The Washington times., 1919-06-05
"The Dark STAR
By ROBERT w. CHAMBERS
Princess Naia Appears and Offers to
Take Use DumOnt and Neeland
To Place of Safety.
By ROBERT W. CHAMBERS

and fresh IN her morning walking
suit.
James" she said abruptly. "WStvO
had a most horrid night, Ruhannah
and I. The child waited up for yOu.
1t seems-I thought she'd gone -
bed-and she came TO my FoSn
about ? in the morning-the ft9l0
goose-as though men didn't stay
out all night
I'm terribly sorry.- he said esA-
tritely.
You ought to be. AAA
Ruhannah was 50 disturbed that
put on something and got cut
OF bed. And after q WhfieS-
the Princess glanced sardonlcaliy
at Use Dumont--I teIephoned -
various sources OF information and
was informed concerning the rata
er lively episodes OF your nocturnal
career with Sengoun- And when
learned that you and he had been
seen to enter the Cafe des BulbaFa.
became sufficiently alarmed %
notify several people who might ~
interested in the matter"
"One Of those people" said Nee
A9l4e - N1ggAkIA 20 Al.N
home by Captain Sengoun. think"
The princess glanced out Of the
window where the early morning
sun glimmered on the trees az the
car flew swiftly through .hs
Champs ElyseeA
II heard that There were some
men killed there last night shs
said without turning.
Several, believe" admitted Nee
land.
Were you there. then?"
Yes" he replied, uncomfOrtsbly.
Did you know anybody who waS
killed. James?"
Yes. by sight"
She turned to him:
"Who?"
There was a man named Ksge-
ner: another named Weishelna.
Three American gamblers were
killed also"
"And Karl BreslauZ" Inquired TIE
princess coolly.
There was a moments sileneA
mo. I think he got away across
the roofs Of the houses replied
Neeland.
IIse Dumont, bent over the eat lm
he lap, stared absently into fts
green eyes where it lay playfuIly
patting the rags that hung from
her torn bodice.
Perhaps she was thinking OF the
dead man where he lay IN the
crowded cafe-the dead man who
had confronted her with blood
shot eyes and lifted pistol-whoss
voice, thick with rage, had de-
nounced her-whose stammering,
untaught tongue stumbled over the
foreign words with which he meant
to send her to her death-this dead
man who once had been her man
long ago-very, very long age
when there was no bitterness IN
life, no pain, no treachery-WhsR
life was young in the western
World, and Fate gayly beckonsd
her, wearing a smiling mask and
crowned with flowers.
81 hope" remarked The Princess
Mistchsnka. shat 4 II su4eienEly
early in the moving for You to ss-
cape observation. James"
I'm a scandal; knew ~ NJ
admitted, - the ear Bwu4g into The
Rue SoleiI d'or.
The princess turned 70 the drOop-
ing girl bAStds her and laid q
glOved hand lightly on her shoulder.
Ny dear" she said gently. there
is only one chance fer yOu. and e
we let IL pass Il will not come
again-unAsr military law"
Use lifted her head. held Il high.
even tilted back q little.
The princess SAID:
'Twenty-fouF hours will Be
given for all Germans to leave
France. But-yOu took your n
tionality frOm the man you mar
ried. You are American"
The girl flushed painfully:
IL do net care to take shelter
under his name" she said
at is the only way. And you
must get to the coast In my car.
There is no time to lose. Evsry
vehicle. private and public. win bs
seized for military uses this morn
ing. Every train will be crowded:
every foot OF room occupied on thu
Channel boats. There Is only one
thing for you to do-travel With
me to HavTe as my American maid"
''Madame-would you do that
for me?"
Why. I've got to-" said thu
Princess Mistchenka with a shruE.
Il am not a barbarian to leave you
to a firing squad, hope
The car had stopped; the chauffeur
descended and came around to opan
the door.
'Caron," said the princess. ne
servants are stirring yet. Take my
key, find cloak and bring il out
and a coat for Monsieur Neelaud-
the one that Captain Sengoun left
the other evening. Have you plenty
OF gasoline?
Plenty, madame"
Good We leave for Havre in
FIVE minutes. Bring the cloak and
coat quickly"
The chauffeur FASTENED to the
door, unlocked il, disappeared, then
came out carrying a voluminous
wrap and a mans opera cloak. The
princess threw the one over IISs
DuTsOnt: Neeland enveloped himself
in the other.
Now murmured the Princess
Naia, lit will look more like a late
party than an ambu-
lance after a free fight-if any early
servants are watching us"
She descended from the car; TlBs
followed, still clasping the
cat under her cloak; and Neeiand
followed her.
BE very quiet" whispered the
pr .ncess. There is no necessity
for servants to observe what W
do
A small and tremulous voice from
the head OF the stairs interrupted
her: