The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-30
HEARTS OF THREE
By JACK LONDON.
BY JAOA -1ONOON'
Torres Informs Queen He Is the Man
Selected to Become Her
Husband

Will good francis 50 VAIN
Torres nodded speechlessly.
do all persons 50 value them"
she seOras Gers.
Again he nodded emphaticslly.
She began to laugh an siIvery de-
rision. Bending. at haphazard she
clutched a priceless handful Of the
pretties.
Come" she commanded, Il win
show you how value them.
She led him across the room and
out on a platform that extended
around three sides Of a space Of
water. the fourth side being the
perpendicular cliff. At the base OF
the cliff the water formed a whirl.
pool that advertised the drainage
exit for the lake which Torres had
heard the MOrgAns speculate about
with another silvery tease OF
laughter the Queen tossed the
handful OF priceless gems into the
heart OF the whirlpool.
= Thus / value them" she said.
Torres was aghast. and. for taS
once, we'll nigh sObered BY Sueh
WantonnesS.
"And they never come back" she
laughed on Nothing ever comes
back. Lookp'
She flung In a handful OF flowers
that raced around and around the
whIrI and quickly sucked down
from sight in the center Of Il.
eff nothing comes back, where
does everything gO?" Torres asked
thicbly.
The Queen shrugged her should
ers, although, he knew that che
knew the secret Of the waters.
More than one man has gone that
way" she said dreamily. No one
OF them has ever returned. Ny
mother went that way, after she
was dead. 1 was a girl then" She
reused. But you, helmeted enc,
go now. Make report to your
master-your friend. l mean. Tell
him what propose for doWery.
And, IL he be half as mad a. you
know about the bits OF glass, swift
y will his arms surround ne.
shall remain here land in dreams
await his coming. The play 1.-the
water faseinates me-"
Dismissed, Torres entered the
sleeping chamber, erept back to
steal a glimpse OF the Queen and
saw her sunk down on the platform
hand in hand, and gazing into the
whirlpool. Swiftly he made his way
to the chest, lifted the ia, and
slowed a handful into his trousers
pocket. Ere he could scoop q sec
ond handful, the hooking laughter
OF the Queen was at his back
Fear and rage mastered him to
such extent, that he sprang toward
her, and pursuing her out upon the
platform, was only prevented from
seizing her by the dagger she
threatened him with
Thief" she said quietly. 'sWith-
out honor are you, And the way Of
all thieves IN this valley OF DEATH
shall summon my speaFmen and
have you thrown into the Whirling
water"
And his serenity. gave Torres cum
ming. CHANGING apprehensiVely At
the water that threatened him, he
circulated a cry ~of horror as II at
what strange thing he had seen,
sank down on one knee and buried
his convulsed face OF simulated fear
in his hands The queen looked side
wise to see what he had seen. Which
was his moment. He rose in the air
upon her like q leAping tiger, clutch
ing her wrists and Wrestling the
dagger'from, her.
He wiped the sweat from his face
and tPsmbIsd while he slowly re-
covered himself. Meanwhile she
gazed upon him euriously without
fear. -----.
They Cane to GFipa.
you are a~woman OF evfE" ~
snarled at her, still shaking with
rage; "a witch that trafncs With
the powers Of darkness and all dew
ilish things. Yet are you woman,
born woman. and therefore mortal
The weakness OF mortality and Of
woman is yours; wherefore I give
you now your choice OF two things
Either you shall, be thrown into the
whirl OF water and perish, Or
'Or?" she prompted
"Or''-. He paused, licked hiA
dry lips and burst forth, MOT b
the Mother Of God, lam net Gfraik
Or marry me this day, which Is the
other choice
you would marry me for mySah,
or for the treasurer
For the treasure" he admitted
brazenly. ..
"But it IS written In the Book OF
Life that shall marry Francis" she
objected.
when will we rewrite that page
in the Book OF Life?"
''As II it could be doner' she
laughed. .s ...
Then will prove your mortal
ity there in the whirl whittier i
shall fling you, as you flung the
flowers" s,
Truly intrepid Torres was for
the time-intrepid because OF the
ancient drink, that burned in his
blood and brain, and because he
was master Of the situation. Also,
like a true Latin-Ameriean, he
loved a scene wherein he could
strut and elocute.
RrO ne cnNrINuEn r0RInRRnrEI