SYNOPSIS.
Bnraka , a Tartar girl , became enamored
of a golden bearded stranger who was
prospecting mul studying herbs In the
vicinity of her home In central Asia , ntid
revealed to him the locution of a mlno
of rubles hoping that the stranger would
love her In return for her disclosure.
They were followed to the cave by the
filiTn relatives , who blocked up the en
trance , and drew oft the water supply ,
leaving the couple to die. Baraka's cousin
Baud , her betrothed , attempted to climb
down a cllrt overlooking the mlno ; but
the traveler shot him. The stranger was
revived from a water gourd Saud car
ried , dug his way out of the tunnel , and
departed , deserting the girl and carrying
a bag of rubles. Baraka gathered nil the
Kerns eho could carry , and started In pur
suit. Margaret Donne ( Margarita da
Cordova ) , a famous prlnm donnn. became
engaged In London to Konstantln Lo
gothetl , a wealthy Greek llnanclcr. Her
Intimate friend was Countess Tjoven ,
known as Lady Maud , whose husband
had been killed by a bomb In St. I'ctcrs-
t > urg ; and Lady Maud's most Intimate
friend wan Ilufus Van Torp , an Ameri
can , who had become one of the richest
vncn In the world. Van Torp was In love
with Margaret , and rushed to London ns
soon as ho heard of her betrothal. Ho
offered Lady Muud J5,000,000 for her pot
charity If she would aid him In winning
the singer from Logothett. Baraka approached
preached Logothetl at Versailles with
r.ubles to sell. Ho presented a ruby to
Margaret. Van Torp bought a yacht and
eent It to Venice. Ho was visited by
Baraka In male attire. 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 one she
loved. The American followed Margaret
to the Bayreuth "Parsifal" festival. Mar
garet took a liking to Van Torp , who pre
sented her with the ruby Baraka had
given him. Count Krallnsky , a Russian ,
arrived at Bayreuth. Van Torp believed
him to bo the ono Baraka was pursuing.
Baraka was arrested In London on the
charge of stealing from Plnney , a Jew
eler , the ruby she had sold to Logothotl.
Two strangers were the thieves. Lady
Maud believed that Logothotl'e associa
tions with Baraka were open to suspi
cion , and so Informed Margaret. Van
Torp believed that KrallnsUy was the
cowboy ho had known In his young man
hood. Logothetl secured Baraka's re
lease , and then , with her na hla guest ,
went to sea on his yacht Erinna. Baraka
explains her plans for revenge on the
man who had deserted her and left her
to die. Logothetl succeeds In moderating
her rage. Lady Maud arrived In Bay
reuth. Margaret and Van Torp entered
Into an agreement to build a tremendous
opera house In New York. The thief who
stole the ruby from Mr. Plnnoy was ar
rested In New York and the stone recov
ered. Lady Maud confided to Van Torp
that she believed Krallnsky to bo the
husband she had believed dead. Van
Torp promised his help to unravel the
mystery. The party gathered on \ an
Torp's yacht and Lady Maud discovered
that Krallnsky Is her husband. Ho of
fered to rejoin and be true to her. She
refused. Logothotl took Baraka ashore
at Naples to procure her a proper outllt.
CHAPTER XIV. Continued.
"He was alive this morning , " Ixgo-
theti answered , "and he la a strong
man. But the strong die sometimes
suddenly , by accident If not of a
fever. "
"It is emptiness , " said Baraka , still
looking at him. "He will not die be
fore I see him. "
"Allah forbid ! But If such a thing
happened , should you wish to go back
to your own people ? Or would you
learn to speak the Frank and live in
Europe ? "
"If ho were dead , which may Allah
avert , " Baraka answered calmly , "I
think I would ask you to find me a
husband. "
"Ah ! " Logotheti could not repress
the little exclamation of surprise.
