, " "ARETHL W
d ILLUSTflffnOMJW
J9O7 ay f. M/ltl/Oft
SYNOPSIS.
Daraka. a Tartar girl , became ntiumorr-d
of n golden bearded Htrauger svho was
prospecting and HttulylnK herbs In the
vicinity oC her home In i-i'titiul Axlii , ninl
rnvealod to him the locution ot ( i inln'1
of rubles hoping tliut the stranger would
love her In return for her disclosure.
They svoro followed to tlui cavu by tin *
gUTs relatives , who blocked up tin1 en
trance , and dunv off. the water supply ,
loavlng the. couple to die. Ilaraka's cousin
SMIII ] , hiT betrothed , attempted to climb
down a cliff overlooking the mine ; but
Iho traveler nhot him. Tlio stranger WHS
revived from a water gourd Suad car-
rlotl , din ? his way out of th < < tunnel , and
departed. deserting the girl and currying
a bug ot rubles , linnikii gathered all the
gems she could carry , ami Htnited In pur-
* ult. Alargarot Donne ( Margarita tin
4UT Oordovn ) , u famous prlnm donna , became
engaged In London to Konstantln l.o-
gothotl. a wealthy Greek llnanctcr. Her
Intlmato friend was Countess Leveii.
known us Lady Maud , whoso husband
had been killed by a bomb In St. 1'c.te.rs-
burg ; and I.ady Maud's most Intimate
friend was Uufus Van Torp. un Ameri
can , who had become one of the richest
men In the world. Van Torp was in love
with Margaret , and rushed t/ London as
Moon as IIP heard of her betrothal. I In
offered Iudv Maud $ r , OiK > .rtX ) for her pot
charity if she would aid him In winning
the singer from l.ogothetl. Itarnkn approached
preached J.ogothetl nt Vomillk'H with
rubles to bell , lit ) presented a ruby to
Margaret. Van Torp bought u yacht and
Kent It to Venice. lie. wns visited by
Uarfika in male nttlre. She gave him a
ruby after the American had told her of
having seen In the United States a man
answering the description of the ono she
loved. The American followed Margaret
to the Uayreuth "Parsifal" festival. Margaret -
garot took n liking to Van Torp. who pre
sented her with the ruby rjimikii had
siven him. Count Krnllnsky. a Hui.oiiin.
arrived at Uayreuth. Van Torp believed
him to bo the ono liarnku was pursuing.
Ilaraka was arrested In London on the
charge of stealing from 1'lnney , a Jew-
t'lcr. the ruby she had sold to T.ogothetl.
Two strangers ss-eie. the thieves. Lady
Maud believed that Logotheti's associa
tions with Uaraka were open to suspi
cion , and so Informed Margaret. Van
Torp believed that Krnllnsky was the
con hey he had known In his young inun-
lioocl. l.ogothetl secured Ilaraka's release -
lease , and then , with her as his guest ,
went to sea on his yacht Kiluna. JJaraka.
explains her plans for revenge on the
man who had deserted her and left her
to die. Logothctl succeeds In moderating
her rage.
CHAPTER X. Continued.
. S "But this woman's dressing is very
I . . J * ' ( liillcult to learn , " Baraka wont on ,
leaning back upon the rail with both
rt elbows , anil sticking out her little
white shoes close together. "Without
the girl Maggy whom you have found
amusing. She punctuated her expla
nations with small gestures indicative
of her Ignorance and helplessness.
"You will soon grow used to it , " he
.said. "Hut you must get some pretty
things lu Paris before you go to meet
the man. it would also bo bettor to
let your hair gross- long before mooting
him , for it is hard to wear the hats of
the Fcrlnghi ladies without hair. "
"I cannot wait so long UB that. Only
to got pretty dresses , only so long ! I
svill spend a thousand pounds or two
is that enough' . ' I have much money
in Paris ; I can give much. "
"Von can get a good many things
for a thousand pounds , even in I'aris , "
Logolheti answered.
Uaraka laughed.
"It will not bo what 1 paid for the
first clothes after 1 ran away , " she
said , "t did not know then what the
stones were worth ! A little ruby to
one woman for a shilt and an over-
tunic , a little ruby to another for a
pair of shoos , a little ruby for a veil
and a head-blanket , all little rubies !
