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THE DAY OF DAYS
-By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE-
PROLOGUB.
'It breaks the speed limit to
smithereens.”
That's a candid opinion about
ibis story. There may have
been swifter tales, but not re-
rently. It’s an aeroplane of a
varn, moving so fast that you
lose your breath while you fol
low it. But you don't need any
breath, anyway, becauso you
forget about respiration with
vour eyes on reading of this
kind.
Every man has his day of
days. Yours may have come
and you may be swimming in
the full tide of fortuno. If so,
read how P. Sybarite found
his. If your own ship is still
in the offing, you will enjoy
learning how the little spunky
red headed bookkeeper won a
fortune and an heiress, foiled
all his enemies and had some
of the most amazing adven
tures ever penned—all in less
time than it takes the hour
hand to round the clock dial
twice.
(Continued from Yesterday).
"1 thought”! taw you," hs comment
ed blandly, advancing a para and ao
Bhnynon turned uud left them alun<
on the balcony.
“I’to •orrjr,” p. Sybarite told the gii
In unfeigned contrition. “Florae for
give tue I’ve a rlcloue temper—tb<
color of my hair—ond 1 couldn’t rent,
the temptation to meke him eqnlrin."
"If you only knew bow I deepleec
him." she arid. “yon wouldn’t think II
neceeeery to eicneo yonraelf, though I
don’t know yet whet It’e all about.”
"Simply 1 happen to have the whl;
bend of the Sheynon conscience,” re
turned P. Sybarite, “l btppea to knew
that Bayard la eecretly the hneband
a woman notoriotu In New York under
the name of Ura. Jeffereon Incbe.”
“Ie that true? Dare I belleve”-
Intlorations of fears Inexpressibly
alleviated breathed In her tone.
“I have the word of the lady hermit
together with the evidence ef hie con
fusion Jtnt now. What more do yon
need?"
“If that In trne how can It be that
ha has been begging me this rerj
night to merry him wlthla a month r
“Ha may bava entertained hopei oi
gaining hla end—hia freedom—In an
other way. Furthermore, he probably
thinks hlmeelf forced to seem Innletent
by the part he’s playing. Ble father
doesn’t know of this entanglement,
he’d disinherit Bayard If he did.”
"It may be so,” she responded ra
can Ur.
"Tell me." he suggeeted presently
stammering. “If yon don’t mind giving
me more of your confidence, to which
I don’t pretend to have any right, only
my Intereat In—Id yeu—the mystery
with which yon enrroand yourself, Uv-
lng alone there In that wretched
boarding bouse"—
Shannon's Eyes Whwed.
coming face to fees with the bristling
Uttle Mophlttophcllna figure, which he
lord endeavored to ignore.
“My dance, I believe," he added e
tnce more brusquely, over the Uttle
men’* bead.
Tm afraid youH hare to excuaa
ere. Bayard," ahe returned.
He hesitated. "Do I understand
you're reedy for mo to take you
liome?"
“You’re to understand that I will
H ither dance nor alt out the dance
"1th you-ond that I don't wish to be
dluturbod.”
’"Bleie your heart!” P. Syborlto In
terjected privately.)
The voles of the younger Bhsynon
broke with paeslon.
"This Is—tho limit!’’ be cried violent
It - "I've reached the end of my endur
«nce. Who's this creature you're with?*
your memory so abort?” P. Syhn
rite ««l:ed quietly. “Bare yon forgot
i’o the microbe—the little guy who
Inti the point In disappointment I"
"I’ve forgotten nothing, you—animal
Nor that yon tnanltad my fatbar pub
* few minute* ago. Remove that
trirk and tell me yonr name. If you
r ' fuse rn thrash yon within an Inch
o' jour life—here and now!”
“One moment,” P. Bybarite pleaded
vltn t graceful gesture. “Before com
Hitting yonraelf to this mad enter
Prlie, would you mind telling me ex
* r tly how you spell that word Inch?
'•Ith a capital T and a final V-b»
•«J chance?”
