The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-09-20

4
when their money gave out. 1 find
they sold the entire issue to Ralstor
for a mere song. The proceeds went
in the main to the conspirators who
acted for Voltmar. If King Zwun Zhi
is in hiding, l have reason to believe
that he is in this city. l shall soon
know"
1t came sooner than | expected. 1t
was a drizzling, gloomy evening, that
on which accompanied Marvel to the
! Cosmos cafe. 1t was O second-rate
place, mostly visited by men. AS we
entered the door l noted Lott in the
background. He made a sign to Mar
vel, and it seemed to me to indicate a
man lounging carelessly against an
old piano.
Just beyond it four men were play
ing cards at table, and the man /
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 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 do not know,
but he fidgeted, changed color and
with evident reluctance accompanied
them from the place.
Come with me-" directed Marvel,
following on their heels. THAT man,
| l believe, is Napoleon Ducroix. We
shall soon find out. He must have had
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
playfulness 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, land there is no need of send
ing for Emil Lafort to prove it. He
tells me your distinguishing marks are
a pair of feet marked still from your
old service in a Partisan dye factory.
Shall we go any further on that
score, my friend?"
Eyes, am Ducroix," acknowledged
the man, sourly what of it?"
Detention, complications, perhaps
a prison sentence, unless you assist in
helping me clear up situation
about what?''
"King Zwun Zhi You know where
he is? Then tell and you are free to
pick up some new victim"
Ducroix was silent for minute or
two. He eyed Marvel in studious
way. Those unlovely eyes of his
showed boldness and defiance on the
surface, but there was flicker OF
fear in their depths.
"The game is played out, I guess,
he said finally.
Where is the king?"
''In pawn"
This man spoke truly. He had, in
deed, played the game to the limit
This bold knave had exhausted the
last shred of revenue available from
the monarch of Jangeh in their extra
ordinary jump around the world. If
he had not been a spendthrift he
would have been a millionaire.
At last my eyes rested on the self
exiled butterfy-chasing, stranded
king. AS I first saw him he was
crouching over a blazing oil stove in
squalid room behind the shop of a
pawnbroker. If his wife's face had re-
sembled dusky mahogany, his own
was more of the hue of ebony. He was
thin and wasted, a furtive, frightened
look in his shrinking eyes. The des-
peration of the prodigal down to his
last husk was expressed in every Inca
ment of his shrunken face.
In some way Ducroix had induced
the pawnbroker to advance a small
sum. on his majesty. The latter had
insisted on retaining personal posses
sion of the collateral. Warm as was
the weather, the thin, tropical blood
of the king demanded constant heat,
and in the bill which Marvel paid
there was an item of Kerosene, 81"
In a corner of the room, a marred
wreck, was what was left of the ia
nous doll.
It was to the Office of the United
Bankers Protective association that
the king was at once conveyed. Du-
croix accompanied us, and Lafort was
Immediately sent for. The two fiery
Frenchmen came very near to blows,
but Marvel sternly held them down to
the Importance of the occasion and to
strict business.
| I was sent to the home of the presi-
dent of the bank, and brought him
back with me. The institution was
visited, certain documents pertaining
to the Jebel River & Great Jangeh
Railroad company secured, and new
deed of trust was made out.
| ssIf Won can influence Queen Ibi