COPYKJGJ-IT J9O7 BY
SYNOPSIS.
BanUtn. a T.irtar Bill , became enamored
f a golden bearded strnnt'er who was
UrospectlnK nnd studying herbs In tnu
vicinity ot her homo In cuntnil Asia , and
revealed to Win the location of 5 tnlno
nl rubles hopltiK that the stranger would
Jove her in return for her dlsotosuro.
They wre followed to the cnvo by the
Blrl's relutlvcs , who blocked up the en
trance , nnd drew off the water supply ,
leaving the couple to die. Bar&U.x'n cousin
Saad. her betrothed , attenited | to climb
clown a cliff overlooklnK the mine : but
the travc-ler shot him. The HtratiRor wus
rovlved from a water gourd S.iud car
ried , dtif : his way out of the tunnel , and
departed , de-sortnn the lrl and oarrylnB
* bag of rubles. li.iruKn Katherod all the
gems oho could carry , and started In pur
suit. Margaret Donno ( Margarita da
Cordova ) , a , famous prlina donna , became
engaged In London to Konstuntln l.o-
. potholl. \\eulthy Greek llnaneler. Her
intlmato friend \MIS Countess I.o\en.
'known as Lady Maud , whoso husband
l\nd been Killed by a bomb In St. Peters
burg ; and Lruly Claud's most lutlmato
friend was Hufus Van Toip. an Ameri
can , who had become ono of the richest
men In the world. Van Torp was Jn love
with Margaret , and rushed to London as
noon as ho heard of her betrothal. Ho
offered Lady Maud $3.000.000 for ho ; pet
charity If she would aid him In winning
the alngor from Logothetl. Bnraka approached
preached Logothotl at Versailles with
rubles to Belt. Ho present " ! a ruby to
Margaret. Van Torp boughTa yacht and
oent It to Venice. Ho was visited by
Baraka In male attire. She gave him a
rubv after the American hnd told her of
having scon In the United States a man
answering the description of the ono she
loved. The American foll' ed Margaret
to the Bayreuth "Parsifal" festival. Mar
garet took a liking to Van Toip , who pre
sented her with the ruby Baraka had
jjlven him.
CHAPTER V. Continued.
"I never heard such nn amusing sot
C stories as you are tolling ma to
day , " she said.
"That particular ono Is Logothotl's , "
ho answered , "and ho can probably
tell you much more about the girl. "
"Is she really very pretty ? " Marga
ret asked.
"Well , " said Van Torp , quoting n
saying of his favorite great man , "for
"No , no ! " Mr , Van Torp was actu
ally blushing. "I mdan his form or
her form "
"Oh , her figure ? You merely guessed
It was a girl In boy's clothes ? "
"Certainly. Yes. Only , you see , ho
had a kind of fit the boy did and 1
thought ho was going to faint , BO I
picked him up and carried him to a
sofa , and well , you understand , Miss
Donno. I know 1 hadn't got a hey In
my arms , ( hat's all. "
" [ should think so ! " assonied the
Englishwoman. "I'm sure I should !
When you found out nho was a girl ,
how did she Btrlke you ? " *
"Very attractive , I should say ; very
attractive , " he repeated with moro
emphaslH. "People who admlro bru
nettes might think her aulto fascinat
ing. She has really extraordinary
eyes , to begin with , those long fruity
eastern eyes , you know , that can look
so far to the right and left through
their eyelashes. Do you know what
I moa.n ? "
"Perfectly. You make it very
clear. Go on , please. "
"Her eyes yes. " Mr. Van Torp appeared -
peared , to bo thinking again. "Well ,
there was her complexion , too. It's
flrst-rato for a dark girl. Ever been
In a first-class dairy ? Do you know
the color of Aldernoy cream when it's
ready to be skimmed ? Her complex-
Ion's just like that , nnd when she's
angry , It's as if you squeezed the juice
of about one red currant into the
whole pan of cream. Not more than
one , I should think. See what I
mean ? "
"Yes. She must bo awfully pretty.
Tell me more. His she nice hair ?
Even teeth ? "
"I should think she had ! " an
swered Mr. Van Torp , with even moro
enthusiasm than ho had shown yet.
"Send Mr. Van Torp's Man Up , Potts. "
people who Hko that kind of thing ,
I should think that would bo the kind
of thing they'd like. "
The prlina donna smiled.
I "Can you describe her ? " she asked.
