The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-04-25
Chapter 36 ANOTHER GROWN

kingdom that he founded, a rob. ber-republic' of which he was the worst and wickedest robber, but the fact remains, they had first tC make war upon him, and then having failed to defeat him, they sent a mission to negotiate witt him.
 What became of him? Nobody knows, or rather, as I said, nc European knows. But one thing is certain, neither he. nor any man of his battery was ever seen by a white man again
 Think of it, Mademoiselle y
 And while he. too, thought oi it, Major Riccoli, with apparent absence of mind, put his right arm about Margaret's waist and then, with obvious presence oi mind, put his left hand beneath her chin, tipped up her face and drew her closely to him.
 With equal presence of mind Margaret wriggled free.
 Madame Maligni," he said re- proachfully, Margaret, I have fall en in love with you. love you My first love and love at first sight. Do you love me?"
 Not yet, Major Riccoli."
 Margaret, could you love me?"
 T don't know, Major Riccoli."
 "Ah, but you do not know. You call be Major Riccoli, but that I shall not be for long. Do you know my other name?" e
 I'm afraid not, Major Riccoli.g ?
 Napoleon" g
 How terribly interesting" 5
 "Yes, it is, as you say, interest ing, and as you say, it shall be terrible. Not for nothing am Ma poleon, Corsican, soldier. My namesake and prototype made. a humble colonial wench an Eaa press; the obscure gentleman oi Bordeaux whom you mentioned to- night, made a notarys daughter a queen; Voulet, mere captain would have made Tamarne ar Empress, had he lived; doubtless | Vauroi has raised some dusky des- ert girl to be a second queen ot Sheba."
 Again the eloquent speaker plac- ed his arm about Margaret's waist
 'Margot," he whispered, would you be queen?"
 II don't think so, Major Riccoh
 Margaret! There was a Queer Margot, as you know. Will you be my queen?"-
 I'm afraid I'm not eligible, Ma jor Riccoh."
 Eligible? You? Margaret, You?
 "I, fancy, am worthy of you ! And you-are worthy of me. Sc beautiful, so witty, so charming so clever-for you are clever woman as well as a lovely one why, you and I, Marg'ret, are a pair. Nay. We are one. Soon shall be Riccoli the Great. You are Margaret the Beautiful Be my queen"
 Margaret rose to her feet, turned round once and sat down again free fro mthe urgent, encircline arm.
 But however beautiful I may be, and however great you are, Ma jor Riccoli," she protested q real ly am not eligible. I think you met my husband at dinner"
 Husbands? Pah! What are hus- bands?"
 'sWell-er--" began Margaret Husbands are rather ."
 ITO the devil with husbands. The man saw at dinner may be @ perfectly good Monsieur Maligni and your husband, but I am Major Napoleon Riccoli, and your lover. Margaret coughed slightly.
 That and more, far more" And Major Riccoh spoke of generals field -marshals, conquerors, dicta. tors, and of successful men who would be kings.
 | Husbands" he concluded, what are they to me-and to you?" | Margaret thought of what hel husband was to her.
 I Husbands? Had not Napoleon's Josephine husband? Would il trouble me?"
 Tt might trouble you Major Ric- coli. I don't know, but it might. ,
 Major Riccoli laughed and flicked an imaginary husband into the air | Looking up as he did so, he dis covered that a very large man Arab or Moor, was standing before him, a man whose face was hidden I in the shadow of his hood but whose voice seemed familiar when he begged permission to interrupt him, and to anonunce that his Ex- cellency the Kaid would speak with his guest upon matters of the ut most importance.
 "Pest!" said Major Riccoli.
 And,
 Good night, Major Riccol,p said Margaret. -'
 As the dapper Major Riccol, on l his way to the hall of audience