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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 1912)
',''- ! ' ,,"' 1 'I Si if' ,v 'tf f 1' V, '; i V"w JinrnH ft Hi? iu I.Mff UKlKMWtl IA HI2 i' . IU ' V mm i M I'll I M K i 8YN0P8I3. Ooorgo IVrclval Algernon Jonox, vice president of tho Motroiolltan Orlont.il Slug company of How York, thirsting for romanco, Is In Cairo on a business trip. Horace liyunno arrives at tho hotel In Cairo with a carefully guarded btmdlo. Dtyanne sella Jones tho famous holy Yhl ordos rug whlrh ho admits having ntolcn (from n panhu at Hagdad. Jones mooU Major Calhthan and lator In Introduced to (Fortuno Chedsoyo by a woman to whom lio hod loaned ISO poundn at Monto Carlo toomo months previously, and who turni Sut lo bo Fortune's mother Joncn takes Ira Chedsoyo and Fortuno to a polo giunn, Kortuno returns to Jones tho nonoy borrowed by her mother. Mr. Chdilsoye appcurs to bo ongagod In some mysterious cntcrprlxo unknown to tho daughter. CHAPTER VI. (Continued.) Homo ono wnB sitting down besldo him. It was Ryanno, In evening clothes, Imnmculato, blase, pink cheoked. Thoro nro Borao men so hap pily framed thnt thoy can don ready mndo Riilta without calling your atten tion to tho fact. George saw at onco ,that tho adventurer wa3 ono of these fortunnto individuals. "Makon a rathor good picture to look nt; eh?" begun Ilyannc, rolling n flnke tobacco cigarette. "Danco?" "No. Wlnh I could. You'vo dono juick work," with admiring inspection. "Not a flaw nnywhero. How do you lo it?" "Thanks Thanks to you, I might fay. I did some tall hustling, though, 'fltrango. how wo lovo theso funeral toggeries Wo follow tho danco and wo follow tho dead, with novor a variation in color. The man who In vented tho modern ovonlng clothes must havo dono good business during tho day an chlof-mournor." "Why don't you send for your lug Bago?' Ilynnno caressed hlB chin. "My luggago la, I bollovo, In tho hnnds of tho enemy. It is of no great import nnco. I never carry anything of value, savo my akin, I'm not llko tho villain In tho melodrama; no incriminating documents, no lost wills, no directions for digging up pirates' gold." "I nupposo you'll boou bo off for America?" George asked Indlrforontly. "I nupposo so. Uy tho way, I saw you at tho gamo today." "No! Whore voro you?" "Top row. I am going to apk a favor of you. It may sound rather odd to your earn, but I know thoso two ladloa rathor woll. I kept out of tho, way till I could find Homo clothos. Tho favor I ask la "that you will not loll them anything regarding tho cir cumstances of our mooting. I am Juiown to thorn as a globo-trotter and i collector." "That's too bad," said George con- "And You Aren't tritely. "But I havo already told them." "Tho doyll you havo I" nyanno drop, por hl cigurotto luto tho ash-tray. "If I roraembor rightly, you aaked me to pay nothing," "I know," said Georgo, visibly om barrasacd. "I forgot." "Well, tho fat Is In tho flro. I daro eay that I can get round It. It was j laky. Women liko to talk, I expect every hour to hoar of some ono ar riving from Bagdad." "There's, no boat from that direction till noxt wook," Informed George, who was a tickler ou tlmo-tnbloB. , "Thoro nro other ways of getting into Egypt. Know anything about raclag-camcls?" 'jBIBWflWIJIIffllM iHtHiHBcBHiBr ) A J ivfllKSSS?v&z9MHDIi1&H8l Hi II m vWWJll -liMli "You don't bollovo . . . ?" "My friend, I bollovo In all things that haven't been provod ImpoBslblo. You'vo been knocking about hero long enough to know something of tho tenacity of ilia Arab and tho East In dian. Given a Just causo, an ldol'B eyo or n holy carpet, and they'll fol low you round tho world ten times, If need bo. I novcr worry neodlcssly, but I lay out boforo mo all tho points of tho gamo. Thero is pao man in Dag dad who will novcr coaeo to think of me. This follow 13 an Arab, Mahomed. El-Gebol by name, tho real article, proud and savago, Into whoso keeping tho Holy Yhlordoif was given; Ma-homcd-El-Gebol, tho Pasha's right hand, a ahelk In his own right." "Bui you haven't got the rug now." "No-, Mr. Jones, I haen't; but on tho other hand, you have. So, hero wo nio togothor. When ho gets through with me, your