For each thing one ! I did not know ;
the women did not know. Hut at
Samarkand 1 sold one for money to a
good Persian merchant , and what he
gave me was enough for the journey ,
for me and the old woman servant 1
hired there , till we got to Tillls ; lor
the Persian merchants everywhere
gave me letters from one to another ,
and their wives took me In , or I should
have been robbed. That is how I
reached Stamboul after many , many
months , more than a year. The Per
sian merchants arc good men. All
fear them , because they arc wise in
their dealings , but they are honest ,
men. They do not lie , hut they are
silent and shako their heads , and you
must guess what they mean ; and if
you do not guess right , that is your
fault , not theirs. Why should they
speak when they can hold their peace ?
But this is all emptiness ! We must
talk of the line dresses 1 must buy in
Paris , and of what I must put on my
head. The barbers Jn Paris soli wigs.
1 have seen thorn in the windows , very
svell made , of all colors , oven of the
"What Has Happened ? " She Cried. "Are You III , Dear ? "
for me but her real name is Ciula ,
and she Is a good Mussulman svlthout
her , Allah knows what I should do !
I could not put on these things for
myself ; alone , 1 cannot take them off.
When I was like a man , buttons !
Two , three , four , twenty what did It
matter ? All the same way and soon
done ! But nosv , I cannot tell what I
am made of. Allah knows and sees
what I am made of. Hooks , eyes ,
strings , little bits one way , llttlo bits
i he other way , like the rigging of
ships those Turkish ships svith many
small sails that go up the Bosphorus ,
you remember ? And it is all behind ,
as if ono had no front ! Gula knosvs
hosv it is done. But If I were alone ,
without her help , Allah Is my witness ,
I would tie the things all round mo
dectntly and sit very still for fear
they should come off ! That Is sshnt I
should do ! "
The Greek thought her extremely
Khcnna color. I shall wear a svig , so
that the beautiful Foringhl hat will
stay on. 1 shall perhaps wear a Klien-
na-colored svig. "
"I should not advise a wig , " said
Logolheti gravely , "certainly not ono
of that dye. "
"You know , and you are a friend.
When I fool rested wo will go to
Paris , and you shall take mo to all
the richest shops and tell thorn in
French what I want. Will you ? "
"I shall do all I can to help you , "
answered the Greek , wondering what
would happen If his friends met him
piloting a lovely barbarian about be
tween the smartest linen draper's and
the most fashionable dressmaker's es
tablishment In the Hue do la Palx.
The two dined on dock , with shaded
lights , but screened from the draught
of the ship's way. The evening was
cool , and the little maid had dressed
P-araka in a way that much disturbed
her , for her taper arms svoro bare to
the olbosvs , and the pretty llttlo readymade -
made French dross svas open at her
Ivory neck , and the skirt fitted so
closely that she almost fancied herself
In man's clothes again. But on hoi-
head she svould only wear a large veil ,
confined by a bit of gold cord , and
she drew one fold under her chin ,
and threw it over the opposite shoul
der , to bo quite > e'Ovorenl ; and she was
glad when she felt cold , and could
wrap herself In the svldo traveling
cloak they had bought her , and yet
not seem to dej anything contrary to
the customs of a real , Feringhl lady ,
CHAPTER XI.
Maud found Mr. Van Torp
waiting for li-.r at the Hnyrouth sta
tion.
"You don't mean to say you've
come right through ? " lie Inquired ,
looking at her svith admiration as he
grasped her hand. "You're as fresh
as paint ! "
"That's rather a dangerous thing to
say to a woman nosvadttys , " she an-
ssvcrcd in her rippling voice. "Hut
mine won't come off. Hosv Is Marga
ret ? "
Her tone changed as she asked the
question.
"Sho showed me your letter about
Logo , " answered her friend without
heeding the question , and watching
her face to see if she were surprised.
She got into the carriage he had
brought , and he stood by the door
waiting for the porter , who was get
ting her luggage. Site had no maid
svith her.
"I'm glad you have told , inn , " she
answered , "though I wish she had
not. You probably think that when I
wrote that letter 1 remembered what
you said to mo in London about glv
Hig IMP money for my poor svomen. "
"No , " said Van Torp thoughtfully ,
"I don't believe 1 do think so. It was
like me to mnko the offer , Maud. It
was like the sort of man I've been ,
and you've knosvn mo. But it wouldn't
have been like you to accept it. It
wasn't exactly losv-dosvn of mo to say
what 1 did , but it's so precious like
losv-dosvn that I wouldn't sny It again ,
and I suppose I'm sorry. That's all. "
His rough hand was on the side of
the little open carriage. She touched
It lightly with her gloved finger ! ; and
withdrew them instantly , for the porter
ter was coming with her not very
voluminous luggage.
