CAPTAIN TOM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 49, 28 February 1896, Page 6

CAPTAIN TOM.

A NOVEL. BY ST. GEORGE BATHBORNS. Author of 'Doctor Jack,' 'Doctor Jack's Wifa,' etc. CHAPTER V. SHB SNAKE THAT LAY IN THE AMEER GLASS. Thekk can be do mistaking tho nature of the note. It comoa in the form of a warning, proving tbab a man may be ia double danger within the walla of besieged Paris. The facb that Myra haa eenb ib gives tha brave American a peculiar feeling. He ia threatened with a rush of blood to the bearb, a very dangerous symptom among young persons. • Bless her,' hti murmurs, ' besatifnl mystery that she is. I aav6 her from the mad populace, and now she returns the favour. Something within tells me this i? not the end.' Ib may at any rate be the end of nim unless he heeds Che warning conveyed in Myra's note, for danger hangs heavy over the head of Captain Tom, danger froia more than one source, threatening fco drag him down into tho maelstrom which ia about to rend fair Paris. Doing a man of action instead of a dreamer, the American immediately sets his miod upon the game that ia upon him. In ono sense it ia nob a very groat surprise, this facb of his being throftUoed by the fair Alsatian. She haß been playing a dssperato game with Captain Torn &c an antagonist, and, B3 present appeftraoces would indicate, has lost. What her object may be in endeavouring to drug him he does nob pretend to analyse jnsb now, but it musb be a deep one. She knows he ia in the service of the French governmonb, while sho worka in secret with the German flag nexb her heart,. This alone makes them foes ; bub Captain Tom has soon much of the world, and unless be makes a terrible mistake the fair Linda cares more for him than an ordinary individual. This fact adds another strange link in the chain thac ia being forged around him. These things pass? through his mind with great rapidity, and he haa about made up a plan of action, when he hoars the rnetsling of "foininine garments, that indicates Linda's return.

She cornea with a bripht smile, boaringr a emull silver salver, on which is a bottle of wine and two glasses. Her guesb is uitfcing jneS where Hhe left him, Linda glances a: him keenly, bus reads nothing upon bhab impasaive face, fcr Cap'jain Tom is nob iv the habit) of betraying hie thoughts. While ehe sets tho palvor on a small table, ho endeavours to make up his mind how his wive mto be doctored. Surely, as ib coraee from the bottle Ib will bo puro, for Linda means to drink in company with him.

Thua he decides that the drug must alraady have been droppsd into the goblet intended for I>im, or else her whita angrrg will ttiunipulate ib as ehe pours out the wine.

IL«t>n though his eyes are ho faila to detect any such action on hor pstrb, arid yot. when Bho passes thi amber goblob toward him, keeping the opal tinted one herufllf, he is quite certain the thiug bss been Accomplished. Now ootnoa the trying moment. He kno*ra ib may\ba death to him io awallo'/T the contents of that giasp, bub in whab way1 will be avoid it. Wich Buch a beautiful ioiapbresa smiling in his face, its were almost impossible for the ordinary aian fco resieo the decree of fata—ha would ba sbrongly urged'to seize his glass, clink ib againsb hey own, and awallow the decoction prepared by bar fair bunds. Won have gone to their death with their eysa wide open before now, when the blow haa been etrack by a woman they loved, and # history will contiauo to repeat) itself many times ere this hoary old world of oura gives way to tho ravages of docay, and drops back to tha cold, cheerioas order of a moon.

In this instance one thing saves Captain Tom —he is nob in love wibh tho fair Alsatian, no matter whab the state of hey feelings toward him may be. Thnß ha is able to control his actions and work out tha plan for hia own ealvatsion.

Ac he takes bho glass Bhe offers him his band bouchos here, nnd ib aoeins sb though a flash of electricity moat have passed through his whole system, such is tho straago teeling which ho experiences. Nob by a eingle sign does he betray the facb bhafc he is awaro of fcbe danger menacing him. He bak&s bhs fatal goblet—th« rich odour of the wino reaches his nostrils it gives him fcha idea he has been hunting for.