"Did you ever read a fairy story
about a mouse that could turn Into a
tiger when it liked ? " Inquired the
American in a tone of profound medi
tation , as If ho were contemplating a
vision which Margaret could not see.
"No , " said she. "I never did. "
"I don't think I ever did , either. But
there might bo a fairy story about
that , mightn't there ? " Margaret
nodded , with an expression of dis
pleased interest , and ho went on :
"Well , it describes Miss Barrack to
n T. YQS , that's what I call her.
She's put 'Barak' on her business card ,
whatever that means in a Christian
language ; but when I found out It was
a girl , I christened her Miss Barrack.
People have to have names of some
kind If you're going to talk about
them. But that's a digression. Par
don mo. You'd like a description of
the young person. I'm just thinking. "
"How did you find out she was a
girl ? " Margaret afekcd , and her tone
was su-ldenly hard.
"It was a question of form , you
BOO , " he said awkwardly.
"Form ? Formality ? 1 don't nr.der-
taud. " Margai qt was really puzzled.
"They're as small and oven and white
as If somebody had gone to work and
carved them all around half a now
billiard ball , not separate , you under
stand , but all In ono piece. Very pret
ty mouth they make , with those rather
broiled-salmon-colored lips she has ,
and a'little chin that points up , as If
she could hold her own. She can , too.
Her hair ? Well , you see , she's cut It
short , to bo a boy , but It's as thick
as a beaver's fur , I should say , and
pretty black. It's a silky kind of
hair , that looks allvo. You know
what I mean , I daresay. Some bru
nettes' hair looks coarse and dusky ,
like horsehair , but hers isn't that kind ,
and It makes a sort of reflection In the
sun , the way a young raven's wing-
feathers do , If you understand. "
"You're describing a raving beauty ,
It seems to me. "
"Oh , no , " said the American Inno
cently. "Now if our friend Griggs ,
the novelist were here , he'd find all
the right words and things , but I can
only tell you just what I saw. "
"You toll It uncommonly well ! "
Margaret's face expressed anything
but pleasure. "Is fcho tall ? "
"It's hard to tell , In men's clothes.
Three Inches shorter than 1 am , may-
ba. I'm a mid.Uo-slzod man , I sup
pose. 1 used to be five foot ton in my
shoes. She may bo five feet seven , .
not more. "
"But that's tall for a woman. "
"Is It ? " Mr. Van Torp's tone ex
pressed an Innocent Indifference.
"Yes. Has she nice hands ? "
"I didn't notlco her hands. Oh , yes ,
I remember ! " ho exclaimed , suddenly
correcting himself. "I did notlco
them. She held up that ruby to the
light and I happened to look at her
fingers. Small , well-shaped fingers ,
tapering nicely , but with a sort of
firm look about them that you don't
often sco In a woman's hands. You've
got it , too. "
"Have I ? " Margaret looked down nt
her right hand. "But , of course , hers
arc smaller than mine , " she said.
"Well , you see , orientals almost all
have very small hands and feet too
small , I call them little tiny fcot llko
mice. "
Margaret's own wore well-shaped ,
but by no means small.
"Tho girl is In London , you say ? "
Her tone made a question of the state
ment.
"Sho was there two days ago , when
I left. At least , she had been to sec
me that very morning. Almost as
soon as she wns gone I went out , and
in the first shop I looueil Into I met
Logotheti. It was Plnney's , the Jew
eler's , I remember , for I bought a col
lar stud. Wo came away together
and walked some time , nnd ho told
mo the Tartar girl's story. I asked
him to dlno to-day , but I was obliged
to leave town suddenly , and so I had
to put him off with a note. I dare
say he's still in London. "
"I daresay ho is , " Margaret re
peated , and rising suddenly she went
to the window.
Mr. Van Torp rose too , nnd thought
of what ho should say In taking his
leave of her , for he felt that ho had
stayed long enough.
The prlma donna was ntill looking
out of the window when the door
opened and her English maid ap
peared on the threshold. Margaret
turned at the sound.
"What is it ? " she asked quietly.
"There's Mr. Van Torp's man ,
ma'am , " answered Potts. "Ho wants
to speak to his master at once. "
"You had better tell him to come
up , " Margaret answered. "You may
just as well sec him here without goIng -
Ing all the way downstairs , " she said ,
speaking to Van Torp.