"Thank you , " she said quickly. "I
understood , and 1 understand nosv. "
They drove slosvly up the Bahnhof-
strasso. through the dull little town ,
that looks so thoroughly conscious of
its ancient respectability as having
once been the "residoirof a duke of
'Wurtomburg , and of its vast impor
tance as the headquarters of llic.hard
Wagner's representatives on earth.
"See hero , " said Mr. Van Torp.
"I've almost persuaded thorn all to
run dosvn to Venice , and I want to
know why you won't come too ? "
"Venice ? " Lady Maud was surprised.
"It's as hot as Tophet nosv , and full of
mosquitoes. Why in the world do
you want lo take thorn there ? "
"Well , " answered the American ,
taking plenty of time over the mono
syllable , "I didn't exactly mean to
stay there more than a fosv minutea.
I've bought a pretty nice yacht since
1 saw you , and she's there , eating her
head off , and I thought you might all
come along svith me on her and go
home that svuy. or somesvhoro , and
what I want you to decide right away
is svhether you'll come , provided they
will for I don't suppose you and I
< ould go mooning around in the yacht
by ourselves. "
"And 1 don't suppose , " returned
Lady Maud , mimicking him ever so
little , "that if 'they' decide not to
come , you svill have time for a long
cruise. "
"Nosv that's not fair , " objected the
American. "I didn't intend to put It
in that ssay. Anyliosv , ssill you come
if they do ? That's the point. "
"Koally ; it depends a little on who
'they' are. Do you mean only Marga
ret and that nice old friend of her
Mrs. Patmore , Isn't she ? 1 never met
her. "
"lUishmoro , " said Van Torp , correct
ing her. "Then there's the Russian
Count Krullnsky. Ever hear that
name ? "
"Never. It sounds Polish. "
"Ho might be anything. Sometimes
I'm absolutely sure ho's a man I used
to know out west when I was on the
ranch , and then again there's some
thing quite different about him. Some
thing about his logs or his eyes , I
can't toll which. I don't quite make
him out. "
They reached the hotel , and Van
Torp went off promptly , leaving Mar
garet to take l ady Maud upstairs
and Introduce her to Mrs. Rushmoro.
An hour later the two young wom
en were together In Margaret's room ,
while Potts was unpacking for Lady
Maud in the ono that had boon secured -
cured for her In spite of all sorts of
diUlcultlcs.
The prima donna wns sitting at her
toilet table , turned away from the
glass , and Lady Maud occupied the
only possible chair there was , a small ,
losv easy chair , apparently much too
small for such a tall woman , but loss
uncomfortable than It looked.
"Are you going on Mr. Van Torp's
yacht ? " asked Lady Maud suddenly.
"He spoke to mo about It on the way
from the station , and asked mo to
come , in case you nccopt. "
"I don't knosv. Will you go If I do ?
That might make n difference. "
Lady Maud did not anssver at once.
She wished that she knosv hosv mat
ters hud gone betsvoon Margaret and
Van Torp during the last fosv days ,
for she sincerely wished to help him.
nosv that she had made up her mind
as to Logothetl's mil character.
Nevertheless , her love of fair play
made he-r fool that the Greek ought
to be allosved a chance' of retrieving
himself.
"Yes. " she sale' ' at last , "I'll go , on
ono condition. At least. It's not a
condition , my dear ; It's only a sug
gestion , though 1 hate to make ono.
Don't think mo too awfully che'oky ,
svlll you ? "
Margaret shook her head , but looked
very grave.
"I fool as If I svore getting Into a
bad scrnpo , " she said , "and I shall bo
only too glad e > f any good advice. Tell
mo what I had hotter do. "
" 1 must toll you something clso first
as a continuation of my le-ttcr , for all
se > rts of ihings happened after I svroto
It. "
She told Margaret all that has boon
already narrated , concerning the nosvs
thai Baraka had boon set at largo on
Logothotl's sworn statement , that the
ruby svas not his , and that ho had
soon It in her possession In Paris ;
and she told hosv she had tried to find
him at his lodgings , and had fulled ,
and hosv strangely the leather-faced
secretary's nnssvcrs had struck her ,
and hosv slit- had soon Ilaraka's gloves
and stick in 1/ogotlioti's hall ; and
finally she said she had taken it into
her head that Logothoti had spirited
away the Tartar girl on his yacht ,
which , as every ono in tosvn had
ktiosvn through the papers , svas at
Cosves and In commission. For Logo-
I hell , In his evidence , had explained
his absence from the police court by
the fact that ho had been off in the
Erltina for two tjuys , out of reach of
news. \
Margaret's face gross- darker as she
listened , for she knew Lady Maud too
well to doubt but. that every word was
more than scrupulously true ; and the
deduction svas at least a probable one.
