The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1916-09-29

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it rang shrill and unnatural. They
turned and saw that Desire Arnaud
had not moved. He sat at the table
win his hands spread out before him
and laughed.
The major shrugged his shoulders.
ST have seen it coming" he said re-
gretfully. 81 have seen it coming q
long time. All, this terrible country
this terrible, beautiful country! 1t is
pitiable-and his poor wife! Well,
shall give our friend, the doctor, hint.
He will know better"
He too went out, but the laughter
followed him. 1t drifted out on to the
courtyard and rose with the sitting
waves of heat to the windows Of the
whitewashed room where Colonel Des-
tim sat with his forehead pressed
against his c!enched hands. listening.
1t stopped at last, abruptly, tragicaliy.
and Destinn lifted his head as though
released from hypnotic trance. a
little group of men in white drill uni
| forms were crossing the courtyard.
They were carrying something between
thenl-something that fought and
struggled.
Colonel Destinn's eyes were fixed
on the broad red line which ran from
north TO south. past carefully marked
towns and villages, through white
spaces of open plain, skirting broad
waterways and low-ridged mountains,
to the Immense yellow bank where 1t
ended abruptly. like some proud
thought that had come to nothing.
Colonel Destinn bent lower. his brows
contracted in impatient bitterness
With red pencil he struck of an inch
of the great line and marked it with a
cross. The place of the seven hundred
dead.
Tie door opened again. He did not
Jflear it. His knuckles were pressed
against his forehead, as though crush
ing back an intolerable recollection.
| Only as he was addressed by name he
started and glanced back over his
shoulder.
81 must apologize, Colonel Destinn.
I ventured to come In unannounced.
The sentry appears to regard me as
one of the family with the right to
come and so as / please"
"You have earned the privilege.
Pray be seated"
The visitor came slowly, haltfngly
across the room. He came to the table.
but did not accept the proffered chair.
He stood in an attitude Of iistless ex-
haustion. his hands elasped on the
heavy walking-stick, bis face with Its
almost unearthly transparency half
turned to the inpouring sunshine.
Il was in the Arab quarter last
night, Colonel Destinn. AliMahomed's s
brother heads a fresh rising. There
will be an attack from the north. The
Arabs in the town are arming stealth
lily, but they will only move if there
| has been success outside"
Colonel Destinn nodded.
THAT is interesting. If your infor-
nation is correct. we shall have further
cause to be grateful to you. Mr.. Lowe"
sit is probably one of the last serv-
ices I shall be able to render, Colonel
Destinn. I am retiring from the
| SERVICE"
France will be the loser"
Stephen Lowe did not speak for
moment He was gazing fxedly and
apparently indifferently at the great
map spread out on the table before
| him.
81 wish to retire a rich man. Colonel
Destinn.''
Destinn looked up into the keen sig
nifcant eyes.
"You are very persistent, Mr.. Lowe"
| ne said.
! Stephen Lowe leaned forward; his
! frail body emanated a sudden power
and the knowledge OF power.
old offer, Colonel Destlnn. It's not
money. As n French officer and a
naturalized Frencafnan, you never can
offer your invention to another ma
ton"
There is man who will inherit ii
my SON."
Tomorrow you may have no SON"
Destinn made a single gestureA-the
instructive. upward movement of q
man seeking to protect the face from
a sudden blow.
MY son is in England; he is with
his regiment"
IF you had accepted my second offer
you would know that he resigned his
commission over year ago. He did
so at Sewers request-tO save your
honor" He waited a moment, study
! ing the .ivid immObile features with
a pitying interest. The iron mask was
| down 1t was a curious. terrible thing
to see this man. who had braZenel
! out death and every law Of humanity
reel with the shaking foundations of
| his secret temple. You gave your son
his life" Lowe wen% on quietly. You
! have ruined il. In few hours it may
finally be taken from him. 1t lies in
YOUR power to give him back that life
and the conditions which make It
worth the living. Have you not--as |
have-somc sense of atonementE'
"Atonement-you?
/ Lowe bowed his head in grave depre-
cation.
~ am a blackmailing scoundreI. and
ouite ruthless-as you have been and
are. But I understand atonement.
Moreover, you know that am not
/ lyins-and that what ! promise to do
| will do"
Colonel Destinn turned and crossed
the room. Lowe waited c0mposedly,
without triumph. He saw Destinn take
! . l-nv fT,on the inner DOrkpt OF his dol
man and insert il IN the lock of the
/ small iron safe let into the wall. He
came back a moment later with sheaf
Of transparent paper in his hand. He
swayed slightly.
These are~-the plans"