i i i us ' ' ".!' J
SSS- M i 1 1 '
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Here Was the End
8YN0PSI8.
Qeores Porclval Algernon Jones, vlce-
firesldont of tlio Metropolitan Orlontut
lug company of Now York, thirsting for
romanco, Ih In Cairo on it business" trip.
Horace Hyanne arrives at tun liotol In
Cairo with a carefully guarded bundle.
Hyiuino sells Jones tho famous holy Yhl
oraes rug wnicn no nonius 11
from a pasha at Bagdad Jones meets
Major Callahan and tator Ih Introduced to
Fortune. Chedsoyo by a woman to whom
he had loaned 150 pounds at Monto Carlo
soma months previously, and who turns
out to bo Fortune's mother. Jones takes
Mrs. Chodsoyo and Fortune, to a polo
name. Fortune roturns to Jones the
money borrowed by her mother Mrs.
Chedsoye nppcars to bo endued In some
mysterious enterprise unknown to the
daughter. Ilyanne Interests Jones In the
United Romance and Advcntura com
pany, a concern which for n price will
arrange any kind of au adventure, to i or
der. Mrs. Chedsoye, her brother. Major
Callahan, Wallace and Rynnne, ns the
United nomanci) and Advonturo company,
plan a risky enterprise Involving Jones.
Jlyanno makes known to Mrs. Chedsovo
his Intention to marry Fortune. Mrs,
Chedsoye declares eho will not permit It
Plans are laid to provent Jones sailing
for homo. Ilvanno steals Jones' Intters
and cable dispatches. Ilo wires agent in
New York, In Jonos' name, that ho Is
renting bouse in New York to some
friends. Mahomed, keeper of tlit holy
carpet, Is on Uyunno's trail. Ilyanne
Sromlses Fortune that ho will see Mint
ones comes to no harm ns a result of bli
purchase of tho rug Mahomed accosts
Ilyanne and demunds the Yhlordes rug.
Hyanne tolls him Jones has the rug and
suggests the abduction of tho Now York
merchant ns a, means of securing Its re
turn. The rug disappears from Jones'
room. Fortune quarrels with her mothr
when the" luttor refuses to explain her
mystorlous actions. Fortune gets a mei
sage purporting to bo from Ilyanne Hik
ing her to meet him In a secluded place
that evening Jones receives a message
Asklnghlm to meat Hyanuo at the ISngllsh.
unr tne same evening .lonos is cnirleu
off Into tho desert by Aiahomcd and his
accomplices after a desperate fight Hu
discovers that nvnnne and Fortuno also
are Captives, the former Is badly batteied
and unconscious Hyanne recovers con
sciousness mid the sight of Fortune lit
captivity rnvenlH to lilni the tact that
Mahomed Intends to get vengeance on
him through tho girl Fortune acknowl
edges that she stole the rug from Jones'
room. Bhe odors to return It t Mahomed
If he will free all thrco of them Ma
homed agrees to llbetato Fortuno and ono
of the men In return for tho rug A cour
ier Is sent to Cairo for tho rug, but re
turns with tho Information that Mrs.
Cliedsoye and her brother have sailed for
New York, Fortune spurns offered free-
aom wnicnMOcs not include ner two com
panions Tho enrnvan continues tho lour
ney toward Dagdad, Ttynnno tells Jones
that Mrs, Chi dsoye Is the moit admit
smuggler of tho age, and Is overhourd bv
Fortuno. Tho three captives are rem tied
by Henry Ackurmnnn. who Is In charge
or u carpet caravan. Mahomed eseapei
Mrs, Chedsoyn discovers the absenco of
Fortune and teaves for New York taking
tho girl's belongings with her Through
forged letters Mts. Chedsoye, the major
una their accomplices take possession of
Jonrs' New York home. Jones, Hyanne
and Fo.-tune nrrlvo at Pnmnsmis. Hv
anne falls In his resolution to lend n (let
ter life Uvntinn uecrotly leaves for New
York. At Jones' solicitation his ptrtner,
Mortimer, offers Fortuno a home, but
she declines Jones then declares his lose
and finds that It Is reclprooated.
CHAPTER XX.(Contlnucd.)
"I lovo you," he uald; "I lovo you
bettor than nil tho world."
"Aro you BuroT"
"Suro? Can you doubt It 7"
"Sometlinoa."
"Why ..."
Dut she Interrupted him Quickly. "In
all thla tlmo you hnvo novr nakoti mo
if I lov6 you. Why haven't you?"
