SYNOPSIS. t
Barnkn. Tartar girl , became enamored
of a golden boarded stranger who was
prospecting nntl studying herbs In the
vicinity of her homo In central Asia , and
revealed to him the locution of a mum
of rtiblai hoping that the stranger would
love her In return for her disclosure.
They were followed to the cave by the
Klrl's relatives , who blo'ekcd up the en
trance , and drew off the water supply ,
l avlnc the coupln to die. IJaraka'n cuiiHln
Saad. her betrothed , attempted to climb
down a cliff overlooking the mine ; but
the traveler shot him. The slrangor was
revived from n water Kourd Hand car
ried , dug his way out of the tunnel , and
departed , deserting the girl and carrying
A bag of rubied. Darnka Riithercd all the
wettis she rould carry , and started In pur
suit. Margaret Donno ( Margarita du
Cordova ) , a famous prlma donna , becatmi
niagod In Ixindon to Konstantln Iio-
Kothcll , a wealthy Greek flnancler. Her
intimate friend was Countess Lioven ,
known ns Lady Maud , whoso husband
had been killed by a bomb In St. Peters
burg ; and I < ndy Maud's most tntlmata
friend was Itufus Van Torp. an Ameri
can , who hail luxionia ono of the richest
men In the world. Van Torp was In love
with MnrKarct , and rushed to London as
noon no hn luanl of bur betrothal. II"
offered I < ady Maud $5,000.000 for her pet
charity If Klin would Hid him In winning
the singer from Logothotl. llaraka approached
preached Logotholl at Vorsullles with
rubles to sell. IIo presented a ruby to
Margaret. Vim Torp bought a yacht and
nent it to Venice1. IIo was visited by
Haraka In mnlo attire. She gave him a
ruby after the American had told her of
having seen in the United States a man
. inswurlng the description of the ono Hho
loved. The American followed Margaret
to the Buyrciith "Parsifal" fuatlvul. Mar
garet took u liking to Van Torp , who pre
sented her wltli the ruby Baraka had
given him. Count. Krallnsky. a Itusslan ,
arrived at Huyrcuth. Van Torp belloved
.him to bo the ono Uaraka wan pursuing.
Huriilui was arrested In London on the
charge of stealing from Plnnuy , a jew-
fler , the ruby she hud sold to Logothotl.
Two strangers were the thieves. I ady
Maud believed that I ogothutl'u associa
tions with Haraka were open to suspi
cion , and so Informed Margaret. Van
Torp believed that Krallnalcy was the
cowboy he had known In bis yonng inurt-
hootl. Logothctt secured Uaraka's ro-
lense , and then , with her as his guest ,
went to sea on his yacht Krlnna. Baruku
fxplalns her plans for revenge on the
man who had deserted her and left her
to die. Logothutl succeeds In moderating
h r rage. Lady Maud arrived In liay-
r/jth.
CHAPTER XI. Continued.
"On account of her temper , I sup-1
pose , " answered the good ludy ab
sently , for eho was looking up and
down the columns in search of some
thing she had already seen. "Hero
it is ! " she said. "It is under the
yachting news. 'Cape Flnistorre.
Passed at1 p. m. , going south , steam
yacht Erinna , with owner and party
on board. All well.1 My dear child , it
is quite clear that if tills IB Mous. Lo-
gothetl'a yacht , he is going to Gib
raltar. "
"I don't kqow anything about geog
raphy , " Margaret said , and her wrath ,
which had been smouldering sullenly
for days , began to glow again.
"Margaret , " said Mrs. Rtishmoro ,
"you surprise me ! You were very
well taught "
But the priuia donna did not hear
the long tirade of mild reproof that
followed. Slue know well enough
where Gibraltar was , and that Logo-
theti was going all the way round to
the Mediterranean on his yacht with
gome one for company , and that the
voyage was a long one. After what
Lady Maud had said , there was not
the least doubt in her mind as to his
companion , who could be no ono but 11
IJaraka. Ho had been told that ho
was uotswanted at Bayreuth , and ho
was celebrating the sunset of his 31
bachelor life in his own way. That t1
was clear. If ho received the tele
gram that had just been sent to him.
ho would get it at Gibraltar , should
he stop there , and as for answering it
before Margaret left Bayrcuth , she
was inclined to make such a thing im
possible by going away the next mornIng -
Ing , if not that very night.