turn." Georgo laughed. Rynnno grow thoughtful over this sign. Pcrclval Algernon did not scorn exactly wor ried "Aren't you a Httlo afraid?" "I? Why should I bo?" inquired Georgo innocently. "Certainly, what- ovor your Arab friend's arguments may be, moral or physical, I'm going to keep that Yhlordes." WaB ho bluffing? Hynnno wondered. Did ho really havo nerve? Woll, within forty-eight hours thero would come n lest. "Say, do you know, I rather wish you'd been with mo on that trip that Is, if you llko a rough game." Ryanno said this In all sincerity. "I havo never been In a rough game, as you call it; but 1'vo often had a strong desire to bo, Just to find out for myself what sort of a duffer I am." Hyanne hnd met this sort of man be fore; tho follow who wanted to know what stuff ho was mado of, and was ready to risk his hldo to find out. His oxpertonco had taught him to expect nothing of tho man1 who know Just what ho was going to do in a crisis. "Did you evor know, Mr. Jones," snld Hyanne, his eyes humorous, "that thero Is an organization In this world of ours, a company that offers a try out to men of your kidney?" "What's that? What do you mean?" "What I say. Thero Is an established concern which will, upon application for a liberal purchaso of stock, nr rarigo any kind of adventure you wish." - "What?" Goorgo drew lu hia legs and Bat up. "What sort of a Jolly is this?" "You put your finger upon tho ono great obstacle. No ono will believe that such a concern exists. Yet It 1b a fact. And why not?" Afraid to Admit It?" "necauso it wouldn't bo real; It Would bo going to the moon a la Coney Island." "Wrong, absolutely wrong. If I told you that I nm a stockholder in this company, and that tho adventuro of tho Yhlordes rug was arranged for my special benefit, whnt would you say?" "Say?" GeorCO turned n nnrlr.ua countenanco toward tho adventuror, "Why, tho wholo thing is absurd on tho rnco of it. Ab n Joko, it might go; but as -a genuine affair, utterly impos sible," "No," quietly. 'i admit that it eounda absurd, yes; but ton years ago they'd havo locked up, as insauo, a man who said that he could fly. But Avrfhor of HEARTS AND .MASKS CJfe Tm ON THE BOX ctcs. Illustrations by iyl.O.KErTBR - . . 'wni jyu ty dubub - vERRILL COMPANY think of last summer at "Paris, at llhelins, at Frankfort f tho Continental air was full of Ilylng-machlnes. Bah! It's pretty difficult to Impress the av erage mind with something now. Why shouldn't wo cator to tho pdetlc, tho romantic side of mnu? We'vo con cerns for everything clso. The fact is, mediocrity ia always standing bo hind tho comer with brickbats for the Initiative. Bollovo mo or not, Mr. Jonoa, but this company exists. Tho proof 1b that you havo the rug and I have tho scars." "But in theso prosaic times!" mur mured Georgo, still skeptical. "Prosaic times!" sniffed Rynnne. "Thoro's ono of oUr brickbats. They swung It at the head of the first print- or. Prosaic times! My friend, this la tho most romantic and bewildering ago humanity has yet Been. There's moro ronlanco and adventure going about on wheels and steel-bottoms than ever there was in tho days of Drake and tho Spanish galleona. There's an adventuro lurking round tho neareat coiner romance, too. What thl8 organization does is to direct you; after that you have to shift for your self. But, like a llrst-rato physical in stiuctor, thoy never map out moro than a man can do. They gavo mo tho rug. Your bones, on auch a quest, would have been bleaching upon tho banks of tho Tigris." "What tho deuco is this company called?" George was enjoying tho con versation Immensely. "Tho United Romance and Adven ture company, Ltd., of London, Paris, and Now York." "Havo you any of tho company's paper with you?" Georgo repressed hia laughter because Ryanne's face was serious enough. "Unfortunately, no. But If you will give mo your banker's address I'll bo pleased to forward you tho prospec tus." "Knauth, Nachod and Kuhno. I nm shortly leaving for homo. Better solid It to Now York. I say, suppose n chap buys an adventuro that ia not up to tho mark; can bo return It, or exchange it for nnother?" "No. It's all chance, you know. The rules of tho gamo are steel