"I havo bcn afraid,"
"Ask mo!"
"Do you love mo?" his heart iiiIbb
lng a beat.
She leaned toward him swiftly.
of the Puzzle.
"Horo 1b my answer," nursing her
llpa.
"Fortune I"
"Uo cnreful! I'vo a terrlblo temper."
Hut eho was not quite prepared for
such rougliiR'HS. aim could not stir, so
strongly did ho hold her to hla heart.
Not only her lips, but hor oyes, her
cheeltB, hor throat, and ngaln her lips.
Ho hurt hor, but her heart Bang. No
man could lmltato lovo llko that.
"That 1b tho way I want to bo loved.
Alwnya lovo mo llko that. Never wait
for mo to nBk. Como to mo at all
times, no matter how-I am engaged,
and take mo In your nrms, roughly
llko thlB. Thou I Bhall know. I hnvo
been so lonoly; my heart has been bo
filled with lovo and nouo to recelvo It!
I love you. I haven't asked why; I
don't enre. Whon It began I do not
know either. Hut It Is In my heurt,
strong and for over."
"Heart o'mlne, I'm going to bo tho
finest lover thoro over wiibI"
Tho great ship camo up tho bay
Blowly. It waB a clear, sparkling, win
ter day, and tho towering minarets of
business stood limned against the
palc-bluo sky with a delicacy not un
like JnpanoBo shell-carving. A thou
Baud thousand ribbons of cheery
Btenm wavorcd and elanted and
dartled; tho rlvor swarmod with bust
ling ferries and cngor tugs; and great
HoatH of Ico bumped and jammed
about tho lnvlslblo highways.
"This Is whore I live," said George,
running his arm under hers. "Tho
groatest country In tho world, with
tho greatest number of mtHtaken
Ideas," ho added humorously.
"What Is It about tho native land
that clutches at our hearts so? I am
nn American, and yet I was born In
tho Bouth of France. 1 went to school
for a tlmo near Philadelphia. Ameri
ca, America! Can't I bo an American,
oven It I was born elsewhere?"
"You can nover be proBldent," ho
said gravely.
"1 don t want to bo prosldentl" Sho
snuggled closor to him. "All I want
to bo Is a good man's wlfo; to watch
tho kitchen to wio that ho gqts good
things to oat; to guard IiIb comforts;
to laugh when ho la sad; to nurso him
when ho Is HI; to bo all and every
thing to him In ndvorslty as woll as In
proBporlty; a true wlfo." Sho touched
Ills sleovo with her cheek. "And 'I
don't want him to think thnt ho must
ulwnys ho with mo; If he belongs to a
man-club, ho must go thoro once In a
whllo."
"I nm Yory happy," was all ho could
Bay. ,
"George, I am uiioasy. I don't know
why. It's my mother, my uncle, and
llorncc. 1 nm going to meet them
somowhoro. 1 know It. And 1 worry
about you."
"About me 7 That's foolish." lie
smiled down at hor.
'Ah, why did my mother Book to ro
now tho acquaintance with you? Why
did Hornco havo you kidnaped Into
tho doaert? There can bo no ouch a
thing us tho United Romanco and Ad
venturo company. It Is a cloak for
something inoro alnlater."
"Pahawl What's Uio use of worry
AvrfrKor o HEARTS AND .MSASKS
234 .MAN Ofl THE BOX S-.
Illvisiraliorv by M.G.KErrijisi--
COPYRIGHT igil y BOBB3 - .M.ERRILL COfPASY
Ing, llttlo woman? Whatever schemes
they had muet be out of Joint by now.
Sometimes I think I must bo dream
ing, llttlo girl."
"I am not little. I'm almost as tall
as you aro."
"You nro vastly taller In many
wayB."
"Don't bo too sure. I am human; I
havo my moods. I am sometimes
crotchety; sometimes unjust and quick
of temper."
"All right; I want you, temper and
all, Just tho name."
"But will they like mc? Won't they
think I'm mi adventuress, or some
thing llko that?"
"HIobb your heart, not In a thou
sand years! I'm a pretty wlee man In
Bomo ways, and they know It."
And so It proved to be. Uoth Mr
and Mrs. Mortlmor greeted them at
the pier In Hoboken. Ono glance nt
tho faco of tho girl waB sufficient. Mrs.
Mortimer held out her arms. It was
a very flno thing to do.
