, 1923-03-29

though to pass on. Fortesque
stepped in his way. a flash of anger
lit the strangers face but 1t gave
way 10 smile. as he looked past
Brian's shoulder.
Astonished. Fortesque turned and
discovered Lou-Lou. She was clad
now In her own garments. and held
Put her hand to him.
$50 you have found Baralt? I did
not know where he had gone"
"Barak." Fortesque stared at her.
"Barak-certaInlyi Did 1 not tell
you that 1 came here in the arms of
the lightning7 Well. that was rue.
Barak is as strong as three men. lie
must have carried me for miles.
through the darkness and rain. He
understands English perfectly. Lis
ten! This is our host. Barak: he is
my friend and protector. Obey him
as you would me!''
The mute seized the hand OF For
tesque and pressed It to his lips.
Then he glanced upward.
In hat look was accomplished a
miracle; the dumb man spoke. Up
on his face was printed n tremendous
gratitude. a blind devotion, a word
less appeal.
Lou-Lou then spoke to the mar in
a language which Fortesque did not
understand. She Immediately added.
in English.
"Give them to Mr.. Fortesque. He
viii take care OF them from now on"
Barak brought into view u little
bag Of leather. Opening the draw
strings he spilled the contents upon
the table.
Fortesque found himself gazing
upon a dozen stones that shone with
the rich scarlet OF new blood yet
which bore in their hearts a spark
OF living fire.
win you please take care of these
stones for me?" said Lou-Lou. "I
will explain about them later"
Fortesque assented with a curt nod.
He gathered up the rubies one by
n into the bag. each of them a stone
for which men would have dled-and
for which men of the dusky Orient
undoubtedly had died in times past.
Originally" said the girl, there
were fifteen. Barak sold three OF
them IN New York. and they brought
us here"
Her eyes looked an appeal at him
across the table. Il want you to sell
these and bring me the money
enough money to take me to Manila.
and a little farther. VIII you do it?"
Certainly. But to sell such stones
as these is not very easy. I shall
buy them myself and have them
made into a necklace for my wife,
your wife! 1 did not know that
you had n wifer'
back his chair. Yesterday / would
anticipate it. Now 1 must go u and
sec to my car. Please consider the
house at your disposal"
He departed abruptly.
Brian strobe out to his roadster,
in front Of the house and fell TO work
removing a punctured tire.
As he lifted his fresh tire into place
two horsemen appeared riding toward
him. one was the sheriff of the
county; the other was a stranger
apparently n city man.
"Howdy, Fortesque!' asked the
former as he came up. Seen any
strangers up this way"
Fortesque laughed. Strangers? l
should say not! l had hard work to
get up last night myself, and 1 guess
the amor read is clear out by this
time"
"Oh. I'm not talkin' about cars"
said the sheriff. Were lookin' for
a man and a woman who got off the
limited at the waterin' station, and
skipped into the hills
"Ah!' Fortesque smiled. IAN
elopement?"
"Hell. nor growled the sheriff.
THE nan pulled a big jewel robbery
in New York. The woman's just cut
OF an asylum there-they hitched up
and skipped west"
Sorry 1 haven't seen en-" re-
Joined Fortesque. "out of an asylum?
Both?"
'Noper' tho other man answered.
Just the woman Calls herself Lulu
n has It all doped out that she's a
princess or something. The mans a
plain crook, I guess. It's the woman
I'm nfter. Private asylum. She
broke out fore shed been there a
week"
The men left and Fortesque slowly
tool his way toward the house.
The world had reeled and rocked
around him. and had crashed into
chaos. All his fne imagininss were
He had been a fool. What