The Washington herald., 1921-04-17
3 By Richard Washburn Child

-Give me your own clothes-that.s all.
That's all you have 70 DO. Just become
me for Q time. ] leave my shoes You
step into them No one will come here
who knows me. Naybe-there's Just a
chance stranger or two will come on
9 matter Of business But they've never
seen me Tell 'em you're Valentine and
send 'em or.
And your" said the intruder.
.Mef why. ss for me. tn Just 20 back
to the window into. which you came and
Tll-go out-out into the might. the wind
and the rain TIL be swallowed. ehf III
be nobody. III nnd relief from the grind
Of money. luxury. hollow sham. stately.
CHASTITY loneliness"
You mean you'll 70 and come back
sometimeF-
Yes. II want I'll come back
-And can 20 at any timer AZ
-Tes-
You'll 20 out into the storm ehf
become you and you become nef That
ity"
Yea. 49,
VIII you change clothes with met
fake my wet ones down TO the last stitch
light? And swap with meI-
Yes" aSGIE.
"And that gunr-
I'll take II with me It might be use
full. You came out Of life of adven-
turing-out of the underworld What
would be your sdviceT-
The other sighed I'd advise you 70
take IT." he admitted Never pull It
until you want to kill"
He continued 10 smile the carved
wooden smile. but his eyes moved away
fixing his gaze at last upon q strange
sheathed Knife on the great ANTIQUE table
under the light Of . decorative oriental
lamp.
whats that knife!" he asked.
That? Why. that's Q curio.- said VAL
entine. drawing Il from its sheath Il
was thin Of blade, with Q slight curve in
its length-an ugly thing, q thing which
makes one draw back as from the hair
edge of . razor blade or the fang of .
snake. It looked like the fang OF q
snake. Its curve was like that-hke .
snakes thin needle fang
where's it fromT- asked the other.
ITS from Argentina said vslen-
tine, quickly. ITS called q Yala--
II thought you said you came here
from Paris. Have you ever been in Ar
sentinar-
No / bought Il in Psri. It f.scs-
mated me- / bought tt A curio.-
That so7"
The other man appeared to lose his in
terest as quickly as it had arisen
-wen!" asked Valentine. How about
TT"
-Abort wh.t-- =
The change"
%. yes-the change. Well. 20 on
Go onT"
Yes Take OF your clothes-
''Ha- exclaimed Valentine, as IL be
had triumphed-
- He put his revolver on the table threw
OF his homespun coat and wsistcost took
the silk suspenders from his shoulders
unbuttoned q fne linen shirt
Come on said he You too.
All right the other said. a. II svsk-
eninE from . dream. but without taking
his gaze frpm the disrobing host
TIM kind of ashamed of these clothes.-
he confessed as he drew on the articles
of wooden and cotton all wet and limp
with the rain
At last the two men faced each other
not more than i've PAGES apart The Wis
itor stood without Q shred OF clothing.
His ngure was like that OF Valentine. but
it was not white Of skin like his host
Exposure had made his hide more lesth-
cry and coarse and there was more hair
upon his stark limbs.
Take on that undershirt- said he TO
his benefsctor. q want that TOO. An
agreement is an agreement-
Valentine hesitated. but Enflingiy he
drew on the last garment which covered
= his lean body.
-HelIoI" said the other man
-whatT"
That mark That mark on your chest.
A tattoo. eh? Do gentlemen have tattoo
marks7"
Valentine smiled.
1T was done in the folly OF youth
Looks like the mark OF some order.
some lodge. some society"
"A boys vhim." replied the other.
That's all"
He looked back into the unreadable
gaze of the stranger.
Guess you'll find my clothes wet and
cold" the intruder was saying as he
pointed to the repulsive pile he had
thrown at Valentines feet
Nothing" said the host who had
seized the others clothing as II he re-
garded It as symbolic Of all that vsi g.
desirable in life. what are you Staring
at why do you look at me so1-
who wouldnt7" the other man sid.
Z don't strike a proposition Ike this
every day. Or a man like this every
day. Or q man like you"
The host smiled again as n he did not
mind the clsmmy clinging garments In
which he had dressed himsef He said 70
the other man. You look ,the part ]
am proud to have you say that you are
Edes vsentine- Don't forget the name.
Get q shave after I have gone. 1t will
be the finishing touch. Only hurry. ]
am anxious to leave
To 90 outI- zss46E ~
Yes" - e-. =
Into nowherer-