'AUTHOR Of 'iMACJJHES&l" "ARETHU&C'WM
& .WEIL *
SYNOPSIS.
Baraka , a Tartar girl , became enamored
of a golden bearded stranger who WUH
prospecting and studying herbs In the
vicinity of her home In central Asia , nml
revealed to blin the location of a inliu1
of rubles hoping that the stranger would
love hur In return for her disclosure.
They wcio followed to the cave by the
girl's relatives , who blocked m the en-
trnncp. nnd drew oft the water supply ,
leaving the rouple to tile. liiiruku'H cousin
Haad , her betrothed , attempted to climb
down a cliff overlooking the mlno ; but
the traveler shot him. The stranger was
revived fioin a water gourd Sand cur
ried , dug bin way out of the tunnel , nnd
departed , deserting the girl and carrying
a bagof rublc8. Haraka gathered nil the
Kerns 8ho could curry , and started In pur-
null. Margaret Uonno ( Margarita da
Cordovu ) , a famous prlma donnu , became
engaged In Ixinilon to Konstnntln Lo-
Kothfjtl , a. wealthy Greek llnanclor. Her
tnUnmtc friend waa Countess I.eveai.
known ns l < ; uly Maud , whoso husband
had been killed by a bomb In St. Peters
burg ; and I uly Maud's most Intlmato
friend was Hufus Van Torp. an Ameri
can , who had become ono of the richest
men In the world. Van Torp waa In love
with Margaret , and rushed to London as
soon as ho heard of her betrothal. Ho
ottered Lady Maud $0.000,000 for her pet
charity 1C she would aid him In winning
the singer from Ixjgothett. IJarnka approached
preached LoBotheti at Versailles with
rubles to cell. Ifo presented ti ruby to
Margaret. Van Toip bought a yacht and
sent It to Venice lie was visited by
Karakn In mule ultlre. She gave him a
ruby after the American had told her of
having seen In the United States a man
answering tbo denc-rlptlon of the ono she
loved. The American followed Margaret
to the Hayreuth "Parsifal" festival. Mar
garet look a liking to Van Totp , who pre
sented her with the ruby Haraka had
given him. Count Kralinsky. a lUis.slun ,
arrived nt Kai rutith. Van Torp believed
him to bo the one ItnrnUu was pursuing ,
lia nka was arrested In London on the
charge of .stealing from Pinney , a jew
eler , thft inby she had sold to Logothotl.
Two strangers worn the thieves. Iady
Maud licllavoil that Logothett's associa
tions with UnruKu were open to suspl-
olon , and so Informed Margaret. Van
Torp believed that KrallnMiy was the
cowboy ho had known in his young man
hood.
CHAPTER XIII Continued.
"I should have thought you were
more used to riding , " said the Ameri
can.
can."Ah
"Ah , yes ! " The indifferent answer
ramo in a peculiarly oily tone ,
though the pronunciation was perfect.
"I was in the cavalry before I began
to travel. J3 t I walked over 2,000
miles in Central Asia , and was none
the worse for it. "
i >
"It's a Grand Ruby , " He Said.
Margaret was sure that she was
not going to like him , as she moved
on with him by her side ; and Van
Torp , walking with Mrs. Uushmore ,
waa quite certain that ho was Lev !
I onglegs , who had herded cattle
with him for six mouths very long
ago.
CHAPTER IX.
Logothoti reached his lodgings in
St. James' place at six o'clock in the
evening of the day on which lie had
promised to dine with Van Torp , nnd
the lattor's note of excuse was given
to him at once , lie read it , looked
out of the window , glanced at it again ,
and threw It into the wastpapor
basket without another thought. Ho
did not care In the least about din-
lug with the American millionaire. In
. * tact , he had looked forward to it rath
er ai > v- bore than a pluusuro. Ho saw
on his table , with his letters , a flat
and almost square parcel , which the
addressed label told him contained
the Archaeological " lleport of the
Egyptian Exploration Fund , and ho j
hud heard that the new number would
contain an account of a papyrus re
cently discovered at Oxyrrhynchtts , on
which some new fragments of Pin
dar had boon found. No dinner that
could bo devised , and no company
that could be asked to meet him at
it , could bo half as delightful as that
to the man who so deeply loved tTio
ancient literature of his country , and
ho made up his mind at once that ho
would not even take the trouble to go
to a club , but would have a bird and
a salad in his rooms.
