The Washington times., 1919-05-24
"The Dark Star"
By ROBERT w. CHAMBERS
Neeland and Captain SengOun Flirt
With Fiji and Mini, Who Startle
Them With Intimate Facts.
By ROBERT w. CHAMBERS

You brought the Yellow Devil
into Europe. M'sieu NilaA. Erik,
the Yellow Demon When he travels
there Is unrest. Where he resLs
there Is war"
You're very clever" retorted
Neeland, quite out of countenance.
Yes. we are" said Fin. with her
quick smile. And who but hsieu
Milan should admit it?"
Very clever" repeated Neelanh,
stiIl amazed and profoundly uneasy.
But this Yellow Devil you say
brought into Europe must have
been resting in America, then. And,
il so. why is there no war there?
There would have been-with
Mexico. You brought the Yellow
Devil here, but just in time
All right. Grant that, then. But
perhaps he was a long time rest
ing in America. What about that,
pretty gipsy?'
The girl shrugged again:
Fought Many Wars.
'Is your memory so poor, Msieur
Milan? What has your country
done but fight since Erik rested
among your people? You fought in
Samoa: in Hawaii: your warships
went to Chile. to Brazil, to San Do
mingo: the blood of your soldiers
and sailors was shed in HAITI, in
Cuba, in the Philippines. in China
Good LordH exclaimed Neeland.
That girl is dead right!'
SengouR threw back his handsome
head and laughed without restraint;
and the gipsies laughed, too. their
beautiful eyes an dteeth flashing
under their black cascades OF I'M
bound hair.
SHOW me your palms" said Nini,
and drew Sengoun's and Neeland's
hands across the table, holding them
in both of hers.
See she added. nudging Fir
with her shoulder. both OF them
born under the Dark Star! It is
war they shall live to see-warP'
Under the Dark Star. Erik" re-
peated the other girl looking close
ly into the two palms, land there is
war there"
And DEATH" inquired Sengoun
gaily. II don't care, IL 1 can lead
a satnia up Achi-Baba and twist
the gullet Of the Padisha before l
say Fih-Nini!''
The gipsies searched his palm
with intent and brilliant gaze.
"Zutr said Fiji. "Je ne vols
rien que d'Tamour ct la querre aux
DANES"
Ten fails pasr' laughed Sengoun.
81 ask no further favor OF For
tune; I'll manage my regiment my
self. And. listen to me, Fiji" he
added with a frightful frOwn, IF
the waE you predict doesn't arrive.
I'll come back and beat you as
though you were married to a
Turk,H1sT
While they still explored his palm,
whispering together at intervals.
SengoUn. caught the chorus of the
air which the orchestra was play
ing. and sang it Justify and with
Intense pleasure to himself.
Knew All His Affairs.
Neeland, unquiet to discover how
much these casual strangers knew
about his own and intimate affairs,
had become silent and almost glum.
But the slight gloom which in
vaded him came from resentment !
toward those people who had fol-
lowed him from Brookhollow to |
Paris, and who, in the very mo-
nent Of victory, had snatched that |
satisfaction from him.
He thought of Kestner and OF |
8reslau-of Scheherazade. and the
terrible episode in her stateroom.
Except that he had seized the
box in the Brookhollow house,
here was nothing in his subse-
Iuent conduct on which he could
plume himself. He could not con-
sratulate himself on his wisdom;
sheer luck had carried him through
Is far as the rue SoleiI d'Or-mers
chance, and that capricious fortune
which sometimes conveys the
Itupid. fatuous. and astigmatic.
Then he thought of Rue Carew.
And, in his bosom. an intense de-
lire to distinguish himself began
o burn.
If there were any way on earth
o trace that accursed box
He turned abruptly and looked
It the two gypsies, who had re-
inquished Sangoun's hand and who
we're still conversing together in
ow tones while Sangoun beat time
m the juggling table too and sang
OyOusiy at the top OF his baritone
'oiCe:
"Eh ZOum-Zoum-Zoum