The evening world. Newspaper, February 5, 1914, Page 17

or PPP ReneAMAAE rt elt Ahaha a ha fic teen (oleh aen eet ae # * G “RD er At 4 o * bs od * . a THE MAIDS OF PARADISE By Robert W. Chambers ‘The Common Law,” “The Fight crowded with days. Space, illimit- able space, surrounding me—skylees, storless space. And through ite ter- rifle ailence f heard a clook tioking fishing town rose le of ihe. beautiful Se Md Hews oF Paces ae ». CHAPTER VII. ’ (Continued) The PRED!” I began, angrily. CO! “Oh, go to the devill” tna fa be snapped, and walked of reason, which 8 off to where Jacqueline faint but ateady in stood glittering, her slim a caleatey limbe striking fire from every silver 4 ready, little sweetheart!” he reassuringly, as she raised her blu ‘eyes to bie and shook her focka around her flushed face. owt-turn now; they’re uncovering the tank, and Miss Crystal fe on her trapeze. Aré you nervous?” “Not when you are by me,” sald decqueline. ,Til be there, * he said, emiling. “You will eee me when you are ready. Look! There's the governor! It’s your call? Quick, my child!" “Good-bye,” said Jacqueline, catch- ing*his band in both of hers, and she was off and in the middle of the ring "———- I hesitated, I was afraid. “Well?” he asked quietl; “When was I hurt Many days ago —many weeks?” “You were hurt at half-past 8 thie noon.” don’t know what's been going would go; the life has fascinated ber. He began to dress, raising his head I her not felt | was dis- now and then to ee out across the loyal to Byram, too, but what could Ocean toward Grotx, where the cruiser I do? I tell you, Scarlett, I wish I once lay at anchor. had never seen her, never “Of course you don't know that the her to try that foolish dive. She'll circus has gone,” he remarked. miss some day—like the other one.'} I tried to comprehend; I could not, “It's my fault more than yours,” I before I could get to & place of vant- and after a while I gave up my feeble siione, to Lorient.” said. “Couldn't you persuade her to ar delgae at ‘is that roaring sound?” J ofithe ide bedetendy butting’ Bh BT dered to 08 te hi a o ie ty jucate her, to sen: athe. Waster = preeine ky . asked. “Not drumset? Not my one?? school, to work for her,” he Hiant fly in all that net-wire and rope, gs ey Re in’ town again with a bara.” ouBhe only looked at me out of those sea-blue eyee—you know how the little witch can look you throt nd ib and through—and then—and then she raft of picturesque ruffians,” he said. marched in last rereae. twisting, climbing, a They Reglhaver to her knees, unt!! the white pil- abriek, beating, colors lunturied-—the red rag, “Ready!” quavered Miss Crystal, Where is you know—and the first thing they walked away into the torch-glare, hanging from her own trapese across did was to order Byram to decamp.” clasping her cat to her breast, and I he gulf. ith He began to tle his cravat, with a er atrike a fool of a soldier who It was the first signal. Teenrelinn struggling = w meditative glance at the gilded (eal red to stop ie Bcariett, she hep and hung ™emory. mirror. = “Tell me,” 1 sald. “Whove bed ts “Wi Was here with you. Katty Eyre Ott te hers." Sree tee ete somneee my lace wal you"—— x ‘The eee flame giimmered before “A” sudden heart-beat choked me. iy! eaid Jacqueline, calmly. = wide-open eyes oon ue we bres ed, 9: 80.1," he continued, “posted off to a teor the child flashed then Pie ete Seainet tha beds manist soldiers stealing =y ‘atloon: t aata. quietly, “I am La . perees, the 'sptce “between the two side, bie arme vn the vover- and all. I tell you I going to get up.” © 2 toteeny Miss Crystal caught her by let. car, ropes, bag @id what I could, but they sald the He gave me a look which I inter- ieee ee gall! belies preted as, “Get up and be damned!” nelReedy?” ed Speed, from below. He had turned quite pa thought her loyai”—— He Adeterit to the “It was @ close call—e close ‘was contraband of war, and a, military necessity; and they took it, I complied—in part. the thieving whelps! Then I saw how “Ob, help me into these things, wilt 1 saw Jacqueline, hanging matters were going to end, and I you?” I saiu, at length; and instantly 4 down, smile at him from her told the Governor that he'd better go y height. to Lorient as fast as he could travel been they stole the