Unhappily for Ills peace and his an
ticipated feast of poetry , he looked
through his letters to see If there
were one from Margaret , and there
was only a colored postcard from Bay-
reuth , with the word "greetings"
scrawled beside the address , in her
large hand. Next to the card , however -
over , there was a thick letter ad
dressed in a commercial writing ho
remembered but could not at once
Identify ; and though It was apparent
ly n business communication , and
could therefore have waited till the
next morning , when his secretary
would come as usual , he opened it out
of mere curiosity to know whence It
came.
It was from Mr. Pinney , the jewel
er , and it contained a full and con
scientious account of the whole affair
of the theft , from the moment when
Logotheti and Van Torp had gene out
together until Mr. Pinney had locked
up the stone in his safe again , and
Baraka and Spire had been lodged In
Brlxton jail. The envelope contained
also a cutting from the newspaper
similar to the one Margaret had re
ceived from Lady Maud.
Logotheti laid the letter on the
table and looked at his watch. It
was now a quarter-past six , and old
fashioned shops like Pinney's close
rather early in the dull season , when
few customers are to be expected and
the days are not so long as they have
been , lu the latter part of August ,
iu London , the sun sets soon after
seven o'clock , and Logotheti realized
that ho had no time to lose.
As ho drove quickly up towards
Bond street , he ran ever the circum
stances in his mind , and came to the
conclusion that Haraka had probably
been the victim of a trick , though he
did not exclude- the hare possibility
that she might ho guilty.
IIo found Mr. Plunoy In the act of
turning the discs of the safe before
going homo and leaving his shopi.ian
to ahut up the place. Ho smiled vith
grave satisfaction when Logothoti en
tered.
"I was hoping to sco you , sir , " ho
said. "I presume that you had my let
ter ? I wrote out the account with
great care , ns you may imagine , but I
shall bo happy to go ever the story
with you It thorp is any point that is
not rl > ar "
Ixgothctl did not wish to hear It ; '
ho wished to sou the ruby. Mr. Pin-
ney turned the discs again to their
places , stuck the little key Into the
secret keyhole which thou revealed
Itself , turned It three limes to the left
and live times to the right , aud opened
the heavy iron door. The safe was an
old-fashioucd ono that had belonged
§ o his father before him. Ho got out
the japaniu'd tin box. opened that ,
and produced the stonr. still In Its
paper , for it was too thick to be put
into one of Mr. Plnuoy's favorite pill
boxes.
Logothoti undid the paper , took out
the big uncut ruby , laid it In the palm
of his hand , and looked at It critically ,
turning It ever with ono linger from
time to time. Ho took It to the door
of the shop , whom the evening light
was stronger , and examined It with
tho. greatest care. Still he did not
seem satlsflod. .
"Lot me have your lone , Mr. Pin
ney , " ho said , "and some electric light
and a sheet of whlto papor. "
Mr. Pinney turned up a strong drop
light that .stood on the counter , and
produced the'paper nnd a magnlller.
"It's a grand ruby , " he said.
"I see It Is , " Logotheti answered
rather curtly.
"Do you mean to say , " asked the
surprised Jeweler , "that you had
bought It without thoroughly examin
ing It sir you who are an expert ? "
"No , that's not what 1 mean , " an
swered the Greek , bonding over the
ruby and scrutinizing it through the
strong magnifier.
Mr. Pinney felt himself snubbed ,
which had not happened to him for a
long time , and he drew himself up
with dignity. A minute passed , and
Logotholl did not look up ; another
and Mr. Pinney grew nervous ; a few
seconds more , and lie received a shock
that took away his breath.
"Tliis is not my ruby , " said Logo
thoti , looking up , and speaking with
perfect confidence.
"Not your ruby ! " Mr. Pinney's.
jaw dropped. "But " He could get
no further.
"I'm sorry , " Logotheti said calmly.
"I'm very sorry , for several reasons.
But It's not the stone I brought you ,
though it's just as large , and most ex
traordinarily like it. "
"But how do you Know , sir ? " gasped
the jeweler.
"Ueeause I'm an expert , as you.
