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THURSDAY. MARCH 26.
THE DA Y OF DA YS
PROLOGUE.
“It breaks the speed limit to
smithereens.”
That's a candid opinion about
this story. There may have
been swifter tales, but not re
cently. It's an aeroplane of a
£arn, moving so fast that you
tse your breath while you fol
low it. But you don’t need any
breath, anyway, because you
forget about respiration with
your 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 fortune. 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)
■"I thought! saw you,” he comment
ed blandly, advancing a pace and so
SHaynon’s Eye* Winced.
coming face to face with the bristling
little Mephlstophellan figure, which he
had endeavored to Ignore.
“My dance, I believe.” he added a
trace more brusquely, over the little
man's head.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to excuse
me. Bayard.” she returned.
He hesitated. “Do I understand
you're ready for me to take yon
home?"
“You’re to understand that 1 will
neither dance nor sit out the dance
with you—and that I don’t wish to be
disturbed.”
(“Bless your heartl” P. Sybarite In
terjected privately.)
The voice of the younger Shaynon
broke with passion.
“This Is—the limit!" he cried violent
ly. “I’ve reached the end of my endur
anee. Who's this creature you’re with?’
“Is your memory so short?” P. Sybn
rite asked quietly. "Have you forgot
ten the microbe—the little guy who
puts the point In disappointment?”
“I’ve forgotten nothing, you—nnlmal’
Nor that you Insulted my father pub
llely a few minutes ago Remove that
mask and tell me your name. If you
refuoe I'll thrash you tvltbln an Inch
€j your life —here and now!"
"One moment.” P. Sybarite pleaded
with a graceful gesture “Before com
mlttlng yourself to this mad enter
prise, would you mind telling me ex
actly how you spell that word Inch’;
With a capital T and a final ’e'—by
any chance?”
With an Inarticulate cry Shaynon's
fist shot out as If to strike his persecu
tor down, but In mhlulr P. Sybarite’s
■Urn, strong fingers closed round and
lnfle v Jlbly stayed his enemy's wrist
“Behave!” P. Sybnrlte counseled
evenly. "Remember where you are—ld
a lady's presence. As for my mask. If
It stlil annoys you”- He Jerked It off
and away.
Escaping the balnstrade. It caught a
wandering air and drifted Indolently
down through the darkness of the
street
"And If my face tells you nothing.’
he added hotly, “perhaps ray name
will help It's Sybarite. Von may
have heard It”
As If from a blow Shaynon's eyes
winced. Then, quietly adjusting bl
crumpled cuff, he drew himself up
“Marian.” he said ns soon as he had
bis voice under control, “since you
wish It PH wait for you In the lobby
downstairs. T -
By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
Shaynon turned nod lett them hi.
on the tmlcon.v
“I'm sorry.” I* Sybarite told the g
In unfeigned contrition “Please fn
give me I’ve a vicious temper tl
color of nty hair—and I couldn't rest
the temptation to make him squirm
"if you only knew how I despise
him.” she said, "you wouldn't think i'
necessary to excuse yourself, though
don’t know yet what It s all about."
"Simply 1 happen to have the whl|
hand of the Shaynon conscience." re
turned P Sybarite. "1 happen to know
that Bayard is secretly the husband o
a woman notorious In New York uudei
the name of Mrs. Jefferson Inohe.”
“Is that true? Dare I believe"—
Intimations of fears tnexprvaslhn
alleviated breathed in her tone.
”1 have the word of the Indy herselt
together with the evidence of his con
fusion Just uow. What more do yoi
need ?"
"If that Is true how can It be that
he has been begging me this very
night to marry him within a month?''
“He mny have entertained hopes o'
gaining his end—lds freedom—ln an
other way Furthermore, he pro bald'
thinks himself forced to seem Inslstem
by the part lie’s playing His fnthei
doesn't know of this entanglement
he’d disinherit Bayard If he did ”
"It may be so.” she responded vn
cantly.
