The Dark Star

"So that is why you wanted them," he said with an unhappy glance at

Rue. "What idiotic impulse prompted me to put them back in the box I

can't imagine. You saw me do it, there in the taxicab."

Ruhannah said: "The chauffeur saw you, too. He was looking at you in his steering

mirror; I saw his face. But it never entered my mind that anything

except idle curiosity possessed him."

"Perhaps," said the Princess to Neeland, "what you did with the papers

saved your life. Had that chauffeur not seen you place them in the

box, he might have shot and robbed you as you left the cab, merely on

the chance of your having them on your person."

There was a silence; then Neeland said: "This is a fine business! As far as I can see murder seems to be the

essence of the contract."

"It is often incidental to it," said the Princess Mistchenka serenely.

"But you and Ruhannah will soon be out of this affair."

"I?" said the girl, surprised.

"I think so."

"Why, dear?"

"I think there is going to be war. And if there is, France will be

concerned. And that means that you and Ruhannah, too, will have to

leave France."

"But you?" asked the girl, anxiously.

"I expect to remain. How long can you stay here, Jim?"

Neeland cast an involuntary glance at Rue as he replied: "I intended to take the next steamer. Why? Can I be of any service to

you, Princess Naïa?"

The Princess Mistchenka let her dark eyes rest on him for a second,

then on Rue Carew.

"I was thinking," she said, "that you might take Ruhannah back with

you if war is declared."

"Back to America!" exclaimed the girl. "But where am I to go in

America? What am I to do there? I--I didn't think I was quite ready to

earn my own living"--looking anxiously at the Princess Naïa--"do you

think so, dear?"

The Princess said: "I wanted you to remain. And you must not worry, darling. Some day I

shall want you back---- But if there is to be war in Europe you cannot

remain here."

"Why not?"

"In the first place, only useful people would be wanted in Paris----"

"But, Naïa, darling! Couldn't I be useful to you?" The girl jumped up

from the sofa and came and knelt down by the Princess Mistchenka,

looking up into her face.

The Princess laid aside her cigarette and put both hands on Rue's

shoulders, looking her gravely, tenderly in the eyes.

"Dear," she said, "I want James Neeland to hear this, too. For it is

partly a confession.

"When I first saw you, Rue, I was merely sorry for you, and willing to

oblige Jim Neeland by keeping an eye on you until you were settled

somewhere here in Paris.