She bit her lip as she felt her anger
rising again.
"What do you advise mo to do ? "
vsho asked , in a sullen tone.
"Tc'logruph to Logo and prepay an
answer of 'JO words. Telegraph to his
rooms iu St. .lames' place and at. the
same time to his house In Paris. Tele
graph anything you like that really
needs an immediate reply. That's
Iho Important thing. If he does not
anssver within 21 hours say 30 at the
most he is either on his yacht or
Excuse the ugly svord , dear
I don't think of any other. If you arc
afraid of the servants , I'll take the
message to the tclc > graph olllco am
scud it for you. I suppose you have ,
some way of signing which the clerks
don't recognise If you sign at all. "
Margaret loaned back in her chaii
Iu silence. After a fosv seconds she
turned tosvards 11ns glass , rested hoi
chin on her folded knuckles , and
see-mod to bo consulting her osvn re
llexion. It is u way some womei :
have. Lady .Maud glanced at her
from time to lime , but said nothing
At last the prlmu donna rose svith n
ssvoep that upset the light chair behind
hind her , one of these magnificent
ssvoops that look so well on the stage
and arc a little- too largo for a room
She got her blotter and pen from a
shell' , brought it back to ( lie toilet
table , picked up the chair In a very
quiet and sensible svny , as if she had
never been on the stage ; in her life ,
and sat dosvn to write.
"I shall take your advices dear , " she
said , opening the blotter and placing
a largo sheet of paper in the right po
sition.
Lady Maud rose and went to the
wlndosv. where she stood looking out
while Margaret svroto her message.
"You needn't write It out twice , "
she said , without turning round. " .lust
pill 'duplicate message' and both ad
dresses. "
"Ye > s. Thank you. "
Margaret was already writing. Her
message r.aid it. was absolutely neces
sary that she should see Logothoti
directly , and bade him answer at
once , if he could come to Uayreuth ;
If Important financial affairs hindered
him , she herself svould return im
mediately ro Paris to see him.
She svas care'ul to write "financial"
affairs , for she svould not admit that
any other consideration could delay
his. obedience ) . While she wan busy
she hoard , but scarcely noticed , an
unearthly hoot from a big motor car
that svas passing before the hotel.
Thorn must have boon something In
the ; way , for the tiling hooted again
almost at once * , and then several
tlnu'fl in quick succession , as If a gi
gantic brazen ass werei beginning to
bray just under the wlndosv. Thr
noises ended in a sort of wild , tri
umphant howl , with a furious pulling ,
and the motor took itself off , just as
Margaret finished.
She looked up and saw Laeiy Maud
half bout , as If she had boon struck ;
she svas clinging with ono hand to the
lllmsy chlnt/ curtain , and her face
svas as white as a shoot. Margaret
started In surprise , and rose to hoi-
foot so suddenly that she upset the
chair again.
"What has happened ? " she cried.
"Are you 111 , dear ? "
The delicate color cnmo slosvly back
to the smooth cheeks , the thorough
bred figure In black drew Itself up
svith elastic dignity , and the hand let
go of the curtain.
"I felt a little faint. " I idy Maud an-
"uvorod. "Did 1 frighten you ? U wns big fair board , 1 suppose ? Yes , thank
milling , and It's quite gone , I assure you , "
you.
you."You
"You looked dreadfully HI for a mo
ment. " Margaret said In a tone of
concern. "Won't you lot mo send for
something ? Ton ? Or something
cod ? I'm sure you have had nothing
lo eat or drink for hours ! Hosv din-
gracefully thoughtless of mo ! "
She svas just going to ring , but her
friend stopped her.
"No please ! " she cried. "I'm all
right , indeed I am. The room Is a llt
tlo warm , 1 think , and I've been shut
up in that stuffy train for HO hours ,
llnvo you written your telegram ? I'll
put on my hat at once , and take It for
you. The- little walk will do me good.
Where Is the telegraph ? But they can
toll me dosvnstalrs. Don't bolhor !
