The Washington times., 1919-05-28

EuAEIOE QppUBAL0 ANO MOA4~a eg8Ng4
In the next room"
After a moment he nodded.
"Are they watching us?"
Eyes"
''Mr. NeelandT"
He redeemed with surprise.
"Get Captain Sengoun and leave"
she said, still smiling. DO II
carelessly, conVincingly. Neither
OF you needs courage; both OF you
lack common sense. Get up, take
leave OF me nicely but regretfully,
as though I had denied you q rem
devious. You will be killed II you
remain here"
For moment NeeIand hesitated.
but curiosity won:
"Who Is likely TO try anything
Of that sort?'' he asked. And =
tingllng sensation, not wholly un-
pleasant. passed over him.
Almost anyone here. IL you are
recognized" she said, as gaily as
though she were imparting de-
lightful information.
But you recognize as. And Tn
certainly not dead yet"
(which ought to tell you more
about me than am likely to tell
anybody. Now, when smile at you
and shake my head. make your
adieux.t to me, find Captain Sengoun,
and take your departure. Do you
understand"
Are you really serious?"
at Is you who should be serious.
Now, give you your signal, Mon
sieur Neeland-"
But the smile stifgened on her
pretty face, and at the same mo-
ment he was aware that somebody
had entered the room and was
standing directly behind him
He turned on his chair and look
ed mp into the face Of Use Dumont.
There was a seconds hesitation,
then he was on his feet, greeting
her cordially, apparently entirely
at ease and with nothing on his
mind except the agreeable surprise
OF the encounter.
81 had your note" he said. at
was charming Of you to write, but
very neglectful OF you not to in
clude your address. Tell me, how
have you been since I last saw
your"
Face POFtays Danger.
Use Dumont's red lips seemed to
be dry, for she moistened them
without speaking. In her eyes he
saw peril-knowledge Of something
terrible-soms instant menace.
Then her eyes, charged with
lightning. slowly turned from him
to the girl on the sofa who had
not moved. But in her eyes, too, a
little flame began to flicker and
play, and the fixed smile relaxed
into an expression OF cool self
possession.
Neeland's pleasant, careless voice
broke the occult tension:
This is q pretty club" be said;
Everything here is IN such excel
lent taste. You might have told me
about IT," he added to Use with
smiling reproach; but you never
even mentioned it, and discovered
1t quite by accident"
Use Dumont seemed to find her
voice with an effort:
May I have q word with you,
Mr.. Neeland?' she asked.
Always" he assured her prompt
~. 81 am always more than happy
to listen to you
please follow mel"
He turned to the girl on the sofa
and made his adieux with conVen-
tional ceremony and q reckless smile
which said:
you were quite right, mademoi-
selle; I'm in trouble already"
Then he followed Use Dumont
into the adjoining room, which was
lined with filled bookcases and
where the lounges and deep chairs
were covered with leather.
hy ~ TT.a
Dumont turned to him-turned on
him a look such as he never before
had encountered in any living wom-
ans eyes-a dead gaze, dreadful,
glazed. as impersonaI as the fixed
regard Of a corpse.
She said: '--~-
"I came. They sent for me.
I did not believe they had the
right man. . could not be-
lieve II, Neeland."
A trihe shaken, he said in tones
which sounded steady enough:
what frightens you so, Schehera-
zadeT"
"why did YOU come? Are you alb
soIutely' made?'
MAIDS No, I don't think so.' he
replied with q forced smile. what
threatens me here, ScheherazadeT'
regarding her pallId face atten-
lively.
'Death. You must have
known It when you came"
Death? No, didn't know IT"
"DId you suppose that IL they could
get hold OF you they'd let you go?-
A man who might carry in his
memory the plans for which they
tried to kill you? I wrote to you
I wrote to you to go back to Amer
lea! And-this Is what you have
done insteadT
WELL" he said in q pleasant but
rather serious voice, "if you really
believe there Is danger for me II I
remain here, perhaps I'd better CO."
you can't gor'
'You think I'll be stopped?"
Eyes. Who Is your crazy co4mpan-
ion. heard that he Is Ajax SEN
goun-the headlong fool-they call
Prince Erik. Is It true?"
where did you hear all these
things?" he demanded. where were
you when you heard them?"
A False Message.
HAt the Turkish embassy. Word
came that they had caught you. I
did not believe 1t; others present
doubted it But as the
rumor concerned you, I took no
chances; came instantly. IL had 4
rather be dead than see you
here" Her voice became I'M
steady. but she controlled It at once:
''Neeland! Neeland! Why did you
cOroa9 Whv have VIM 1pd0na all