"Yi-s. It is a shame for a woman
not to bo married. Am I an evil sight ,
or poor , that I should go down to the
grave childless ? Or is there any reproach
preach upon me ? Therefore I would
ask you for a husband , because I
have no other friend but only you
among the Feringhis. But if you
would not , I would go to Constanti
nople ngaln , and to the Persian mer
chant's house , and I would say to his
wlfep 'Get me a husband , for I am
not a cripple , nor a monster , nor Is
there any reproach upon me , and why
should I be childless ? ' Moreover-
would say to the merchant's wife :
Behold , I have great wealth , and I
will have a rich husband , and ono who
Is young and pleasing to mo , and who
will not take another wife ; and If you
{ Si bring mo such a man , for whatsoever
! H his riches may be , I will pay you live
' "
t a per cent'
Having made this remarkable state
ment of her Intentions , Baraka was
slUmt , expecting Logothetl to say
something. What struck him was not
the concluding sentence , for Asiatic
match-makers and peace-makers are
generally paid on some such basis ,
and the slim Tartar girl had proved
long ago that she was a woman of
business. What impressed Logothotl
much more was what seemed the cool
cynicism of her point of view. It was
evidently not a romantic passion for
Krallnsky that had brought her from
beyond Turkestan to London nnd
Paris ; her view hud been simpler and
moro practical ; sha had soon the man
who suited her , she had told him so ,
and had given him the secret of great
wealth , and in return she expected
him to marry her , if she found him
alive. But if not , she would Imme
diately take stops to obtain another to
fill his place and bo her husband , and
she was willing to pay a high prlco to
any ono who could find ono for hor.
Logothetl had half expected some
such thing , but was not prepared for
her extreme directness ; still loss had
.ho thought of becoming the matrimonial
menial agent who was to find a match
worthy of her hand and fortune. She
was sitting besldo him in a llttlo
ready-mado French dress , open nt the
thioat , and only a bit of veil twisted
round her hair , ns any European
woman might wear It ; possibly it was
her dress that made what she said
sound strangely in his ears , though It
uld have struck htm as natural
enough if she had been inutllcd In a
yashmak and ferajch , on the deck of
Bosphorus ferry Voat.
IIo said nothing in answer , and sat
thinking the matter over.
"I could not offer to pay you five
per cent , " she said after a time , "be
cause you are a king , but I could give
you ono of the line rubles I have left ,
and you would look at It sometimes
and rejoice because you had found
Baraka a good husband , "
Logothetl laughed low. She amused
him exceedingly , and there were mo
ments when he felt a new charm he
had never known before.
"Why do you laugh ? " Baraka asked ,
a little disturbed. "I would give you
a good ruby. A king may receive a
good ruby as a gift nnd not despise
It. Why do you laugh at mo ? There
came two German merchants to me In
Paris to see my rubles , and when they
had looked , they bought a good one ,
but not better than the ono I would
give you , and Splro heard them say
to each other in their own language
that it wan for their king , for Spire
understands all tongues. Then do
you think that their king would not
have been glad If I had given him the
ruby as a gift ? You cannot mock
Baraka. Baraka knows what rubles
are worth , and has some still. "
"I do not mock you , " Logothetl an
swered , with perfect gravity. "I
laugh at my own thoughts. I said in
my heart : 'If Baraka asks me for a
husband , what will she say If I an
swer. 'Behold , I am the man , If you
are satlslled ! ' This was any thought. '
She was appeased at once , for she
saw nothing extraordinary in his sug
gestlon. She looked at him quietly
and smiled , for she aaw her chance.
"It is emptiness , " she said. "I wil
have a man who has no other wife. "
"Precisely , " Logothetl answered
smiling. "I never had one. "
"Now you are indeed mocking mo ! '
she said , bending her sharp-drawn
eyebrows.
"No.1 Every one knows it who
knows me. In Europe , men do no
always marry very younc. It is not a
fixed custom. "
"I have heard so , " Baraka an
swered , her anger subsiding , "but it
is very strange. If it be so , and If all
things should happen as wo said ,
which Allah avert , and if you desired
me for your wife , I would marry you
without doubt. You are a great man ,
and rich , and you are good to loolc at ,
as Saad wns. Also you are kind , but
Saad would probably have beaten me ,
for he beat every one , every day , and
I should have gone back to my fa
ther's house. Truly , " she added , in a
thoughtful tone , "you would make a
desirable' husband for Baraka. But
the man 1 seek must marry mo if I
find him alive , for I gave him the
riches of the earth and ho gave mo
nothing and departed , leaving me to
die. I have told you , and you under
stand. Therefore let us not jest about
these things any more. What will
bo , will be , and if he must die , It is
his portion , and mine also , though It
is a pity. "
Thereupon the noble little features
became very grave , and she leaned
back in her chair and folded her hands
in her lap , looking out at the violet
light on the distant volcano. After
that , at dinner and in the evening ,
they talked pleasantly. She told him
tales of her own land , and of her
childhood , with legends of the Altai ,
of genii and enchanted princesses ;
and he , In return , told her about the
great world In which he lived ; but
of the two , she talked the more , no
doubt because he was not speaking
his own language. Yet there was a
bond of svmnathv between them moro
natural dnd instinctive than any that
had ever drawn him and Margaret to
gether.
