Evening star., 1927-10-31
THE BLACK JOKER
BY ISABEL OSTRANDER.

| until on the steamer first Mrs. Carlin.
and then you. acted so strangely.
Then every one seems to have taken
turns at kidnapping me and from
their questions I learned more and
more and then one of my fathers 9
friends told me that his-his honor
was at stake. Now do you see that
must go on?"
His honor" Philip spoke in an
odd. musing tone and then went on
hastily as though to cover it: "Do
you know what this thing actually Is,
that millions would be gladly paid for
it, that hundred people are search
ing quietly, desperately for it? It has
cost many lives already and 1t will
cost many more IL 1t falls into the
thought he was right, dear, that in a
way he was justified, but he was mis-
taken. I can't tell you, I can't ex.
plain, but won't you trust me and
believe in me?"
81 do trust you, Philip" The girl
looked steadily into his eyes. II be-
lieve Of you as you do OF Daddy, that
you think you are doing right, but
you are mistaken. ! do care for you.
but you must see now how utterly
hopeless 1t is, for I care for Daddy's
memory too. Something, chance or
fate, led me to take the Sudanic and
become involved in this affair, perhaps
just in order that might go on with
it when Daddy was taken and I've
vowed that I'd see Ii through. I
must keep that VOW and then we shall
be separated forever, 1t will always
rise like wall between US! Still, I
must not fail"'
Then you do not know" he said
quietly. You do not know the value
Of this stolen thing nor to what
lengths men will go to obtain it! /
thank Heaven that you didn't know
from the first and that you weren't t
used by any human agency as a tool,
but merely by the strangest set of
| circumstances and condolences that
ever happened to girl in all this
world! Think, Janeti II your father
had wanted you to know anything
| about it wouldn't he have told you?
II he had been willing that you should
ever touch it with your little hands
wouldn't he have arranged It? You
ran away; why?"
Because Daddy wanted me to stay
another whole year in the convent and
just couldn't bear it! / wanted sc
to be with him and knew he'd for
give me when he saw mer'
| Her voice trembled and Marriott
urged.
Another year? Your father must
have loved you very much, don't you
see, Janet? He wanted to have you
with him. but more than all he
wanted you kept away from the
slightest breath of this thing! You
would not have come to him until II
was all over. Oh, my dear, you must
give up your plan! There isn't the
slightest chance in the world that you
could succeed and you must not sol
your hands,
Would his hands have been soiled?'
Janet demanded passionately, and as
Marriott was silent she went on: "Why
would he have gone into this affair a,
all IL 1t would contaminate me? You
are wrong, wrong! I shall never give
UP till / have placed this thing oi
such stupendous value in the hands OF
his friends, until his murderers are
punished. 1t is a sacred trust"
Marriott sighed heavily, but he die
not release the small hand he held.
!. MY dear. your fathers friends are
very brave and they have done their
best to protect you for his sake,
know, but they are wholly unscrupu
lous and far more dangerous thar
Norman and his gang because the,
are intelligent, clever. They were
ruled by brains, not Drawn, and ever,
device OF the age is at their disposal
but they. too, are looking only fo
, gain, to make vast capital of thi
stolen property!
And the people from whom thi
, was stolen. did they have any right t,
, 1t themselves" Janet asked shrewdly
: Was 1t actually theirs?"
r 1T was placed in their keeping,
he stammered. confused by the sud
denness OF her direct question
. when they wished to return 1t,
, had disappeared and we knew VIII
t had 1t. l can't tell you any more
j. perhaps I have said too much as
!. is. but wanted to show you the truth
l Your father Is dead, Janet; I ar
4 afraid that Is a truth which you wi
q have to face. IL he were here knos
he would be the first to drag you bac
= from this path you mean to take, t
. command you to give it up! Won
!. you, dear? For the sake OF our love
our happiness, all our future, won
}, you renounce it?"
Janet glanced out at the fast.deer
t ening dusk and shook her head one
E more sloMlya ----a.1 fhAxidianaf -.