buttons off his on tpcartett, it was a weird sight. I never .saw tents struck so quickly. Kelly Eyre, Horan, and I harnessed up; Grigg stood guard over the props with @ horee-pistol. The ladies worked Uke Trojans, loading the eases up and down of those Senmen ow cursing tient, lacing my shoes, h ache to bend over, and cravat, and alip- my coat on while I leaned inst the tumbled bed. ell!” I said, with a grimace, and stood up, shakily. Se " he echoed, “' a: again, as poor little Grigg says.” the “With our salaries in our pockets § and our possessions on our backs.” “And no prospects,” he added, Wot @ blessed one, unless we count ener of trouble with Buck: uavering voice—"it'e all well people who are used to the filthy I beasts; T tell you, Soariett, it sickened me. I'm no coward, as as th United States. on saa of the Ur times, Scariett. And we frightened them, too, because men wobdy, igre ppd touch sryihiog peed mly, en pew the spi casting sharp g! at me. ite won't trouble us unless we in- terfere with him,” observed Speed, drumming nervously on ve window. “But I'm going to,” I sald, sur- {2 prised. cas "Going to interfere?* he asked, wheeling to scowl at me. “Certainl; “Why? We're not in government y. What do we care about this row? "ie these Frenchmen are tired * of battering the Germans they'll bat- ter each other, and we can't help it, can we?" “We can help Buckhurst’s annoy- ing Madame de Vassart. “Only by getting her to leave t! “She will wi ry to bag hip) ‘away;' Bpeed, because it at reel Am I weil *<Gonet” T repeated, blank!; “Gone. Curious how it burt me to say goodby. They're good people— good, kindly folk, I've grown to gare " said Speed, for them in these few month * country,’ BE ad oe ah BRS she Emo ce tet See Sia See a ey wanta ing hie not a fal oe Re: Be 79 ot, or any kind of a what do you suppose Buckhurst is a oo HE er sae axay Maree to take care of me? up to?” ane’ that is all I remember that bight. T eal remember Sony, i ma to me that once heard drums especially when you don’ ertre fn the distance; and per- He began to laugh. “It's only io hay 4 Liha well that I worry.” forma wn wae breaking when I sre Be ‘ly dressed, y, beste 1 know is that, in all probability, he came here to attempt to rob the treasure-traine—and that was your theory, too, you remember?” ‘And’ I continued, remindi: _ Buckhurst had collected his rut. y freee company in the fores' that Yehe da the cruiser sailed had ap in Paradise to proclaim the commune; that doubtless he had signalled, from the semaphore, or- ders for the cruiaer’s departure; that a few hours later his red battalion had marched into Paradise. “Partly. * © © You partly. pee “a T lay looking at ig conditions to become acct tached. ee all sent their love to you,” he said. “They knew you were out of danger—I told them there was no Goud fecked h gold. ‘Raleing ‘oe hand I touched with tentative fingers my tightly bandaged mething went wrong with an- other iton, too, er the people were standing up and shouting, and the sleeve of my coat hung from the ad, then turned over on my side. fracture, only a slight consuasion. “Yes, at's all logical,” said haw, Bown Tay, OO, ‘ware ot th There wore my torn clothes, filthy Byram ‘came to look at yous Re speed, "but how could Buckhurst nding ‘door as a lioness struck me and smeared with sawdu brought if roe back salary—all of it. know the secret-code signals which heavily [returned the blow: I a del'cate, gilded I've got the cruiser ‘must have recelved be- fore she sailed? To hoist them on the semaphore, he must bave had & code-book rawled my battered boots, soiling the polished, inlaid floor; a candle lay fn a pool of hardened wax on a a jt “Byram came here?” a Ther “Yes, He stood over there beside a on my you, snivelling into his red bandanna, Gaziight | grew Fed. snd 3 Hon golden rococo table, and I saw where And Miss etal and Jacqueline I thought a moment, “Suppose are wise ae aed of" at the smouldering wick bad Dilstered stood here. * ® ® Jacqueline Mornac is with him?" id shod the cage. The roaring of And thi kissed you,” Speed fairly jumped. “Th i her 1 That's the link we were hunting for! It's Mornac—it must be Mornac! He is the only man; he had access to everything. And now that his Em- peror is a prisoner and bis Empress @ fugitive, the miserable hound has nothing to lose by the anarchy he once hoped to profit by. Tell me, Scarlett, does the tail wag the dog, after all? And which ts the dog, After a moment I said: “Has beanta and people died out in my Jacqueline gone with them™ then, with a shock, my soul seamed to be dashed out of me into a terrific darkness. CHAPTER IX. A Guest-Chamber. LIGHT was shining in my eyes and I was talking ex- cltedly; that and the odor of brandy I remember—and turned on my snoring comrad ici, get up!" I cried, hitting him feebl: He was very angry when he found out why I had awakened him; per- hi the sight of my bandaged head beng aie, from violence. ‘Look "he said. “I've been up all sear’ and you might as well know it. If you hit me again"— He hesitated, stared around, yawned yee. he sald, “I must There was another pause, longer this time. “Of course,” I said, “Byram knows that my usefulness as a lion-tamer is at an end,” “Of course,” said Speed, simply, I sished. “He wants a for the ." Buckhurst or Mornac?” added Speed, But you can a0 better “I once thought it was Buckburst,” than that.” T sald. “I don't know, © © © Pag il “Besides, they sail to-d “go did I, but—I don’t know now. something else, a steady get Lorient. The 1¢ mon ‘ ‘ fexnrner madé money don’t know anything! roaring in my ears; then He stumbled to the floor, bathe’, zotterday—eno start again. I began to walk about the room, darkness, out of which came a vole, stumbling all the while, and then, to Poor Byram? hs tent a get gareruby, for my knees were weak, though I had no headache, “It's a shame for a pair of bulking brutes like you and me to desecrate back to America; and, ob, Scarlett, how that good old man can swear!” “Help mo to ait up in bed,” I said; empty, Meaningless, finally soundiess, my surprise, walked over to a flat After a while I realized that I was window trunk which stood under the and which I recognised as mine, underwear,” im pain; that, at intervals, somebody "I'll horrow some n” RO Fe “there—that's it! Just wedge those this bedroom,” I muttered, ‘Mud on reed moreele of ice between my armen, VIAeOny, ot x Pillows behind my shoulders.” the floor—look at it; sawdust and Hips; that the darkness around me hed ‘a my trunk doing here’ “All right?” le-wax over everything! What's “Of course, Tm an —all that on the lounge? Has Bpeed, did you aay or a cat been rolling over it? tered with tan-colored ha turned grayer, “Mme, de Vaseart had them bring ‘Tume played tricks on me; centurtes it,” fat) tfetie sacaue: Jacque- line went with Paesed. ateudily, year following year “Hed who bring it?” He looked at me miserably. “Lion's hairs from: your coat,” he ~-Iong, years thay were, toa, with , Horan and “Yee, grimly, Te pen toa,.* oes are at them for ao seomens her pet cat ta oe aia Bs fir Se ci PI he was at my sido, gentile and pa- because it the “IL haven't an idea,” I replied. “All once. Speed black m I don't know what to do, either, I ¥! The Evening World Daily Magazine, Theseday: Fébruary 5, LA A F'A_COMPLETE E_NOVEL BAGH WEEK x || BA his mouth to say 4 very faint tapping sounded om the Ke opened it; Sylvia Elven atood tn tne hallway. 5 she. sald in “then you are an on the you nt alan'e expect ia te dis- for news of you. eeeey “(9 enough to vex any saint!” ‘Any saint,” I gravely. “I admit it, mademotselie, T am @ nuisance; so ie my comrade. We have only to express our deep sragited and es “Ge? ou think we will let you go, with Pan thoes bandits roami the ogra outside oUF windows? An: ou that gra . Madame de Vaseart desire ue to stay?’ T asked, trying not to too iy. Kylvia Elven gave me a scornful wicast we implore, monsteur, bd protect us? We will, fia] you ia I know I'm {il bumo: but it's shateel daybreak and wi eat es all night on your account—Madame de Vassart would not allow me to go yo Aber ri My pilged to deep rou, remem! was 0! in a chair—and I hope you feel that you Lens put me to very great in- jence.”” oo tee! that way about Mme. de T said, laughing at the pret- uting mouth stasperaied, youn girl, who rene den shepherdesa more ‘ean en an; elne. I added that we would be to stay until the communist free took themselves off. For which pn ~ ed me with an exaggera y and retired, furiously con- scious that she had not only lept in her clothes