"Tth an Inarticulate cry Bhiynon’e
, t "hot ont as if to atrike hla peraecn
•or down, but In midair P. Sybarite's
V™. etrong fingers closed round and
ttncribly stayed hla anemy-a wriat
"Behave!" p. Sybarite counseled
“Scmimber wbste you are—In
Hdys presence. A* for my mask. If
« «ail annoys you"- Be Jerked It off
•nd sway.
Escaping the balustrade. It caught a
tendering air and drifted Indolently
ttown through the darkness <
•treat
“And If my face telle you nothing.’
•♦. added hotly, “perhaps my name
help. It’e Sybarite. You may
M’
have beard It”
A* If from a blow 8haynon's eye*
. Tb «>- quietly adjusting his
cr ^®pled cuff, ha drew htmaelf np.
Marian." be said as scon es he had
“• vole, under control. Unce you
- h u welt for yon Is the lobby
••inatalra,"
CHAPTER XI.
in e Balcony-—end Afterward.
Y stay In the boarding house
wasn't meant to be per
manent" aka txplalned.
"marejy an experiment
went there for two reasons—to be rid
for awhile of their laceeeent attempt-
to beaten my marriage'with Bayard and
because I suddenly realised 1 knew
nothing about my father's estate ana
found I was to know nothing far an
other year; that Is. until, under hla
will, I come Into my fortune, I went
ed to know about our girls, to be aurt-
they were given a fair chance, earned
enough to live decently and other
things about their Uvea jo* can Imag
toe."
T think 1 understand," aaid P. 8yb
arito gravely.
T had warned them more than
rd run away if they didn’t let me
alone. And finally I kept my word and
ran awny, took my room In Thirty
eighth street snd before long secured
work to my own store.
At first I was sure they'd Identify
me Immediately, but somehow no onr
seemed to inspect met and I stayed on.
keeping my eyee open and collecting
evidence of a system of mismanage
ment and oppression.
It wasn’t nntll tonight Bayard found
out wbsre I was living, as yon saw
At first I refused to return boms, bui
he declared my disappearance was ere
atlng a scandal.
’He Insisted that these stories could
only be refuted If I’d eotno home for
few days and show myself at tbl
dance tonight
I’ve finished with the Bhsynotis foi
good and all I naver liked either or
them, never understood whst father
saw In old Mr. Kbnynou to make him
trust him the way he did. And non
after whet has happened I shall stoi
at the Plan tonlght-they know
there—snd telephone for my things
If Mr. Bbsynon objects I’ll see If th
law won’t relieve me of ble guardian
ship."
Tf you’ll toko e fool’s advice you'l
do that whether or no It wouldn't br
the first time Brian Bbaynon ruined
friend. There wee once e family Iti
this town by the name of Sybarite
the family of a rich end succeaefu
man, associated with Brian Bbaynon
In n business way. Pm what’s left of
It. thanks to my father’s faith In old
Brian's Integrity."
“Oh. Tm sorry’’—
“Don’t be. please. Whet Pve en
dared bee done me no harm, and to
night baa aaen the tom of my for
tunes or else I’m hopelessly deluded
"The public disavowal of your an
gagetnent to Bayard will be likely to
bring the Bhaynone' affairs to a crisis
T firmly believe they’re hard pressed
for money. That's why they were In
such a hurty for your marriage.
"Bren If Bayard were free—as his
father believes him to be-why need
the eld men Have been so unreasonable
when all tbo delay yon ask to another
twelvemonth? Believe me, be bed
some excellent reason for hla anxiety
Finally, tf the old villain Isn’t foment
is- •-jut eepeelelly fool villainy, why
need he sneak from hero tonight to the
InwMt dive In town to meet and eon
far with a gang leader and murderer
■neb aa Red Novemt>er?"
“Whet ere you talking about now?"
demanded the bewildered girl.
“An hour or so ego I met old Brian
coming out of a dive known a* Dutch
Bouse, the worn la town. IPs been
pooling me ever since—an appoint
ment of some sort he mad* wjtk No
vember Jost as I hove within e*r
■hot. Two-thirty,’ he said, and No
vember repeated the boor and prom
ised to be on th* Job. Two-thlrty’-
wbat can It mean? IP* later than that
now. but mar* Of words, something's
going to bsppen thto afternoon or tm
morrow or some time soon, at half past
3 o'clock."