, vere good enough to say just now. " '
"Yes , sir. But I am an expert , too ,
and to the host of my export belief
this ia the stone you loft with me to
he cut the day before yesterday. I've i
xamlned it most thoroughly. "
"No doubt , " answered the Greek.
"But you hadn't examined mine thor
oughly before it was stolen , had you ?
You had only looked at it with me , on
the counter here. "
"That is correct , sir , " said Mr. Pin
ney nervously. "That Is quite true. "
"Very well. But I did more than' '
merely look at it through a lens or
weigh it. I did not care so much
about the weight , but I cared very
much for the water , and I tried the
ruby point on it in the usual way , but
it was too hard , and I hen I scratched
It In two places with the diamond ,
more out of curiosity than for any
other reason. "
You marked it , sir ? There's not a
single scratch on this one ! Merciful
Providence ! Merciful Providence ! "
Yes , " Logotheti said gravely. "The
girl spoke the truth. She had two
stones much larger than the rest when
she first came to me in Paris , this one
and another. They were almost ex
actly alike , and she wanted mo to
buy both , but I did not want them ,
and I took the one I thought a little
better in oolor. This is the other , for
she still had it ; aud , so far as I know ,
It is her legal property , and mine is
gono. The thief was one of those
two young follows who came In just
when Mr. Van Torp and 1 wont out. I
remember thinking what nice-locking
boys they wcro ! "
IIo laughed rather harshly , for ho
was more annoyed than his considera
tion for Mr. Pinney made him care to
show. IIo Irad looked forward to giv
ing Margaret the ruby , mounted just
as she wanted It ; and the ruby wan
gouo. and ho did not know where lie
was to find another , except the one
that was now in Pinney's hands , but
really belonged to poor Baraka , who
could certainly not soil it at present.
A much larger sum of money was
gone , too , than any financier could
lese with equanimity by such a pe
culiarly disagreeable mishap as be
ing robbed. There wore several rea
sons why Logothoti was not pleased.
"I am deeply humiliated , " said the
worthy old Jeweler. "I have not only
been tricked aud plundered , but I
have boon the means of sending inno
cent people to prison. "
"You had boiler be the moans of
getting them out again ns soon as pos
sible , " said Logothcti. "And you
must also make an olfort to trace
those young men who stole the ruby. "
"I most certainly shall , " replied the
jeweler , "and if it is not found wo
w.V make it good to you , sir , what
ever price you set upon it. I am
deeply humiliated , but nobody shall
say that Pinney & Son do not make
good any loss their customers sustain
through them. "
"Don't worry about that , Mr. Pin
noy , " said Logothoti , who saw how
much distressed the old Jeweler really
was.
was.So
So they wont out and hailed a han
som and drove away. '
It would be tlrodonie to give a de
tolled ' account of what they did. Suf-
ll'co it to say that the prisoners were
sot at largo ; Mr. Pinney restored the
ruby to Barakn. and all her other be
longings were given back to her. even
including the smart gray suit of men's
( lollies In which she had been nr-
vested ; and her luggage and other
things which the manager of the hotel
whore she 'had boon stopping hud
handed over to the police were all re
turned ; and when Spire appeared nt
the hotel to pay the small bill that
had boon left owing , lie hold his head
an high as an oriental can when he
has got the bolter of any one , nnd
that i pretty high indeed. Further
more , Mr. Pinney insisted on giving
Logothoti n formal document by
which Messrs. Pinney & Son bound
themselves to make good to him , his
holrs , or assigns. the loss of n ruby ,
approximately of a certain weight and
quality , which he hnd lost through
their carelessness.
On the day following Dnruhu's lib
eration , Ijady Maud received Marga
ret's pressing message begging her to
go to Hayrouth. The mcsmige reached
her before noon , about the time when
Margaret nnd her companions had
como back from their morning walk ,
and after hesitating for half an hour ,
she telegraphed that she. would como
with plcusure.aud would start at once
which meant that evening.