When the sun was up the next
morning and Logothoti came on deck
to drink his coffee alone , ho saw the
magic straits not many miles ahead ,
in an opalescent haze that sent up a
vapor of pure gold to the pale blue
enamel of the sky. He had been just
where lie was now more than once be
fore , and few sights of nature had
ever given him keener delight. On
the left , the beautiful outline of the
Calabrlan hills descended softly into
the still sea , on the right the moun
tains of Sicily reared their lofty
crests ; and far above them all , twlce ,
as high as the highest , and nobler in
form than the greatest , Etna tow
ered to the very sky , and a vast cloud
of smoke rose from the summit that
streamed westward as far as the eye
could reach.
"Let her go half speed , captain , "
said Logothctl , ns his sailing-muster
came up to bid him good-morning. "I
should like my guest to see the
straits. "
"Very good , sir. We shall not go
through very fast In any case , for the
tide Is Just turning against us. "
"Novor mind , " Logothotl answered.
"Tho slower the better to-dny , till wo
have Etna well astern. "
CHAPTER XV.
It was eight o'clock In the morning
when the Lancashire Lass steamed
( .lowly Into Messina and dropped an-
CJaptaln Brown Got Information About the Erinna.
chor out in the middle of the harbor
to wait whllo Capt. Brown got. information
mation about the Erinna , if there were
any to bo had at the harbor-master's
office. It would have been folly to
run out of the straits without at least
looking in to see if she were there , ly
ing quietly moored behind the fortress
of San Salvatore and the very high
mole.
She was not there , and had not
been heard of , but a Paris Herald wua
procured in which it was stated that
the Erinna had arrived in Naples ,
"owner and party on board. "
"Well , " said Mr. Van Torp , "let's
get to Naples , quick. How long will it
take , captain ? "
"About eight hours , sir , counting
our getting under weigh and out of
this crowded water , which won't take
long , for the tide will soon turn. "
"Go ahead , " said Mr. Van Torp.
Capt. Brown prepared to got under
weigh again as quickly as possible.
The entrance to Messina harbor is
narrow , and it was natural that , as ho
was In a hurry , a huge Italian man-of-
war should enter the harbor at that
very moment , with the solemn and
safe deliberation which the move
ments of Hne-of-battlo ships require
when going in and out of port. There
was nothing to bo done but to wait
patiently till the fairway was clear.
It was not more than a quarter of an
hour , but Capt. Brown was In a hur
ry , and as there was a fresh morning
breeze blowing across the harbor ho
could not even get his anchor up with
safety before he was ready to start.
The result of all these delays was
that at about nine o'clock ho saw the
Erinna right ahead , bows on and only
bnlf n iniln nw.iv. lust. botAvnnn Snvlln
and Faro , whcro the whirlpool Is still
a danger to sailing vessels and slow
steamers , and just as the tide was
turning against her and in his own
favor. He did not like to leave the
bridge , even for a moment , and sent
the second mate with an urgent mes
sage requesting Mr. Van Torp to come
up as soon as he could.
Five minutes earlier the owner had
sat down to breakfast opposite Lady
Maud , who was very pale and had
dark shadows under her eyes for the
Hrst time since he had known her. As
soon as the steward left them alone ,
she spoke.
"Jt is Leven , " she said , "and he
wants mo to take him back. "
Mr. Van Torp set down his tea un-
tasted and stared at her. Ho was not
often completely taken by surprise
but for once ho was almost speech
less. His lips did not even move si
lently.
