The Washington times., 1919-04-24

dissuade him from falling In love
Brandes marrieS Hue through taks
ceremony She escapes from hss p9set
and goes 20 Paris as prOtegee Of Rus
sian princess
He had better return those pa
pers," she replied i'm a low voice.
I'm sorry, Scheherazade, but it
Isn't done in ultra-crooked circles.
Are you sure you have eonugh
money to so where destiny and
booty call your
Il have what require" she an
swered dryly-
Then good-by, Pearl OF the Har-
EN-! without rancour, offer you
the hand that reluctantly chastened
you"
They remained facing each other
in silence for a moment: his express
sion was nischievOusly amused;
hers inscrutable. Then, as he pa
tiently and good-humoredly contin-
ued to offer her his hand, very
slowly she laid her own in 1t, still
looking him directly in the eyes.
I'm sorry," size said in low
voice.
For what: For not shooting
me-
Face Each other in silence.
I'm sorry for you. Mr.. Neeland.
You're only q boy, after all.
You know nothing. And you refuse
to learn. I'm sorry. Good
by"
Gould I take you anywhere? To
the Hotel Orange? I've time. The
station is across the street"
NO." she said. 49,.
She walked Ieisurs1y along the
poorly lighted street and turned
the first corner as though at haz-
ard. The next moment her trim and
graceful figure had disappeared.
With his heart still gay from the
nights excitement and the drop Of
Irish blood in him lively as cham
pagne. he crossed the square brisk
ly. entered the stuffy station.
bought ticket. and went out to
the wooden platform bc=.dc tao
rails.
Placing box and suitcase side by
side, he seated himself upon them
and lighted a cigarette.
Here was an adventure. Whether
or not he understood il, here GER
tainly was a real, story-book ad-
venture at last And he began to
entertain a little more respect for
those writer's OF romance who have
so persistently attempted to con-
vince an incredulous world that ad-
ventures are to be had anywhere
and at any time for the mere effort
entailed in seeking them.
Adventure Thrust Upon Him.
In his case, however. he had not
sought adventure. 1t had been
thrust upon him by cable.
And now the drop OF Irish in him
gratefully responded. He was much
obliged to Fate for his evenings
entertainment: he modestly ven
tured to hope for favors to come.
And. considering the coolly veiIed
threats OF this young woman who Il
h'o had treated with scant cerc-
mony. he had some reason to eN-
pect a sequel to the nights adyeu-
tuTc.
She he thought to himself
'had nothing on Godiva-eXcept
piano cover"
Recollection OF the absurd situ-
alton melted him reprehensible
merriment to the point Of unre-
strained laughter, and he clasped
his knees mad rocked to and fro,
where he sat on his suitcase, all
alone under the stars.
The midnight express was uSu-
ally from five to forty minutes late
at OranEeville, but from there east
it made up time on the down grade
TO Albany.
And now. as he sat watching, far
away along the riverside a star
came gliding into view around an
unseen curve-the headlight OF a
distant locomotive.
A few moments later he was in
his drawing room. seated on the
edge of the couch, his door locked,
the shade over the window looking
on the corridor drawn down as far
a. It would go. and the train rush
ing through the starry night on the
down grade toward Albany.
He could not screen the corri-
dor WiuuOw entirely; the shade
seemed to be too short; hut II was
late. the corridor dark, all the cur
tains in the car closed tightly over
the berths. and his privacy was OF
likely to be disturbed. And when
the conductor had taken both tick
cts and the porter had brought him
a bottle OF mineral water and Gone
away, he settled down with great
content.
Neeland was in excellent humor.
He had not the slightest inclina-
ton to sleep. He sat on the side
of his bed, smok ing. the Olive-wood
box lying open beside him, and its
curious contents revealed.
But now. as he carefully examined
the papers. photographs, and draw
ings, he began to take the affair a
little more seriously. And the pos
si6il:ty Of further trouble raised his
aIrcady high spirits and caused that
little drop Of Irish blood 10 sing
s.Erc-r hly in his 'n:us