The Washington times., 1919-05-02
''The Dark Star
Neeland Finds Note From Use Du
mont Inviting Him to Meet Her in
Her StaterOOm That Night.
By ROBERT w. CHAMBERS

pistol. You know you really need
q bit OF small arms practice, sche-
herazade."
'.Besause once missed your she
inquired serenely.
"Why 50 you did. didn't your he
exclaimed. delighted to goad her
into replying.
YES" she said, 81 missed you. J.
needn't have. am really dead
shot, Mr.. Neeland."
'NOh, ScheherazadeF' he protested
She shrugged:
"I am not Dragging; I could haVs
killed you I supposed IL was nec-
essary only to frighten you 70 was
my mistake and a bad one"
MY dear child" he expoStula4ed.
'yo meant murder and you know Il.
Do you suppose I believe that you
know how TO shoot?"
But I do, Mr.. Neeland,P she re-
turned with goOd-humored indiner-
ence. MY father was head jagef
to Count Geier Won Sturmspitz, and
was already a dead shot with rifie
when we emigrated to Canada And
when he became an Athabasca
trader, and was only twelve years
old, could set moose-hide shoe
lace swinging and cut IL 10 two with
a revolver at thirty yards. And I
can drive a single nail az that dis-
tance and drive the bullet that
drove IL, and the next and next un-
til my revolver is empty. You don't
believe me. do your"
You know that the beautiful
Scheherazade-"
SeheheFazade Could Ten Tn.
"Was famous for her fantastic
stories? Yes, know that. Mr.. Nee
land. I'm sorry you don't believe
fred only to frighten you"
"Tm sorry I don't" he admitted,
laughing, ''but IN practice trying,
credulity some day. Tell me" he
added, what have you been doing
to amuse yourself?"
'Pve been amusing myself By
wondering whether you would come
here to see me tonight"
But your note said you were sure
I'd come
you have come. havenst you=-
"Yes, Scheherazade, I'm here Ct
your bidding, spirit and flesh But
I forgot to bring one thing"
"What?''
"The box which-you have prom
ised yourself"
"Yes, the captain has Il. I be-
Heves" she returned serenely.
''Oh, Lord! Have you even found
out that? don't know whether I'm
much fattered by this surveillance
you and your friends maintain over
me. suppose you even know what
had for dinner. Do your
Yes ~-..
@come. I'll call that blnn, dear
lady! What did I have?s
When she told him, earelessIy.
and without humor, mentioning ac=
curately every detail OF hIs dinner.
he lost his gaiety Of countenance .
little.
"oh. say, you know he protest
ed, that's going it q tribe too
strong. Now, why the devil should
your people keep tabs on me to that
extent?'
She looked up directly into his
eyes:
international Sereta.
'1Ir. NeeIand, I want to ten you
why. I asked you here SO that I
may tell you. The people associated
with me are absolutely pledged that
neither the French nor the British
government shall have access to the
contents of-your box That q why
nothing that you do escapes our
scrutiny. We are determined to
have the papers in that box. and we
shall have them"
you have come to that deter
minatfon too late" he began; but
she stopped him with a slight geS-
ture OF protest:
please don't interrupt me, Mr..
Neeland.'
Il won't; 90 on, dear lady!'
Then, I'm trying to tell you an
may. I am trying to tell you
enough OF the truth to make you
reflect very seriously.
This is no ordinary private mat
ter. no vulgar attempt at robbery
and crime as you .thfRk-or pretend
to- think-for you are very intelli-
gent, Mr.. Neeland, and you know
that the contrary is true.
CTO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.l