Her angry rellections and Mrs.
Rushmore'fl lecture on the importance
of geography in education were inter
rupted by the discreet entrance of Mr.
Van Torp , who was announced and
ushered to the door by Justine In a
grand French manner. On the thres
hold , however , ho stood still and asked
If he might come in ; being pressed to
do so , ho yielded , advanced , and sat
down between the two ladies.
"Mr. Van Torp , " said Mrs. Rushmore -
more , "I Insist upon knowing what
has become of Countess Leveu. "
"I don't know , Mrs. Uushmore , " an
swered the millionaire , slowly rubbing
his hands. "I haven't spoken to her
slnco I .brought her from the station.
I dare say she's all right. She's prob /1
ably gene to take a walk. She often
does in the country , I know her ni
ther's country seat is next to mine ,
Mrs. Ruslunorc. I hope you'll pay
mo a visit some day. Why , yes , Lady
Maud sometimes goes off alone and
walks miles and miles. "
"There , Margaret , " said Mrs. Rushmore -
more triumphantly , "what did I tell
you ? Mr. Van Torp says the countess
often walks for miles and miles. "
"Why , certainly , " said Mr. Van
' Torp , "though I'm bound to say she's
juat as fond of horseback. He.- friends
generally call her Lady Mufti , Mrs. '
Kuslimoro. Perhaps you won't mind
my telling you , as she prefers it ida
good deal herself. You BOO , I'vo had
the pleasure of knowing her several
years , so I daresay you'll forglvo mo
for mentioning It. "
"I think It Is quite kind of you , on
the contrary , " answered Mrs. Rush-
her
raore , "Margaret , why did you never
tell mo of this ? Hud you any reason
for not tolling me ? "
"I don't think I noticed what you
called her , " Margaret answered pa
citl
tiently.
"Because if you had any reason , "
said Mrs. Rushmore , following her
own thoughts , " 1 insist upon knowing
what it was. "
"Well , now , I'll tell you , " rejoined
Mr. Van Torp , to save Margaret the
trouble of answering the futllo little
speech , "her husband didn't treat her
very well. There's not a purer wom
an in the six continents , Mrs. Rushmore -
more , but he tried to divorce her , be
cause he'd lost his money , if hu over
had any , and she had none , and ho
wanted to marry an heiress. How
ever , they uutomoblized him , or some
thing , In St. Petersburg last June. "
"Auto what did you say ? " inquired
Mrs. Ruahmoro.
"Killed by an automobile , " ex
plained Mr. Van Torp gravely. "But
now I come to think , it wasn't that.
He got blown up by n bomb meant for
a bettor man. It was qulto instantan
eous , 1 recollect. Ills head disap
peared suddenly , and the greater part
of him was scattered around , but
they found his pocket-book with his
cards and things. HO they knew who
it was. It was driven through some
body elso's hat on the other sldo of
j.ho street , wasn't It , Miss Donne ?
Things must have been quite lively
just then , where it happened. I sup
posed you know. "
Mrs. Rushmore explained that she
had never heard any details.
"Besides , " said Mr. Van Torp , in an
swer , though not quite relevantly ,
"everybody always calls her 'Lady
Maud' Instead of 'Countess Ixjven , '
which she has on her cards. "
"She would naturally use the higher
title , " observed Mrs. Rushmore rev
erently.
"Well , now , about that , " objected
Mr. Van Torp , "I'm bound to say I
think the daughter of an English earl
as good as a Russian count , anywhere
west of Siberia. I don't know how
they i llgure those things out at courts
when they have to balance 'em up for
scats lit a dinner party , of course.
It's just my impression , that's all , as
n business man. He's dead , anyway ,
and ono needn't make personal re
marks about dead men. All the same ,
it Avas a happy release for Lady Maud ,
and I doubt if she sits up all night
mourning for him. Have you been
out this afternoon , Miss Donne ? "
He changed the subject with ex
treme directness , and Mrs. Rushmore ,
who wati used to the dictatorial ways
of lions , took the hint submissively
enough , though she would have been
glad to discuss the relative and in
trinsic values oC the designations
"Lady Maud" and "Countess Leven. "
But it was much more important that
the lion should be left alone with
Margaret as much as possible , and the
excellent lady therefore remembered
that she had something to do and loft
them.
