Evening star., 1923-01-24

They. we're crleS Oh oosS diu ihehi
who were hawking extra editions OF
newspapers-cries that seemed to be
sinister echoes OF, world war that
was ended and which. a war-weary
world stolidly was trying to forget.
steamship Columbian torpedoed by
Seafa1con! To thousand drowned.
Seafalcon sinks Columbian in mid
Seafalcon. Two thousand drowned!
lumbian sent down by Seafalcon!
Two thousand drowned"
Without speaking, Hayden Storrow'
seated on a morris chair. and Capt
George Rcnnison. standing near one
of the windows, continued to read the
neH spapers which had been obtained
for them by one OF the bellooys. FROM
the face Of Storrow horror had driven
all its wonted horid color. That OF
Renn,son was pale and stern Stor-
row was the first TO break the 81
ience. AS his paper slipped from MS
trembling fingers, ne ne sag 1Pes,-i,credi-
Bile! The world Is mad. DIG not tas
long and awful war surfeit Il VIZ
horrors? Now that all dinerences
between the nations have neen 40
iusted and the processes OF reeUn
struction are so we'll under way, VIZ
should civilization be menaced oy tne
erowth OF the unseen power wnlcn,
40 mysteriously and purposelessi9 :
creating such havoc on the seas lne
while il. strives in every lano. ~
shatter the fabric Of rational govern
ment?' .,n.r -
a chair, shook his head.
"There is neither mystery nor lac 4
of purpose in the thing, storroW' ns
gaid as he proceeded TO strap anu
lock- the last OF his four trunks.
AS he turned from che trunk; ei, hen-
nison. who, was about ,,. 70 ,ea,e a,t.chs on
the stan OF the United States EN-
bassy In London. glanced grave.s
around the large, handsomely TUT.
nj sh ed room in which he stood. rloiI
the walls. table and desk mao pee
removed all those article u.;,l Whi'n aome. me-
thing of the character or its occo
pant. 1t had been the living room o!
his bachelor suite. a faNoFile IesoI
OF his acquaintances and the scene oi
ripening friendships.
Though the two men presenteo
marked differences temperamentany
Rennison had been rather more inti-
mate with Storrow than with any one
else he had met In the long PERIOD ne
had been in Washington. Botn were
popular in society, but Tor oilheten'
reasons. .bs
only son Of a brigadier general. who
while q major had married Masn
ineton society belle. Now, however
the elder Rennison and his wife were
dead From his mother the son nav
inherited a small fortune "hleT III
cluded a ioo-acre estate on the con-
nerticut shore of Long Island sound
ON this now lived his sister and theii
Shortly after the young man't
graduation from West Point tne
United States entered the world va.
and RAnnisen went overseas win
regiment Of infantry. Before he
reached the battle area, however. ar
emereency assignment caused MIN &c
reveal qualities that attracted the
attention of the bureau OF mllitary
Intelligence. A week later ne va
ordered home. promoted to cap,
tsinrv and made an aide to the chief
Of stan. Despite the aaEnestnese OF
his EFFORTS to get to the ngntn 8
'front.'. he was compelled to remain In
the United States until the emo OF tne
war Soon afer the signing or the
,rmistice he was sent to France and
Germany. and during the two years
he was abroad all attempts made pS
his friends to learn his whereabouts
were vain. When he reappeareo IN
washington it was in his former
capacity as an aide.
society. Rennison had tendency to-
ward taciturnity. In conversation
this sometimes took the form OF
ouiet bruequeness. His haoltuaI
gravity seemed to mask elnguiaI
alertness Of mind. He was a quick
observer and he had a knack OF stor-
ipnIdpnfG U-hicn
others though. not worthy Of remem-
i,rance. II war noted, too. that his
choice of friends usually led him to
persons who were rather older tnan
himself.
HAYDEN storrow. little past forty.
had Inherited a Jar large o tortann tstm. 'ium had
been a senator from q western state
He was a good tdler: with
many merits and few faults. He be-
Ionged TO fashionable clubs in Wash"
ington, New York. London and Parts.
opera, horse shows. polo matches.
vacht races and golf courses. Only
twice had he undertaken response
bilities. The FIRST OF these was mar.
riare. but matrimonial bonds had
chafed his spirit and he provided gen,
him. Then he bought a handsome
steam yacht. but this, too. palled, and
the next season he sold it.
What there was in Rennison that
so attracted the idler to him SterroH'
himself did not understand. Their
relations were those OF men or eauai
age. but Storrow recognized the mind
of Rennison as dominant. In the
Young Army officers conversation
lurked a note Of finality which the
idler rarely attempted to combat.
one was a sophisticated young
cheerful. well informed social but
But, though storrow often found
the young officer preoccupied, he
never found him dull Rennison was
a good listener. It was plain that ne
idler. an astute observer Of men and
women, was something OF q gossip
with a we'll defined streak Of good
naturea and amusing cynicism. He
knew everybody who seemed TO oe
worth knowing. and his fund OF 50.
As Rennison, leaving his trunk
moved moodiiy toward the table near
which Storrow was seated, the fdleI
looked at him Quizzically.
What do you mean, Rem, when you
say there Is neither mystery nor lack
seafalcon and. his followers* Stor-
row asked.
Rennison, drawing a tobacco pouch
from one Of his pockets, seated him.
self near the table. Not until he had
filled and lighted his pipe did he
"When I say there is no mystery
in the thing. mean that both Sea.
falcon and tho Brotherhood of the
Scales, Of which he is chief. lack
mysterious attributes" he explained
Though for the time being our
knowledge of the personality OF Sea-
falcon lis. vague. fil activities indy
cate that he fs little more than a dar-
ing adyenturer, who. taking advan
tage of present world conditions. hal
become q modern buccaneer. His-suc.
cess and his picturesque attributei