"I was lu doubt at first," sho Bald
frankly. "George 1b bo guileless. But
to look nt you, my child, would scatter
tho doubtB of a Thomas. Will you
let mo bo your, mother, If only for a
llttlo while?" with a wlso and tender
'smile.
Shyly Fortuno accepted the em
brace Never had Bhe been bo happy.
Never had sho felt arms llko these
about her.
"What did ho cablo you?" sho asked
In a whisper.
"That ho loved you and wanted me
to mother you against that tlmo when
ho might have tho right to tako you
as his own. Has ho that right?"
"Yes. And oh! ho Is tho bravest
and tondercst man I know; nnd below
It all ho Ib only a boy."
Mrs. Mortimer patted her hand. A
llttlo while later all four went over
to tho city and drovo uptown to tho
Mortlmor homo. On tho way Fortuno
told her story, Blmply, without avoid
ing any essential detail. And all her
now mother did was to put an arm
about hor and draw hor closor.
Tho Mortimer homo was only three
blocks away from Gcorgo's. So, when
dinner was over, Goorgo declared that
ho would run over and tako a look at
his own house. Ho wanted to wander
about the rooms n bit, to fancy how
It would look when Fortuno walked
at his sldo. Ho promised to return
within nu hour. Ho had forgotten
many things, ordinarily Important;
such ob wiring his agent, his butler
nnd cook, who wero stilt drawing their
wages. Ho passed along tho street
above which was his own. Ho paused
for a moment to contemplate the
great banking concern. And tho pres
ident of this bank was tho elder
brother of Ryannol Lots of queer
kinks In tho world; lots of crooked
turnings. He pnssed on, turned tho
corner, and strode toward his homo,
ran up tho stops. Three doors below
ecstasy thrilling his heart Lightly ho
noticed two automobiles. Ho gavo
them only a cursory glance. Ho took
out his ring of keys, found the night
latch and thrust It Into tho keyhole.
He never had believed In this putting
up of Iron gates and iron shutters. A
night-latch nnd a caretaker who camo
round onco a day was enough for any
sensible porson. Ho turned tho key.
Eh? It didn't Beem to go round. Ho
tried aoveral times, but without suc
cess. Puzzlod, ho struck a match and
stopped bofoio tho keyhole.
It was a now one.
C APTER XXI.
A Bottlo of Wine.
George Btood Irresolutely upon
stops. A now keyhole! What
the
tho
douce did tho agent mean by putting
a now keyhole In tho door without
notifying him? As Jho carotakor nover
entered that door, It was all tho
agent's fault. Thoro was no area-way
In front, but betwcm George's house
and tho next thoro was a court olght
feet In width, running to tho dividing
wall botwoon tho bank property and
his own A grlllo gato protected this
courl. George had n key Tho gate
opened readily enough, Ilia Intention
was to outer by tho basement-door
Hut ho buddenly paused. To his
amazement ho Baw Just below tho
library curtain a thin measure of
light. Light! Some ono In tho house!
Ilo did tho most Bcnslblo thing pos
at bio: he stood still till tho shock left
him. Somo ono In tho house. Home
ono who had no earthly or heavenly
bustnuaa there! Near tho window
stood a tubbed bay-tree. Cautiously
ho mounted this, holding the lodge of
tho Window with IiIb flngors. That
ho did not Instantly topplo ovor with
a groat nolso was duo to tho fact
that ho was tompoiarlly paralyzed.
Hero was Iho end of the puzzlo. The
riddle of tho United lloimuico ami Ad
venture Company was solved. At last
ho undorntood why Mrs. Chedsoye
had sought him, why Hyanne had kid
nnnned him. Hut for Ills onntlnulne-
- 1 hla Journey upon the Gorman-Lloyd
3:
boat, ho would have como homo a
week too late; ho would have missed
being n spectator (already an inno
cent contributor) to ono of tho most
daring und Ingenious bank-robberies
known In tho pnges of metropolitan
crime. There was Mrs. Chedsoye, In
trusively handsome us ever; there
was her rascally card-sharper brothor,
that Ingrato who called himself Hy
anne, and three unknown men The
Impudence of It; tho damnable Inso
lence of It! And there they were,
toasting their success In a braco of
Ma own vintage-champagne! Dut the
w.no was, after all, inconsequential. It
was what ho saw upon tho floor that
caught him by the throat. Ills knees
weakened, but he held on grimly to
his perch.