"Teil me.” he suggested presently
stammering, “if yon don't mind giving
me more of your confidence, to which
I don’t preteud to have any right, onl>
my interest in—in you—the mystery
with which you surround yourself. llv
Ing alone there in tbHt wretched
boarding house”—
CHAPTER XI.
In a Balcony—and Afterward.
«aa gm Y stay In the boarding bouse
|m/l wasn't meant to be per
1 mnnent” she explained
“merely an experiment, i
went there for two reasons—to be rin
for awhile of their Incessant attempt
to hasten my marriage with Bayard am
because 1 suddenly realized 1 knew
nothing about ray father's estate nu<
found I was to know nothing for an
other year; that Is, until, under hi
will. I come Into ray fortune. 1 waul
ed to know about our girls, to be sui •
they were given a fair chance, enrne.
enough to live decently and othe
things about their lives you can lmag
lne.”
“I think 1 understand," said P. Syb
arite gravely.
“I had warned them more than onu
I’d run away If they didn’t let m<
alone. And finally I kept my word and
ran awny, took my room In Thirty
eighth street and before long secured
work In my own store.
“At first I wag sure they’d Identify
me Immediately, but somehow no om
seemed to suspect me, and I stayed on
keeping my eyes open and collectin'
evidence of a system of mismanage
ment and oppression.
“It wasn’t until tonight Bayard found
out where I was living, as you saw
At first I refused to return home, bn
he declared my disappearance was ere
atlng a scandal.
“He insisted that these stories could
only be refuted If I’d come home for i
few days and show myself at the
dance tonight
“I’ve finished with the Shaynons fn
good and all. I never liked either oi
them, never understood what fathei
saw in old Mr. Shaynon to mnke him
trust him the way he did. And now
after what has happened I shall sto|
at the Plaza tonight—they know tne
there—and telephone for my things
If Mr. Shaynon objects I’ll see If the
law won’t relieve me of his guardian
ship.”
“If you’ll tnkc a fool’s advice you'll
do that whether or no. It wouldn't be
the first time Brian Shaynon ruined n
friend. There was once a family in
this town by the name of Sybarite
the family of a rich and successful
man, associated with Brian Shaynon
In a business way. I’m what’s left of
It, thanks to my father's faith In old
Brian's integrity.”
“Oh. I’m sorry’’-
“Don’t be. please. What I've en
dtired has done me no harm, and to
night has seen the turn of my for
tunes or else I’m hopelessly deluded
“The public disavowal of your en
gagement to Bnyard will be likely to
bring the Shaynons’ affairs to a crisis
I firmly believe they're hard pressed
for money. That's why they were In
such a hurry for your marriage.
“Even If Bayard were free —aa his
father believes him to be—why need
the old man have been so unreasonable
when all the delay you ask Is another
twelvemonth? Believe me, he had
some excellent reason for his anxiety
Finally, if the old villain Isn’t foment
ing some especially foul villainy, why
need he sneak from here tonight to the
lowest dive In town to meet and con
fer with a gang leader and murderer
such as Red November?”
“What are you talking about now?"
demanded the bewildered girl.
"An hour or so ago 1 met old Brian
coming out of a dive known as Dutch
House, the worst In town. It’s been
puzzling me ever since—an appoint
ment of some sort he made with No
vember Just as I hove within ear
shot. 'Two-thirty/ he said, and No
vember repeated the hour and prom
lsed to be on tbe Job. 'Two-thirty’—
what can It mean? It's later than that
now, but mark my worda. something's
jcrlng to happen this afternoon or to;
morrow or some time soon, at half paat
2 o’clock ”
"Perhnpa you're right" aald the girl
doubtfully.