"I had a little talk with Kralinsky
before he left , " said Van Torp. when
she was gone. "IIo says he'll meet
us in Venice any tlmo in the next few
days. He's just going to run over to
Vienna in his
sudden-death-cart fol ;
| 21 hours ; then he'll go south , he says.
Ho ran me up to the hotel and
dropped me. 1 dare say you heard
the toots. 1 thought I saw Lady Maud
looking out of the window of your
room as I got out. "
"Yes , " Margaret said. "Hut how do
you know that Is my window ? "
"In the first place , I've counted the
windows. I felt a sort of interest in
knowing which was yours. And then ,
I often see your maid opening the
shutters in the morning. "
"Oh ! " Margaret smiled. "Did you
notice anything unusual about Lady
Maud when you saw her ? " she asked ,
for she knew that ho had good eyes.
"Slnco you mention it , 1 thought shu
looked as if she didn't feel quite up to
the mark pale , I thought she was. "
"Yes , " Margaret said. ' She felt
ill for n moment , and I thought she
was going to faint. Hut it passed al
most directly , and she insisted on go
ing for a walk. "
"Oh , " mused Mr. Van Torp , "is that
so ? Well , I dare .say It was the best
thing she could do. I was telling you
about Kralinsky. Ho's not Lovl Longlegs -
legs after all , and I'm not nuro he was
ever in the west. "
"I thought It sounded unlikely , "
Margaret said.
"I asked him , just like that , in a
friendly way , and ho thought a mo
ment and made an effort to recollect ,
and then ho seemed quite pleased to
remember that I'd been 'Fanny' and
he'd been 'Lovl Longlcgs , ' and that ho
used to whistle things out of 'Parsifal'
by the fire of an evening. "
"Well but In that case " Marga
ret stopped with an Inquiring look.
"Just so , " continued Van Torp , nod
DU"I . "Did you ever attend a trial
and hear a witness being cross-ex
amined by n lawyer who wants him to
remember something , and he wants to
remember it himself , but can't be
cause 1'c never heard of It before in
his lifeIt's quite funny. The law
yer makes steps for him and puts his
feet into them so that ho gets along
nicely , unless the Judge happens to
wake up and kick , and then the little
game stops right there , and somebody
laughs. Well , my talk with Kralinsky
was like that , only there was no
'
"I'm Not Sure He Was Ever in the West. "
judge , so ho went away happy ; and
we're old friends now , and punched
cows on the same ranch , and he's
coming on my yacht. I only wonder
why he was so anxious , to remember
all that , and why ho thought It would
bo kind of friendly if I called him
Lcvi Longlcgs again , and he called
mo Fanny Cook. 1 wonder ! IIo says
he's still very fond of 'Parsifal , ' and
came on purpose to hear It , but that
bo's completely forgotten how to whis
tle. That's funny , too. I just thought
I'd tell you , because if you como on
my yacht and ho comes , too , you're
liable to sec quite a good deal of one
another. "
"Did you tell him that Mrs. Rushmore -
more and 1 would come ? " Margaret
asked. "And Lady Maud ? "
'Why , no. You've not promised yet ,
my more limn you did last night
ivhon wo talked about It , so how
ould I ? I forgot to mention Lady
rfaud to him , or else I thought I
wouldn't I forget which. It doesn't
natter. "
"No. " Margaret smiled. "Not a lit-
le bit ! "
"You scorn amused , " observed Mr.
Van Torp.
"By your way of putting it and
your pretending to forget such a
.hing. "
"It wasn't quite true that I forgot ,
nit I wanted to , HO I didn't say. any'
ihing about her. That's why I put it
in that way. I don't choose to leave
you any doubt about what I say , or
mean , even in the smallest things.
The moment you feel the least doubt
ibout the perfect accuracy of any
thing 1 tell you , oven if it's not at nil
a downright lie or anything resom
bllng one. you won't trust mo at all ,
in anything. Because , if you trust
me , you'll end by liking mo , and if
you don't trust mo you'll go back to
thinking that I'm the Beast out of
Revelation , or something , as you
used to. "
"I've forgotten all about the Beast , '
Margaret said.
