The Washington herald., 1921-03-20

cookery and his own In the selection
of wines, became the model host.
tsikative. witty and genial. The
guest was ftful in conversation.
His mind seemed to be sustaining
q Succession Of waves Of dementia
followed by intervals of compare
tive lucidity. There was the CLASSY
brightness OF recent fever In his
eyes. A long course of Il must have
been the cause Of his emaciation
and weakness. his distracted mind
and the dull pallor that showed
even through the tan Of wind and
sun.
Charles, he said to Grandemont
for thus he seemed to interpret
his nams-"you never saw the
mountains dance. did your
mo, Mr.. Jack" answered Grande-
mont, grayely. ''the spectacle has
been denied me. But. ] assure you
I can understand IL must. be q divert
ing sight. The big ones. you know
white with snow on the tops. waltz
ing-decollete, we may say"
"You first scour the kettles" said
Mr.. Jack, leaning toward him. ex-
citedIy, ito cook the beans In the
morning. and you lie down on .
blanket and keep quite still. Then
they come out and dance for you
You would 60 out and dance with
them but you are chained every
night to the center pole OF the hut
You believe the mountains dance.
don't you. Charlier"
ct contradict no travellers tales
said Grandemont, with q smile.
Mr.. ack laughted loudly. He drop
ped his voice to . confidential whis-
per.
You are . fool to believe IT," he
went on, They don't really dance
It's the fever in your head It's the
hard work and the bad weather that
does il. You are sick for weeks and
there is no medicine. The fever
comes on every evening. and then
you are as strong as two men, One
night the compania are lying drunk
with mescal. They have brought
back sacks Of silver dollars from Q
ride. and they drink TO celebrate
In the night you file the chain In
two and 60 down the mountain You
walk for miles-hundreds OF them
BY and by the mountains are AL
gone. and you come to the prairies
They do not dance at night; they
are nrerciful. and you sleep. Then
you come to the river. and Il says
things to you. You follow IL down,
down. but you can't hnd what you
are looking for"
4 Mr.. Jack leaned back in his chair.
and his eyes slowly closed The
| food and wine had stepped him in
q deep calm. The tense strain had
been smoothei from his face. The
i q. - noNr .
him. Drowsily he spoke again.
ITS bad manners-I know-to &C
to sleep-at tabfe-but-that was
such . good dinner-Grande, old fel-
low"
Grande! The owner of the name
started and set down his glass. How
should this wretched tatterdemalior
whom he had invited. Caliph-like e
sit at his feast know his name7
Not at FIRST. but soon. little by lit.
tie. the suspicion, wild and unrea'
sonable as IL was. stole into hi,
brain. He drew out his watch with
hands that almost baked him by
their trembling, and opened thu
hack case. There was a pictur,
there-a photograph fxed TO tn
inner side.
Rising. Grandemont shook Mr.
Jack by the shoulder. The wear,
guest opened his eyes. Grandemon
held the watch.
Look at this Picture. Mr.. Jack
Have you ever
My sister Adele"
The vagrsnt's voice rang loud an,
sudden through the room. HI
started to his feet. but Grandemont'
arms were about him. and Grande
mcnt was calling him ''Victor!-Vic
tor Fauquier, Merci, mercl. mol
Dieui"
Too far overcome by sleep an
fatigue was the lost one to talk tina
night Days afterward, when IN
tropic calentura had cooled in hi
veins. the disordered fragments h
had spoken were completed 1
shape and sequence. He told IN
, story of his angry flight. Of toll
and cslamities on sea and shore. @