"You're very kind , I'm sure , " ho re
plied ; "but I think I'd better be goIng -
Ing , anyway. "
"No , don't go yet , please ! There's
something else I want to say. See
your man hero while I go and speak
to Mrs. Rushmore. Send Mr. Van
Torp's man up , Potts , " she added , and
left the room.
The American walked up and down
alone for n few moments. Then the
Impassive Stomp was ushered in by
the maid , and the door was shut
again.
"Well ? " inquired Mr. Van Torp.
"Has anything happened ? "
"Yes , sir , " Stemp answered. "They
have turned us out of the house , sir ,
and your luggage is in the street.
Where shall I have It taken , sir ? "
"Oh , they've turned us out , have
they ? Why ? "
"Well , sir , I'm afraid It's partly my
fault , but there must bo seine nils-
understanding , for I'm quite sure I
didn't whistle in your room , sir. "
"So am I , Stemp. Quito so. Go on.
What happened ? "
"Well , sir , you hadn't boon gone
moro than ten minutes when some
body knocked , and there was the land
lord , If that's what ho calls himself ,
and a strange Gorman gentleman with
him , who spoke English. Rather shab
by-looking , sir , I thought him. Ho
spoke most uncivilly , and said I was
driving him half crazy with my whis
tling. I said I hadn't whistled , and he
said I had , nnd the landlord talked
German at me , as it wore sir. I said
again I hadn't whistled , and ho said
I had , the shabby gentleman , I mean ,
speaking most uncivilly , sir , I assure
you. So when I saw that they doubted
my word , I put them out and fastened
the door , thinking this was what you
would have ordered , sir , If you'd been
there yourself , but I'm afraid I did
wronst. "
"No , Stomp. You didn't do wrong. "
"Thank you , sir. "
"I suppose , though , that when you
put them out they dh''t exactly
want to go , did they ? "
"No , sir , but I had no trouble with
them. "
"Any heads broken ? "
"No , sir , I was careful of that I
sent the landlord downstairs first , as
ho was a fat man and not likely to
hurt himself , nnd the shabby gentle
man went down on top of him quite
comfortably , so ho did not hurt him
self either. I was very careful , sir ,
being in a foreign country. "
"What happened next ? They didn't
come upstairs again and throw you
out , I suppose. "
"No , sir. They went nnd got two
of these German policemen with
swords , and broke Into the room , and
told mo wo must move at onco. I
didn't llko to resist the police , sir. It's
sometimes serious. The German gen
tleman wanted them to arrest me , so
I offered to pay any fine there was
for having been hasty , nnd wo Bottled
for two sovereigns , which I thought
dear , sir , and I'd have gene to the
police station rather than pay It , only
I know you'd need my services in this
heathen town , sir. I'm highly relieved
to know that you approve of that , sir.
Hut they said wo must turn out direct
ly , just the same , BO I re-jmckod your
things and got a porter , nnd he's
standing over the luggage In the
street , waiting for orders. "
"Stemp , " ' said Mr. Van Torp , "I'd
been whistling myself , before you
cumo In , and the lunatic in the next
room had already been fussing about
It. It's my fault. "
"Yes , nlr. Thank you , sir. "
"And It will bo my fault If wo have
to sleep In a cab. to-night , "
The door opened while ho vraa
speaking , nnd Margaret heard the last
words an she entered the room.
"I'm Rorry , " she said , "I thought you
had finished. I could not help hear
ing what you said about sleeping In
a cab. That's nonsense , you know. "
"Well. " said Mr. Van Torp , "they've
just turned mi out of the ono room wo
had because I whistled 'Parsifal' out
of tune. "
"You didn't whistle it out of tune , "
Margaret answered , to Stomp's great
but well-concealed astonishment. " 1
know bettor. Please have your things
brought hero at onco. "
"Hero ? " repeated Mr. Van Torp ,
surprised In his turn.
"Yes , " she answered , In u tone that
forestalled contradiction. "If nothing
else can bo had you shall have this
room. 'l can do without It"
"You're klndncns itself , but I
couldn't do that , " said Mr. Van Torp.
"Bring our things to this hotel , any
way , Stomp , and we'll sco what hap
pens. "
"Yes , sir. "
Stemp disappeared at once , nnd his
master turned to Margaret again.
"Nothing will Induce mo to put you
to such Inconvenience , " ho said , nnd
his tone was quite us decided as hers
had been.
She smiled.