"Thank you , " answered Mr. Van
Torp. "To change the subject I've
got a little scheme to propose. Maybe -
bo you'll think well of it. Anyhow ,
as It's a more matter of business con
nected with your career , you won't
mind my explaining it to you , will
you ? "
"No , indeed ! " Margaret was Inter
ested at once. "Do toll me ! " she said ,
leaning forward a little.
"Well , " ho began , "I'vo looked
around this place a good deal since
I've been hero , and I've como to the
conclusion that It's not very well
done , anyhow , except 'Parsifal. ' That's
what most of the people really como
for. I'm informed that they give all
the other operas better in Munich ,
with the advantage of being in what
you may call a Christian town , com
pared with this. Is that correct , do
you think ? "
"Yes , I believe so. "
"It is , you can depend pen it. Now ,
what I want to know is , why you and
I shouldn't go into a little business
partnership , and do this kind of thing
brown , aa It ought to bo done. " Mar
garet opened her handsome eyes wide.
"Because , " continued Mr. Van Torp ,
aa coolly as if ho were explaining a
new plan to a board if directors ,
"we've got the capital and the ability
between ua , and there's u demand in
"The Company , Which Is You and I ,
Will Probably Rule "
Now York for what I propose to do.
It'll fill a want , I know , and that
means success and money. Why don't
wo build a theater together ? When I
say a theater , 1 mean a flrst-clasn
opera house and not a barn. We'll
employ the best architects to build it ,
and , of course , I'd leave everything
about it to you , I'vo got a block lu
New York just about in the right
place , and it won't take long to build.
I'll give the land and put up the
money for the building , if you'll un
dertake the management. You'll put
in any money you like , of course , and
we'll share the profile. Maybe they'll
bo quite handsome , for we'll lease the
theater to other pc'pplo outside of the
season. We'll have the best talent In
Europe , and pay for it , and the public
will pay us back. We'll call it the
Cordova Opera , if you like , and you'll
run it according to your own ideas ,
and sing or not , whenever you please. "
"Are you In earnest ? "
Margaret had some difficulty in pro
nounciug the words clearly. Was
there ever a great soprano who dl !
not dream of having the most perfect
theater of her very own , and who
could receive unmoved the offer to
build one from a man who could build
20 if he chose ? Very rarely In her
life had she boon aware of her bodily
heart , but she could feel It now , beat
Ing like a hammer on the anvil.
"I'm in earnest , " Van Torp nn
swercd with perfect calm. "l'v <
thought the whole thing over in all iti
aspects , just as I would a railroad , o
a canal , or a mine , and I've concluded
to try it , if you'll help mo , because It'
going to bo a safe investment , Yo
see , Miss Donne , " ho went on slowly
"there's no artist on the grand opcr
stage now who's so well equipped fo
the business as you are. I'm not flai
terlng you , cither. In your own kin
of parts you've simply got no rlvn
Everybody says BO , and I suppose yo
won't play kitty and deny it. lcV
start fair , now. "
"It would bo silly to deny that I'm
one of the first , " Margaret admitted.
"That'll do , thank you. Ono of the
first , and the first is one of them , and
you'sa It. Besides , you've got bofoio
M.METL *
tQPYfUGHT J907 BY
you wlml'H behind most of thorn.
You're young. I'm not talking about
your pcrnonul appearance , but that's
just ono more item In the assets. An
other big ono IB that you're n first-
cltiHB musician , whereas hnlt UIORO
Ringers can only bang the box like
great , thundering overgrown school
girls. Allow that ? "
"I suppoHO I immt 'allow' anything , "
laughed thu prlmn donna.
"Well , now , I've told you. You've
got the name I need , and you've got
thn voice , and the talent , and you'vo
got thu science and culture. I suppose
you'll lot me say that I'vo got the
business ability , won't you ? "
The Iron mouth mulled a little
grimly.
"Rather ! I fancy Home people have
wished you had less ! "
"And the money's here , for I always
have a blank cheque In my pocket. If
you like , I'll till it in , and we'll de
posit it wherever you say , in the
name of the 'Cordova Opera Company , '
or 'Mine , da Cordova , Rufua Van Torp
& Co. ' Wo can make out our little
agreement in duplicate right hero , on
the corner of the table , and sign it ;
and before wo leave hero you might
go around and speak to the best sing
ers about an engagement in Now York
for a Wagner festival , a year from
next Christmas. That's business , and
this is a purely business proposition.
