The Washington times., 1919-05-10
"The Dark STAR
By ROBERT W. CHAMBERS
CurfOot Tells Stull and His COmpan-
ions That They Are All to Act As
Spies in Paris for Germans
By ROBERT w. CHAMBERS

And now StHll knew him to BE
more than 'that-knew him 10 be
treacherous.
Whatever in Brandes had been
decent, or had. blindly peFhsps, e.
pired toward decency, was nov In
allegiance. Something within htn
had gone to smash since Mana
Mint had struck him that night
in the frightened presence OF Rue
Carew.
Changed by Less Of Love.
And from that night, when he had
lost the only woman who had ever
stirred in him the faIntsst aspiEa-
tion'to better things, the man had
gradually changed. whatever in
his nature had been unreliable be
cams treacherous; his stolidity BE-
came sullenness. A slow fsroeaty
burned within him; emhsrs' of q
rage which no bFooding ever
quenehed slumbeFed red In his
brain until his endless meditation
became q monomania- And his
monomania was the ruin OF this
woman who had taken from him in
the very moment OF consumation
all that he had ever really loved IN
the world-a tain, awkward, freek-
led, red-haired country girl. IN
whom, for the hrst and only time
in all his life. he saw the vague
and phantom promise OF thar trim
ity which he had never knoWn-a
wife. child, and home.
He sat there by the car windaW
glarfng out Of his duh green eyes
at, the pleasant countrysids, his
thin lips Tightening and relaxing On
his cigar.
Curfoot, still pondering ever the
new stuff offered him, brooaOd
silently in his corner, watching the
others out of his tiny, bright eyes.
DO anything in London?' in
qulred StulL-
NO"
"Who was you working for
"A jock and a swell skirt. But
Scotland Yard got next and chased
the main guy over the water"
What was your lay?"
Same thing. I dealt for ne jock
and the skirt trimmed the squads"
Anybody holler?''
"Aw-the kind we squeezed was
too high up to holler. Them young
lords take their medicine like they
wanted il. They amt like the
home bunch that is named after
swell hotels"
After a silence he looked - At
Brandes:
Inquiries OF NINA Mint
What ever become Of NINA Mn
ti?' he asked.
Bandes' heavy features remained
stoIid.
"she got her divorces, didn't Ihsr'
insisted Curfoot
Yes" a.-
"Alimony?"
mo. She didn't ask any"
How about venem:''
Brandes remained silent, but stnll
said:
81 guess she chucked him. she
wouldn't stand for that snake /
got to hand it to her; she Amt
that kind
what kind is shs?"
Il tell you 1 got to hand Il to
her. can't complain OF her She
acted white all right until Yemen
stirred her up. Eddie's got him
self to blame; he got in wrong AID
Venem had him followed and show
ed him up to dinna-"
you got tired of her, didn't your
said Curfoot to BrandeA But Stull
answered for him again:
Like any man, Eddie needed =
vacation now and then But Ne
skirt understands"
Brandes said slowly:
'Pll live to fix Minna yet.7
What fixed you" snapped Stull,
was that there Brookhollov stuff
Can it," retorted Brandes, turn
ing a deep red.
"Aw-don't hand me the tPue-loYs
stuff Eddie, If you'd meant Il with
that little haymaker you'd have re-
spected her"
Brandes' large face became Grim
son with rage:
You say another word about
her and I'll push your block Of
you little dough-fa faced kike.'
Stull shrugged and presently
whispered to CuTfoot:
That's the play he always makes.
I've waited two years, but he won't
ring down on the love stun. 1
guess he was hit hard that trip. II
took a little red-headed, .freckled
country girl to stop him. But II
was comm to Eddie BEandes. and II
certainly looks like it was there to
stay q while"
StiII Fond of Girl.
Hes still stuck on her.
II guess she's still the ny paper
nodded Stull.
Suddenly Brandes turned on Stull
such look Of concentrated hatred
that the little gamblers pallid fea-
lures stiffened with surprise:
Ben" said Brandes in a low
voice, which was too indistinct for
Neeland to catch, III tell you
something now that you don't
know. saw Quiut alone; talked
with him. Do you know who 10
handling the big stun in this deal='
Who asked Stull, amazed.
The Turkish embassy in Paris.
and do you know who plays the
fine Italian hand for that bunch u
Turks"
NO"
"Minna"
You're crazy"
Brandes took no notice. but weaG
on with a sort OF hushed ferocieY
that silenced both Stull and Cur
foot:
That's why 1 went in. To set
Minna. And I'll get her IL 10 costs
every cent I've got or ever hope t.
get. That's why I'm in this deal;
that's why I came; that's why I'm
ell ~