, 1923-03-29

a fool, to swallow hat rigmarole
about a sultan's daughter and a slave!
This Barak-his real name was
probably Jim the Dip. or something of
the sort. He had played up TO his
part cleverly.
The wit OF a madwoman and the
wit OF Il criminal strong com
binatIon!
He shrank from the thought. ms he
remembered the strange sweetness
that had lowered about him when he
had put her to bed like a child. That
hurt. He felt as though he a lost
something very precious.
Suddenly Fortesque halted, under
the startling Impact of an idea.
Those rubiesl What made Barak
give them IN to me so freely. at her
mere word? That was a most un-
usual thing! Ah-of course! They
arranged It between them. They ar
ranged that she would dclude me.
lure me into disposing OF h stones
for them, using me as n tool!'
He went into the kitchen. Barak
vas standing there. arms barred TO
the elbows. at work washing up the
pile OF dishes. He glanced up, and
his mouth gaped suddenly at the look
in Fortesque's eyes; then he went to
his work again. Fortesque passed
him by and went On into the living
room. Then he halted.
on the chaisc Tongue. which was
placed TO catch the light from the
eastern window, lay his fair guest
with one Of his yellow backed French
VOLUMES. The book dropped from her
hand, md she beckoned imperiously
Come and sit by me, Monsieur. l
should like to tell you about myself
If you will let me-" she said softly.
He nssented silently, with a ges-
ture, a look; he was to all appear
ance perfectly cold. impassivo as a
man of stone.
"My homc is south OF Manila, cast
of Singapore, north OF the coral seas,
west Of Mindanao-north Of the sun
and east ot the moon,r Her voice
was like the low music OF a vox
humane stop.
"Connais-tu 10 pays?" He voice
was dreamy, musinE. '"rhere is n
bay, a lonS and deep bay with reefs
and shining fish. where the long
praus OF my grandfather used to ride
in with the spoil of Christian ships"
Fortesque began to see the picture.
1.-THE houses are white from the
sea, dirty from close up. Tho largest
house of all is the house OF the sultan
the palace, Brown men armed with
, swords keep the doors. Inside are
many beautiful things. many gaudy.
trumpery things. All around are
other houses. tall feathery trees, an
island kingdom. The United States
owns II, but does not disturb it. The
American flag flies from the palace.
There are a few white men-a funny
fat man who deals in merchandise,
and Franks. n dry. withered little
man who plays tho fiddle and cries
when he talks of Virginia; they arc
my friends,
There are other white men too. a
tail man. with n thin nose and deep
eyesl A year ago he kissed me. and
the sun still burns the place as
though fire had SCARED it."
She shivercd slightly.
"Thls man is named Hvarson. He
is a very terrible man. He has a
friend named Hamod Ben Yusuf. an
island trader, the son of n Chinese
woman n my Erundfather's old
pirate captain. ono of his eyes II
IA Men fear him. for they say
that sheitan crouchcs in the PROV OF
the Gazelle, and hat n woman's skull
IS tho lamp in his cabin.
"They nre my enemies. those-the
friends OF my half brother. ON whom
they prey. They plotted against me.
and told my brother with cunning
words. how to bring me into n prison
In America. And he obeyed fer he
feared me. with me put OF the way.
who would be sultan but zahri, tho
son OF a handmade. ahri Of the dark
skim
80 they brought It about. And
now I am hero. longing for my home
and Justice"
Tell me, Brian. viii you take me
home again and protect me until we
get there?''
Another fine installmeBt tomorrow.