Evening star., 1925-05-06
THE SEVEN SLEEPERS
n Thrilling NopeI of By FRANCIS Bleeding
international Intrigue ,con,u,,, 100, ;, , rn,,.co,

The Professor turned and surveyed
us once more.
"Now that your fate is settled. Mr..
Preston" he said, lit only remains 10
make arrangements for Capt. Rehmy.
Il do not propose. my dear Capt.
Rehmy," he continued, that you
should share Mr.. Preston's fate, at
any rate for the moment. You Will
accordingly do me the honor OF re-
manning here as my guest. | feel
sure that you must have great deal
of information which might in GER
tain contingencies be of incalCulable
assistance TO US in our work, and L am
certain you would not wish To be un-
reasonably uncOmmunicative."
You will obtain nothing from me"
said Rehmy quietly.
Well" said the Professor amiably,
eve will leave that matter over for
the present"
He rang Il bell as he spoke, and q
moment later the impassive forms OF
josef and his namelesS companion ap-
peared in the doorway.
Josef" he said, you will remain
on guard over these gentlemen until
! release you. If they desire any
thing to eat, drink or smoke. please
see that they are Immediately sup
handouts. attempt to escape, you are
to shoot at once"
lie walked across the room toward
and, turning 10 us. added Courteously:
the door, but paused in the middle,
Josef does not understand French.
You need not, therefore, feel any en-
harrassrnent in talking to one another
in front of him. ! shall not keep you
waiting very long, Mr. Preston, but
ut
ter of an hour" SO saying, he left
The room.
We We're now alone. except for Josef
and his companion. Josef advanced
and stood between us. His attitude
was difcrentiai in the extreme, but it
accorded i'll with the pistol in his
right hand.
Is there anything you would like,
gentlemen" he inquired.
! was about to protest against this
final mockery Of the Professor, but
Rehmy rose superior To the occasion.
Cigars. | think he replied, and
a glass Of wine"
Josef bowed and, turning to his
companion. who was standing by the
door. passed him the order. The man
left the room and returned a moment
later with two glasses of wine and a
box of cigars, which he handed to us
on d silver SaiVer.
| hcsitated, but Rehmy said in
French:
Come, man. keep your heart up.
Don't let them imagine that were in
tn" least affected by their insults.
They have us at their mercy. but we
can show Them that our spirit is be
yond their reach, that We can Yet re-
main undefeated.'
There WAS d quiet resolution III his
Il, -.
mere verbal flourish. l felt that
Rehmy would suffer the last indigini-
Ties with an unblo mished contempt for
his enemies.
took the wine. but refused a cigar.
Eehmy. however, took both, and the
servant, placing the box of cigars be-
side him, withdrew from the room
lf ever ] have had reason in my
life To be grateful to any man it was
To Rehmy at that desperate moment.
II was only his stout heart and un-
finching courage which kept me from
utterly breaking down. To a man If
! his profession. Of course. the posi-
bl!itN of death. or worse than deaf II,
had continually to he faced. On his
various missions as Il secret agent he
had constantly To take his life in his
hand. He was consequently more
ready TO pay the forfeit of failure at
any time than | was. and when that
moment had come his demeaner was
beyond all praise.
For me the situation was different
Five days previously I had been an
ordinary business man on my way
home TO a partnership and success
Now. suddenly, ] was to die. anG
Beatrice was to suffer q fate which
even today / cannot bear 10 think
about.
We spoke but little, but sat there
slipping our wine, the glass awkward
iy balanced in our manacled hands