face.
"Nho Is your friend, Norton?'
Bratne asked indiferently, his head
still unturned.
Stanley Hargresve. Met him In
Honskong when I was sent over to
handle a part Of the revolution War
correspondence stuff. 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 lion, but as quiet
as mouse"
"Bookish, eh7 My kind. Bring him
over" Underneath the table Braine
maneuyered to touch the foot OF the
princess.
II don't know" said the reporter
obviously. He might say no, and
that would embarrass the whole lot OF
US. He's a bit Of hermit I'm sur
priscd to see him here"
Try" urged the princess. I like
to meet men who are hermits."
II haven't the least doubt abou,
that" the reporter laughed. It'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 mao."
Bah! That's a hypocritici blum
and you know It 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; I ought not
to be here; I feel out Of place. What
e life, though. you reporters lead! To
meet kings and presidents and great
fnanciers, 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. Fol-
one Eing 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 were 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
Of the tenth.
At length Braine glanced at his
watch, and the princess NODDED
Adieux were said. Inside the ta1icao
Braine leaned back with q deep. aud
ible sigh.
What It is?" she asked
"The luck Of the devils OWL" he
said. Child Of the Steppes, for yearf
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 I 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 No.ton's help I would not have
been sure. I'm going to leave you at
your apartment"
"The man Of the Black Hundred?'
she whispered.
"The man who deserted and defed
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 mis- stamp, and to accom-
plish this end.
There was a woman" she inter
rupted, with q 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 a family! Your domesticity
would last ABOUT month"
She made no retort because she rec,
ognized the truth of this statement
There's an emerald know Of" he
said ruminatively. Its quite pos
sible that you may be wearing 1t with
In few days"
'T 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. III see you to-
morrow. l must hurry. Goodnight
She stood on the curb for moment
and watched the ta1icab ss It whirled
around q corner. The man held hex
with g fascination more terrible than
any Jewel. She knew him to be q
great and daring rogue, cunning, pa
tient, fearless. Packed away in that
mind of his there were thousand ac-
complished deeds which had reused
futilely the police Of two continents
Braine! She could have laughed. THIS
very name he had chosen was an in'
science directed at society.
The subject Of her thoughts soon
arrived at his destination. A fight OF
stairs carried him into dimly lighted
hall, smelling evilly Of escaping gas,
Z L. ~, nly