The Parma herald., 1916-05-04

oergednls keep an eye on nlm. IL
will sham like the devil, OF poison you
And this man?" There was slight
scarcely perceptible change in the In
Election of his voice, a note OF some
thing that might have been surpris,
or even more than that-uneaslness
The man whom he confronted helC
himself with cool, undisturbed dig
nifty.
Richard"
Have you no surnameT
NO"
Destinn glanced at the lieutenant
who, after hurried glance to his note
book, shrugged his shoulders.
mo. 4005-calls himself Richard
Nameless, my colonel"
"A nom de guerre, presume. Your
last profession?"
Traitor"
"You are EngllshT
81 am nothing"
There was a troubled pause. The
man had answered f1uently in French,
without hesitation and without inso-
lence. And yet his easy self-confidence
Jared in that atmosphere of cowed
and broken humanity, and was by con-
trast almost challenge. The momen-
tary interest died out OF Colonel De-
stinn's eyes, leaving a cold anger.
THAT fellow is dangerous" he
Jerked back over his shoulder, and
passed on.
Corporal Goetz hesitated an instant
before the man thus summarized. He
measured him, and the recruit an
swered the keen, deliberate gaze with
the same steadfastness. A mutual rec
ognition had been acknowledged; steel
mad rung against steel. Then sudden
ly the recruits fiery blue eyes focused
themselves on something beyond, and
their expression-that of man start
ed into an instant's self-betrayal-
caused the corporal to turn sharply.
rare vision had appeared In the
dull, colorless square. The iron gates
had been opened, and against the back
ground of the green avenue beyond
there stood a woman-a slender, beau
tiful woman, such as but few of the
lost, degraded inhabitants of those
white walls had ever seen. She came
slowly toward them, the lace sunshade
framing the lovely golden head. her
soft muslin dress revealing each
movement as something exquisitely
balanced, absolutely free and confident
In its youthful grace and health.
Colonel Destinn," she said, 81 hope
you are not angry with me. l have
come to find my husband"
He lifted his hand reluctantly but
instinctively to his kept.
Il heard that Captain Arnaud's wife
had arrived" he said roughly. "Per-
NIT me to inform you that CAPTAIN
Arnaud left the barracks half an hour
ago, also that you have no business
here and are interfering with my busi-
ness. The sentry should not have let
you pass"
lie did not want to-" she explained. |
but | told him that l knew you and |
that you would he furious II he re-
fused"
Whereby, madame, you overstepped
the limits Of truth"
Pardon me, l do know you. But
since | intrude, l will make good nv
retreat Good evening, my colonel"
She turned her back on him and be-
gan to walk with untroubled dignity
toward the gate. For an instant he
hesitated. then overlook her.
nave a word to say to the SEN
try,' he said significantly. 81 will ac-
company you. You say you know me.
have not seen you before"
THAT is quite possible; but have
seen YOU" They had reached the gate
md she stopped and looked up at him
DO you want to know whenY
1 am interested. confess" |
1t was about year ago at night |
line' | was sitting under the trees {
n the Cercle des OFFICERS, listening TO l
ne oand. | remember 1t was rather |
larK' except for the lanterns, and the
aces OF the natives had made me q
lervous. Then came bugle call and I
was really frightened. / Thought n
vas an Arab uprising or something: G
instead you rode past-at the head OF
our regiment" q
remember" he said, his face full "
L hard triumph. 1T was the nioht U
eon my wager-one hundred and fiftv '
llometers In three days" n
lie was silent a moment. DRIVING n
is IS spurred heel into the sandy gravel d
hen he looked up at her.
why did you come to Aleiers7, ba q
aid abruptly. "Why, above all. did |,
on come to Sidi-bel-Abbes7 Wbot is \
lere for tourist to see here? Sand Z,
nd vineyards, and then sand again - $
l was tourist l came on a mis- a
Onto find my brother" >,
Your brother?"
He was lost" she said slros, L., =,
whisper. He had done wrong-and 7,
" iather Is stern man-he ran y
"ay-and we were afraid. We fol. .,
wed MIN to Algiers, and then we lost >,
ace. We never found him. Tha
'ars had gathered In her dark evas a
-oionei Desunn-I do not know why :,
tel you this. 1t is silly of me "
ved MIN more than anything else in {
le world You won't understand-u
he laughed roughly. /
on, madame, even understand (
ss." su&nu
iouF l thought" She stonped {
ltn ner eyes on his blanched face {
yn, colonel, am 80 sorry. Somehow |,
didn't think OF you like that {
hls q. curt gesture Interrupted her I