White bags of gold, soiled bags of
gold, and neat packs of green nnd yel
iow notes, riches! Twenty bags nnd
ns many packets of currency; a mil
lion, not a penny under that! George
was seized with a horrlblo desire to
yell with laughter. He felt the each
lunations bubble in hla throat Ho
swallowed violently and gnawed his
lips. They had got into his houso un
der falBo pretenses and had tunneled
back Into tho Merchant-Mechanic
Dank, of which Horace's brother was
president and in which he, George P.
A. Jones, always carried a lqrge pri
vate balance! It was tho joko of
tho century.
As quietly as he possibly could, he
stepped down from his uncertain
perch. In tho fine fury that followed
his amazement, his one thought was
to summon tho police at once, to con
front tho wretches in their villainy;
but once outside in tho street, ho
cooled. Instantly he saw the trial In
court. Fortune as witness against her
own mother. That was horrlblo and
not tobo thought of. But what could
ho do? He was shakon to his soul.
Tho stupendous audacity of such a
plan! To havo worked out every de
tail, down to tho nltering of tho key
hole to prevent surprise! Ho saw
tho automobiles. They wero leaving
that night. If ho acted at all, it must
bo within an hour; in less than that
time they would be loading tho cars.
His mind began to rid 'itself of Its
confusion. Without the aid of the
polico; and presently ho saw the way
to do It.
Ho was off at a dog-trot, upon tho
balls of his feet, allently. Within five
mlnuteB ho was mounting tho steps
to tho Mortlmor homo, and in another
minute was Inside. Tho others saw di
rectly that something serious had hap
pened.
"What's the trouble, George? House
vanished?" asked Mortimer.
"Have you got a braco of revolv
ers?" said George quietly.
"Two automatics. But ..."
"Give them to me," less ovenly in
tone. "Will you call up Arthur Wads
worth, president of tho Merchant-Mechanic
Hank?"
"Tho bank?"
"Yes, tho bank. You know, It Is
Just in the rear of my house."
Hero Fortuno camo forwnrd. All
tho bright coldr was gone from her
cheoks; tho old mask of despair had
re-formed. Sho needed no further en
lightenment "Aro you going back there?" she
asked.
"Yes, dear; I must Mr. Mortimer
will go with mo,"
"And I?"
"No, heart o' mine; you'vo got to
stay here."
"If you do not take me with you,
you'will not find me hero when you re
turn." "My child," began Mortlmor sooth
ingly, "you must not talk like that
Thero will bo danger."
"Then notify tho police, and let tho
danger rest upon their shoulders," she
said, hor jaws set squarely.
"I can't call In tho polico," replied
George, miserable,
"Shall I toll you why?"
"Dearest, can't you understand that
It 1b you I nm thinking of?"
"I nm dctormlned. If I do not go
with you, you shall nover see mo
ngaln. My mother Is thoro!"
Tragedy. Mrs. Mortimer stretched
out a hand, but the girl did not sea
It. Her mother; her own flesh and
blood! Oh, the poor child!
"Come, then," Bald George, In de
spair. "Hut you nro hurting me, For
tuno." "Forglvo mo, biit I must go with
you. I must!" '
"Got mo tho revolvers, Mr. Mortl
mor We'll wnlt for Wndsworth.
Will you please tolephono him? I'm
afrntd I couldn't tnlk stondlly enough.
Rxplatu nothing savo that It concerns
hla bank." .
George sat down. Not during those
early days of tho Journey across tho
desert had ho felt bo pitiably weal?
and Inefficient.
Fortuno paced tho room, hor arms
folded tightly across her breast
Strango, there was neither fear nor
pain in her heart, only a wild wrath.
sir7 tr" I .rX'frtVV
wMWSm
Willi i rSM&Zf' Jzmr&
Ryanne Tipped tho Third Bottlo Dell catcly.
I
When Mortimer returned from tho
telephone, saying that Wndsworth
would be right over, he asked Georgo
to explain fully what was going on.
It was rather a long story. George
managed to get through it with a co
herency underataudable, but no more.
Georgo Inspected tho revolvers care
fully to see If they were loaded.
Tho bell rang, and Arthur Wads
worth came In. Mortimer knew him;
George did not. He drew his interest
as it fell due and deposited it in an
other bank. That was tho extent of
his relations with Arthur Wadsworth,
president of the Merchant-Mechanic
Bank of New York.
Arthur was small, thin, blond llko
his brother, but the hair was so light
upon tho top of his head that iho gave
ono the impression that ho whb bald.
