The Golden Bough

tretched his arms luxuriously and as the events of the previous night came to him, rose and looked out of the window. A clamor of birds among the gilded tree-tops, long

arrant nonsense. Medi?val flummery such as this in the fair sunlight of the summer morning! It was amateurish, sophomoric, and hardly worthy of the psychos of the intellectual mystic in the Prince Albert coat. Tanya, too--a dealer in magic and spells? He smiled to himself as he turned from the window. He

bert, he was joyed to discover--underwear, a shirt and--blessings upon blessings--scissors and a razor! She had forgotten nothing. There is a delight in cleanliness that only the cleanly who have become filthy can ever re

about and the door into the kitchen was closed, though an appetizing odor of coffee pervaded the air. He glanced at the books upon the table, a few novels, Turgeniev, Dostoievsky

open as though in horror. Around the neck of the double-head a garland of what seemed to be oak-leaves was carved into the stone and upon the pedestal, the inscription REX NEMORENSIS. That the sculpture was of a great antiquity was indicated by its worn surfaces and discolorations, and Rowland paused, studying it attentively, lost in spe

ous face on the pedestal, and gave the problem up. Then, turning, he sauntered toward a door which seemed to lead to the front of the garden, but before he reached it a voice came from over his shoulder, and turning quickly, he saw the girl Tanya, standing on the stairway giving him good morning. Her black robes had been discarded and she was dressed quite simply in a white morning frock whic

nya who f

, that I wasn't quite sure----" she lau

He paused seeking a wor

u sleep

tare at him with so malevolent a look that the American recalled quite vividly his impressions of the night before. He was not wanted here. Whatever the affairs of this place it was obvious that to all except the girl Tanya, Rowland was de trop. As he ate he found his curiosity as to the strange actions of the men of Nemi gathering impetus. They were like a lot of Boches having a morning "hate." However hospitable the girl, it was clear that they resented his presence, and from a window, even as he sat, he could see

as he fancied a slight air of constraint, "begs that yo

pe that I haven'

mething happened which disturbed him. He is

sor

ng much alone," she adde

without knowing something more of you, Mademoiselle. Your kindness in spite o

f you bolted your door you would

r convincing. He looked at h

devouring curiosity. The organization to which you belong is secret. I can perha

othing," she said

t you do is not di

ed her vo

happy," she

air, a nameless danger which if it does n

t matter to me, when Russia, when all Euro

an escap

ost startling effect upon her. She drew back quickly

u knew----?

-" she paused and

ch so profoundly affected M

de no

the table and

o go, Mademois

a moment and t

must go-

ed and turned awa

n you. But I should like to put mysel

othing. Only

t last turned against him. It seemed that she had grown a shade paler, an

Ivanitch. In the fleeting moment before the Russian emerged it seemed to Rowland that this was the exact expression on the face of the anguished half of the

is arms, long like an ape's, hanging to the knees of his t

hot blood flying to Phil Rowland's temples. He did not know what she replied, but her voice was pitched low and had a note of contrition that still further inflamed

ospitality and a growing desire to see the thing through, whatever happened. But a glance at Tanya found her gaz

taking refuge in the formal French phrase, "to

the Russian, point

ain the reckless venturing spirit that had sent him forth to deal with the primitive forces of evil

ough a film had passed over them, leaving them pale, like a burnt out cinder. His jaw fell too, his arms f

sly, as though his voice to

owland relaxed and turned

. "You can't stay here,

you are gone, he will recover. You must go

u?" ea

u, Mon

tened," he sai

wall." And she opened the door and stood aside to let him pass. He took up

u again, Ma

ightly but he caught her

," he sa

rve you, Monsieur Ro

wings and screaming discordantly. To his left in the wall of the house, doors flew open noisily and men emerged, Ivanitch, the shock-headed man, and another. They did not come toward Rowland but moved abreast of him as he went up the garden path, silent, watchful, keeping pace with him, like men in open order advancing in skirmish-line, Ivanitch nearest him, not more than three paces distant, Ivani

seemed, of this strange awkward squad. But as he neared the turn in the path which led to the gate, the shock-headed man went forward in the direction of the da?s while Ivanitch came a pace closer, bent forward, his long arms hanging, still watching him eagerly. The creature was menacing. The distan

ing, Monsieur Ivanitch

nder," croaked t

id Rowland. "But I've

ut he said nothing, though his f

Our sentiments are reciprocal. Your attitude even now is most unpleasant--not to

chokingly. He seemed trembling on

. In the meanwh

e I to do

owland coolly, aware of a new desi

they could not endure the sunlight, sta

--from the beginning

cried Rowl

rying. "He knew nothing. He knows nothing now." And then, ap

tch was o

ttered wildly. "

starte

d. It was the family n

. And then he came for Rowland, head down, his long arms groping. The American heard the girl's scream and the shouts of

ssian's throat and clutched with the strength of desperation. A madman! Once in a German trench he had fought with such another, but there were weapons there, and fortune had favored him. But his fingers seemed to meet in the throat of the fanatic and the grip around his own body relaxed as, with an effort, he threw the man

ad a vision of Tanya with arm upraised a

d you!" And then, "Kirylo! Mon

he felt a stinging pain in his shoulder and clutched the man's arm as he raised it to strike again. Up the slope of the mound they struggled, breathlessly intent, the one to murder, the other to save himself. Rowland fought coolly now, grimly, smiling as a soldier of the Legion must, aware that only as long as the threatening right arm of the Russian was pinioned was he safe from the treacherous knife. But it was right arm against left and too close to strike

t the glint of sun

"The Bough!" But as he came on again, Rowland stepped aside and hit him as he passed. The Russian st

r in her hand and beside her the scarecrow in black, and the two others, inert, horrified. Rowland breathing hard from his exertions stared s

ed man muttered in an awed

tree, looked at it curiously an

s group below. "You saw? He attacked me.

n the Prince Albert coat, lifted its head, and the

as he came toward them, "all

e down the steps but mad

ck-headed man said again. A

rned them a scornful shoulder and went over t

n his eyes the gi

ead," she

at Rowland, gaze wi

you

roach in her tone. Her attitude was m

" she whispered in an awed t

hough frozen suddenly int