"Mlsa Hlesslngton.” said P. Sybarite
aolemnly. “when you ran off In that
taxi at midnight 1 had $5 In all tbe
world. This minute, as I stand, I'm
worth $20,000 I'd give every cent of
It for some reliable assurance that
Brian Shaynon and bis son mean you
no harm ”
Surprised and Impressed by his un
wonted seriousness, the girl Indistinct
ly shrank hack agninat the balustrade
"Mr Sybarite’’— Bbe murmured, wide
eyed.
“Now," said the little man. with a
brisker accent "by your leave we will
get back to what we were discussing
Your welfare"
“Mr Sybarite." the girl Interrupted
impetuously, "whntever happens I
want yon to know that l at least an
derstand yon and that to me you’ll nl
ways be my standard of a gentleman
brave and true and kind."
"And now.” he broke off sharply, “all
the pretty people are going home, and
you must too. May 1 venture one step
farther? Don’t let Bayard Shaynon’’-
”1 don’t mean to.” abe told him
“Knowing what I know. It's Impossl
ble."
“You will go to the Plaza?"
“Yes." she replied. “I've made up
my mind to that”
“You have a cab waiting, of course
May I call It for you?"
“My own car.” she said. “The call
check Is with my wraps. But" she
smiled. “1 shall be glad to give It to
you to hand to the porter, If you’ll be
so good, and then you may see me to
my car.”
“To do Bayard out of that honor!"
he said cheerfully. “You couldn’t in
vent a eerviee to gratify me more
hugely.”
She smiled In sympathy.
“But be will be expecting to see you
home?”
“No matter If he does, he sba’n't
Besides, he lives Id bachelor rooms,
within walking distance. I believe.”
Already the vast and shining hall
was almost empty; only at the farther
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
upon the vanguard of departing guests,
and the girl and P. Sybarite parted.
“Wait for me In the lobby,” she said,
smiling.
Liberated from the crowded elevator
on the lower floor, P. Sybarite found
his lackey, resumed hat and coat and
waited In the lobby opposite the ele
vators.
At the side street entrance the crush
•f anteroom and elevators was dupli
cated, Jamming the doorway and over
flowing to tbe sidewalk while in wait
ing for motorcars and carriages.
But through the Fifth avenue en
trance only the thin stream of those
intending to walk was trickling away
After a time P. Sybarite discovered
Bayard Shuynon not far off like him
self waiting and with a vigilant eye
reviewing the departing the while he
talked Id close confidence with one
who was a strnnger to P. Sybarite.
When he Idly glanced that way a
second time the younger Shaynon was
alone and had moved neurer. When
eventually Marian appeared be was In
stant to her side, forestalling even the
alert flanking movement of P. Syba
rite.
“You are quite ready, Marian?”
Shaynon asked and. familiarly slipping
a guiding hand beneath the arm of tbe
girl, with admirable effrontery. ‘‘You
have your carriage call check ready?
If you'll let me have It”—
"Let'a understand one another once
and for all time, Bayard," tbe girl In
terrupted. “I don’t wish you to take
me home. I prefer to go alone. Is that
clear? I don’t wish to feel Indebted to
you for even so slight a service as
this,” she added. Indicating the slip of
patseboard in her fingers. “But If Mr
Sybarite will be so kind”—
Shaynon’s accents when he spoke
were even If menacing In tbelr toDe
lessnese.
“Then, Marian, I’m to understand
It’s—good night?”
“I think," said the girl, with a level
look of disdain, “It might be far better
If you were to underatasd that It’s
good by.”
He shrugged again, and his eyes,
wavering, of a sudden met P. Syba
rite's and stabbed them with a glance
of ruthless and unbridled hatred, so
envenomed that the little man was
transiently conscious of a misgiving.
"Here,” he told himself In doubt "Is
one who, given bis way, would have
me murdered within twenty-four
hours And he thought of Red Novem
ber. Almost undoubtedly the gunman
had escaped arrest.
Shaynon. with no other word, turned
and strode away townrd the Fifth ave
nue entrance. Marian roused P. Syba
rite with a word.
“Finis," she said, enchanting him
with tbe frank Intimacy of her smile.
