The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-05-19

CONTINUED From Our Last Issue
Cecil left the shop and late
Joined group OF soldiers In tn
chambree and soon was busy upoi
his carvings.
STOPPING over them. he did no
notice tho doors open at the en-
OF tho Chambree until suddei
silence that fell on the uproa
round him made him look up. thel
he rose and gave the salute witt
tho rest OF his discounted troop
era Chateanroy with a brillian
party had entered.
The Colonel flashed an eAgl'
glance round.
Fine disciplined You shall ~
and do this pretty work in thu
guard house,"
The soldiers stood Ike hound
that see the lash. Cecil advanced
and fronted him.
Mine r. the blame, mon Com
mandant."
The Marquis gave a grim. sig
nificant smile
Wherever there 10 insubordina
ton IN the regiment the blame II
very certain TO be yours! Corpora
Victor. n you allow your Chambres
TO be turned into a public fair. yot
will soon find yourself degraded
from the rank you 30 slgnaliy con
trive to disgrace
The words were far less thar
the tone they were spoken In. thai
gave them all the inaolcnce u "a
many blows. as he swung on his
heel and bent TO the ladies' OF the
party be escorted.
The ladies OF the party fingered
by this soldier and by that. buying
half the things In the Chambree
and raining down on the troopers
a shower OF Napoleons until the
ChasHeurs. who had begun 20 think
their trades would take them "a
prison. thought instead that they
had drifted into dreams OF ri
Dorado.
Tho Chambrce Of the Chasseurs
was as unlike the barracks rooms
of the ordinary army as Cigarette.
smoking on IA gun wagon. was un.
like trim Normandy soubreite.
The room was crammed with
every sort of spoil. while the men.
croaslegred on their little hard
couehes. worked away with the zekt
Of those who work for the few
coins that alone viii get them the
food. the draughi OF wine. the
hours mirth 10 which fhey look
across the long. stern probation OF
discipline and maneuver.
Apart. AT the head Of tn. Cham.
bre~. sat Cecil. The banter, the
chorus 81 tongues. went on un.
slaekened BY his presence. when
the grade OF sous-offieer gave him
authority over them. they obeyed
him implicitly because they knew
that his sympathles were with them
Mt all times.
The laughter and work we're at
their height. Cecil sat listening
while be gave the last touch TO the
carvings before him They were a
set OF chessmen which II had taken
him years 10 perfect: the white
men were In ivory. the black In
walnut. and were opposing squad.
rons OF French troops and OF
mounted Arabs. Beautifully carved.
with every detail of costume. they
were his masterpiece.
Are those beautiful carvings
Cecil looked up. and saw a won.
ans eyes resting on him: proud.
luxtrouK eycs. little naughty.
very thoughtful. very soft withal
Yes. madame. they are mine
She took the White King, an
Arab Sheik on his charger, in her
hand, and turned TO those about
her. speaking OF its beauties and
itH workmanship in "A voice that
fell on Cecil's ear like chime OF
long forgotten music. Twelve
years had driftcd by since he had
been in the presence OF high
bred woman. and those delicate
tones had the note Of his dead past.
You have an exquisite art.
They are for sale7" she asked.
They are at your service,
madame"
And their price," She drew
,ut some banknotea as she spoke.
Never had the bitterness of pov.
arty Hmitten him as nov when this
young patrician offered him her
gold! lie forgot who and where
he now was: he bowed as in other
days he had used to bow in the
circles OF st James.
"fs-~the honor OF your accept.
lnee. II YOU will deign TO give
hat"
There was an extreme OF sur.
prise and GOODNESS In her glance.
She bent her graceful head.
Il thank YOU. Your very clever |
work can. OF course. only be mine |
~ purchase"
And with that she laid aside the |
White King among his little troop |
u ivory Arabs and floated on |
ward with her friends. Ceoil's face |
,aled. These careless, cold words
rom n woman's lips had showed /
II he had lost.
But this was not TO be the end |
u the episode The afternoon
brought message commanding
lin 20 present himself at his Com.