The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1916-08-18
CHAPTER xII-Continued.

What is it, Desire? Had we not
better wait until another timer"
What I have to say is said quickly
A volunteer corps is being formed for
Tonkin. I have offered for service. II
am accepted you will accompany
me-
Il refuse"
''On what grounds?'
81 simply cannot. You are absurd
and melodramatic, Desire. 1 have
given you my answer. Have you any
thing more to say?"
He got up quietly.
Nothing
She hesitated, then glanced at Cab
rielle Smith with a pretty expressive
shrug Of the shoulders, and passed
calmly out of the room. But the little
appeal had been ignored. Gabrielle
was watching the man standing mo-
tionless in the lamplight. After a mo-
ment she came up to him and placed a
cup on the table near him.
Your tea, Captain Arnaud."
He started nervously.
My tea-oh, thank you. l had for
gotten. You are very good-a sort of
administering and practical angel" He
tried to laugh. Does nothing ever up
set you? 1 believe in the middle Of an
earthquake you would still come up to
ME and say in your quiet, hobgoblin
sort of way, Your tea, Captain Ar
naud,' and make me feel that earth
quakes were the most trivial occur
rences possible"
They are at least more frequent
than the seismographs would have us
suppose, Captain Arnaud.''
What does that meap2"
He turned his heavy lightless' eyes
to her face. She met the interrogation
quite calmly, her hands clasped in
front of her with prim precision.
Il mean that l know something of
what has happened" she said.
For instance?"
81 know what happened at the Villa
Bernottos."
1t was very silent in the shadowy
room. Arnaud had not moved. But
over his white, vice-marked features
there quivered the first signal of re-
awakened consciousness.
How did you know?' he asked
quietly.
Il can't tell you. l guessed. Some
thing you said made me understand
that you hated Mr.. Farquhar."
You know his name?"
Il know him."
sWell?"
''I was in the dark am still. But
1 was almost sure of cne thing. And
It was who warned the patrol"
"You wanted to trap me?
81 wanted to save you both"
He turned away from her then with
a trembling gesture of incredulity.
You wanted to save me from what
from murder? Was it worth while
Don't you know what l am? Ask my
an opium-smoker, a dissclute-"
A madman, Captain Arnaud."
How do you know that? | have
been trying to hide it from everyone.
But you are right. l am mad-ob-
sessed They say some mad people
suffer tortures from the knowledge Of
their madness. | am like that. | know
that | am mad, and | am III hell.
can see the days that are to come
horrid misshapen horrors, crowding
along the path and waiting to spring
on me-
He caught hold of her by the hand,
and his quiet, terrible voice dropped to
a whisper. To-day was red-faced
devil-you know, like the one you saw
that night | drugged myself so that
! should not wake until it had gone
But YOU cannot cheat the devil with
opium. | went out on to the plateau.
Farullhsr was there. Poor Farquhar.
NV heart was ss:k for him, They had
torn my bullet out of his shoulder. and
he held himself like a man. | wanted
n let him go, but l knew it was no
good to Try. so | sent him and a dozen
others over the plateau at the double.
You underestimate was mile or
more. and he looked as though there
wasn't drop of blood in him. He
fainted-over the body of comrade
whom he had tried to help. I mar
ve!ai that he had gone so far. The
sergeant ordered him up, but he did