She had just read the olllclal ac-
cnunt of the ruby case in its new as
pect , and she did not nuiicvo ti Avord
of the story. To her mind it was quite
clear that Logotheti van still infatu
ated with the girl , that lie had come
to London as fast as he could , and
Hint lie had deliberately sworn that
the ruby was not his , but another ono ,
In order to got her out of trouble. If
It was not his it had not been stolen
from Pinney's , and the whole case fell
through at onco. If she was declared
Innocent the stone must bo given back
to her ; lie would take it from her ns
soon as they wcro alone nnd return
it to his own pocket ; and being an
oriental , ho would probably boat her
for robbing him , but would not lot her
out of his sight again till ho was tired
of her. Lady Maud had hoard from
her late husband how all Turks believed
lieved that women had no souls and
should be kept under loci : and key
nnd well fed , and soundly beaten now
nnd then for the good of their tem
pers. This view was exaggerated , but
Lady . Maud was In a humor to recall
It and accept it without criticism , and
she made up her niiud that before
leaving town to join Margaret she
would , make sure of the facts. No
friend of liors should marry n man
capable of such outrageous deeds.
So she wont to Logothoti's lodgings
and asked to sec him , as regardless of
what any ono should think of her , If
she were recognized , ns she had been
in the old days when she used to go
to Van Torp's chambers in I ho Tem
ple in the evening.
She was told that Logotheti was
out of town. Where ? The servant
did not know that. The lady could
see the .secretary , who might , per
haps , tell her. Ho received every ono
who hnd business with .Mons. Logo-
tholi.
She went up one flight and was ad
mitted to a very airy sitting room ,
simply furnished.
The Swiss secretary rose ponder
ously to receive her , and as she did
not sit down ho remained standing.
His vast face was fringed with u beard
of no particular color , and his eyes
were fixed and blue in his head , like
turquoises .set in pale solo leather.
"I am Countess Loven , " she said ,
"and 1 have known Mous. Logothoti
some time. Will you kindly tell mo
where ho Is ? "
" 1 do not know , madam , " \\ns the
answer.
"lie Is not in London ? "
"At present I do not know , madam. "
"lias he loft no address ? Do you
not forward his letters fo him ? "
"No , madam. I do not forward bis
letters to him. "
"Then I suppose he Is on his yacht , "
suggested Lady Maud.
"Madam , I do not know whether ho
is on his yacht. "
"You don't scorn to know any
thing ! "
"Pardon mo , madam , I think I know
my business. That is all 1 know. "
Lady Maud hold her beautiful head
a little higher and her lids dropped
slightly as she looked down at him ,
for ho was shorter than she. But the
huge leathern face was perfectly Im
passive , and the still , turquolso eyes
surveyed her without winking. She
had never seen such stolidity in a
human being.
There was clearly nothing to bo
done , and she thought the secretary
distinctly rude ; but as that was no
reason why she .should bo , she bade
him good-morning civilly and turned
to go. Somewhat to her surprise , ho
followed her quickly across the room ,
opened the door for her and went
on into the little hall to let her out.
Tlioro was a small table tlioro , on
which lay some of Logothoti's hats ,
and several pairs of gloves were laid
out neatly before them. There was
ono pair , of n light gray , very much
smaller than all the rest , so small , In
deed , that they might have fitted a
boy of seven , except that they looked
too narrow for any hoy. They were
men's gloves as to length and buttons ,
but only a child could Imvo worn
them.
Lady Maud saw thorn instantly , and
remembered Unrnkn'o disguise ; and
as she passed the big umbrella jar
to go out , she saw that with two of
Logothotl'M sticks tlioro was a third ,
fully four Inches shorter ! just a plain
crook-handled slick with a silver ring.
That was enough. Baraka had cer
tainly been in the lodgings and had
probably loft In tliom every thing that
belonged to her disguise. The fact
that the gloves and thu stick were In
the hall looked very much ns If uhc
had como lu dressed as a man nnd
had loft them there when she had
gene away In woman's attlro. That
she was with Ixigotnetl , most prob
ably on hlu yacht , Lady Maud had not
the leant doubt , as she < went down the
stairs.
The Swiss secretary Blood at the
open door on the landing till she was
out of sight below , and then went
in again , and returned to work over
a heap of business papers and letters.
'When lie had worked half an hour , ho
leaned back in his leathern chair to
rest , and stared llxodly nt the book
case. Presently ho spoke aloud In
Englhih , ns if Lady Maud wcro still iu
the room , in the same dull , mattor-of-
fact tone , but more forcibly as to ex
pression.
