The Castle Of The Shadows

" as Virginia evasively expressed it. The beautiful Portuguese woman had hesitated at first, and confided to the American girl that, on account of the delay in receiving an e

o hard to lose the pleasure of her companionship for the sake of a few paltry dollars,

for, their return. With the money obtained from Virginia's practically unlimited letter of credit in her pocket, and a hint delicately expressed that more would be at her service whenever she wished, "as

new friend. "No? How nice! Then let us throw all the responsibility of planning things upon the m

If the American girl believed that Providence had directed her to cross the path of this beautiful woman,

of Virginia's plan, which he called "kidnapping," had

Virgie's associating with the Countess, you needn't-yet, anyhow. She isn't the kind of girl to be hurt by that sort of thing, and, besides, she'll have the dickens of a tantrum if we try to thwart her now she's set her heart on this trick. She'd be equal to slipping anchor with the Countess on board and leaving us in the lurch. Let's see the little girl through on her own lines, and if the snap doesn't come off, she can't blame u

his interest in Madeleine Dalahaide;

is woman? Was it really true that she had taken the violent and sudden fancy to her that she feigned to feel, or did that pretense cloak a hidden motive? Kate had no clue, unless the fact that Virginia had asked her never to mention Madeleine Dalah

tay behind if she did not like the arrangements for the rest of the trip. Much as she loved Cairo in the height of its gay season, much as she hated the sea at all seasons, nevertheless she was d

aitland-Fox. The girl had refused to take a maid because there would not be room, yet now she dragged this creature on board t

her lips-whether the Countess would have the locked stateroom, or what arrangement would be made for her accommodation? Obliged to wait for this information

Virginia led her past that mysterious, closed door, to the cabin formerly occupied by George Trent, and Kate saw that the young man's belongings, just brought back from Cairo, had been set down inside the stateroom once sacred to the doctor alone. In this there were two berths, and evidently George and the medical man would "chum" together for the

e for the voyage, it had not seemed worth while to write again. As for the invitation to the Portuguese woman, Kate did not see that it could be of personal interest to Loria, and she never w

going farther and farther from him. But one day a telegram came for him to the Cap Martin Hotel, where he still remained. It was d

that she had concealed such an intention than that she was now carrying it out, which seemed ominous to Loria. Sydney was the nearest place of departure for New Caledonia. In a Messageries mail boat it took ten days to reach Noumea from Sydney; it would perhaps take longer in a yacht like the Bella

earned in such lore of the far-away French prison-land as could be obtained, and he had read that, though strangers were allowed to land at Noumea, and a few had been enabled through influence to penetrate inside the prison walls, all personal intercourse with the convicts was strictly interdicted. Since the one almost miraculous escape, over thirty years ago, of Henri Roc

chill had withered a girl's fancy for a man, there could be no future blossoming, and her heart might be caught in the rebound. Once, Loria had thought that Virginia had been on the point of caring for him. Perhaps when they met she would turn to him again, remorseful for the pain she had caused, grateful for his unwavering loyalty; and, telling himself these things, he was almost persuaded that it would do him more good th

s, and was constantly troubled with headache, which gave him an excuse for believing th

as still continually reminding himself, when another telegram came from Lady Ga

salt bath, came on deck, and saw the Countess de Mattos there, with George Trent. Far away lay a strip of land, turning slowly from violet to emerald a

be left to Virginia; she coveted it, while the two men did not. Still, the Portuguese might have guessed, on s

intest shake of his head he contrived to convey to her t

d her hand was not quite steady as she offered her field-glass to the beautiful

o be making for it. What can it be? Mr. Trent says perhaps it

er eyes were on the face of Manuela, "that w

ast words, which rang out, distinctly. Instantly he knew that the moment for w

ld be seen by the eager eyes that looked for a sign of weakness. She did not speak at first, but a visible shiver ran through her body. The field-glass came down rather suddenl

for the French for?a

. "Noumea is a penal settlement. They say it is very interesting to se

ble!" she exclaimed. "We-they might rob and murder us, thes

ises," replied Virginia. "I th

eople. This is a pleasure trip, is it not? There is no pleasure in visiting a prison-land. Dear V

had plotted to destroy Maxime Dalahaide, turn livid under the brown stain which she (Virginia) suspected, gasp, totter, and perhaps fall fainting when she heard those fatal names-"New Caledonia, Noumea." But Manuela gave none of these evidences of distress. If she paled, the dusky stain in whose existence Virginia so tenaciously believed hid the si

arranged to come here, our stores won't last long enough to avoid New Caledonia and go farther. We must buy butter and milk and vegetables, and chickens and lots of things, to say nothing of coaling. But you needn'

be avoided. There is enough that is unpleasant in life without that. Ugh! I would rather do without butter and milk than buy it of convicts

't be managed,

esides she could usually make men do what she wished. But for once she found creatures of the opposite sex who we

en obliged to resign herself to the inevitable, which, to her credit, she did wi

he book says, they must be something to see. Anyhow, it's only possible to get in or out bet

she made no more protests. She turned her back upon New Caledon

untess and George Trent to the flirtation which was so embittering the d

rmly answer

took your grand coup? But this is onl

as whether we had purposely caught her in this trap, or whether she had only an avenging fate to thank for such a terrible and startling coincidence. I saw that, at least, in her eyes and her face, Roger, though I didn't see all I had been looking for. Think what she must have been feeling! She helped to send an innocent man who had lo

it carry you away as far from the truth as you've carried this wom

with her. This is only the first turn of the thumbscrew. She

rough," quietly am

think we'll succeed in what we'

parkling in uplifted e

hasn't seemed far to me, because I have been with you and the time will not have been wasted for me if we fail

t seemed they could never get disentangled, you ran on to Paris yourself to call on the Minister of the Colonies. If it had not been for the permit you got from him, we might as well have given up coming here, for all the prison doors would have been shut to us. Now, through him, and through you, they will be open, and our first step is clear. All this made me feel hopeful, when we were far away; I felt sure that we should succeed. But now that we have come these thousands of miles in ou

nia and her cousin saw Lady Gardiner, who had lately developed

e presence of mind. She was speechles

n these pleasant waters," he remarked. "There are supposed to

o hers. But the Countess tells me this island is actually New Caledonia, the French p

so," said

cret of this expedition! Is there any chance o

tourists who go to Portland 'come across' prisoners who have been convicted of murder-whether innocent or not? Noumea i

rily returned

harbour of Noumea, and before them lay the crime-cursed

. What would they find that he had become, if those precious documents which Roger had obtained proved as potent as they hoped? Would his brain and heart have been strong enou

she fancied a hard, official voice ann