bound. We find you an adventure; It's up to you to make good." "But, onco moro suppose a chap gets a littlo too rough a game, and doesn't turn up for his dividends; what then?" "In that ovent," answered Rynnno sadly, "tho stock reverts to tho gen oral fund." Georgo lay back in his chair and let go his laughter. "You aro mighty good company, Mr. nyanne." "Well, well; wo'll say nothing moro about It. But a moment gono you spoko as if you were gamo for an ex ploit." "I still am. But if I know tho ad venturo wnB prearranged, as you say, and I was up against a wall, thero would bo tho Inclination to cable tho firm for moro Instructions." Ryanno himsolf laughed this time. "That's a good idea. I don't bollovo tho company oveT thought of such a contingency. But I repeat, our bual nosB la to givo you tho kick-off. After thnt you havo to fight for your own downs." "Tho stock Isn't listed?" again laughing. "Scarcely, Ono man tcjls another, as I tell you, and bo on." "You send mo tho prospectus. I'm rather cuilous to havo a look at It." "I cortalnly shnll do so," replied Rynnno, with grnvlty unassumed. "Ah I Horo como Mrs. Chedfloyo and her daughter. If you don't mind, I'll mako myself scarce. I do not caro to boo them Just now, after your hav ing told thorn about tho stolon Yhlordes." "I'm Borry," said Georgo, rising cagorly. "It's all In tho game," gallantly. Georgo saw him gracofully ma neuver his way round tho crush to ward tho utalrs loading to tho bar. Really, ho would llko to know moro about this nmlablo frco-lanco. As tho old follows used to say, ho Uttlo dreamed that doatlny, ono of thoso things from Pnndora's box, was pre paring a deeper and moro lntlmato ncqualutnuco. . "And what haa been amusing you, Mr. Jones?" aaked Mrs. Chedsoyo. "I saw you laughing." "1 wnB talking with tho rug chnp. He's a droll follow. Ho said that ho had mot you Eomowhero, but con cluded not to renow tho acquaintance, since I told him that his adventuro in part was known to you." "That 1b yoollsh. I rathor enjoy mooting men of IiIb stamp, Don't you, Fortuno?" "Sometimes," with a dry Uttlo smllo. "I bollovo wo havo met him, mother. Thero was something fa miliar about his head. Of courso, wo saw him only from n distance." "I do not think thoro is any real harm In him," said Georgo. "What mado mo luugh was a singular propo sition ho set before mo. Ho snld ho owned stock In a concern called 'Tho United Romnnco and; Adventuro com pany;' and that for a specified sum of money, one could havo any adventuro ono pleased." "Did you ever hear of such a thing?" cried tho mother merrily. For tuno searched her face keenly. "Tho United Romanco rtnd Adventure Com pany! Ho must havo beon Joking What did jou say his name Is?" "Ryanno. Joking is my idea exact ly," Georgo agreed. "The scheme is to plungo tho stockholder into a real live adventure, and then let him pull himself out the best way ho. can. Sounds good. Ho added that this rug business was an Instance of the suc cess of tho concern. There goes the. music. Do you dance, Miss Ched soye?" "A little." Fortuno was preoccu pied. Sho was wondering whnt lay behind Mr. Ryanno's amiable Jest. "Go along, both of you," said Mrs. Chcdsoyo. "I nm too old to dance. I prefer watching people." She sat down and arranged herself comfort ably. Sho was always arranging her self comfortably; It was ono of tho se crets of her perennial youth. She was very lovely, but George had eyes for tho daughter only. Mm. Ched soyo saw this, but was not In the least chagrined. "It Is bo many years slnceTlrlpped tho light fantastic toe," Georgo con fessed, reluctantly and nervously, now thnt he had bravely committed him self. "It Is quite possible that the accent will bo primarily upon tho trip." "Perhaps, then," replied tho girl, who truthfully was out of tuno, "per haps I had hotter get my wraps and we'll go outside. Tho night is glori ous." Sho couldn't have suggested any thing moro to his liking. And so, after a littlo hurrying nbout, tho two young people went outside and began to promenade slowly up and down the mole. Their conversation was desul tory. George had dropped back into his eholl and tho girl was not equal to the task of drawing him out. Onco ho stumbled over a sleeping beggar, and would havo fallen had she not caught him by tho arm. "Thanks. I'm clumay." "It'B rather difficult to Bee them In tho moonlight; their rags match the pavements." The Egyptian night, that sapphlrlne darkness which tho flexible Imagina tion peoples with lovely and terrlblo shades.