"Perhaps you’re right" said the girl
doubtfully.
"Iflsa Blesslngton," aaid P. Sybarite
solemnly, “whou you ran off to that
taxi at midnight I had (5 to all the
world. Tble minute, as 1 stand. I’m
worth t2iUI00. I’d give every cent of
It for some reliable assurance that
Brian Bhsynon and hla son mean you
Surprised and Impressed by hla
wonted eerionaneoa. the girl Indistinct
ly shrank back against the balustrade
“Mr. Sybarite”— aba murmured, wide
eyed.
“New." laid the little man. with
briskar accent "by your leare we will
get back to what we were dlscnsstog
Tour welfare"—
"Mr. Sybarite," the girl Interrupted
impetuously, "whatever happens I
want yon to knew that I at least nn
deretand yon and that to me you’ll al
ways be my standard af a gentleman,
brave and trne and kind.”
“And now.” be broke eff eharply, “all
the pretty people are going home, and
yon most too. May I venture one step
fortber? Don’t let Beytrd Shaynon’’-
"I don’t mean to,“ she told him
"Knowing what I knew, IPs Impose!
bla."
“Too will go to tho PlasaT
“Tee," the replied. "I’ve made np
my mind to that"
“Ton have a cab waiting, of coarse.
May I call It for yonr
“My own car.” aha said. “The call
cheek Is with my wraps. But” ahe
■mlled, “I shall ba glad to give It to
yon to band to the porter, tf you’ll be
so good, end then yon may see me to
my car."
"To do Bayard ont of that honor."'
ba said cheerfully. “Ton couldn't In
vent a service to gratify mo more
hugely."
She smiled to sympathy.
“But ha will be expecting to s*e yon
homer
"No matter If be dees, he eba'n't
Besides, be live* to bachelor rooms,
within walking distance. I believe."
Already tb* rut and shining hall
waa almost empty; only at the farthar
wall a handful of guests clustered
ground the doorway, waiting to take
their turn in the crowded cloakrooms.
A moment more and the two were close
npon the vanguard of departing genet*,
and tb* girl and P. Sybarite parted.
"Walt for me to the lobby,” ah* uld.
mailing.
liberated from the crowded elevate'
on the lower floor, P. Sybarite fouui
hie lackey, resumed bet end coat and
waited to tba lobby opposite the site
valor*.
At th* rid* street entrance the crush
•f anteroom and tlevatora wu dupli
cated. Jamming tbs doorway and over
flowing to the sidewalk while In wait
ing for motorcars and carriages.
Bnt through the Fifth avenue en
trance only the thin stream of thou
Intending to walk wan trickling away.
After a time P. Sybarite discovered
Bayard Sheynon not far off-like him
self waiting and with a vigilant eye
reviewing the departing the while be
talked to clou confidence with one
who wu a stranger to P. Sybarite.
Whan he Idly glanced that way a
second time the yonnger ghaynou waa
■lone and bed moved nurer. When
eventually Merten appeared he wee In
stant to her eld*, forestalling even the
alert flanking movement of P. Syba
rite.
“Ton ere quite ready. Marian?"
Bbaynon uked and. familiarly slipping
a guiding hand beneath the arm of the
girl, with admirable effrontery. "You
have your carriage call check reedy?
If you'll let me have It"—
Let's understand one toother once
i for all time. Bayard," the gtrl hi
tarrnpted. “I don't wish yon to take-
home. 1 prefer to go alone, la that
dur? 1 don't wish to feel Indebted to
yen for even ao slight a serrlco as
this," she added. Indicating tba slip of
pataeboard to bar fingers. "Bnt if Ur
Sybarite will be so kind”—
Bbaynon’a accents when he spoke
were even tf menacing to their tone
CIVILIZATION
This child enjoys the Advantage of i
THE WOMAN
There Was Great Joy at the Lonvre in the Papers and
Among the Public. “The Man Must Be Mad,” Was the
General Verdict.
