THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10470, 7 November 1911, Page 2

THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

CHAPTER XVlll—Continued

"This man must bo followed," wiid Dalmar to Grcor. "But our party must not loso sight of each other too i OP jr. Go you to Captain Douglas. Accompany my cousin and him to the Adelplio Hotel. Explain to tho clerk that you do not wish to register atpresent and there await my arrival. M. Bland and my servant will go with me. The captain can attend, meanwhile, to the coaling and other matters of the yacht. That is until he sees Bland again. Au revoir. I leave witli von my ever-dear cousin."

While speaking, the prince hurried Greer along unti' he finished. He wrung the Westerner's hand, pxis'hed him in the direction of the cab stand, while Sidney, hardly comprehending, allowed'himself to bo directed. Presently he*, -Douglas,' aitd-Miss-Bitrrau-were driving up the street toward the Adelphe Hotel. Thelma, alone, had no doubts as to the wisdom of their ■present course. "It is all right," she insisted. "Dalmar never makes mistakes. You, Mr. Greer, shall show mo about the "city, while Captain refits his yacht." Then Thelma rewarded Douglas for his rather glum submission with so expressive a look and smile, and also a modest hand pressure, that the honest fellow's pulses leaped. "She loves me," he assured himself. "But she is cautious. She has a right to be. But, oh, how I should love to

fold her in my ams." Instead, he returned her iook and smile with so rapt a smile and an expression of-mute admiration that the girl dropped her eyes and coloured vividly, although she was talking earnestly to Sidney the while. In the meantime Dalmar,Sarkis and Bland were following the drunken sailor, who strolled about in an. aimless way, as if his mind was not yet made up. On a, side street he pulled out a large roll of bank bills and gazed at them stupidly.

"Those are American notes," remarked the mate. "His share of the money, and lie has learned that he should change them for English money. I wish I had on some common sailor duds." '

"Sarkis will manage him," commented Dalmar. "My servant was very friendly with this fellow aboard. His English though scant, will serve. Come hither, Sarkis."

Palmar whispered earnestly with i)i& giant.for a. moment, then/ Sarkis, pretending to be drunker than the sailor, reeled up and brought his great hand down lieavily on the other one's back. The sailor "jumped, half sobered by sudden fear.

Sarkis,feigning overwhelming goodfellowship, "talked drowsily but volubly, at the same time urging the fellow toward the nearest tavern. ,

He would not be denied, and eventually the two reeled inside, the sailor having at once put his money out of sight.

When they had disappeared, the prince smiled, saying: "We 'have him now. Sarins will never let him go. The rascal' may know something of Shemo, too." "Aye, sir," assented -the mate. "I suppose Jie'll drink the man senseless so we can manage him. Oh, I wish I had him on the Mist again." "Well, suppose you go back to the yacht and bring a, boat with half a dozen of your best men to the landing stage next the St. George dock. Po you understand, monsieur?" ,

"Certainly, sir. It is a good idea. I hope you will wait!".

Mr Bland left with alacrity, while Pubnar quietly waited until Sarkis lAi'uiit his great tossled head out at the tavern entrance.' Then Palmar walked in.

! .The sailor lay in a state of helplessI ness on the floor of the barroom, while [ a tirim barmaid looked on disgustedly. "1 'vo a good mind to call a bobby," she said.- "You aren't much better," sho .said addressing Sarkis. "You got 'bini dh-this-fixi"'- - , "We'll take care—him," said the giant amiably. "Lift him up," ordered Palmar a bit haughtily. "I will order a cab." Sarkis deposited the man on the steps outside, as if the sailor were a child, and watched beside him until the four-wheeler came, with Palmar inside. The drunken man was tumbled in without ceremony. Then the three j drove to the landing named, and the j four-wheeler waited while the sailor j snored stertoriously, the others stand- !

OUR SERIAL,

WILLIAM PERRY BROWN

ing guard outside. When Bland returned with tho boat he was taken on board. In his pockets were still nearly a thousand dollars in United States bank notes as yet unspent. Dalmar had searched him at the landing. "It is doubtless the price of his treachery," commented Dalmar pocketing the money. "There seems to be nothing else of consequence on liim. Oblige me, M. Bland, by putting him in irons., Station over him a trusty guard, and look for some- of us back here when he regains consciousness." Driving back to the Adelphi, Dalmar regarded Sarkis dubiously. "Art sober thyself?" he demanded. "Aye, master. I only pretended to drink. The fool was too far gone in his cups to notice." At the hotel, meeting the rest of tho party returning from luncheon, Dalmar related what had happened. Then he added:

"Some of us will see this fellow when he is sober, and* question him thoroughly. Then we will go to London. If wo fail to find Shemo there, my mind is made up as to what he lias done with himself." "And what is that " said Geer.

"He may possibly be a gambler. He will try ills 'luck and we will hear of him either at London, Paris or Monte Carlo." .

"But in case.he does not gamble," aaiid Douglas, "what then?" "Then the place to look for Mustafa Bey is in Constantinople." "Would he not avoid that place?" ask©d Douglas. "This robbery will be widely published as a matter of common news." "And where would a thief be more welcome who has the' Armenian relief fund in his hand-bag than in Staniboul? Consider. In what position does the base-born barber find himself. He loves ihis flimsy patent of nobility even better then money. He will go to Rotan and tell him of his fiasco with Alma, disgorge enough of his ill-gotten booty to purchase*immunity from the Porte, and thus be rsetored to his patron's favour. If poor Alma has foolishly gone on all the better for Shemo. If not, he will feel secure, anyhow. But if he is a gambler, the "chances are that he will halt, here or there, in order to indulge his passion. In that vent wo may seize him before he gets to Turkey." "That is a.ll very good," remarked Sidney Greer, who had, we know, a more vital interest in someone else"But how about Miss Alma? Are wo to make her recovery matter?" "No! by the soul of my father!" Dalmar wrung Greer's hand in -his

iron grasp. "Her face is with mo constantly. But all things in due order. First, let us find out what this traitorous sentry has to say. He may disclose something that may be of service to us, not only with reference to Mustafa, but also regarding Thelma's sister. Your Mist, Gaptain Douglas, must go on to Gibraltar as soon as possible, pausing there for dispatches fro mus; Our little party will take a look ;it London; then, perhaps, on to Paris. In the meantime you and I, M. Greer, will go to an office where I am somewhat known, and engage, a reliable detective or two "

"Ah; that sounds like business, now prince, said Greer heartily. "And if money is needed, I'am eager to put up some of mine where it will do most good." Amid the general agreement to such sentiments, further particulars anent these proceedings were settled. Meantime, Miss'Burian, under the escort of Dotfglas, was seeing the sights of Liverpool. Greer and Pavlidis were about to set later for the detective agency, when a i telephone message came from Bland at the landing stage. "Come out now if you can. T think the man is about to revive."

CHAPTER XIX

M. PERONNE, DETECTIVE.

Late thatevening when the faithless sentry awoke from stupor, Prince Dalmar was standing over liim with a dagger in one hand and t-lie sailor's roll of. bank notes in the other. By the prince's side stood Captain Douglas and also Sidney Greer, all of them regarding the man with severe and solemn mien.

(To be Continued.)