The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-09-27

majesty know that the original of the
doll was alive and could be found, and
that be could lead him to her. l only
know that one month later, with the
royal exchequer looted the infatuated
monarch and his confidant, Ducroix,
secretly stole away from the palace.
The king had deserted his wives;
they soon realized this. Only one
queen, his first wife, mourned. 1t took
me two months to learn sufficient of
the Jangeh gibberish to make her I'M
derstand all the merits of the situa-
ton. 1t took Queen hi Zwoa only two
minutes to engage me to accompany
her in a world girdling chase of his
recreant highness.
Therefore am | here. What have
learned has been through our host"
and he pointed at Marvel, ito whom
we were directed by the French con-
sui. Admirable direction! Estimable
man! We have told him all, but-we
have not found the king"
Marvel arose. l noticed a switch
of the veil, and the woman it covered
also arose. 1t was a signal that the
conference was ended. She could not
have been more than four feet in
height. With somesquerulous gibber-
ish. in voice that might have be-
longed to a child, she lifted her veil.
1t was only for a moment that had
a sight of the face Of Queen hi Zwoa,
but l shall never forget it.
was sent on a variety of missions
during the ensuing several days, the
real puFport of which | did not fully
understand at the time. l realized
that l was taking helter-skelter
stitches only in a network of which
the master hand held the main warp
and woof
I also knew that Marvel had notified
the civilized world to find and detain
Bernard Ralston. Beyond that he had
local emissaries and outside CORE
spondents on the trail of King Zwun
Zhi.
The king" he announced to me one
evening, is in hiding, or dead. 1t
seems that he and that clever agent
of his, Ducroix, followed Sophia Volt
mar clear across the continent. l hear
of gifts to that peerless beauty be
yond the purse of king. Lured on,
but never so much as touching the
hem of her garment, this fatuous ad-
mirer has been encouraged, duped and
| beggared The railroad scheme was
evidently an afterthought of Ducroix
when their money gave out. find
they sold the entire issue to RalstOn
for a mere song. The proceeds went
in the main to the conspirators who
acted for Voltmar. If King Zwun Zhi
is in hiding, I have reason to believe
that he is in this city. l shall soon
know"
1t came sooner than l expected 1t
was a drilling. gloomy evening, that
on which accompanied Marvel to the
Cosmos cafe. It was a second-rate
place, mostly visited by men. AS we
entered the door | noted Lott in the
background. He made a sign to Mar
vel, and it seemed to me to indicate a
man Longing carelessly against an
old piano.
Just beyond it four men were play
ing cards at a table, and the man I
have mentioned was in a position to
look over the hand of the player
whose back was to him. AS if in a
casual way, the man at the piano
struck three'of the ivory keys in sue
cession with his finger. A moment
later he struck four notes. and then
quickly a single note three times.
Marvel was watching him narrowly.
OF a sudden he turned half way
around He simply fixed his eye on
Lott The latter disappeared In
about five minutes he re-entered the
place, two men with him. These men
approached the man at the piano.
What they said TO him I do not know,
but he fdgered, changed color and
with evident reluctance accompanied
them from the place
Come with me-" directed Marvel,
following on their heels. That man,
| believe, is Napoleon Ducroix We
shall soon find out. He must have had
a royal time helping Zwun Zhi squan-
der his fortune. He has got down to
the level of professional card sharper
now, it seems. Did you notice his
pIayfulness with the piano? Those
careless key taps read, first ACE;
next, FACE informing his friend
in the game that his adversary held
the ace and four face cards in his
hand
1t was to the captains room at the
nearest police station that they took
the man from the piano. When we
arrived there Marvel looked him over
critically.
Take off his shoe, Lott" he said
simply This was done, with some re
sistance on the part of the prisoner.
To the ankle the barred member
showed peculiar reddish brown.
You are Napoleon Ducroix,' spoke
Marvel, and there is no need OF send
ing for Emil Lafort to prove it lie
tells me your distinguishing marks are
pair of feet marked still from your
old service in Partisan dye factory.
Shall we go any further on that
score, my friend?"
Yes, | am DucroiX," acknowledged
the man, sourly. What of it?"
Detention, complications, perhaps
a prison sentence, unless you assist in