"I was sure It was he , " Lady Maud
said , "but I did not expect that. "
"Well , " said Mr. Van Torp , finding
his voice , "he shan't That's all. "
"No. I told him so. If I had been
dressed I would have asked you to pu
me ashore at Messina. I thought you
were going to stop there the stew
ardess told mo where wo wore , bu
she know nothing else and now we're
off again. "
"I can't help It , Maud , " said Van
Torp , almost In a whisper , "I don't be
Hove It I don't believe in ImpossI
bllltlcs like that beard of his. it mu >
sound ridiculous In the face of you
recognizing your own husband , bu
It's a solid fact , and you can't ge
over it I wish I could catch the Erin
na and show him to that Tartar girl.
Sho'd know In a minute. IIo can't bo
her man and Loven , too. There's only
one thing to bo done that 1 can see. "
"What ? " asked Lady Maud sadly
and Incredulously.
"Tell him you'll take him buck on
condition that he'll shave. "
Mr. Van Torp , who was in dead
earnest , had just given his host friend
this piece of sound practical advice
when the door opened , though ho had
not rung , and the steward announced
that the second mate had a message
for Mr. Van Torp. Ho was admitted ,
and he delivered it.
The owner sprang to his feet.
"By thunder , we've caught 'em ! " ho
cried , as ho rushed out of the deck sa
loon.
loon.Lady
Lady Maud leaned back and stared
it his empty chair , wondering what
vus going to happen next.
This was what happened. The Lan-
ashiro Lass reversed her starboard
engine with full speed astern , put her
iclrn hard over to port , and turned
) uck towards the straits In the small
est space possible for her , passing
ess than a cable's length from the
Scylla rock , and nearly running down
lalf a dozen Hailing boats that pulled
Ike mad to get out of her way ; for
hey supposed that the steering-gear
md broken down , unless her captain
uul gone raving mad.
While this was going on , Capt.
3rown himself , with the international
signal code In his hand , was calling
out letters of the alphabet to a quar
termaster , and before his ship had
made half a circle the Hags ran up the
single stick the yacht curried.
"My owner has urgent business with
your owner , " was what the Hags
meant in plain English.
The Erinna was going slow , for Ba
raka was only just rendy to como on
deck , haste being in her opinion , an
Invention of Shaltan's. Logothcti ,
who wished her to see the straits , was
just insldo the door of the deck sa
loon , waiting for her to como out of
her cabin. The ofllcer of the watcli
read off the signals of the ether yacht ,
ran up the answering pennant , and
sent for the sailing-muster , but could
of course do nothing else without or
ders. So the Erinna continued to go
slow. All this took some minutes , for
the officer had naturally been obliged
to look up the signal in the code be
fore answering that ho understood it ;
and in that time Van Torp's yacht had
completed her turn and was nearly
alongside. The Lancashire Lass
slowed down to the Erlnna's speed ,
and the two captains aimed their meg
aphones accurately at each other from
their respective bridges for a llttlo
pleasant conversation. Capt. Brown ,
Instructed by Mr. Van Torp at his
elbow , repeated what his signals had
meant. The ether sailing-master an
swered that ho had already Informed
his owner , who was coming to the
brldgo directly.
At that moment Logothetl appeared
There was not much moro than a
cable's length between the two yachts ,
which In land-talk means 200 yards
Van Torp also saw a slim young lady
In blue serge , with a veil tied over
her hair , leaning on the rail of the
promenade deck and looking toward
him. With hit. glasses he recognized
the features of Baraka.
"Got 'em ! " ho ejaculated in a low
ON CRAWTOHD
Aimojor 'ti
but audible tone of intense satisfac
tion.
Logothott hurt also seen Van Torn ,
and waved hla hand in n friendly
manner.
"Ask the gentleman If he'll como
aboard , captain , " said the American.
"I can't talk through your cornopean
anyway. 1 suppose wo can send the
naphtha launch for him if wo stop ,
can't we ? "
"Can't stop here , " answered Capt
Brown. "Tho currents might Jam us
Into each other , and wo should moat
likely got aground in any case. This
is not even a Hiifo place for going
slow , when the tide Is running. "
"Well , you know your business , and
I don't. Toll him wo don't want to In
terfere with any arrangements he's
made , and that If ho'll kindly sot the
pace ho likes we'll trot along behind
him till wo got to a nice place , some
where where wo can stop. I suppose
ho can't run away from us now , can
ho ? "
Capt. Brown smiled the smllo of a
man who commands a 23-knot boat ,
and proceeded to deliver the message
In u more concise form. Logothetl heard
every wordand the answer was that ho
was In no hurry and was qulto at Mr.