"Then. Marten. I'm to understand
IPs—good night?"
"I think." uld tbe girt, with a level
look of disdain, "It mlgbt be far better
if yon were to understand that It's
goodby."
Be sbrurged again, and bla eyes,
wavering, of a sudden met P. Syba
rite’s and dabbed them with a glance
of rutblcu and unbridled hatred, ao
envenomed that tho little man waa
transiently conacloua of a misgiving.
"Here," be told himself to donbt. "to
one who, given hie wey, would hive
murdered within twenty-four
boar*. And be thoagbt of Red Novem
ber. Almost undoubtedly the gunmen
bid escaped arrest
Bbaynon. with no other word, turned
and strode away toward tha Fifth ave
nue entrance. Marian roused P. Syba
rite with a ward.
“Finis," she said, enchanting him
with the frank lotlmaej of her smite.
They came to the carriage entrance,
where the crab of watting people had
somewhat thinned—not greatly.
Luring Marten to the angle of the
doorway. P. Sybarite pr.ued ont to
tb* booth of th* carriage call appara
tus. gava tb* operator tba numbered
end perforated card board, together
with a coin, uw th* man plac* It on
tb* machine and shoot bom* a lever
tbit blued end spit bine fir*, then
turned back.
(To Bs Continued Tomorrow.)
When Herbert XIagnlen etopped
front of “The Woman" tha room waa
empty and deserted Just as ha had
hoped It would be.
A faint# light entered through
large windows. It was as If all
paintings which filled tha walla were
awakening from a long heavy sleep.
Louvre at this hour reminded of the
castle of the Bleeping Beauty and tho
only sound to be heard waa the heavy
step of the night watchnnn walking
through the immense building.
The young man’s heart waa beating
violently. The first part of bis under*
taking .was a success, fie must now cut
tbe famous painting out of tbe frame,
roll it u:? and make bis escape without
wasting a single moment.
For a minute or two he stood over*
whelmed by the feeling which always
overcame him at the sight of thla won*
derful masterpiece. Then he realized
that he must act and roused himself
from his dreams.
A few moments later he had th#
{tyiilpting tolled up under hji cloak.
^ftiie plan had been must carefully laid.
He df net lose • hit the mass
of corrldora The outside door
open. Nothing barred his way.
Once outside he drew a breath of
lief. His heart waa beating so viO'
Iently now that be could barely walk
3ut ho must get home and In the fu
ture he alone would be able to enjoy
thla wonderful work of Mine. Vlgee-Le-
brun's genius, which had quite turned
hie bruin. |
He felt his usual calm return and
hurried his step* homewards. Nobody
paid the'slightest attention to him, far
less did anyone suspect that ne was car
rying one of the treasures of the nation
under his arm.
Far up near liu- top oi Homines ire he
lived in tbe garret of an old house In*
habited by artists. The cooclere.
not see him as he entered the gate. He
rushed up the stairs, locked hie door
behind him snd unrolled the painting
before he ever removed his h?b
Five minutes later. The Women”
was fasten?A on Lis wall with four
drawing pin* and It seemed to him at
If it illuminated the whole room. He
eat down and stared at it with rapt ad*
miration.
The young man waa one of theae ex. f
citaMe mlr.de so easily unbalanced
whose nerves often play tricks on them.
Once ho had dreamed of becoming a
great painter, but the straggle for exist,
•nee waa bard and he tbs had m uiga*|
er wish than to paint beautiful women
ha been forced to work tor a common
decorator, painting signs for flah and
vegetable dealers, or decorations on the
walls of clutffooms.
But during his leisure hours he paint*
ed as his own spirit moved him snd his
Sundays were always spent In the pub*
lie art galleries. Ha kntw tbam ail,.
Versailles, Fontainebleau, Luxembourg
and Louvre snd gradually he developed
his personal taste. He admired Mmt,
Vlgee*Lebrun’s portraits more than any*
thing else end among thsse particular*
ly "The Woman."
