Evening star., 1923-02-24

SdHh last Wcehs ~ liktAC
stimulant cannot fail to benefit Miss
Warburton, and 1 am sure none OF
us will be the worse for II. 1t Is
fortunate, too. that we have six
friends and l sampled some of the
liquor just before you entered, cap
tain. 1t impressed us as being rather
tine. We're little shy on water, but
well, there seems to be enough to
go around"
He arranged the six glasses In a
line, then withdrew the corks from
both bottles on the table. With bot
tie in each hand he used them alter
classes. When this was done he filled
zach glass with water from a pitcher.
Rennison watched this proceeding,
then glanced toward Miss Warburton,
who was gazing at him flxedly. He
smiled family as he read the warn
ing In her eyes.
With a slight bow. Seafalcon handed
one of the glasses to Miriam and
moved another across the table to-
ward Rennison. He next selected one
Cor himself; then, with a wave of one
OF his hands. invited his three com
panions to help themselves, Raising
his glass, he addressed Rennison.
Captain. this night has yielded
rather more than its share Of dis
trust and fears" he said. Let us
drink to the hope that all may be
ended by the dawn Of the coming
day"
Rennison raised the glass to his lips.
then lowered it without touching the
liquor. Miriam. SIN watching him, did
Stop" commanded seafalcon, whirl-
ing around TO his adherents, who
stood at his left. "All drink or none!
What is your objection, Rennison, to
the toast 1 have proposed"
To the toast there can be no OBJ
lection, OF course" Rennison replied
as he returned the glass TO the table.
You suspect, then, the liquor is poi
soned?' the brotherhood chief ques-
toned sternly.
"Oh. no." the army man answered
smilingly. SHOULD you design to poi
son me, you would wait. at least. un-
I'll the papers l have undertaken to
deliver are in your hands"
For the first time since Rennison
had entered the room the eyes OF Sea-
falcon flashed wrathfully. The chiefs
left hand still held his glass as he
stepped behind the chair on which
Miriam was seated. With his right
he quickly drew an automatic pistol
from one of his pockets and aimed 1t
at the back OF the head of the actress.
There was no mistakiuE the menace
In the gaze he bent on Rennison.
You will drink" he asked.
Realizing that even q moments hes
station might result in an immediate
discharge of the threatening weapon,
Rennison nodded and reached for the
liquor he had thrust aside.
Now drain your glaSseS-all? Sea-
falcon commanded.
The order was obeyed. One by one
each male drinker placed his empty
glass upon the table. That from
which Miriam drank was taken from
tier and put down by Seafalcon; who
returned to his pocket the pistol with
which he had threatened her:
And so we come again TO the pay
ment Of the price-the two hundred
thousand dollars. which told you
was in this envelope" Seafalcon be-
gan. You have required that this
sum"
AS SeafaIcon stopped. there flashed
into the mind of Renpison the knowl-
edge that something strange had hap
pened or was about to happen. Now
for the first time, the brotherhood
chief. himself. appeared to be III at
ease. He spoke hesitatingly. in the
manner of one whose thoughts were
not upon his words. and his voice was
more harsh and metallic than 1t had
been before. Though he fumbled with
he envelope OF which he had spoken,
face grew whittier as his gaze rested
on the table. The interrupted SEN
tsnce remained incompleted. His at
titude finally became that Of one who
listened and waited.
Miriam. breathing heavily. looked
nt Rennison anxiously. Once their
chances met and she fancied she read
In his eyes that suspicion which, she
did not doubt. he saw In hers-the
suspicion. amounting almost to a con-
viction, that the liquor they had been
compelled to drink had been poisoned.
AS Rennison turned from her, a
faint tinge of color came to her face
and a momentary sense of exultation
disIodged her fears and famed into
sudden flame the darkening embers
of her woman's pride. Despite the
nf n
,nistaking the keen anxiety which
Iurked in the brief glance he had
turned upon her, and IL was with al
most hysterical satisfaction that the
actress reflected that 1t was only to
rave her from instant death that
George Rennison drank what he be-
lieved to be poisoned liquor.
Again Seafalcon raised his eyes and
mot the gaze of Rennison. Again he
Bpoke-with manifest effort, harshly
and metallically.
THE sum you have required Of US,
captain. Is large one and yet-yet
An exclamation-hoarse and inco-
herent-interrupted him; then. with
bowed head and hunched shoulders.
one OF the two bsotherhood of men 1 who
lurched forward and fell to the floor.
A little cry issued from the lips Of
Miriam as she rose from her chair. A
look of dread was on the face Rem
stretched hands she ran to him: and.
rs his left arm passed round her
waist. she hid her face on his
shoulder.
floor, but Seafaicon, standing beside
the table and still fumbling the en-
velope, continued to gaze at Renni-
"Chief-chief"
The hollow voice now speaking was
that OF Kerfoot, who, leaning
heavily on the back Of the chair
Miriam had left only "a few
moments before, was regarding Sea-
falcon with an expression in which
"Chief, you've you've - wrong
gfasses-you've done for u.s." he fall
The chair clattered beside him as
his big frame. falling, shook the moor.
Supported by Rennison's arm, MI
Ram Warburton raised her head. She
saw Rennison and Seafalcon were
looking at one another steadily. Both
were pale. but calm. The Army officer
was the first to speak ~ l..
"And SO you made mistake In
identifying the poisoned bottle. eh?"
he asked.
"No, Rennison." he said. There
has been no mistake-in the filling
! have been playing since the death
You S % wina lose. But. before we
clear away the pieces, there still Is q
little more for us to do-and say.
CHAPTER NxXvIIL
A Startling Task.
Again seafalcon picked up one Of