but that she looked it. alone want ith’ as asked speed, _ ‘nion, bo ey Byivia Elven. I don't know what @ is--I know what she was— no, I don't either. I only know what we “Actress at the Odeon.” “Never Boeard of her being at the heard of her as one of that rom at La Trappe?” “Yea” “Well, when I was looking for Buck- q hurat in Morsbronn Jarras tei- I graphed me Capes oyery g the 5 bt aad ana 2¢, IT was to arrest at and and he mentioned her - athe 8 Byivis Elven, lately of the Odeo “That wan a mintake,” Taal peed. “What he meant to say was that she was lately a resident of the Odeons- platz, He knew that. It must have been a telegraphic error.” Wad you know?” I asked, sur- “Because I furnished Jarras with “Odeon—-Odeonsplats,” I muttered trying to understand. “What fs the Odeonsplats? A square in some ian’t 1t?"* square in the capital of Munich,” *Hut—but she isn’t a German, is pa Ia she?” I repeated, staring at peed, who was booking porety at me, with eyes yeoy gecee ore was a “Well, upon my ult Ves T sald slowly, EE Blow on the every word with a noise- on the table. > gt pew ie? Wait! ‘Didn't Hold on,” he a fete Lite fg yd ‘s ge very nent, by birth. That ores nothing. Granted that Jarras suspected her, not as @ social agitator, but as a Geman agent. Aereated he did not fe others—perhaps under cover of ‘Buck hurst’s arrest—you know what @ se- eret_man the Emperor was—how, if he wanted a man, he'd never chase him, but run in the opposite direction ond head him off half way around the world. So, granted all this, | say, what's to prove Jarras was right?” Does he ve read well, her dossier wae rather in- complete. wo Wrage that she went about a g jeal in Paris—went to the Teleet fea! She was married Didn't you know even that?” “Married!” I voxclaimed, “To a Russian brute—I've forgotten his name, but I've seen him—one of the kind with high cheek-bones and divorce 2 She lands that, on record, ana back still further, we cmt Taonga Lid father was a Bavarian, a petty noble of some sort—baron, I believe. Her mother’s name was Elven, a ny it was @ mosaliiance—trou- le of all sorte—I forget, but I be- lieve her uncle brought her up. Her uncle was military attache of the German Embassy to Paris... . You see how she slipped into society—and you know what society under the Empire was.” “Speed,” I said, “why on earth didn't you tell me all this before?” “My dear fellow, I supposed Jarras had told you; or that, if you didn't know it, It did not concern us at a isd “Bi does concern—a perso sald, quickly, thinking. of poor Kelly Eyre. “And it explains a lot of things—or, rather, places them urder a new light.” “What light?" “Well, for one thing, she has con- sistently ed to me. For ano! believe her to be hand-in-gtove Karl Marx and the French lead not Buckhurst, but the real leaders of the social revolt; not as a genuine disciple, but as a German agent, orders to foment disorder of any kin@ which might tend to embarrass and weaken the French government in this crisis.” “You're inclined to believe that?” he asked, much Interested. “Yon, Tam. France ts full of Ger- man agents; the Tulleries was not exe ot-you know it aa well as I. Paris swarmed with spies of every kind, high and low in the social scale. \ slussler prove it? You it.” ‘The embassies were neste of aples; every salon a breeding spot of the foreign governmests intrigue; nee reatitt read T did, when it e: LAOGO BY GASTON LEROUX Author of “THE YELLOW =a Mt,” Bite, gave & woman goverament “Technically they were govern ment papers, but he considered tho: his own. Well, Lah ome who re. catved bapers te He gave a short white of exten tohment. “You are sure, Scariett™ “Pertectly cert question of Mademoiselle — leh eccupation.” we Fone and began to move around ™ reatlessly. “But, 8 after an 'T oat, “that con- cerns us no longer.” “How can it concern two Amert- cans out of a job?” he observed, with aehrug. “The whole fabric of French polities is rotten to the foundation, It's tottering; @ shake will bring it down, Let it tumble, I tell you this nation needs the purification of fire, Our own country just gone through it; France can ft, too, Bhe' it to, or she’s lost!” ite looked me earnestly. “T love bas the country,” he said; “it's fod me and harbored me. But I wouldn't litt 4 finger to