Was It Mme. Mole Raymond who had
thrown a apell upon him,—she whose
identity Is hidden under the title "The
Woman?" Or waa It perhapa tba arttatle
charm of the painting Itself? One thing
Is certain, after a while hla love of the
picture became a dominating madness,
which Irresistibly compelled him to steal
and It wag posted on all the kiosks of
tho boulevards.
Herbert did not stop to look at any of
these. It wap enough ?«• hire to »>»v«
the original. Then tha
discuss
it a
CHINESE PRESIDENT
ORDERS WHOLESALE
ARREST OF GAMBLERS
no particular value,
facted Herbert like a
Time passed,
longer oocupfad
painting, but th
the revues took
made about tha
adorned
saw her
photo of
ho cam# homo ba was
Ha began to wonder
been able to fall in
face, this
devoid of
the
He began to lay his plans and when he
worked them out In detail he did not.
hesitate a single moment.
Ose Sunday he let himself be louked j
up in the Isouvre and when the doors;
had been opened at dawn to admit tbe I
charwoman he carried off the painting, j
When he returned from U> work that]
Monday night the boulevards were j
seething with excitement. The cries
of the camelots filled the sir: "Sense-
tlonal theft at Louvre!"
He smiled contentedly.
"Let them look for It ever> where," bo
murmured, “they will never find It. No
body wrili ever ae/ *Ths Woman’ but I.
He hurried home and once more pin
ned the painting to the wall. He ete hta
plain dinner as If he were having it
alone '.ih a beloved woman and It was
very late when he Ml asleep etlU seated
i tiwui of his idoi.
The next day he bougnt an tbe news
papers he could get. A3 were f!!!e«
with stories of the disappearance of the
picture and clues were suggested.
Ills fellow painters discussed
event excitedly but he took no part In
the discussion snd one of them pinned
a photograph of It to the wall :n front
of them so that Herbert could see her
bewitching smile.
Reproductions wsre sold ail over
France, but nothing happened though
several clues were followed up:
*1 am eure there la not even a child
In all Ftance, who does not know how
The Woman” looks, Herbert thought.
A week passed. Every paper and
mageUino reproduced tbe stolen painting
back
eating and ended by turning
Itself around.
Finally he could not
er and in aa attack
up tho canvas,
no whow to get rid
day afternoon ho wrapped
turned it to tha Louvre
"I have adored this
hate It because It
commonplace. ugly
through Incessant
with return It and
"A repentant and
These was groat joj
tho papers and among
man muqt ba mad,"
verdict.
But
more
mind waa at
•gain woidd h
Woman with tha
YUAN 8HI Kl.
Peking, China—Yuan Shi Ki, the
Chinese president hag issued a dras
tic mandate, ordering the police .to
arrest every person who gambles and
to confiscate the money with which
gambling la carried on. The money
la to be used In rewarding the police
making the arrests.
Since the parliament has ceased to
exist, the only laws obeyed aro the
presidential mandates, and Yoon Sbt
Kl Is of the opinion that one of the
most deleterious Influences !n Chinn
today is gambling. For centuries
Chinese officials have been addicted
to gaming table anJ the president Is
determined that gambling must be
abolished if tb# new republic Is te
progress.
AN OLD
(By Philatnder .
Tvs heard the music
wings from pipe and horn
bllng utrings. I’ve marveled at tb
glorious art whose mystery thrills
the human heart. But I endeavor mil
in vain to recollect some splendid
strain. Instead comes echoing sweat !
and low a simple song of long ago.
Tla but * dear, old-fashioned hymn.
With memory mists my eyes grow
dim. And, as I listen, there nppeara
u faco with tendcrest smiles or tears.
It Is no song by genius wrought, all
cunningly devised and taught. A
mother-song it soothes my ear with
love unselfish and sincere. I’ve read
some poets who amaze with splendid
thought and dazzling phrase. I’ve
read philosophers and feared their
wisdom as they subtly snssrsd. *uch
words, though wondrous they mejr bs.
have small significance to ms cony-
pared to that old hymn so swsst that
told of -nSi