-or floods with mystery and ro mnnco and wonder, lay softly upon this strip of verdure aslant the des ert's face, the Valley of tho Nile. The moon, round, brilliant, strnngely noarr suffused tho scaired old visage of tho world with phantom Bilver; tho stones of the parapet glowed dully, the pave ment glistened whltoly, all things it touched with gentleness, lavishing beauty upon beauty, mollowing ugll ness or effacing It. Tho deep blue Nile, borlbboned' with the glancing lights from tho silent feluccas, curling musically along, tho sides of tho frost like dahabeahs and steamers, rolled on to tho sea; and tho bluc-whlto nrc-lampa, spanning tho Great Nile bridge, took th,o semblance of a pearl necklace. From time to tlmo a cara van trooped across tho bridge into Cairo. "Do you caro for poetry, Mr. Jones?" "I? I used to write it." "And you aren't afraid to admit It?" "Well, I shouldn't confess tho deed to every one," ho answered frankly. "Wo nil write poetry nt ono timo or another; but It's generally not con8ti tutlonnl, and wo recover." "I do not 8oo why nny ono should bo ashamed of writing poetry." "Ah, but thero la pootry and pootry. My kind and Byron's Is born, of kin dred soula; but ho was an nctlvo genius, whereas, I wasn't oven a pas sive ono. In all great poets I find my own rejected thoughts, as Emerson says; and that's enough for my Blon der needs. Poets aro rather uncom fortablo chaps to havo round. Thoy aro capricious, Irritable, temperament al, BotflBh, and usually demand all tho attention." Tho Httlo vocal stream died up again, and onco more thoy listened to tho magic sounds of tho night. She stopped abruptly to look ovor tho para pot, and hia shoulder met hers; aftor that tho world to him was never go ing to bo the samo again. Moonlight and pootry; not the safest chnnnela to sail uncharted. Tho girl was lonely, aud Georgo was lone ly, too. Hia longing hnd now assumed n definite form; hers moved from this to that, still indefinitely. Tho quick ness with which this definition had como to Georgo rathor startlod him. Ills first Bight of Fortuno Chodsoyo hnd been but yostorday; yet, hero ho was, not desperately but consciously In lovo with her. Tho situation boro ngaiiiBt alt precepts; It ripped up his preconceived Ideas of romanco as a galo at sea shreds a canvas. Ho folt a bit panicky. Ho had always planned a courtship of a year or ao, meetings, separations, and romootlngs, pleasur ablo expectations, Httlo Junkots to tho nters and country places; In brief, to wltnosB tho roso grow and unfold. Somewhero ho had read or hoard that courtship was tho plummet- which sounded tho depths of compatibility. Ho know nothing of Fortuno Ched soje, snvo that sho was beautiful to his eyes, and that sho waB as different from tho ordinary run of girls as yon der moon was from tho stars. Again sho stopped, leaning over the pnrnpet and staring down at tho wa ter swirling past tho stono ombank- ment. Ho did Hkowlso, rosting upon his folded arms. Suddenly his tongue became alive; and quietly, without hesitancy or embarrassment, ho began to tell her ot his school life, his life nt homo. And tho manner In which ho sroko of hia mother warmed her; and sho waa strangely and wonder Ingly attracted. "Of courso, tho mother meant tho best In tho world when sho gavo mo Perclval Algernon; and because sho meant the best, I havo rarely tried to hide them. What was good enough for hor to give -was good enough for mo to keep. It Is simply that I have been foolish about It, supersensitive. I should havo laughed and accepted the thing as n Joke; instead, I mado tho fatal movo of trying to run away nnd hide. But, taking tho name In full," lightly, "It sounds as incongruous as playing Traumerei on a steanvplnno." Ho expected her to laugh, but hor heart waa too full of tho old ache. This young man, kindly, gentle, Intel Hgont, If shy, waa a love-child. And