The Mena weekly star., 1916-08-10


 "Stephenl" He started and tried to rise, but she caoe toward him with an authoritative movement. No, don't get up. Sit there. You look-tlred- H."
 "Yes, am ill," he admitted. He dropped back with short stided sigh. If had not been III I should not have come. It is my only excuse" He looked at her almost wistfuliy.
 Stephen"
 He looked her steadily in the plying, sorrOwful eyes.
 T have not come for sympathy, Gabrielle. I am glad it's over and done with. With one thing should be content"
 What do you ask of me?"
 ITO accept my name and that which the French state will give my wife in payment for the services l have done her. It is all have to give, Gabrielle. Accept it-no, don't shrink from me like that. am q dying man-remem- Der tkat. I ask nothing for myself but a poor formality 1t may be few days "a few weeks at most, and then-and you will be free"
 "I am free now" she answered swiftly. But if I yielded to you I should never be free again loved you and 1 accepted dishonor for your sake. l ceased to love you and re- gained my honor the same hour re- fused your name. That was my atone ment to myself. To accept your offer would be to wrong myself-and you too deeply"
 He made a movement of desperate appeal But she did not answer him. The door had opened and Preston, with white stern face. stood on the threshold.
 Corporal Goetz is.here." he said Miss Smith-will you comeT'
 And Lowe saw how she turned from him, not with indifference, but with toe absolute oblivion of a mind whose whole force has swept suddenly in one deep channel He followed her to the open door and stood there, silent and forgotten, watching her.
 Corporal Goetz bowed as she en- tered. He looked at her narrowly, a little curiously.
 q heard your name" he said in his careful French. ''I have message for you-from my comrade"
 'From Richard Farquhar?"
 ''I know him as Richard Nameless He gave me the message out there in the desert-a simple sentence that I have retained word for word. Tel her. he said that truth was more beau tiful than the mirage"
 There was brief silence. She stood in the full red glow of the eve ming as it poured in through the win dow, and Stephen saw her face II seemed to him inspired. almost beau tiful--a miracle of great happiness.
 And the sentenceT It was Pres ton who spoke. and for all his self restraint his voice had lost its steadi ness.
 "To be shot at daybreak"
 Tt ia possible-ahsurd-" Pres ton muttered.
 She turned to him then as though waking from a dream. The brief mo ment of serene triumphant happiness had passed. She was face to face witt life again, and tte strength and beauty were alight with the old fiery resolu ton.
 'It is impossible" she said "Bu' we have one hope before all others Madame Arnaud has influence, and sht has given me her word to use 1t"
 Madame Arnaud Is dead- They stared at Goetz in stricken mortified silence, and be added grinly: "shs was murdered by a Jewish flower seller this afternoon. It was Colone Destinu who found her. There Is ns hope from that quarter"
 "Then there are other means" Pres ton said Corporal, I'll stop at noth- ing to free him. I'm a rich man. You understand?"
 The German looked up at him with a faintly arrogant amusement
 Gabrielle turned suddenly from the window. Her eyes flashed into the le- gionary's face.
 Perhaps I understand" she said quietly. You too are Richard Farqu- har's friend-you will help me?"
 In that single impuIsive appeal for herself and for herself alone, she had revealed all that Lowe had waited for. He left his place at the door of the inner room. Throughout that brief in- terview he had watched her steadfast- ly. When he spoke his voice sounded subdued and yet firm. like that of a man, already weary to exhaustion, who hoards all his remaining force for a last purpose
 And if had help to offer would you accept it now, GabrleiieY' Thankfully, Stephen"
 Richard Farquhars life is safe" he said simply. Even Colonel Des- tim will not murder his own son." ''It is useless"
 Useless? What do you meanY
 This much"--the legfonary's fea- lures were shadowed with faint trony-'that your information, wonder