Evening star., 1918-06-30

she became the Crown Prince UlricS
wife. She is now his consort. And
feel SO warmly upon the subject OF
the rights Of her family's succession,
win be saving her. helping Maura-
vania's queen and defeating those
Cleek sucked in his breath and re-
Q long time. Then:
1ns. tcse o ssno1 soon hs sosss sss and a
gentleman. is that true1"
'As true as Holy Writ, monsieur. On
my word Of honor. On my hopes OF
"very well. then" said clee,. quiet
~, Tell me the case, count III take
Monsieur. my eternal gratitude
Also the reward isD
I'VE will talk about that afterward.
Sit down. please, and tell me what you
want me to do"
''oh. monsieur. almost the impossi-
'.The outwitting of q woman who
must in very truth be the devils own
daughter, SO subtle. so appalling are
the craft and cunning OF her: That,
for one thing. For another. the and-
the woman swears 1t shall be II her
terms are not acceded to. will be the
signal for his majesty's overthrow.
And. for the third"-emotion mas
tered him. his voice ehoked and failed,
like one afraid to let even his own
ears hear the thing spoken of aloud,
then governed his cowardice and went
on-'for the third thing, monsieur"
almost q whisper. '.the recovery-the
restoration to its place Of honor be-
fore the coronation day arrives Of
that fateful gem, Mauravania.s pride
and glory. the rainbow pearl"
like bloodhound swapping. and over
his hardened face there came slow
creeping: unnatural pallor.
HAS that been lost? he said In
low, bleak voice. Has he, this prec-
usurper-has he parted with that
thing, the wondrous rainbow pearl?'
Monsieur knows Of the gem, then?"
"Know of it? Who does not? Its
fought for it, lives eaorificed for It.
It is more valuable than England's
Koh-i-noor and more important to the
country and the crown that possess
It. The legend runs does it not, that
pearl passes into alien hands? An
absurd belief, to be sure, but who
can argue with a superstitious people
or hammer wisdom into the minds of
babies? And that has been lost, that
so important to Mauravania's crown?'
Yes, monsieur-ah. the good God
help my eountryMyssw yes .sas said ,rd,e the
% %aestyn 5eksn hands, ne ionser 1e@
among the crown jewels Of Maui
ravania and a Russian has it."
"A Russian?' Cleek's cry was like
to nothing so much as the snari Of
and Russia the sworn enemy Of
Mauravania! God help your wretched
king, Count Irma' If this were known
it is that against which we struggle
replied the count. III that jewel were
missing on the coronation day, II 1t
were known that Russian holds it
dear God! the populace would rise.
monsieur. and tear his majesty to
'He deserves no betterw said Cleek.
through his close-shut teeth. ITO q
Russian-a Russian! AS heaven hears
me. but for his queen Well. let 1t
pass. Tell me, how did this Russian
get the jewel. and when7"
;NOh. long ago. monsieur. long ago:
many months before King Alburtus
was It his hand that gave it np1"
knowing e9ss'l o. 4. lon. As stSou. sa
ing that the stone in the royal palace
10 but q sham and an imitation" re-
piled the count. 1T all came Of the
youth, tho recklessnesa. the folly Of
the crown prince. Monsieur may have
heard Of his-his many Wild esca-
padeA his thoughtleeS acts, his
hiA-
SCal1 them dissipations, count, and
gjvs them their real name. HIS acts
aS crown prince were scandal and q
disgrace. To whom did he part with
this gem, womanf" =
Monsieur, yea! It was during the
time he was stopping in Paris-in-
coEnito to all but a trusted few. He
he met the woman there, became fAs-
einated with her. bound to her. an alb
ject slave to her" -.
"A slave to q Russian? Maurava-
Mas heir and a Russianf' g..
Monsieur. he did not know that
until afterward. In q mad freak
there was to be q masked ball-he
yielded to the lady's persuasions to
let her wear the famous rainbow
pearl for that one night. He jour-
neyed back to Mauravania and alb
stracted 1t from among the royal jew
els, putting q mere imitation in its
place 90, that 1t should not be missed
until he could return the original.
Monsieur, he was never able to return
It at any time, for once she got 1t the
Russian made away with 1t in some
secret manner and refused to give 1t
mp. Her price for returning Il was
his royal fathers consent to ennohle
her. to receive her at the Naurava-