After Five .Hours He Had Come Back.
"It is perfectly true , though you do
not believe mo , madam. 1 do not know
anything. Ilow the dickens should I
know where they arc , madam ? But
1 know my business. That Is all. "
CHAPTER X.
The Hriuna was steaming quietly
down the channel In a flat calm , at
llio lazy rate of 1- knots an hour , pre
sumably iu order to save her coal , for
she could run 1G when her owner
liked , and ho was not usually fond of
going slow. Though September was
at hand , and Guernsey was already on
the port quarter , the sea was motion
less and not HO much as a cat's paw
stirred the still blue water ; but the
steamer's own way made a pleasant
draught that fanned the faces of lx > go-
llictl and Baraka an they lay In their
long chairs under the double nwnlng
outside the deckhouse.
The Tartar girl were a skirt and
jacket of dark blue yachting serge ,
which did not lit badly considering
that tlioy had boon bought ready-made
by Logothoti's man. She had lltllo
whlto tennis shoes on her feet , which
were crossed ono over the other on
the deck chair , but instead of wear
ing a hat she had hound a dove-col
ored motor veil on her head by a single -
glo thick gold cord , in the Asiatic
way , and the thin folds hung down on
oacli sldo , and lay on her shoulders ,
shading her face , and the breeze
stirred them. Logotliotl's valet had
boon sent out in a taxlmajtor , pro
vided with a few measurements and
plenty of cash , and commissioned to
buy everything that a girl who had
nothing at all to wear , visible or in
visible , could possibly need. IIo was
also instructed to find a maid who
could speak Tartar , or at least a little
Turkish.
After five hours he had come back
with a heavy load of boxes of all
shapes and sizes aud the required
maid. You can find anything in a-
great city , if you know how to look
for It , and ho had discovered through
an agency a girl from Troblxonde who
had been caught at 12 years old by
missionaries , brought to England nnd
educated to go Into service ; she spoke
English very prettily , and hnd not alto
gether forgotten the lingua franca of
Asia.
The consequence of hur presence
was that Baraka was dressed with
great neatness nnd care , nnd looked
very presentable , though her clothes
were only roady-nmdo things , bought
by a man-servant , who had only her
height nnd the size of hur wnlflt to
guide him. Logothoti watched her
delicate , energetic profile , admiring
the curves of her closed lips , and thu
willful turning up of hur little
chin. She was more than very pretty
now , ho thought , and ho was quietly
amused at his own audacity in taking
her to sea alone with htm , almost on
thu eve of his marriage. It was espe
cially diverting to think of what the
proper people would say if they know
it , and to contrast the Intentions they
would certainly attribute to him with
the perfectly honorable ones lib enter
tained.
As for Baraka , It never occurred to
her that she was not as safe with him
as she had boon in her father's house
in the little while town far away ,
nearly three years ago ; and besides ,
her stool bodkin with the silver han
dle had boon given back to her , and
she could fool it in its place when she
pressed her loft hand to her sldo.
Logothcll has boon first of all pre
occupied about getting Baraka out of
England without attracting attention ,
and then for her comfort and recov
ery from the strain and suffering of
the last few days. As for that , she
was like a healthy young animal , and
as soon as nho had a chance she had
fallen so sound asleep that she had
not waked for 12 hours. Logothoti's
Intent was to take her to Paris by a
roundabout way , and establish her
under some proper sort of protection.
Maigaret was still In Germany , but
would soon return to Franco , and ho
had almost made up his mind to ask
her advice , not dreaming that in such
a case she could really deem anything
ho did an unpardonable offence. Ho
had always laughed at the convention'
alltles of European life , and had paid
very little heed to them when they
stood in his way.
( TO UK rONTINURIX )
Wit Often an Affliction.
Wit is an nflllctlon unless used with
discretion and good sense. The habit
of being invariably amusing will bring
yon Into great disfavor. The sharp-
tongucd woman who will have her little -
tlo laugh at the expense of her neigh
bors usually pays dearly for her fun.
It Is as much an art to ho quiet and
self-possessed ns to bo vivacious aud
entertaining , and the woman who can
adjust hur moods to the occasion Is
the ono who finds herself usually the
most popular member of her com
munity.