'Pardon, mam'selle, but) unless I mistake, you have re9poct for a vow, however lijrhtly taken.' Ha says this gravely. The Alsatian tarns pale. la ha aboub to refuse to drink ? * iMarci, uionsieui\ you have noo forsworn all our nafiivo winea—you have nob become a teetotaler since laeb we road past the cafes chanianls on tha Champs Elyeees, Btopping to taste tha besb poor Monsieur Jacque3 can pub betore his gneatia in these troublous times?' The American laughs lightly. , ' Oh, mam'selle, it ia not so bad n.i that. I have nob forsworn fcho wines you Parisians drink like water, bub once upon a timn I made a solemn vow that never again would I taste this particular vintage unless ib Lad that peculiar piquancy which a little gratsd nutmeg a'-one can give.' Linda utters an exclamation—her face r6 once loses its frown — she ia again smiling. * I faar you may think me foolish, but an old bachelor like myaolf sometimes falls into the evil practice of indulging these idlo fancies—no doubt they are selfinh ' * Say no moro, Monsieur Tom. Why should you apologise for such a simple fchiog? Io ia I who should beg pardon for nofc anticipating your wants. Have the goodneeu fco excuse mo for a moment nnd I will see whether they havesuch a thing in the house. He is aboub to murmur, • With pteaeure, bub thinking the words too significant, merely bows and smiles. The fair Liuda sweeps out) of the room, only boo anxious to obey a bachelor's whim. Ah ! the coast is clear. Captain Tom has been reclining indolently in his eaay-chair, but he speedily looses that look of apathy. Hardly has the rustle of feminine paruoents p^*sed beyond his range of hearing than he bends forward, takes the rlosb that he has deposited upon the tray, smells of its contents, holds ib up so that the light shines through the rich wina he!d within, and then shakes his head, as if bafflad in the attempt io discover tbe identity of the drug it coutain3. In addition fco several other acomplisbmentß, Captain Tom ia interested in tbe strange elements of the science of poison —toxicology—and he fancied it would be easy to discover tha nature of the scheming Alsatian's drug. He does nob mean fco atop there. Danger lurkß in thab amber goblet, and cannot be dislodged any too soon. Already be has aeon the opportunity. There is an open fire-place in the room, where a fire, made down for the night, smoulders. He burns toward ib, glass in hand, bends down, empties the wine in among the asho?. and than rises with a jirim smile of satisfaction. Taking oub a snowy pocket-handkerchief bo ruthlessly bhrust*9 ib, into tho goblet, which he instantly cleans with the neatness and dispatch of a high-toned waiter at the Hotel do Louvra.

Still he has nob done. The glnsa must be filled agftfn jusb as the ftiir Alsatian lefb it. Captain Tom's hand in as steady as a rock while ho allows the ruby fluid to escape until a certain imaginary line upon tho gobleb is reached. Then ho sota the bottle down with a gritmco ab its lightened condition, and inwardly hopes Linda will not have her attention called to the lower line of its contents. He i 3 careful to place things jaafc as they wero, and then leans back ia hie chair with a sigh of satisfaction. Fortune haa smiled upon him. Id was nob ao very difficult a matter uftev ail. Thua a s-Jiort interval passes, and then, attracted by a rusblo of the curtains in the quarter whera Myra had vanished, the American looka up to see that sweet face among tha folds of the portiore. One finger ie presnod upon h»r lipe, indicating silence ; she ehakss her head, blows him v kiss, and is gone. Captain Tom feels strangely agitated. There fa a volcano within his veins that threaten a speedy eruption. Somehow the presence of the giri wtiom he ban so singularly met on Beveml occasions always thrills* him in this way. His thowehta are interrupted, for he hears Linda coming. She enters the room, breathing hard, ac though it has b9en something of an effort to reach the culinary department; of thesacrod convent. Sbill her faca is marked by triumph, and she holds aloft a nutmeg grater as a victor might) the spoils of conquest. 'Ah, Captain Tom, cruel tyrant), see what I biive dose to humour your cAprics— reddened my cheeko by tho exertion until I look only lit for the kitchen.' The bachelor thus brought to tho bar, vehemently protests, »nd dncl.area thaS he never s»w her look more charming, which compliment from the man .she loves haa the effect) of making her eyea sparkle, though she rattles on : ' You aro like the resb ol your sex, monsieur—gay deceivers all. You havg learned in Paria to flatter. Do nots shake your head and look displeased. lam not a silly girl, bub one accustomed to reading mun.' All tint) while she has been scraping the nutmeg into his wino, until the surface is covered with the floating duals, afc which stage Tom firmly but gently clasps her wrist.

'Enough, maui'sello. A spoon, if you please, and thon we will drink to our mooting again, when this cruel war ia orer.' 'I shall never forget that it is because of your regard tor me, Captnin Tom, blub I otn indebted for my life. Bub for that) these Parisians, who are chub up like rats in a trap, would before this hour have takon me to the Prison La Ruquobte, and perhaps to tha guillotine in fronb.'