she? An offspring, the loneliest of tho lonely, the child that wasn't want ed. Many a timo she had thoucht nf flinging all to the winds, of running away and hiding whero they never should find hor, of working with her own hands for her brend and butter. Littlo they'd have cared. But always the rebel spirit died within her as sho stepped outsido tho villa gates. To leave behind for unknown privations certain assured comforts, things of which she was fond, things to which she was used, sho couldn't do It, she Just couldn't. Morally and physically she was a littlo coward. "Let us go In," sho said sharply. Another moment, and she would have been in tears. CHAPTER VII. - Ryanno Tables Hia Cards. During this timo Mrs. Chedsoye, the major, MeBsra. Ryanno and Wallace, "It's the Excitement of Getting It offlcors and directors in tho United Romnnco nnd Adventuro Company, Ltd,, sat In tho major's room, round tho boudolr-stand which had tempo rarily been glvou the dignity ol a table. The scene would not havo been without Interest either to tho siecula tlvo physiognomist or to tho dtnmnt lat. To each It would havo represent ed ono of those astonishing moments when tho soul of a person cornea out Into the open, as ono might expresa It, Incautiously, to bo revealed In tho ox preDlon8 of tho oyeB and tho mouth Those four persons were nbout going forwnrd upon a singularly doaporato and unusual enterprise. From now on they were no longer to fence with ono nnother, to shift from this topic to that, with tho Indirect maneuvers of n house-cat lutent upon tho quest of tho Friday mackerel. Tho woman's faco was allvo with cagorncss; tho oldest man looked from ono to tho other with enrncst calculation; Wal lace no longer hid his cupidity; Ryanno's Immobility of countenanco was in itself a tacit admission to tho burning of all his bridges ,JJmt ho might becomo a part of this conclavo. "Smuggling," said tho mnjor, with prudent lowering of voice, evidently, continuing some previous debate, "amuggling Is a flno art, a kscn spott ing proposition; and tho consequences of discovery aro never serloUs. What's a flno of a thousand dollars ngalnst tho profits of many successful excur sions into tho port of New York? Nothing, comparatively. For several years, now, wo have carried on this business with tho utm.ost adroitness. Never have wo drawn serious atten tion. Wo havo mado two or three blunders, but the suspicions of the secret-service wero put to sleep upon each occasion. Wo have prospered. Here is a gem, let us say, worth on this sldo a thousand; ovor thero wo sell it for enough to give us a clean profit of threo or four hundred. Forty per cent, upon our Investment. That ought to bo enough for any reasonable person. Am I right?" Mrs. bhedsoyo nlono was unrespon sive to this appeal. "I continue, then. We aro making enough to lay by something, for our old age. And that's tho only goal which never loses its luster. Bul this affair!" Talk, talk," said Mrs. Chedsoyo Im patiently. "My dear Kate, allow me to relieve my mind." "You have done so till tho topic la threadbare. It Is rather lato In the day to go over tho ground again. Time Is everything Just now." "Admitted. But this affair, Kate, is big; big with dangers, big with pit- ' falls; there Is a hidden menace in ev ery step of it. Mayhap death; who knows? The older I grow, th5 moro I cling to material comforts, to enter prises of small dangers. Howovcr, as you infer, thero's no going back now." "No," assented Ryanno, his mouth hard; "not If I havo to proceed alone." Sho smiled nt him. "You talk of danger," speaking to the major. "What danger can thero bo?" "The unforeseen danger, tho danger of which we know nothing, nnd there- and Coming Away Unscathed." fore aro unable to proparo for It. You do not see It, my dear, but It la there, nevertheless." Wallace nodded approvingly. Ry anno shrugged. "Falluro ta practically Impossible. Aud I want excitement; I crave It as ou men crave your tobacco." "And there we are, Kate. It really lau't tho gold; It's tho excitement of gottlng It and coming nwny unscathed. If I could only get you to look at all sides of the affair! It's tho Rubicon " (TO IltJ CONTINUED.) "0A.4 V