"Nothing will induce mo to let a
friend o [ mine bo driven from pillar
to post for a lodging while I have
plenty of roomvto spare ! "
"You're very , Very kind , but "
"But the mouse may turn Into a
tiger if you contradict It" she said
with u light laugh that thrilled him
with delight. " 1 remember your de
scription of the Tartar girl ! "
"Well , then , I suppose the hyena
will have to turn into a small woolly
lamb it- you toll him to , " answered
1\Ti > MVirn
"Yes , " laughed Margarot. "Bo n
small , woolly lamb at once , plcaso , a
very small ono ! "
"Knee-high to a kitten ; certainly , "
replied the millionaire submissively.
"Very well. I'll take you with mete
to hear 'Parsifal * to-morrow , If you
obey. I've just asked Mrs. Rushmore
if it makes any difference to her , and
she has confessed that she would
rather not go again , for It tires her
dreadfully and gives her a headache.
You shall have her seat. What Is It ?
Don't you want to go with mo ? "
Mr. Van Torp's face had hardened
till It looked like a mask , ho stared
firmly nt the wall , and his lips were
set tightly together. Margaret gazed
at him in surprise while ho spoke
have counted ten. Then ho spoke
slowly , with evident effort , and In an
odd voice.
"Excuse mo , Miss Donno , " ho said ,
snapping his words out "I'm so grate
ful that I can't speak , that's all. It'll
bo all right in a second.
A hugo emotion had got hold of
him. She saw the red flush rise sud
denly above his collar , and then sink
back before It reached his cheeks ,
and all at once ho was very pale. But
not a muscle of his face moved , not a
line was drawn ; only his sandy eye
lashes quivered a little. Ills hands
were thrust deep Into the pockets of
his jacket , but the fingers were mo
tionless.
Margaret remembered how ho had
told her moro than once that she was
the only woman the world held for
him , and she had thought It wns non
sense , rather vulgarly and clumsily
expressed by a man who was not
much better than an animal where
women were concerned.
It flashed upon her nt last that what
he had said was literally true , that
she had misjudged an extraordinary
man altogether , as many people did ,
and that she was indeed the only
woman In the whole world who could
master and domlnato ono. whom many
feared and hated , and whpm r.ho had
herself once detested beyond words.
While these thoughts were disturb
ing her a little , Mr. Van Torp recov
ered himself ; his features rolaxed.'hls
hands came out of liln pockets , and
ho slowlv tnrnnd towards hnr.
"I hope you don't think mo rude , "
ho said awkwardly. "I feel things a
good deal sometimes , though people
mightn't believe it. "
They were still standing near to
gether , and not far from the door
through which Margaret had entered.
"It's never rude to bo grateful , oven
for umall things , " she answered
gently.
Her handsome head was a little
bent , and her eyes were turned to the
floor as she passed him going to the
door.
"I'm going to see the manager of
the hotel , " she said. "I'll bo back di
rectly. "
"No , no ! PlcaBo let mo "
But she was gene , the door was
shut again , and Mr. Van Torp was left
to his own very happy reflections for
a while.
Not for long , however. IIo was still
standing before the table staring at
the corn flowers and popples without
consciously seeing thrm when he was
aware of the Imposing presence of
Mrs. Huahmoro , who had entorcd soft
ly during hln reverie ana wus almost
i at his elbow
\V > J
"This IB Mr. Van Torp , I prcoumo , "
rho on Id gravely , inclining her head.
"I am Mrs. Hushmore. You have per
haps heard Miss Donno speak of mo. "
"I'm very pleased to moot you , Mra.
Hushmoro , " said the American , bowIng -
Ing low. "I've often heard Miss
Donuo speak of you with the greatest
gratitude and affection. "
"That's nice , " Mrs. Rushmore answered -
swored with gravity , and as she es
tablished herself on the nofa she In
dicated a chair not far from hor.
It was only proper that Margaret
should always opcak of her with af
fection and gratitude. Mr. Van Torp
sat down on the chair to which she
had directed rather than Invited him ;
and ho prepared to ho bored to the
full extent of the bearable.
" 1 had the pleasure of knowing Mr.
Rushmorc , " ho said In the proper
tone of mournfully retrospective ad
miration. "IIo was sincerely lamented
by all our business men. "
"IIo was , " assented the widow , as
Bho would have said amen In church ,
In the right place , nnd with much the
same solemn intonation.