Her dark eyes ara fastened upon his while ebe thusepsaks, and the man of nerve >Tho has hunted tigora in tho junglos of India, feels more uneasy under thia glance than be ever remembers hua boon hia lob whan facing a 3tripod Bengal devil among tha tall glasses boyond hia bungalow.

This woman is dangerous, whether ehe hates or loves ; her dazzling b- auty readers hor doubly so ; she ban a keen mind, and when battling for Borne objecb which has become sacred in hereyos, whether country or lover, will not allow any ncruplea to atand in bho way to success. With hor ' all's fair in love or war.'

Captain Tom idly stirs the contents of his glass, bubhis mind i« aflame ; he puzzles over the meaning of this scene, and resolves bo make a desperate attempt to solve in.

He is afraid of no danger, and once hft has made up hidiniad nothing of an ordinary nature can cau&e him to change ib,

Tbe timo has como; he removes tho spoon and raises his glass. • Mam'sclle. you and I, by bho fortunes of war, chance to bo on opposite sides, hot thab should nob makes u& fooa, any more t'.lnan it prevents ns from each boasting the Chu&o dear to our hearts. Hare, then, ia to fcbo Right ; may it succeed no matter on which aide it lies.'

'I caa drink to thatbooßb, Monsieur Tom,' tho f.iir Alsatian cries immediately.

Th*.y drain their biny glasses,

'I p-'ity you, monsieur,' ehe laughs, evidently noting the grim look which ho cannob kaep from showing upon his face aa ha quad's the villainous compound; but Tom is game to the back boo 3, and ab onca boldly deolaroB:

'Ah, thsib was nectar fife for the gods ! 1 and all the more delightful because it has beea brewed by such lovely iingere. I don'O wonder some of tho ancient worthies we read about thought il a privilege, when aboub to commit! suicido, to have the fatal glaas handed to them by one they loved. I should imagine, as you must perceive, mam'selle, that it—what the deuce wan I aboub to cay —well, ib doesn't matter anyway, for really 1 must bo going. You see, tho fellows in bhe works on Mont Valerian will be oub of amrrunition, and I chance to know that) provisions aro being received in Paris by tbe underground passage. Jove ! whab nils me, anyhow ? Do you know my wits seem wandering. I believe you must have intoxicated mo with one of your divine glances, my dearest Linda,' ho ramblae on, while ha clasps her white hand, raising h. to his lips several times in a sorb of maudlin way. 'Icatj'b remombtr ever having experienced thia straugo Benstifcion before. Why, my eyes are like lead—my senses reel ! Confusion take it, I fail to sco anything bub dancing lights. I shall nob let you go, Linda. This musb b© a vertigo, caused by anxiety aad improper food during tha siege. Ifc will soon pass. Just now I would give all I poeeoss for a wiak— —of sleep.' Tho Alsatian's face is gleaming vnth feriumph, bub she looks upon tha American with love, nob hate ; a troubled expression might also be seen upon her face, as though in her mind she is uneasy concerning fcbo future. She passes the free hand caressingly over Captain Tom's white brow. How tenderly ib lingers among his thick locks. •Sleep and fear not, Tom. Your Linda isi here. She will watch over you, Sleep —sleep.' The soft tone of ber voice alone ia a lnllaby ; hovr she lingers upon his name ; Ib thrills the man to kr ow thab this schecning beauty loves him ; he thinks of the rattio' snako of hia native country, bo volvaty soffc, and yet quick as lightning to reeenfc the coming of an intruder. Somehow this fair German spy makes him draw a comparison with the serpent, whose warning rattle has been thn lasb sound in many a poor doomed wretch's ear. Murmuring low words, disconnected and in reality meaningless, poor Capbain Tom finally lies back in his chair as in a Btupor. MamVelle Linda cease? her caressing movement —she benda down and looks iuto | his face. ' Ab last, my king !' sho murmurs. A fascination draws her down close to bis mcustached face, then turning she suddenly leavas the room. Hardly haa sho passed boyond febe portals of bhe door than the apparently sealed lids of the American's eyes fly open, and be breathes : 1 That was a treacherous kiss; bub in tho discharge of bis duty I trust Tom Pilgrim can ondura much. I impatiently await bho siren's next move.' A grsab surprise was in store for Captain Tom. ( To be Continued. I '