Van Torp'fi disposal. IIo would bo
glad to know whom the latter had on
board with him.
"Lady Maud Lovon , Miss Margaret
Donne , Mrs. Htishtnoro and Count Kra
llnsky , " answered Capt Brown ,
prompted by Van Torp.
The latter was watching the Orcok
through a pair of deer-stalking glasses
and saw distinctly the expression of
surprise that came into his face when
he heard the last of the names.
"Tell the gentleman , " said Van
Torp , "that if ho'll bring his party
with him when wo stop , I'll bo very
glad to have them all take lunch with
me. "
Capt. Brown delivered the message.
At such a short distance ho did not
even have to raise his voice to bo
heard through the six-foot megaphone.
To Van Torp's surprise , Logothotl
nodded with alacrity , and the answer
came that ho would bring his party
with pleasure , but thought that his
visit would bo over long before lunch-
con time )
"All right , good-by , " said Van Torp ,
as if ho were at the telephone. "Ring
off , captain. That's all. Just lot him
give us a lead now and we'll follow
him through ( his crock again , slnco
you say you can't stop here. "
As ho went off the bridge to return
to his breakfast he passed close to
the chief mate , who had turned again ,
though It was his watch below.
"I say , Mr. Johnson , " ho asked ,
"havo AVO got a barber shop on board
this ship. "
"No , sir , " answered the mate , who
know hotter than to bo surprised at
anything.
"It's no matter , " said' Mr. Van Torp ,
"J was only asking. "
IIo went back to his breakfast with
an Improved appetite. When ho reentered
tered tlio saloon Lady Maud was still
leaning back in her chair , staring at
his empty place.
"Well , " ho said , "they're both com
ing on board as soon as we get to a
place where wo can stop. "
"Have you really seen the girl ? "
Lady Maud sat up , as if she were
waking from sleep.
"Oh , yes ! There she was , looking
over the rail , as neat as a pin , in a
blue serge dress , with a white veil
tied over her hair , watching mo.
We've got 'em right enough , and that's
going to bo the end of this mystery\ \ "
"Did you see any ono else on the
yacht ? "
"Logo. That's all. IIo and I talked.
At least , our captains talked for us.
They do know how to yell , those men !
If the girl's the party , Logo beats the
band for brass , that's all I can say ! "
"It is rather cool , " said Lady Maud
thoughtfully. "If he's alone with her ,
it will bo all up with his engagement. "
They talked a few minutes longer ,
agreeing that she should tell Margaret
wliat was going to happen ; but that
Mrs. Rushmore and Krallnsky should
bo kept In Ignorance of the plan , the
American lady because she might pos
sibly yield to temptation and toll the
count , and the latter for obvious rea
sons. It was not likely that any of
them would bo on deck much before
Logothetl came on board.
There is good anchorage out of the
tidal current at Scalotta , some few
miles bnlow Messina , on the Sicilian
side , and towards this well-known wa
ter the Erlnna led the way , followed
at a short distance by the Lancashire
Lass.
Logothetl and Baraka watched her ,
the girl recognizing Van Torp on
the brldgo of his yacht , without oven
using glasses , for she had eyes like an
eagle's , and the American millionaire
stood alone at ono end of the bridge
looking towards her.
Logothetl had told her that Kralln
sky was on board , and that she
should see him as soon as both yachts
could anchor. He explained that It
was an unforeseen coincidence , and
that Mr. Van Torp must have taken
him on board somewhere on the provl
ous day. To the Greek's surprise , Ba
raka showed no outward sign of emo
tion. IIo had promised to take her
to the man , and had said that ho was
near at hand ; that the nicotine should
take place sooner than had been In
tended hardly surprised her , because
she had boon so perfectly ntiro that II
was near. Her only preoccupation now
was about her appearance In hot
ready-mado serge and blouse , when
she had meant to show herself to Kra <
Insky In the glory of a bountiful and
expensive Forlnghl dress.
