Evening star., 1923-02-23

| TO the brocherhoOd, ana 10 Suaran-
tee to you both all the protection 1t
may be able to afford against all per-
sons whom you may have reason to
regard as your enemies"
Those are the conditions. sir"
Rennison assented. 1T is clear there
Seafalcon looked abstractedly to-
ward the farther end of the room,
where Casey and his three COM
panions stood together, gloomily ey-
silence was broken by the ringing of
the telephone bell. To this summons
Seafalcon appeared to give no heed.
Shall I answer 1t, chief?" Kerfoot
, asked.
SeafaIcon nodded, but did not
speak. Kerfoot stepped to the instru-
ment and placed the receiver to one
of his ears. Though he spoke quietly,
| Rennison heard his words:
| Yes" he said. "Philimore is speak
ing. Yes, Belfort is here. Yes--yes-
yes. Watt moment. Bill: Better tell
| all this to Belfort, himself"
Turning. Kerfoot held out the re-
ceiver to Seafalcon.
IT'S Zebra. chief" he exclaimed
glumly. You'd better take him on"
He moved clumsily as Seafalcon
left the table and took the receiver
from his extended hand. Avoiding
J Rennison, his glance moved toward
| Casey. who was watching him
I
| Seafalcon speaking.
| "Yes-yes. it's clear enough" he
said.
For rather moro than a minute
| Seafalcon listened From the re-
| ceiver he held at his ear came q con-
| tinuous clicking that was heard by
! Rennison. At length Seafalcon's voice
1 was heard again.
"All right. BILL" he said. That's
as far as you can get with the thing
fnn Oh ra1a NA ft he r
instructions. We must await develop
ments. Good night"
Seafalcon moved slowly as he re-
turned the receiver to its hook and
| stepped back to the table. He picked
up and lighted a cigar which had
been lying on an ash receiver. AS
| he puffed at the cigar he seated him
! self again on the table.
! I'VE were speaking Of the condi-
4 tions named in your offer. Renni-
SON." he said. you are prepared now.
| l suppose, to exact their fulfllment?"
Yes" the Army man answered
shortly.
! then" Seafalcon went on. THE first,
| / believe, is the production of Miss
| warburton: second. the payment to
! her of two hundred thousand dollars:
| third, assurance from me that neither
you nor Miss Warburton shall be re-
| quired to perform any further per
| sonal service in behalf Of the broth
| erhood. and that, in the future. both
of you will be under our protec-
| tion."
Rennison nodded assent. Turning
| to Kerfoot, Seafalcon said:
| You may tell Miss Warburton We
| are ready to see her now"
The execution of this command was
| devoid OF ceremony. Stepping to the
| open trap. from which the top OF the
| ladder protruded. kerfoot called,
| YrutY1y.
All right below
CHAPTER XNvI.
| Fateful Toast.
| Through the open trapdoor came,
family, the sound OF voices; then all
was still. Seafalcon slipped from his
seat on the edge of the table, drew
up q chair and sat down. He then
took from his coat a writing pad and
a fountain pen. Rennison, watching g
him, observed that he wrote with
precision, and that his handwriting
was remarkable because OF the small
I ness Of the letters. The sheets were
small and Seafalcon used two Of
| them in the writing OF about twenty
| lines. To these he appended a sig
nature.
After hurriedly scanning what he
| had written, the Brotherhood Chief
| rose and looked toward the further
| end of the room. BY a gesture he di-
Read these instructions, Casey. and
| tell me If they are clear to you," he
| said.
Leaning over the table so that the
carefully. When he was done. he
Strengthened slowly and looked at his
chief. Wonder dominated his ques-
"They are clear to your? seafalcon
"Yes sir" Casey answered. with
manifest hesitation. "They are clear"
Go. then." seafalcon commanded
Accompanied by the three men who
| Casey went out.
The Iadder-top. shifting slightly.
| ratified against the side Of the trap.
Kerfoot leaned over It. At length.
through the opening. Below. a wom-
| an spoke-Quickly. but so family tn at
! the words were unintelltgible to the
ears Of Rennison. Then. slowly. the
warburton came into view. Aided by
| Kerfoot. she reached the top of the
ladder and stepped from it to the
| floor.
The wandering, troubled gaze Of the
rested on his face. The Army man
regarded her so coldly that the light
| Of glad recognition died quickly in
her eyes. AS she turned from him, 1t
greatly greatly since h. had seen her last.
Her face was sallow, her eyes sunken,
and her hair, only partly concealed
by her automobile veil. was dis
, heveled. For the time being, at least.
| oh fn "
| posure. Whether this was due to fear
| or exhaustion incident to her ascent
] Of the ladder those who looked upon
| her were unable to determine.
| Kerfoot, apparently suspecting that
| the young woman was about to sue
cumb to faintness, retained his hold
| on ono of her arms. Seafalcon, dart
| ing a swift, searching glance at the
tnscrutable race OF Rennison, thrust
toward her a light, discolored wooden
chair.
"Sit down, Miss warburton," he
| said almost roughly.
| The actress, apparently involuntar-
lily. again flashed q questioning glance
toward Rennison. But conscious Of
the fact that Seafalcon and his COM
\ panions were scrutinizing him close
| ly, he was as unresponsive as before.
seafalcon laughed mirthlessly.
"One scarcely would describe you
as demonstrative lover. captain"
he said. And yet your merit as an
! actor is beyond all question" Turn
| ing to the young woman, he added:
you will take comfort, Miss Warbur-
! ton, in the thought that If Capt Rem
| nison does not welcome you more be-
| comingly it is because he designs to
save your life should a miscarriage
| of his plans subject him to brother
| hood vengeance. In that even he
| would denounces you as a brother
| haod soxy tbuS hopync ~ oouSa nc . -
| believe that you were faithful to US
and unfafthful to him. Is II not 40