They came to the carriage entrance,
where the crush of waiting people had
somewhat thinned—not greatly.
Leaving Marian In tbe angle of the
doorway. P. Sybarite pressed out to
the booth of the carriage call appara
tils, gave the operator the nnmhered
and perforated cardboard, together
with a coin, saw the man place It on
the machine and shoot home a lever
that hissed and spat blue fire, then
turned hack.
(To Be Continued Tomorrow.)
THE AUGUSTA HERALD. AUGUSTA. GA.
This child enjoys the advantage of civilization, while—
THE WOMAN
XX X X
There Was Great Joy at the Louvre in the Papers and
Among the Public. “The Man Must Be Mad,” Was the
General Verdict.
When Herbert MSgnlen stopped In
front of “The Woman" the room was
empty and deserted Just as he had
hoped it would be.
A faint light entered through the
large windows. It was as If all the
paintings which filled the walls were
awakening from a long heavy sleep.
Louvre at tills hour reminded of the
castle of the Sleeping Beauty and the
only sound to be heard was the heavy
step of the night watchman walking
through the Immense building
The young man’s heart was heating
violently. The first part of his under
taking was a success. He must now cut
the famous painting out of the frame,
roll It up and make his 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 this won
derful masterpiece. Then he realized
that he must act arid roused himself
from his dreams.
A few moments later he had the
painting rolled up under his cloak.
Hts plan had been most carefully laid.
He dt not lose his way In the maze
of corridors. The outside door was
open. Nothing barred his way.
Once outside he drew a breath of re
lief. His heart was heating bo vio
lently now that he could barely walk.
But he must get home and In the fu
ture he alorwt would he able to enjoy
this wonderful work of Mme. Vlgee-Le
brun’s genius, which tod quite turned
his brain.
He felt hts usual calm return and
hurried his steps homewards. Nobody
paid the slightest attention to him, far
less did anyone suspect that, he was car
rying one of the treasures of the nation
under his arm.
Far up near thi top of Montmartre hs
lived In the garret of an old house In
habited by artists. The concierge did
not see him as he entered the gate. He
rushed up the stairs, locked his door
behind him and unrolled the painting
before he ever removed his hat.
Five minutes later, "The Woman"
was fastened on his wall with four
drawing pins and it seemed to him as
If It Illuminated the whole room. He
sat down and stared at It with rapt ad
miration.
The young man was one of these ex.
citaMe minds so easily unbalanced
whose nerves often play tricks on them
Once he had dreamed of becoming a
great painter but the struggle for exist
ence was hard and he who had no high
CIVILIZATION
cr wish than to paint beautiful wnin»n
ha been furred to work ror n. common
(Tec-orator, painting sign* for flab ami
vegetable dealer*, or decoration* on tho
wall* of cluta'ooinH.
Hut during hi* leisure hour* lie pain*
ed uh hi* own spirit moved him and h!M
Sunday* were alway* npent in the pub
lic art gallerle*. Ife knew them id,
Versailles, Fontalnehfleau, Luxembourg
an>i Louvre and gradually he developed
hi* personal taste. He admired Mme.
Vlgee-Lcbrun’s portraits more than any
thing else and among theve particular
ly “The Woman.“
Wa« It Mme. Mole Raymond who had
thrown a spell upon him, she whose
identity I* hidden under the “The
Woman?” Or was It perhaps the artistic
charm of the painting lt*elf? One thing 1
1* certain, after « while hi* love of the
picture became a dominating madneas.
which IrreslHtlhly compelled him to stall
It.
He began to lay hi* plan* and when he
worked them out In detail he did -nd
hesitate a single moment.
One Sunday he let himself he locked
up in the Louvre and when the door*
had been opened at dawn to edmlt the
charwoman he carried off the painting
When he returned from hi* work that ;
Monday night the • boulevard* were .
seething with excitement. The eric*
of the camelot* filled the air: “Henan- !
tlonal theft at Louvre!”