put @ single patch on this makeshift of wouldn't stave off the crash if I could, And it's coming! You and I have seen something of the rotten- ness of the underpinning which prove lated up empires. You and learned a few of the shameful secrets which even an enemy to iene not drag out into the day- I had never seen him so deeply e! an wi —— endure? he continued, bit. tN. France must suffer, France must stand alone in terrible humilia- tion, France must offer the self-sac- rifice of fire and mount the altar herself! “Then, and only then, shall the na- » purified, reborn, rise and live, and build again, witing © @ beacon of Tuc! civilized freedom anal as the beacon Americans raising Hlowiy yet eurety ralsina, to the glory Scariett—to the glory o! “Ana of God, No other dedication can be justified 18 world.” in this ko with my shabby clothes, bandaged head and face the color of clay. ‘The young countess was not present; Bylvia Elven offered us a supercilious welcome to a breakfast the counterpart of which I had not seen in yeare—one CHAPTER X. Trecourt Garden. BOUT nine o'clock we were summoned by a Breton maid to the pretty breakfast-reom below, and I was ashamed to , of those American breakfasts which even we, since the Paris Exposition, - are beginning to discard fer the sim- pler French breakfast of coffee and rolls, “This is all in your honor,” observed fylvia, turning up her nose at the ar- fay of poached eggs, fragrant sau- sages, crisp potatoes, piles of buttered toast, muffins, marmalade and fruit. “It was very kind of yeu to think of it," sald Bpeed. “It fo Madame de Vaseart's idea, not mine,” she observed, looking across the table at me. “Will the gentleman with nine lives have cof- tee or chocolate?” ‘The fruit consisted of grapes and those winy Breton cider apples from Bannalec, Geovrous silence. Speed ventured « few comments on the cultivation of fruit, of which he koew nothing; neither be nor his subject was encouraged. Fresently, however, Bylvia glanced up at him with « malicious emile, saying: “I notice that you have been in the foreign division of the Imperial Military Police, monsieur.” “Why do you think so?” asked Bpeed calmly. “When you seated yourself tu your chair,” sald Sylvia, “you made a gesture with your left hand as though ! we to unhook the sabre—which was not there.” Speed laughed. “But why the po- ‘po- lice? I might have been in the cav- airy, mademolselle; for that matter I night have been an officer in any arm of the service. They all carry swords or sabres.” “But only the military police and _ the gendarmei wear aiguillettes,” ahe replied. ‘When you bend over your plate your fingers are ever uncon- aciuusly searching for those swinging, gold-tipped cords—to keep ti of your 6 Coffee cup, monsie uscies in Speed's bronsed cheeks tightened; be looked at her ve ‘Might I not have been in the gendarmerie?” he asked, “How do you know I was not?" he gendarmerie wear the “Do the military police’ “No—that is, ine foreign division advertently presse: Speed withdrew his leg with a jerk, asking pardon. “It ie a habit perfectly pardonable in a man who ia careful that his spur shall not scratch or tear a patent leather sabre-tache," she sald. 1 bad absolutely nothing to eay; we both laughed feebly, I believe. I saw temptation struggling with Speed's caution; I, too, was almost willing to drop a hint that might change her amusement to specula- tion, if not to alarm. Bo this was the woman for whose caprice Kelly Eyre had ae oe te} Clever ~~ ob, Clover, But she had made the, that such clever ae always gooner or later, in, that set. OHS, &@ government; 1 sti ; veautitul, a Bhi asi J Message to her victim had completed the chain against Reresit= “a chain of which I might Wave been left in absolute ignorance. pos ane) probably did it—reasoniess perhaps malicious caprice—the shert; fastinct of a the pensive tleman ed lives bave a little more nourtsh- it to sustain der signal to rise. “There is @ Mr. Kelly Eyre,” she said to Speed, “connected with your circus, Has he “Yoo, mi “Really?” she mused, am! roll he we him asa student in ‘aris when eo was Pbk f young—en: was young- er. I should have liked to have seen Sinceeee more.” “Did you not see him?" I asked abruptly. Her mae was toward me; very de- Uberately she turned