The Washington times., 1919-05-19
"The Dark Star
Neeland Gets Letter From Use Du-
mont Telling Him to Return to
America, Keeping Out of Danger.
By ROBERT w. CHAMBERS

A step behind him and Nesland
turned. It-was MaFotte. the butler,
who presented thick, sealed en-
velope to him on his salver, bent to
turn down the fame under the sing
ing silver kettle, and withdrew
without a sound.
Neeland glanced at The letter in
perplexity, opened the envelope ana
the twice-folded sheets OF letter
paper inside, and read this odd COM
munication:
Have 1 been fair to you? Did I
keep my word? Surely you must
now, in your heart, acduit me or
treachery-of any premeditated vio-
lence toward you.
I never dreamed that those men
would come to my stateroom. That
plan had been discussed, but was
abandoned because It appeared i'm
possible TO get hold Of you.
And also-may admit it without
being misunderstood?-I absolutely
refused to permit any attempt in
volving your. death
When the trap shut on you, there
in my stateroom, 1t shut also on me.
/ was totally unprepared; / was
aNeESel- To- anu also ! QAQ
given you my word Of honor.
Judge, then, OF my shame and
desperation-my anger at being en-
trapped in a false position INVOLVING
the loss in your eyes Of my personal
honor!
Finds Situation UAkeHrabIe.
1t was UNDESIRABLE; and did what
I could to make It clear to you that
1 had not betrayed you. But my
comrades do not yet know that I
had any part in it; do not yet un-
derstand why the ship was not
blown to spIinters. They are salts
fed that l made q mistake in the
rendezvous. And, 80 far, no sus-
picion attaches to me; they believe
the mechanism of the clock failed
them. And perhaps 1t Is well Tor
me that they believe this.
1t is, no doubt,a matter OF indiner-
ence to you how the others and
reached safety: have no decisions
concerning any personal and kindly
feeling on your part toward me. But
one thing you can not-dare not
believe, and that Is that 1 proved
treacherous to you and false to my
own ideas Of honor.
And now let me say one more
thing to you-let me say IL out OF q
-friendship-foF which you care
no4hfng-could not care anything.
And that Is this: your task Is ac-
complished You could NOT possibly
have succeeded. There Is mo chance
for recovery Of those papers. Your
mission is definitely ended.
Now, beg Of you to return TO
America Keep clear OF entAngle-
ment in these events which are be-
ginning to happen In such rapid
succession in Europe They do not
concern you; you have nothing to DO
with them, no interest in them
Your entry into affairs which can
not concern you would be insulting
efrontery and foolish bravado.
beg you to heed this worning-
know you to be personally courag-
eous; suppose that fear OF conse-
ouences would not deter you from
intrusion into any affair, however,
dangerous; but I dare not hope that
perhaps in your heart there may
have been born . little spark OF
friendliness-a faint warmth or
recoRnition for q woman who took
some slight chance with death 10
prove to you that her word OF honor
is not lightly broken
So, II you please, our W3ys pers
here with this letter sent to you oy
hand.
I shan not forget the rash but
generous boy knew who called me
SCHEHERAZADE-