Walking alsvays brings mo round , no
matter what has happened ! "
She spoke nervously. In disjointed
phrases , In a way not like herself , for
there was generally an air of easy
calm In all she did , as If nothing
ronlly mattered In the least , save
svhen tdio svas deeply Interested ; and
hardly anything Interested her nosv
except what she had made her work.
In nil that belonged to that , she svas
onorge'tic , direct and quick.
Margaret svas sure that something
was1 wrong , but lot her go , since she
insisted , and Lady Maud folded the
written message and went to the door.
Just as she svas going to turn the
handle Margaret spoke to her.
"If I have no anssver to that by
to-morrow afternoon 1 shall accept
Mr. Van Torp's invitation. "
"I hope you svlll go , " Uuly Maud
said with sudden decision , "for if you
do , I can go with you , and I'm dying
to see tlie new yacht ! "
Margaret looked at her In surprise ,
for It was only a llttlo svhllo since she
had seemed much less ready to join
the party , and only willing to do so , if
at all , In order to please her friend.
She saw Margaret's expression.
"Yes , " she said , as if In explanation ,
"I've been thinking It over in the last
fosv minutes , and I want very much
She wont out Into the dull street ,
svith its monotonous houses , all two
stories high , and she soon found the
telegraph olllco and sent Margaret's
duplicate message. She had not
glanced at It , but the clerk asked her
questions about words that wore not
quite clearly written , and she was
obliged to read It through. It occurred
to her that It svas couched la extreme
ly peremptory terms , even for an of
fended brldo-elect ; but that SVIIH uoue
of her business.
She resumed her walk , not knowing
whither and not caring , alsvays at the
same oven pace , and hardly noticing
the people who passed her , of whom a
goocl many wore In tsvo-horse cabs ,
some In queer Httlo Gorman motors ,
and a fosv on foot ; and she thought ,
and wondered , and tried to under
stand , but could not. At all events ,
she was glad to bo alone ; she was
glad not to have oven Van Torp with
her , and she was quite Indifferent to
the fact that time was punning , and
that Margaret svas beginning to svon-
dor where In the world she svas.
"My dour child , " Mrs. Rushmore
said , svhon the prlnm donna expressed
her surprise , "those English people
are all alike , when they are once out
cm a road by themselves. They must
take a long walk. They never knosv
svhon to stop walking. 1 cannot un
derstand what they can see In It. Per
haps you svlll kindly touch the boll ,
my dear , and I will send the tea away.
It can bo brought fresh for her when
she cornea. Thank you , Margaret.
But she will not come in till it is just
time to dress for dinner. Mark my
words , my child , the countess will be.
late for dinner. All English people
are. Have you heard from Mo us. l.o-
gothotl to-day ? "
"Not to-day , " Margaret answered ,
repressing a llttlo start , for she was
as near to holing nervous as she over
was , and she was thinking of him Just
then , and the question hud come sud
denly. V
TIP *
Sent Margaret's Duplicate Message.
to go ss'ith you all. 1 shall bo back in
loss than un hour. "
"An hour ? "
"Say half an hour. I want a good
walk. "
Straight and tall in her mourning ,
Lady Maud went down the stairs of
the hotel. As she was going out the
hall porter raised his cap , and she
stopped a moment and asked him
which was the nearest way to the
telegraph olllce. lie stood on the
doorstep and pointed in the direction
she was to follow as he answered her
question.
"Can you toll me , " she asked ,
"whoso motor car it was that passed
about ton minutes ago , and made so
much noise ? "
"Count Krallnsky's , my lady , " the
porter answered ; for ho spoke good
English , and had the true hotel per
ter's respect for the British aristoc
racy abroad.
"lie was the gentleman with the
"I think It Is time you heard from
him , " said Mrs. Uushmore. her natur
al severity assorting Itself. "I should
think that after those very strange
stories In the papers he svould wrlto
to you and explain , or come himself.
By the by , perhaps you svlll kindly
pass mo the Herald , my dear. What
did you once tell me was the name ot
his yacht ? "
"Tho Erlnna , " Margaret answered ,
handing Mrs. Hushmoro the sheet.
the"I ! I think that moans the
'Fury. ' "
"Ho told me It was the name of a
Greek poetess , " Margaret observed ,
( TO UK rONTINUKI )
Peculiar Family Reunion.
There is a man In New York , a
brilliant writer , who , tsvlco divorced ,
Is now living happily with his third
wife. Ixist year ho gave a dinner to
his three wives , and ho said It way
really a delishtful reunion.
