Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-07-25

drive a single nail at that distance
and drive the bullet that drove it.,
and the next and the next, until my
revolver is empty. You don't believe
me, do your"
You know that the beautiful
ScheheraZade-"
was famous for her fantastic sto-
ries? Yes, L know that, Mr.. Nee
land. I'm sorry you don't believe l
fired only to frighten you"
I'm sorry [ don't" he admitted,
laughing, but I'll practice trying and
maybe I shall attain perfect credull-
ty some day Tell me- he added,
what have you been doing to amuse
yourself?"
i've been amusing myself by Won
! dering whether you would come here
to see me tonight"
But your note said you were sure
I'd come"
You have come, haven't you?"
Yes, Scheherazade, I'm here at
your bidding, spirit and flesh. But
forgot to bring one thing"
The box whtch--you have promis-
ed yourself" ,,
| YES, the captain has it, l believe"
she returned serenely.
"Oh, Lord. Have you even found
out that? l don't know whether I'm
much fIattered by this surveillance
you and your friends maintain over
me. I suppose you even know what
1 had for dinner. Do you?"
Yes"
Come, I'll call that bluff. dear
lady! What did I have?"
When she told him, carelessly, and
without humor, mentioning accurate
ly every detail of his dinner, he lost
mis- gaiety of countenance a little
"Oh, I say, you know" he pro-
tested, chats going it a trifle too
strong Now, why the devil should
your people keep tabs on me to that
She looked up directly into his
Mr. Neeland l want to tell you
why. | asked YOU here so that |
/ may tell you. The people associated
| with me are absolutely pledged that
government shall have access to the
contents of that box. That is why
nothing that you do escapes our scru-
| tiny We are determined to have
the papers in that box, and we shall
| have them"
you have come to that determina-
ton too late" he began; burt she stop
ned him with a Slight gesture OF
| protest:
"Please don't interrupt me, Mr..
Neeland."
II won't; go on, dear LADY," -,
Then, I'm trying to tell you all
I 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 think-or pretend
| to think-for you are very intelll-
gent, Mr.. Neeland. and you know
that the contrary is true.
This affair concerns the secret po-
lice, the embassies, the chanceller1es,
the rulers themselves Of nations long
since grouped into two formidable al
lianceS radically hostile to one an
| other.
Il don't think you have understood
PERHAPS even yet you do not under
stand why the papers you carry are
| so important to certain governments
why it is impossible that you be
permitted to deliver them to the Prin-
! cess Mistchenka-
Where did you ever hear of herr
he demanded in establishment.
The girl smiled:
Dear Mr.. Neeland, L know the
Princess Mistchenka better, perhaps,
| than you do"
DO your"
Indeed 1 do. What do you know
about her? Nothing at all except
that she is handsome, attractive, Gull
tivated, amusing and apparently
| wealthy
You know her as traveller, a
| patroness of music and fine arts-aS
devotee of literature, as a graceful
| hostess, and an amiable friend VINO
gives promising young artists let
| ters of introduction to publishers who
! are in a position to offer them en-
I ployment."
That this girl should know so much
about the Princess Mistchenka and
about his own relations with her
| amazed Neeland. He did not pre-
tend to account for it; he did not TRY
he sat SILENT serious and surprised,
| looking into the pretty and almost
smiling face of d girl who apparent
| ly had been responsible for three
| separate attempts 70 Kill him-per-
haps even a fourth attempt; and who
now sat beside him talking in soft
and agreeable voice about matters
concerning which he had never
| dreamed she had heard.
For few moments she sat silent,
! observing in his changing expression
| the effects of what she had said to
him. Then. with a smile:
ASK me whatever questions you
desire to ask, Mr.. Neeland., L shall
! do my best to answer them"
Very WELL" he said bluntly; how
do dc . you y,9 happen to know SO much about
Il know something about the
friends of the Princess Mistchenka.
| [ have to-"
Did you know who I was there in
| the house at BrookhollOW?"
No"
when, them"
when you yourself told me your
name, L recognized it,"
81 surprised you by interrupting
lsyou in Brookhollow?"
| Eyes"
You expected no Interruption"
None
How did you happen to go there?
Where did you ever hear of the olive
wood box?"'
81 had adyices by cable from
abroad-directions to go to Brookhol-
low and secure the box"
Then somebody must be watching
the Princess Mistchenka.'
of course" she said simply.
why of course'?"
Mr. Neeland, the Princess Mist
chenka and her youthful protegee.
Miss Carew-"
"What!!"
The girl smiled YEARLY:
Really" she said, you are such
a boy to be mixed in with matters
of this color. I think that's the
reason you have defeated us-the
trained fencer breads a left-handed
novice more than any classic master
of the foils.
"And that is what YOU have done
to us-blundered-if you'll forgive
me-into momentary victory.
But such victories are only mo-
mentary, Mr.. Neeland. Please believe
it. Please try to understand, too,
that this is no battle with masks and
plastrons and nicely padded buttons.
No; it is no comedy, but grave and
serious affair that must inevita bly,
end in tragedy-for somebody"