If you'd llko to think It over , I'll go
and take a little walk before dinner. "
"It Hounds like a dronm ! " Margaret
niiHwercd , In a wondering tone ,
"Money's an awful reality , " Van
Tori ) remarked. "I'm talking busli
ness , and as I'm the one who's going
to put up most of the capital , you'll
do mo the credit to believe that I'm
quite wide awake. "
"Do you really , really , really mean
it ? " She tipoko nlmout llko a child.
It was not the first time in bin life
that the financier had seen the ntun-
nlng effect of a big num. projected
with nrcclHion. llko a uhell. at exactly
the right , moment. Ho was playing
the great game again , but for a pric.o
ho thought , worth more than any ho
had yet won , and the very magnitude
of thu risk steadied his naturally
steady brain.
"Yes , " ho. said quietly , "I do. Por-
ImpH I've startled you a little , and I
shouldn't , like you to make a decision
till you feel qullo ready to. I'll just
say again that I've thought the whole
thing out as a genuine venture , and
that I believe in It , or I wouldn't pro
pose it. Maybe you'vo got some sen
sible lawyer you have confidence in ,
and would like to consult him first. If
you feel that way , I'd rather you
should. A buslneHH partnership's not
a thing to go into with your eyes
shut , and if we had any reason for
distrusting one another , it would be
better to make Inquiries. But so far
a that goes/ appears to mo that
we've got the facts to go on , which
would make any partnership succeed.
You'vo certainly got thu musical
brains , besides u little money of your
own , and I've certainly got the rcHt of
the funds. I'd like you to put some
money In It , though , if you can spare It ,
bccniiHo that's a guarantee that you're
going to bo in earncHt , too , and do
your share in the musical side. You
sec I'm talking to you just as I would
o a man in the same position. Not
Dccauiju I doubt that if you put your
name to a piece of paper you really
tvill do your share as a partner , but
localise I'm used to working In that
sort of way in biiHinoHH. Hqw does
that strike you ? I hope you're not
> rrended ? "
"Offended ! "
There was ho mistaking the sup-
irebsed excitement and delight in her
voice. If he had possessed the Intel-
Igenco of MephlHtophclcH and the
charm of Faust ho could not have said
uiythlng more subtly pleasing to her
ilignity and her vanity.
"Of course , " ho Bald , "It needn't bo
a very large sum. Still It ought to bo
something that would make a differ
ence to you. "
She hesitated a moment , and then
spoke rather timidly.
"I think perhaps If wo did It-
could manage a hundred thousand
pounds , " she said. "Would that bo
too little , do you think ? "
The largo mouth twitched and then
smiled pleasantly.
"That's too much , " he said , shaking
his head. "You mustn't put all you
eggH in ono basket. A hundred thou
sand dollars would 1m qulto enougl
as your share of the capital , with op
tlon to buy stock of me at par , up tc
a million , or so , If it's a success. "
"Really ? Would that bo enough
And , please , what is 'Block * in auch t
case ? "
"Stock , " said the flunnciol , "is a lit
tic plant which , when well watered
will grow llko the mustard seed , til
all the blrdii of Wall street make thol
nesta in its branches. And if you don'
water it too much , it'll be all right. Ir
our case , the stock Is going to bo
that share of the business which most
people sell to raise money , and which
wo mean to keep for ourselves. I al
ways do it that way , when circum
stances allow. I once bought all the
slock of a railroad for nothing , for
Instance , and sold all the bonds , and
let it go bankrupt. Then I bought
the road ono day , and found all the
Block wan in my own pocket. That's
only a little illustration. But I gucsn
you can leave the financial side. In my
hands. You won't lose by it , I'm pret
ty nuro. "
"I fancy not ! " Margaret's oyca
were wide open , her hands were
clanpcd tightly on her knee , and Rho
waa leaning forward a little. "Bo-
sldcH , " Hho wont on , "It would not bo
the money thaLI should care about !
I can onrn more money than I want ,
and I have n little fortune of my own
the hundred thouunnd I offered you.
Oh , no ! It would be the aplondld
power to liuvo the niont beautiful
inunlo in the world given UR it cpuld
bo given nowhere olfle ! The Joy of
singing myself the parts I can nliii ;
in the most perfect surroundings !
