The Washington times., 1917-12-30
EPISODE FOURTEEN.

~ oned lima plunged over Nj
GgGra Falls, the man who
had riBksd 90 much In his wild at
tempt to save her covered his face
with his hands and sank to the plat
form OF the bridge. Even the Exeeu-
TONER, who had turned away, walked
on TO conceal his emotion, and the
workmSn who had done all they
could TO rescue lima tried In vain TO
cheer the unhappy young lover. -.
But suddenly this atmosphere OF
gloom was diBpelled by the appear
ance OF lima herself.
Harry, transported from the deep
est grief to the highest happiness
rushed toward her and. regardless
OF the onlookSrs, folded her In his
arms and kiIssd her again and again
with all the rapture caused by her
unexpected coming. Nor did the girl
repulse him. -;
Only the Exeeutioner. who stood
witnessing this strange sight. took
exception to Harry's action. He ap-
preached the couple and tapped the
young man on the shoulder. .-
"walt minute" he said. while the
Rstonlshed workmen grouped around
the trio. "This girl belongs, to my
master until such time as she finds
the seventh pearl" .:-
Harry was furious-releasing lima
he faced the Executioner with blAz-
Ing eyes. The other men also resent
Ing this interference with q genuine
love scene, crowded threateningly to-
ward the 6ultGn's emiSsary;, only
Tlma's Intervention prevented q dis
agreeable scene. He 10 right" she
said sadly, until hnd the seventh
pearl belong to the Sultan Come,
Harry. let Us get away-thers is no
time to be lost"
Following the lead Of the Execu-
TONER. the couple left the bridge. 70
the disappointment OF the workers.
who stood gazing after them wonder
Ing what the strange wordh OF the
eoreiEn-lookInE man meant and why
q perfectly good American should pay
any attention to them
On the way back to New York
Harry could not restrain his Joy that
lima was with him. while she herself
tried to show her appreciation OF his
bravery in spite Of the sour Elanees
OF the Exscutioner.
ROGUE AUcTIoNINo GEM.
While the party was nearing the
metropolis . rogue connected with
Grady's band was debating how he
could obtain the highest price for the
pearl from the sultan's necklace,
which had fallen into his possession
a. . result Of Harry's daring theft In
ConstGntinople. He was hard up, yet
he wanted TO drive . good bargain
He happened to know that lima was
anxious to secure the pearl to match
the others which his fellow-ganEsters
had informed him she already had,
Also he was well aware through
stayne that Perry Mason was equally
eager to obtain all the pearls Of the
famous necklace.
30 - he sat in his shanty near q
wood some miles out from the city's
outskirts, he wrote tive kEters, one
to lima and one to Perry.
In each he declared he Vas anxious
to sell II the price were right, and he
told Perry that Stayne knew where
to find him. He also announced that
he was writing to lima, hoping there
by to induce a rivalry in bidding.
To lima he gave explicit directions
as to his whereabouts and then mailed
both letters In the little station down
the line.
Joe Gudgeon's shanty wus Q small
and rickety AFFAIR almost In the
shadow OF q tank from which passing
trains drew their supply OF water.
Not far from the tank was q shed in
which was stored dynamite for use
in blasting. Gudgeon had not thought
much OF his proximity to this danger,
but today he gave the shed more than
q cursory glance and vowed IL he sold
the pearl he would move to some more
sheltered spot.
When he returned he sat ponderInR
for some time. In front OF him, on q
deal table, were several bottles Of ink,
and in the neck OF one OF these rested
the pearl from the sale OF which Joe
was hoping to realize q small fortune.
He busted himself seeing whether
It would drop through the neck into
the bottle, but II was too large and
he finally wrapped it up in tissue
paper and tucked It into his waist
coat pocket.
FACING HARD PROBLEM.
Once in her room lima was face to
face with the problem that had been
itself upon her with more
as the days passed-that
problem was how to secure tho sev-
Anth DRaFl anaadIIv