He smiled contentedly.
"Let them look for It everywhere,” he
murmured, “they will never find It. No
body will ever *e ‘The Woman' hut I."
He hurried home end once more pin
ned the painting to the wall. He ate hi*
plain dinner art If he were having it
alone uii a beloved woman and It. w;t*
very late when he feM asleep atlll seated
Iri front of hi* Idol.
The next day he bought all the news
paper* he could get. All were filled
with stories of the disappearance of the
picture and clue* were suggested.
His fellow painter* discussed the |
•vent excitedly but he took no part In j
the discussion and one of them pinned
a photograph of it to the wall n front
<4 them so that Herbert could see her
bewitching srnlle.
Reproductions were sold all over ,
France, but nothing happened though i
several clues were followed Up:
“I am sure there is not even a child
In all France, who does not know how 1
“The Woman” looks, Herbert thought.
A week passed. Every paper and
magazine reproduced the stolen painting i
This child doesn’t.
nnd It was posted on aOI the kiosks of
tho boulevards.
Herbert did not stop to look at any of
these. It was enough for him to have
CHINESE PRESIDENT
ORDERS WHOLESALE
ARREST OF GAMBLERS
YUAN SHI Kl.
Peking, China—Yuan Shi Kl the
Chinese president has 'sailed a dras
tic mandate, ordering the police to
arrest every person wht gambles and
to confiscate the money with which
gambling is carried on. The money
is to be used In rewarding the police
making the arrests.
Since the parliament has ceased to
exist, the only laws obeyed are the
presidential mandates, and Yuan Sill
Kl Is of the opinion that one of the
most deleterious Influences 'n China
today is gambling. For centuries
Chinese officials have been addicted
to gaming table and the president Is
determined that gambling must be
abolished If tbe new republic Is to
progress.
FIVE
SAVAGERY
the original. Then the critics began to
discuss the lost painting. Home calls'!
It a wonderful masterpiece while others
insisted that It wan n mediocre work of
no particular value. This tutement uf
fected Herbert like a personal Insult.
Time passed. The newspapers no
longer occupied themselves with (he
painting, hut th picture threatres and
the revues took It up und songs wero
made about the Iheft. “The Woman'"
adorned every bo* of candy. Herbert
saw her everywhere, In the workroom a
photo of htr was facing him, and when
he came home he was met by her gen
tile smile.
He began to wonder how he had ever
been able In fall In love with this Illy
face, this stereotype smile, these features
devoid of beauty. The lines were weak,
the coloring unnatural. He turned his
buck towards the picture while he was
eating and ended by turning the painting
Itself around.
Klnully be could not stand It any long
er and In an uttuek of disgust he rolled
up the canvas. His only thought was
no whow to get rid of It and one Satur
day afternoon he wrapped It up and re
turned It to the Louvre will) this note:
"J have adored this picture, but now
1 huts It because It has been made
commonplace, ugly and ridiculous
through Incessant reproduction. I here
with return It uml remain.
“A repentant and severely punished
THJKK.”
There was great Joy at he Louvre In
the pupers and among the public. “The
man must be mad," was the general
verdict.
Hut the "madman” was happy once
more In Ills miserable lltlle room. Jl i
mind was at ease knowing that never
again would he have to took at "The
Woman with the Muff."
AN OLD HYMN.
(Hy I’hllalnder Johnson.)
I've heal'd tho music that takes
wings from pipe and horn and trem ■
bllng strings. t’ve marveled at the
glorious art whose mystery thrills
the human heart. Hut I endeavor all
In vain to recollect some splendid
strain. Instead comes echoing sweo*.
and low a simple song of long ago.
'TIs but a dear, old-fashioned hymn.
With memory mists my eyes grow
dim. And, as I listen, there appears
a. face with tenderest 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 us they subtly sneered. Such
words, though wondrous they may be.
have snin'l significance to me come
pared to that old hymn so sweet that
told of mother love complete.