Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-08-28
Shared
BY J. U. GlESY L J. B. SMITH
Authors OF Semi Dual Stories
Copyright
: The Frank A. Munsey Co.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.


Hall way between large desk in
the center OF the room and the door
at a place where our inward rush had
hurled him, a man with reddish-brown
hair and mustache, and full red lips,
was glaring upon us
threw down my hand. holding
the automatic. and waved him back
ward from our front.
My eyes followed his movements.
Dimly, as we entered, | had heard
\ woman scream. As my man re-
treated before the menace OF my
weapon saw two women.
One was Greek Annie. She was
sitting in a chair and staring with I'M
believing eyes full into my own.
Back of her was Reich, who had
lsaped to his feet
From him my eyes turned to man
- tall. thin - with hair brushed back
from his forehead, and narrow, deep
set eyes.
He sat at the desk itself, or had
been sitting. Now he had half risen
ami was leaning forward. his hands
chipping the edge of the desks top, as
he viewed our unexpected arrival
In the brilliant light his eyes glowed
and glisiened with what seemed sort
OF Catlike sheen to me--a sort OF
greenish J low, IS though th y miE 1t
be slightly phosp loresccnt in he da k.
But il was the second woman 40
made me fairly gasp. have never
seen anything like her.
1may as well describe her as a gor'
geous rose in vase of gold. Even in
that moment it was the thought which
came to me.
She was dark-one OF those clear
skinned brunettes one sometimes finds
with skins like pale wax Her hair
was black, and into its dusky masses
were thrust on each side in front of
the ears the fresh flowers Of two
crimson peonies.
Her eyes were dark, and darkened
underneath until they looked like
bools Of midnight blackness. Her skin.
as have said. was waxen; but her
cheeks and lips were rouged untll
they made whirls and rcd slit of
crimson in the mask of white.
She lay back in a great padded chair
OF crimson. and she had not moved at
our entrance save to turn her eyes;
yet every line of her supple body was
tense.
And she was dressed in gold. Her
entire dress. which fitted her like the
sheath of a flower, was of some gold
en- fabric, which glinted and flashed
with thousand tiny points of brill
lance under the lights
She was like a great exotic flower
set to the cayx in a golden tube.
All these things | saw in a flash,
while the redlippe1, brown-haired
man retreated from me.
There came the sound of fall
caught fleeing glimpse of the shop
keeper lifted and flung to the floor
between the door and the desk where
the cat-eyed man was leaning.
The man of the tongs had hurled
him into huddled, groveling heap.
Now he calmly drew huge weapon
from his clothing and added its threat
to my support.
I looked for Duval,. He was stand
ing Just inside of the door, which was
closed once more.
He had drawn himself up to his full
six feet OF height and was calmly re.
turning the stare Of the man at the
desk.
The lights sparkled and shone from
the facets of the huge ruby he was
wearing in his turban. and 1t glowed
Like a living flame Of menace above
the other menace Of his eyes.
4 "Who--who the devil are your
spoke the man at the desk.
Call mo Nemesis" came his an
swer in tones deep, full, vibrant, which
seemed to carry hint OF immutable
truth.
Nemesis" stammered the other.
Fer one moment he seemed unable
to gather his wits fully before our sud.
den apparition.
"Nemisis" Duel repeated, and Il
seemed to me that now he played for
time--sought to add to the others
startled surprise.
"The sum total Of the msdeeds a
man commits. The thing he creates
for himself--by which he is pursued.
and by which each Is some day over.
taken. Call me the incarnation OF the
.pouls you have crushed, come to crush