But Logothotl explained that oven
the richest Forlnghl ladlon often wore
llttlo blue serge frocks on yachts , and
told her to watch the Lancashire Lnsa
with her glasses , ns there were throe
very great Forlnghl Indies on board ,
and she might see ono , and bo reas
sured ; and presently she caw Lady
Maud walking alouo on the prom-
oimdo deck , In clothes very like her
own , excepting that they were black
Instead of dark bluo. So Baraka was
satisfied , but she never took her oyoa
from the following yacht , for she hoped
that Krallnsky would come out and
show himself.
All at once ho was there , taking oft
his white cap to Lady Maud , and Uioy
stood still facing nach other , and tulle-
Ing.
Ing."I
"I see him , " Baralcn said In a low
voice , without lowuring her glasses.
"It Is ho. "
Logothotl , who had bcon much ab
sorbed in thinking about his coming ]
Interview with Margaret , raised his
glasses , too , for ho wna curious to see
the man at lust. Ho had known
Lovon for years , though never Inti
mately , ns ho know u vast number ol
people in London , and ho was struck
at once by the resemblance In size ,
build and complexion. !
"IIo is fatter than ho was , and
paler , " Baraka said quietly , "but it IB
lie. Ho Is speaking earnestly with the
beautiful woman in black. I can seq
well. Ho likes her , but oho does netlike
like him. I think she Is telling him
so. I am so glad. But she Is more
beautiful than Baraka , oven In thosa
clothas. Whan ho coon mo. ho will
deny me , because ho likes the beauti
ful woman in black. I will toll Splro
to bo ready. It Is a pity , but I sod
there will bo no ether way. It Is hia
portion and mlno. It Is a great plty
for I huvcf bcon happy with you. " I
Instead of any look of auger , LogoJ
thetl now saw an expression of pral
found resignation In her lovely youngj
features. If ho had been loss anxloun
about his own affairs , ho would have
smiled at her simplicity.
"When wo nro on that ship you will
let mo talk with him a llttlo apart
from the rest , and Splro shall go be
hind him and wait , looking nt mo. 1C
ho denies mo , I will maka a sign , ami
Splro shall shoot him , and then kill ]
me. It will bo very cosy nnd quick. ' ]
"And what will become of Splro ?
Inquired Logothctl gravely.
"I do not know , " Baraka said quiet
ly. "Perhaps ho will lose his head.
How can I tell ? But ho is a good serv
ant , and will obey me. Afterwards
It will not matter , for ho fs really n
Mussulman , and will go at once ta
paradise If ho dies , because ho has
killed a Christian. "
"But you nro a Mussulman , and ha
Is to kill you also. What about that1
"I nm only a woman , " answered BaJ
raka with supreme Indifference. "Now
I will call Splro and tell him what ho
Is to do. IIo has a good revolver. " |
Logothctl let her clap her handd
and send the steward for her man ,
and she rose when ho appeared rvntl
made him follow her a little way
along the deck. The interview did not
lust long. She handed him her glasses
and made him look carefully at the
Intended victim ; then she apparently
repeated her brief Instructions again ,
pointing hero and thcro to the deck
at her feet , to show him bow they
were to stand ; after which she turned
quietly , came back to I-ognthetl's slda
and sat down again.
"Ho understands , " uho said. "It will
bo qulto easy. "
But Logothotl , looking past her as
she came forward , had met Splro's
eyes ; and ho felt not oven the slight
est anxiety for Krallusky's safety , nor
for Baraka's. IIo was still wondering
what ho should say to Margaret
At a distance , Logothctl had sup
posed that lie could somehow account
to the diva for the position in which
ho hud foolishly placed himself , because
cause ho had done nothing and said
nothing that he would have been
ashamed of before her , if she know
the whole truth ; and ho fancied that
oven if they quarreled she would
make up with him before long , and
marry him .In the end , Ho had a good
opinion of himself as a desirable hus
band ; and with reason.'r8inco ho had
boon persecuted for yeas with offers
of excellent marriages from mothers
of high degree who had Vaughtcrs ta
dispose of. And beneath Unit convic
tion there lurked , In spite of him , tha
less worthy thought , that singers and
actresses were generally less squeam
ish than women of the world about
the little entanglements of their In
tended husbands.
( TO nB CONTIKUHD. )
Right In Papa's Line.
"Whatever became of that young
sport who used to call on you ? "
"Well , you see , pupa Is great on out
door sports , so ono night ho threw
him out. " Kansas City Journal.