her pretty head and looked at me over her shoulder, judying my face @ moment. “Yen, Isaw him. I should have liked fret caleu- effect on me of a different reply. She led the way into that small room overlooking the where | Bad besa twice received by’ atadame stim de Vessart. Here she took leave of us, abandoning us to our own de- YX = Mine wan to find a large arm tain bet Sea bnew ureten and give Gpeed a few Speed's was to prowl around Paradise for Lage mation, and, if possible, fae for troops to catch Buck ret “ie left _me turning over the leaves of the “Chanson de Roland,” saying that he would return in a little while with any news ye — pick up and ~ he would hia best to catch \y apne, loz and dead tbe wall Ae cat siceke flanks. animal seemed eamniiiar to me, after a while I made T watched the cat for a few moments, then sat down on the bench. tia which follows recovery from &@ shock, however light, left me with the lazy acquieacence of a convales- cent, ae La let the Mishoo ignad ran ur or two, con! }o re- apathetic, comfortable. Fs feathers floating; the rocky of Groiz rose clear-cut inst a hor- ison where no hase the sea; the breakers had the receded from coast on @ heavy ebb-tide, and I saw nolselessly beyund the them in frothy outline, churning the shallows outer bar. And then my reverie my ore, in a fresh morning. deep- ly _ belted with i morniag-eon | ruddy hatr glistening, coiled low on @ neck of snow. For the first time she barrassment in her arecting, s, scarcely touching my hand, speaking with @ new constraint in u voice which grew colder as she hesitated. “We were frightened; we are #o ik that you were not badly hurt. uihought you might Aad {¢ comfort- 2 bere—of course I could not know that You were not seriously injured.” “That is fortunate for me,” I ned tly, “for I am afraid would not have offered this shi if you ey known how little injured “You, Tan should have offered it—had reason * peeve you would have accepted. felt that perhaps you might ‘aink hat I bave done was unwarranted “I think you aid the most graciously uneelfieh thing a woman could do,” T aaid, quickly. “You offered your best; and the man who took it cannot dare not—express his gratitude.” ‘The emotion in my voice warned me to cease; the faintest color tinted her cheeks, and she looked at me with or eyes that slowly frew inecru' leavin, tand~ ‘ng diffident and silent fetore her. The breeze shifted, bringing with it the hollow sea-thunder, She turned her head and glanced out the ocean, hands behind her, fingers inked, "I have come ners into your gar- den uninvited,” I sald. “Shall we ait here—a moment?” she suggested, without turning, Presently she seated herself in one corner of the bench; her gaze wan- dered over the partly blighted garden, then once more centred on the sea- ward skyline, The color of her hands, her neck, nated me. snow and roses, firmly and delicately modelled, which sometimes is seen with red hair, I had seen once before in e@ picture by a Spanish master, but never, until now, in real life. And she was life incarnate in her wholesome beauty—a beauty of which I had perceived only the sad shadow at La Trappe—a sweet, healthy, ex- quisite woman, moulded, fashioned, colored by a greater master than the Spanish painter dreaming of per- fection centuries ago. o In the sun a fragrance grew—the subtle incense fon her gown—per- mics from eae * ie iy 3; we are under ended abruptly; @ atep on the Lesbeicia walk brought me ‘We began with these in to apg There she stood, That flesh texture of f; ii fi qi if i | é r $ i % 8 iY f ste? i i if mr if ia rit fi | i # H PEE iF H i~5F HF z it E2 if a | H a : ‘ s Se 3 a | | “The Fy 1 will brew it myosit, You shall ject! Ni is slens, is no justice in thie world or im noxt. The tea was hot an lay thinking while _— sat sunny window corner, ni rae a cult and marmalade, | me gravely. at weg “My appetite is dreadful ta days,” she T, eat! ° ¢ T have rye am exceedingly young T am just beginning to Mt: tired, thin, shabby ofl you La ‘Trappe was certainly ye bd As tone deters that, you, there was another U Ad maeaans, LY he w surging even of violets and, bonveus, i =. even o} bons, the companionshi the hurt by the aitaner gon ae d gannot Cuero. ¥ Can I ves ate carriage efore the es a oars re gates of