Evening star., 1915-06-27
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uses the feelings of another. "For my
self" he went on, "the recovery of the
necklace without the cross will not serve.
Were free to choose gladly would sac
rifice myself to preserve the innocent con-
science of your ward; but alas, am not
free! On the recovery of the Cross of
Kemesvar is depending my future life and
the happiness of one dearer than my life.
Until restore it to Prince Vasilief | must
serve here, an exile from my home and all
most dear to me. That is the will of his
Tartar wife. To please her am punished;
for the King finds it agreeable to oblige
the noble Prince Xico. In your ward lies
now my one hope of finding the cross.
You will therefore pardon me if | insist.
"I'm sorry Count Szemere, but my
mind is made up. She shall not be shown
the necklace, nor shall she be questioned
about it,.
A n ominous light appeared in the Ru-
manan's eyes, and he opened and
closed his hands with quick. savage
movement of anger. But his voice when
he replied showed no trace of annoyance.
al repeat that respect your sentiment,
my dear Mr.. Senior; but | fear you do
not comprehend fully of this matter.
When you met this lady she was wearing
a necklace that did not belong to her, and
she was, it appears, running away with it.
That act might be called by a name you
would not care to see joined to the name
of a person you admire. The coat she
was wearing, you have told me- was of
black with sable collar. Very well. In
the dead hand of Prince Lascar there was
found piece of sable. Have you forgot
ten that, my dear Mr.. Senior? Maybe it
was that the hand that took the cross
from the necklace was also the hand that
killed the Prince. Who knows? Who
but the LADY,"
Hugh gave back the narrowed glance
without finching. "You're wasting your
time" he said shortly "I know as well
as you do that the last thing you are
looking for in this affair is publicity. You
don't want ii any more than you wanted it
when you so carefully excluded all men
tion of the Prince and his necklace from
that murder trial"
"You deceive yoursclf!' exclaimed the
Count, and for the first time his voice
broke from his control To-day the affair
is quite other. Then we had first to con-
ceal the death of the Prince. For that
reason the search for the necklace was
made in secret. To-day we may seek it
openly. No man, no woman, shall be
spared but that the cross is found. have
spoken! Terrible things may come, who
knows? In Paris a man. "A lover of the
Floria, who was thought to conceal the
necklace, was seized, taken to Bucharest.
and there tortured. His hand was cut
off! Terrible things may come--if no
other way is found!"
"Threats won't help you Count SEE
mere. This is New York, not Bucharest.
The necklace will be returned to you
when your government has identified it.
Beyond that | can not help you. This is
my last world"
SZEMERE whtened with rage, and his
- body shook as in a chill. He sprang to
his feet and faced Hugh, who had risen in
signal of dismissal. They measured each
other silently
Amarinth had also risen, and now he
took step forward to a position beside
Szemere and opposing Hugh. dts not
my last word" he said suddenly.
His companions turned and looked at