His eyes looked out from behlpd half
shut lids; his cheeks were cadaver
ous; his palo lips met In a straight,
unpleasant line. Thero was not tho
slightest resemblance between tho
two brothers, either In their, bodies
or in their aouls. George reriognized
this fact Immediately. Ho dlslljked tho
man Instinctively, just 'as he could
not help admiring hla rogue of a
brothor.
"I want you to go with mi to my
house nt once," begnn George.
"Please explain." '
Goorgo dislike the voice ev,en more
thnn the man himself. "Evprythlng
will bo explnlned there," ho replied.
"Thla is very unusual," tho banker
complained. t
"You will find It so. I Come."
Georgo moved toward tho half, tho re
volvers In his coat-pocket, j
"But I InsiHt ..." ,
"Mr Wndsworth, everything will
bo fully explnlned to you tho inoment
you enter my house. More I Bhall not
tell you. You nro nt liberty to return
home." '
"it concerns the bank?" Thb volco
had something human In It nW; a
note of affection.
Arthur Wadsworth loved tho bank
as a man loves his sweetheart, but
moro explicitly, as a miser loves tho
hoard hidden In tho stocking, y
"It concerns tho bank?" ho repeat
ed, torn by doubt. j
Georgo Bhrugged. "Let us bip go
ing." "Will It be neccsary to call lnj the
police;"
"No."
"I suppose, then," said Wadsworth
bitterly, wondering, too, over tho
strange animosity pf this young Wn
bo did riot know "I supposo I must
do Just a3 you say?"
"Absolutely." Georgo'a teeth camo
together with a click.
Tho four of them passed out ot the
houso, each singularly wrought with
agitation. Fortuno walked nhend with
Georgo. Neither spoke. They could
hear tho occasional protest from tho
banker Into Mortimer's .ear; but Mor
timer did not opon his lips. They
camo to tho houso, and then George
whispered his final instructions to
Wadsworth. Tho latter, when he un
derstood what was taking place, be
came wild with rngo and terror; and
It was only because Georgo threatened
to warn tho conspirators that ho sub
sided. "And," went on George, "If you do
not obey, you can get out of It tho
best you know how. Now, BUenco,
absoluto Bilenco."
He pressed back the grille gate,
and the others tiptoed after him.
Ryanne tipped the third bottle deli
cately. Not a drop was wasted. How
tho golden beads swarmed up to tho
brim, to break Into ttle essences of
perfumo! And this- was good wine;
twelve years In tho bottle.
"It's like somo dream; eh?"
Wallace smacked his lips loudly.
"Wallace," chlded Ryanne, "you al
ways drink like a salior. You don't
swallow champagne; you sip It, like
this."
Major Callahan swayed his glass
back and forth under his nose. "Smella
like a vineyard after a rain."
"There's poetry for you!" laughed
the butlor.
Mrs. Chedsoye seemed absorbed In
other things. She wns trying to dis
cover what it was that gave this su
premo moment so flat a taste. It was
always so; it was tho chase, the goal
was nothing. It wns tho excitement ot
going toward, not arriving nt, tho des
tination. Was alio, who considered
herself so perfect, a freak after nil,
shallow llko a hlll-strenm and da aim
less in her endeavors? Had she pos
sessed a re.il enthusiasm for any
thing? She looked back along a tho
twisted avenue of years. Had any
thing really stirred her profoundly?
From tho bags of gold her glanco
strayed up and over to Ryanne. Lovo?
Lovo a man bo weak that he could
not let be tho bottle? Sho had a hor
ror of drunkenness, tho Inane giggles,
tho attending nausea; she had been
through it all. Had sho loved him, or
was It becauso ho loved her child?
Even this she could not toll.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Danger to Aviators.
It Is difficult to determine tho cauBS
of most aeroplane accidents, but dur
ing the investigation which followed
tho fatal accident to Lloutenant So
vollo recently In Franco an Important
discovery Is said to havo been mado
by eye-witnesses. Thla was that tho
wing ot his Hlerlot broko dowuwnrd
instead ot upward, Indicating that
thoro was an extremo downward press
ure as tho operator started to vol
plane. Experiments lately mado In
Franco aro said to havo confirmed thla,
nnd It Is now believed to bo necessary
to guy tho wings na substantially
nbovo as below.
His Mistake.
"A BcIentUt snld not long ago that
music would mnko a cow give moro
milk, but It won't work. I bought a
phonograph and tried It"
"The scientist did not say a phono
graph, he said music."
4
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