There was a moment's pauno , dur
ing which the millionaire was trying
to think of something else she might
llko to hear , for she was Margaret's
friend , and ho wished to maka a good
impression. IIo wns therefore not pre
pared to hear her speak again before
ho did , nnd much Icsn for the subject
of conversation oho iutioduced at
onco.
"You know 'our friend , Mons. Logo-
thctl , I believe ? " she Inquired sud
denly.
"Why , certainly , " answered Van
Torp , brightening at once at the men
tion of his rival , and at once also
putting on his moral armor of cau
tion. "I know him quite well. "
"Indeed ? Have you known many
Greeks , may I ask ? "
" 1'vo met ono or two in business
HuBhraoro , " ho answered wisely.
"That Is true , " answered the lady , '
"but I should llko your opinion , as
ono of our most prominent mon of ,
business as onp who , If I may say BOI
lias of Into triumphantly established
Ills claim to respect. " Mr. Van Torp
bowed nnd waved hla hand In ac
knowledgment of this high pralso. "I
should llko your opinion about this
cr thin Greek gentleman whom my
young friend Insists upon marrying. " '
"Really , Mrs. Rushmore "
"Because If I thought there was tin *
happiness In store for her 1 would
save her , If I had to marry the man
myself ! "
Mr. Van Torp wondered how two
would accomplish such a font.
"Indeed ? " ho said very gravely.
"I mean It , " answered Mrs. Rush *
more.
There was a moment's silence , dur
ing which Mr. Van Torp revolved
something In his always active brain ,
while Mra. Rushmore looked at him
as If she expected that ho would
doubt her determination to drag Lo-
gothotl to the matrimonial altar and
marry him by sheer strength , raUior
than let Margaret he his unhappy
brldo. But Mr. Van Torp oald n mo-i
thing quite different.
"May I speak quite frankly , though' '
wo hardly know each other ? " ho
asked.
"Wo are both Americans , " answered
the good lady , with a grand national
air. "I should not cxpoct anything
but perfect frankness of you. "
"Tho truth Is , Mrs. Rushmore , that
over slnco I had the pleasure ot
knowing Miss Donne , I have wanted ,
to marry her myself. "
"You ! " cried the lady , surprised be
yond measure , but greatly pleased.
"Yen , " said Mr. Van Torp quietly ,
"and therefore , In my position , I
can't glvo you nn unbiased opinion
about Mr. L < ogotlietl. I really can't"
Margaret Gazed at Him in Surprise While She Might Have Counted
Ten.
Mrs. Rushmore , but I can't say I've
known any as well as Mr. Logotheti. "
"You may think it strange that I
should ask you about him at our first
meeting , " said the good lady , "but
I'm an American , and I cannot help
feeling that a fellow-countryman's
opinion of a foreigner is very valu
able. You are , I understand , an old
friend of Miss Donne's , though I have
not had the pleasure of meeting you
before , and you have probably heard
that she has made up her mind to
marry Mons. Logotheti. I am bound
to confess , as her dear mother's old
est friend , that I am very apprehen
sive of the consequences. I have the
gravest apprehensions , Mr. Van Torp. "
"Have you , really ? " asked the mil
lionaire , with caution , but sympa
thetically. ' "I wonder why ! "
"A Greek ! " said Mrs. Rushmore ,
Badly. "Think of a Crook ! "
Mr. Van Torp , who was not without
a Konsu oi humor , was Inclined to answer -
swor that , In tact , ho was thinking of
a Greek at that very moment. But
ho abstained.
"There are Greeks and Grcoks.'Mrs ,
"Well , " said Mrs. Rushmore , "I cm
surprised ! "
While she was still surprised Mr.
Van Torp tried to make some run
ning , and asked an important ques
tion.
"May I ask whether , as Miss
Donne's oldest friend , you would look
favorably on my proposal , ruppoalns
she were free ? "
Before Mrs. Rushmore could an
swer , the door opened suddenly , and
she could only answer by an onorgetta
nod and a look which meant that Bho.
wished Mr. Van Torp success with all
her excellent heart.
"It's quite settled ! " Margaret cried
as she entered. "I've brought the di
rector to his nenscs , and you are to
have the rooms they wore keeping for
a Russian prince who has not turned
up ! "
( TO UK CONTINUED. )
turn Obstacles to Stepping Stones.
The block of granite which was nn
obstacle In ( ho pathway of the weak ,
becomes a stopping stone In the path
way of the strong. 'fleams Carjylo.
