The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-22

and fork he used them as gaily, as
gracefully, and as thoroughly as he
used his saber on various occa-
sions.
He had taken an instant liking
to Neeland, who seemed entirely in
cIined to return it; and he talked
a great deal to the American. but
with a nice division OF attention for
the two ladies on either side.
You know, Ajax" said the Prin-
cess, you need not torture your
self by trying to converse with dis
erection; because Mr.. Neeland knows
about many matters which concern
US ALL"
"Ah. That Is delightful, And in
deed 1 was already quite assured OF
Mr.. Neeland's intelligent sympathy
in the present state OF European
affairs"
"He's done a little more than ex-
press sympathy" remarked the
Princess; and she gave a humorous
outline OF Neeland's part in the af-
fair Of the olive-wood box.
Fancy exclaimed Captain Sen
goun. That impudent canaille,
Yes: I heard at the embassy what
happened to that accursed box this
morning. OF course. ii is a misfor-
tune, but as for me, personally,
don't care"
1T doesn't happen to concern
you personally. Prince Erik" said
Princess Naia dryly.
NO" he admitted, unabashed by
the snub, cit does not touch me.
Cavalry cannot operate on the Gal
TharnFArn 81 .
thanked, shall be elsewhere when
the snow boils."
Rue turned to Neeland:
His one idea OF diplomacy and
war is a thousand Kuban Cossacks
at full speed"
And that is an excellent idea. is
it not, Kazatchka?' he said. smil-
ing impudently at the Princess,
who only laughed at the familiar
ity.
II hope" added Captain Sem
goun, that I may live to gallop
through a few miles of diplomacy
at full speed before they consign
me to the Opolchina.' Turning to
Neeland, The reserve-the old
mans home, you know. God for
bid" And he drained his goblet
scratch n Russian
a Cossack is a Cossack" said the
Princess, "be he Terek or Kuban.
Don or Astrachan. and they all
know as much about diplomacy as
Prince Erlik-or Izzet Bey's nose.
James, you are unusually
silent, dear friend. Are you re-
GREETING those papers,"
IT'S a pity" he said. But he had
not been thinking OF the lost pa
pers. Rue Carew's beauty preoc-
cupied him. The girl was in black,
which made her skin dazzling and
Redeemed the chestnut color OF her
hair.
Her superb young figure revealed
an unsupported loneliness where
the snowy symmetry OF neck and
shoulders and arms was delicately
accumulated by the hlmy black o.
her gown.
He had never seen such q beauti-
full girl; she seemed more wonder
full, more strange, more aloOf than
ever. And this was what preOc-
cupied and entirely engaged his
mind and troubled it. so that his
smile had a tendency to become in
definite and his conversation me-
chaEicaI at times.
Captain Sengoun drained one
more OF numerous goblets; gaZed
sentimentally at the Princess, then
with equal sentiment at Rue Carew.
As for me-" he said. with a care
lessly happy gesture toward the in
finite. plans are plans. and il they're
stolen, tant pis. But there are al
ways Tartars in Tartary and Turks
in Turkey. and, while there ara
there's hope for a poor devil OF a
COssack who wants to say a prayer
in st. Sophia before he's gathered to
his ancestors"
Have any measures been taken
at your embassy to trace the
plans?" asked Neeland Of the prin-
cess.
"Of course" she said simply.
"Plans," remarked Sengoun, ARE
not worth the tcherkeske OF an
honest Caucasian. A Khirgize pony
knows more than any diplomat;
and my magaika is better than
both"
"AII the same" said Rue Carew,
with those stolen plans in your
embassy. Prince Erik. you might
even galIop a sOtnia of your Cos
sacks to the top of Achi-Baba."
Prince Determines Action.
"By heaven. I'd like to try" he
exclaimed, his black eyes ablaze.
There are dongas,' observed the
princess dryly.
II know it. There are dongas
every twenty yards: and Turkish
gorse that would stop a charging
bull. My answer is, mount! trOt.
gallop. and hurrah for Achi-Baba!"
Very picturesque, Ajax. But
wouldn't il be nicer to be able TO
come back again and tell US all
about it,
As for that" he said with full
thr ated, engaging laugh, mo need
to worry, princess, for the newspa-
pers would tell the story. What is
this Gallipoli country, anyway. that
makes our chanCellery wag its re-
spected head and frown and whis-
per in corners and take little notes
on its newly laundered cuffs?
Il know the European and Asiatic
shores with their forts-Kilid Bahr.
Kun Hale, Dardanos. I
know what those Germans have
been about with their barbed wire
and mobile mortars batteries. What
do we want OF their plans. then"
Nothing. Prince ErIili.' said
Rue, laughing. 1T suffices that
you be appointed adviser in general
TO his majesty the car
SorgOun Laughed with all his
might.
and an excellent thing tina,