The Riddle of the Purple Emperor

in the throes of that desperate agitation which betokens the arrival of a boat-train from the continent, was full to overflowing with a

t of it. What wonder, then, that tempers were grazed, nerves jangled, and pe

in upon each other like closely packed sardines, and presented to the casual individu

s, like a poppy in a cornfield. It was the red limousine of Mr. Maverick Narkom, Superintendent o

he was staring with anxious eyes out of his drab, cockney countenance, glancing from side to side at the hurrying th

staring about him, he became conscious of a queer, gnawing pain somewhere in the region of his stomach. The knowledg

eating of me bloomin' 'at to save me life! I'll be a living skeleton, I will, with not even as much to chew at as a winkle or a charcoal biscuit.

g in the world who counted to Dollops,

Cross Station at any hour of the day, much less when the Paris boat-train was expected. This train might debouch any number of Maurevanians or French apaches, all pledged to kill the "Rat of a Cracks

g to-day from a long visit to the Baron de Carjorac and his daughter in Paris. Only a short, friendly note it had been, but sufficient to cause Cleek to spen

xcited clamour of many voices and the boat

e sight of a slenderly knit figure made his heart leap to his mouth. A mist swam in front of his eyes, blurring their vision momentarily, and he took an exultant step for

lsa

one. By her side stood a young girl not more than eighteen, if looks counted for anything, evidently so

iendly arm through he

iend of mine," she said in her fresh y

knew only too well how quick Ailsa Lorne was to lend a helping hand to any one in trouble, and he

gain, looking sign

ret has found no one to meet her. She has come from the convent o

arily, for he knew Ailsa would go direct to the rivers

was staring round the station in evident search of some friendly face, "supposing you let Lieuten

up with something ak

ld have come to meet me. It is all so strange--" Her voice died away as if she were

ed in a low voice, "and I will run yo

hall just tuck that poor child into the car, then

curved the corners of his mouth at this proof of Ailsa

his beloved master was happy in his self-appointed task, he relinquished his place at

d seen that she was half asleep, betook herself to the front seat beside Cleek. And they started on

ms that she has been at Notre Dame Convent in Paris all her life, except for one stray holiday with a friend, and now she comes of age next week, and has got to live with a sour old aunt, an eccentric being who I think must be jealous of the child's youth

d up an enqui

the beautiful Irish girl'? Yes, and she died, too, at the child's birth I remember. Hm! a heavy inheritance that, a thousand pities she wasn't a boy-- What's that, dear? Why? Why, the title dies out with her, and she comes into all the family jewels. I don't wonder

sting away the sorrow of the world, and wit

an stone, and was looted from a temple at Benares in the days of the ill-fated Indian Mutiny. It was brought to England by a member of the Cheyne family-'Mad Cheyne' I think they called him-and there is a special police chronicle of the crimes committed by, an

while he was speaking, and as he

scrape acquaintance with her. And I never knew! I never thought. As a matter of fact, I am not sure that one did not achieve his object,

. If the wind sits in that quarter she will have a hard struggle, and will be well advised to leave the 'Purple Emperor'

her soft voice, as the car whizzed

renton's husband was once engaged to Miss Cheyne, and I believe jilted her for his wife, so that a feud exists between the two families. But I believe it will be another

died away on his lips, and a look of indescribable pain, amounting almost to despair, crossed his featur

was poignant with memories. The country cott

me in case she is lonely," she said softly, and smiled up into his face. "I have

down the car that she co

losing of the door disturbed her slumbers, and as Ailsa looked down on the del

sleeping figure and raised her in the sea

nderly, "you are quite safe but nearly

r. "For a minute I couldn't think. But I feel much better, dear Miss Lorne. Oh! It is

e. "Would you like me to come all the way home with y

heart. "We certainly shall be friends, and I am sure Auntie will be grateful to you, too, but she has always been u

us intrusive, so if you are sure you are quite restored by the little sleep just drive on and when you get home, do not trouble to thank Lieutenant Deland at

ar slowed down outside the gates of the little riv

way home with her, but I know Miss Cheyne is an eccentric being who loathes strangers at the best of times, and as she has probably seen me walking with Lady B

am only happy in helping you, and those you are helping. I cannot see why Miss Cheyne should prove disagreeable, indeed she o

shud

know Sir Edgar's fiancée is safe. I daresay Lady Bre

gs, eh?" concluded Cleek, with

, too, look forward to a to-

and sped away into the shadows, while Cleek took the steering wheel once more. He sent the car rocketing onward toward the house which was to wit