An orchestra picked from the whole
world of orchestraa , the greatest liv
ing leaders , the moHt faultiest ) chorus !
And the scenery , and the costumon
everything as everything could be , If
it wore really , really the beat that
can bo had ! Do you bellevo it Is pos
sible to have all that ? " '
"Oh , yes , and with your imtuo to It ,
too. We'll have everything on earth
that money can buy to make a perfect
opera , nnd I'll guarantee it'll pay after
the first two scuHonB. That la , if you'll
work at It na hard at ) I will. But
you'vo got to work , Mlna Donno , you'vo
got to work , or It'a no use thinking of.
it. That's my opinion. "
"I'll work llko a Trojan ! " cried Mar-
gurot cntluialaHtlcally.
She hud enough experience in her-
aolf , and enough knowledge of the
conditions to believe that her own
hard work , combined with Van Torp'a
unlimited capital , could nnd certainly
would produce auch nn opera house ,
and bring to It auoh nrllBtR as had
never been Been nnd heard , except
perhaps in Bnyrouth , during its first
great days , now long past.
Then , too , ho had put the matter
before her so sklllfullythat nho could
look unon it honestly a a
partnership , In which her voice , her
judgment , and her experience would
boar no contemptible proportion to hla
money , and In which she hers-lf waste
to invest money of her own , thereby
sharing the rink according to her for
tune as well as giving the greater part
of the labor. She felt for some weak
place In the nchaino , groping OB it aho
were dazzled , but Bho could find none.
"I don't think I shall need tltno to
think this over * , " nlie said , controlling
her voice bettor , now that aho hud
made up her mind. "As I understand
It , I am to put in what I can in the
way of ready money , and I am to give
my tlmo in all ways , ait you need it ,
nnd my voice , wlion it lu wanted. In
that it ? "
"Except that , when you chooao to
sing , the company will allow you your
usual price for each "
appearance , an-
uwcred Van Torp in a buslneus-llko
manner. "You will pay yourself , or
wo both shall pay you , just an much
as wo would pay any other first-class
soprano , or na much moro as you
would got in London or New York if
you signed an engagement. "
"Is that fair ? " Margaret asked.
"Why , certainly. But the company ,
which is you and I , will probably
ulo that you mustn't alng In grand
jpcra anywhere In the states east of
.ho rockloa. They've got to como to
New York to hoar you. Naturally ,
fou'll bo free to do anything you like
n Europe outside of our season , when
on can spare the time. "
"Of course. "
"Well , now , I HiippoHo wo might as
ivoll note that down right away , aa a
irellmlnary agreement. What do you
say ? "
"I say that I simply cannot refuse
Biich an offer ! " Margaret answered.
"Your consent ia all that'n neces
sary , " ho said , in a matter-of-fact
tone.
tone.He
He produced from an Inner pocket
a folded sheet of foolscap , which ho
Hpread on the corner of the table be-
aide him. He took out a fountain pen
and began to write quickly. The terms
and forma were aa familiar to him aa
the alphabet and he lost no tlmo ; be
sides , as ho had told the prlma donna ,
ho had thought out the whole matter
before hand.
"What if Mrs. Rushmore comes In
Just as we arc signing it ? " aaked Mar
garet.
"We'll tell her , nnd ask her to wit
ness our signatures , " replied Van
Torp without looking up. "I Judge
Mrs. Rushmore to have quite a knowl
edge of bualneaa. "
"You seem able to wrlto and talk
at the same time , " Margaret said ,
amlllng.
"Bualnoaa talk , yes. " The pen ran
on swiftly. "There. That's about all ,
I should say. Do you think you can
read my writing ? 1 don't suppose
you'vo ever seen It. "
( TO 1JH CONTINUK1M
"Tea with Children. "
"Tea. " says the London Chronicle.
"In the garden is ono of the best-
established of our mid-Victorian Insti
tutions. Mr. E. V. Lucas who ia a
connoisseur of the caddy recalls in
hla essay , 'The DIvine Leaf , ' a story
of the late Arthur Cecil , who once encountered -
countered the following Inscription in
a garden at Kow : 'Tea , plain , Cd. ;
tea , with shrimps , 9d. ; tea , with chil
dren , Is. " '