Evening star., 1918-06-30
### CLEEK, THE
THE RIDDLE OF THE RAINBOW PEARL.

my dear Mr.. Narkom. DON'T see
must confess." replied C1eek with
an indulgent smile. surely an Eng.
lishnan must always feel certain
snairs. have the goodness 10 remem-
ber that there should be an English
man upon that particular throne Aye,
and there would be, too. but for one
OF those moments Of weak-backed
the old woman element which some-
times prevails in English politics to
keep friendly relations with other
powers at any cost
brush up your history. Mr.. Mar.
E9ns ESI; ana nc. g,ys your memory q nnann nnp;
Karma Of Nauravania had an English
consort and bore him two daughters
and ono son. You win perhaps recall
tho mad rebellion. the idiotic rising
which disgraced that reign. That was
the time for England to have spoken.
But the peace party had II by the
throatl They. with their mawktsh cry
for peace, peace At any price. drowned
tho voices Of men and heroes. and the
end was what it was! Queen Karma
ned, God knows how, God knows
whore, ana left . dead husband and
father, slain like . hero and an Eng.
lishman. fighting for his own and
with his face to the foe. Avenge his
deatha Nonsensei declared the old
win Of heaven, no right to stir up
strife with q friendly people and Ak
pect his countrymen to embroil Them
selves because Of his lust for power
1t would be q lasting disgrace to the
nation II England allowed q lot OF
bowling, bloodthirsty meddlers to per-
suade It to interfere!
'The old women had their way.
Queen Karma and her children van.
ished; her uncle, Duke Sforza, came
to the throne as Alburtus III, and
eight months ago his son. the pres.
father had been a bad king. the son
q bad crown prince. Mauravania has
paid the price. Let her put up with
Il! don't think. in the light OF
any wonder that an Englishman finds
interest in reading Of the AFFAIRS Of
a country over which an English
mans son might, and ought to, have
ruled. AS for me, have no SYM
or her Justly punished people," -.
still, my dear fellow, that should
not count when the reward for taking
up this case is SO enormous, and
dare say 1t will not"
Reward? case" repeated cleek.
What do you mean by thatT
services in the cause Of King Uric Of
Mauravania." replied Narkom, i'm
pressively. Something has hap
pened, Ceek, which II not cleared up
one month hence, as you must have
read, will certainly result In his mai
esty's public disgrace, and may result
in his overthrow and death! HIS
friend and chief adviser, Count 1rma'
ravania and is at this moment down.
stairs in this house to put the case
in your hands and to implore you to
help and to save his royal master"
'His royal master? The son OF
mans wife and an Englishman,s chill
dren into MISUNDERSTANDING.
despairr' said Cleek. pulling himself
up. 1T won't take It, Mr.: Narkom!
If he offers me millions I'll lift no
band hand,.: to help or to save hauraVan'a'S
The response to this came from an
unexpected garter.
monsieur! Will you do nothing for
herr said an % excited: an .1t,i1 inpier,ns he ing
Aaa as cisa rosnd ana IND
glanced in the direction Of the sound.
the half closed door swung inward
and q figure, muned to the very
eyes, moved over the threshold INTO
v0o room. k16V0 pAIVVHs AAVAOA00Ai ..
could not but overhear." went on the
newcomer. turning to Nafkom.
should scarcely be worthy Of his
ma3estys confidence and favor had
remained inactive. I simply had to
come up unbldden. Had to. monsieur
turning to Cleek-"and 80" His
words dropped on suddenly. A pus-
E1ed look nrSt expanded and then con-
tracted his eyes, and his lips tighten"
ed curiously under the screen Of his
white military mustache. Monsieur"
he said, presently putting into words
the sense Of banning familiarity which
perple1ed him. Monsieur, you then
are the great, the astonishing Cleek7
You, monsieur7 Pardon. but surely
have had the pleasure OF meeting
monsieur before? No, not here. for I
have never been in England until to.
day. but, in my own country, in Mau.
rsvsnia: Surely. monsieur. have
.1To the contrary" said Cleelr. speak
ing the simple truth. II have never
set foot in Mauravania in all my life,
sir. And as you have overheard my
words you may see that do not In
tend to even now. The difficulties Of
Mauravania's king do not in the least
appeal to me-"
"Ah, but Mauravania's queen, MON
sieur, Mauravania's queen"
The lady interests me no more than
does her royal spouse"
but, monsieur. she must II you are
honest in what you say, and your
sympathies are all with the deposed