Red Money

wcomer. But the man on the horse saw Miss Greeby's startled look, and noticed that her lips were m

Miss Greeby, only to

e was known as Ishmael Hearne. "Wait till I set

osswise behind her back with two hands. She was so surprised at the

priving the Romany of his society. But Pine paid no attention to these signs of discontent. He finished his speech, and then pushed his way again toward the lady who, awkwardly for him, was acquainted with his true position as a millionaire. In a hurried whisper he asked Miss Greeby to follow him, and led the way into the heart of the wood. Apparentl

ng here?" he dema

ably. She could afford to be amiable, for she felt that she was the

ng ago that I was a gypsy

er blood in you, and I have heard people say that you came from the West Indies

stared at the ground. "I am proud of having the gentle Romany blood. All the same I prefer the West Indian le

ral, Pine. What wo

rse Gar

y by all means," retor

savagely, "I

You always w

oomily, "I'm a fool whe

tle breeze sighing through the wood, shook down yew, crisp leaves on the woman's head, so that she looked like Danae in a shower of gold. Pine gazed heavily at the ground and coughed violently. Miss Greeby knew that cough, and a medical friend of hers had told her several times that Sir Hubert was a very consumptive individual. He certainly looked ill, and apparently had no

is thin lips, and brilliant black eyes, which resembled those of Kara, he looked like a long-descended Hindoo prince. The Eastern blood of the R

ss," she said aloud, an

ooking up in a sharp, startled manner, and

red shirt, and the yellow handkerchief round your neck, seem to suit you better than did the frock coats and evening dress I

and saw me among my kith and kin," said the

f my business if you chose

, slipping off the stone to sprawl full-length on the grass

you by your

the road takes me for what I am, Ishmael Hearne, and my friends in the civilized

e a double personality

that I should explain, so that you may keep my secret, at all events from my wif

haps she would prefer to know that she h

er, I can't afford to quarrel with you. As you are rich, I ca

" Miss Greeby ass

you," he reto

on this o

hy

t when you have re

ing clever I soon made money. I got hold of a man who invented penny toys, and saw the possibilities of making a fortune. I really didn't, but I collected enough money to dabble in stoc

ried Miss Greeb

soon become a power in the money markets of the world. But, save in the case of myself, we leave all such grubbing to the Jews. I did grub, and my reward is that I have accumulated a fortune in

l party you belonged to," said Miss Greeby wi

cared for talk. Howev

u are supposed to

ad occasionally. And, moreover, as my doctor tells me that I have phthisis, and that I should live as much as possible in the open air, I kill two birds with one stone, as the saying is. My h

you, Pine. And if you die your wife will be free to-" The man sat up and took away from his mouth a handkerchief spotted with blood. His eyes glittered, and he showed

ath, but answered obliquely: "You know that she was almost enga

, and rolled over to clutch at the grass in a

N

esn't spe

N

and rose slowly to his f

es, and would never encourage him in any way

ecretary is also sto

an eye on her, although there is really no occasion. Silver owes me a great deal, since I

asked Miss G

ntamed by civilization surged redly to the surface. "I'd twist his

ish for the man she loved to come into contact with this savage, veneered by civilization. Yet Lambert was in the neighbor

you would like me to d

wife. Lady Garvington and Mrs. Belgrove, and a lot of people from The Manor, a

of sight," said Pine su

friends may let the

he bag. I am Ishmael Hearne to them, and n

ll, seeing that your wi

tartly. "I know what I am doing. As to Lambert, if he

you won't die,

sake?" asked

Lambert and I wa

housands of pounds. Oh! I forgot that you have a large income. B

woman coolly. "All I ask you to do is

me lowering again. "Is h

he Manor, but he is stopping in the

again had a spasm of cou

ing pi

been near

to go near the house. I don't think you need be afraid, Pine. La

shan't live to anything like three score and ten. Your infernal hot-house civilization has killed me. But if Lamb

Greeby flung away the stump of he

Agnes my money, only on condition that she does not marry Lambert.

she lov

ause he loves

ld be a truth. "He loves me, and I intend to marry him. Now you can understand what I

gratified by preserving silence. If Agnes knew that I was a true Romany tramp, she might run away with Lambert, and

rsuade her heart that she spoke truly. "And whether you leave your mo

widow marries Lambert, she loses my millions, and they go to-" He checked himself abrupt

es Agnes still, which I don't believe," she observed, after a pause, "he would marry her even if she hadn't

I declared also, he would have to marry he

what

auper cousin meant practically the social extinction of the Lambert family, and nothing would have remained but the title. Therefore she married me, and I felt mean at the time in accepting the sacrifice. But I was so deeply in love with her that I did so. I love her still, and I am mean enough still to be j

know these

that she should know.

I told you that I had some notion of honor. Will you

to see a certain person. Silver will look after Agnes, and

ws that you are

and I can trust him thoroughly,

of mine. You may be certain that for my own purpose I shall hold my tongue and shall keep Lambert from seeking your wife.

tion with my wife," broke in the man rough

s Greeby contemptuously. "What chivalrous confide

anything about my true position and name. You promised, and you will keep yo

ar in the case of Silver, whom you trust because you have benefited h

ed, as the chances were that it would prove useful should Lambert still hanker after the unattainable woman. Miss Greeby had lulled Pine's suspicions regarding the young man's love for Agnes, but she knew in her heart

s, as the best doctors in Europe and England had given him up, and when he was placed below ground, the chances were that Agnes would marry his rival. He had made things as safe as was possible against such a contingency, but who knew if her love for Lambert might not make her willing to surrender the millions. "Unle

By his side stood Chaldea, and her eyes glittered, as she came to the point of explanation without any preamble. T

re?" demanded Pine s

. Why, that you dwell in the Gentile houses, and take a Gentile name, and cheat in a Gent

Chaldea had got the better of him, it was useless to quarre

thicket which had concealed her eavesdropping. "For that, I care that," said she, pointi

e raised h

Chaldea steadfastly. "A regular Romany Rye,

he devil, sister,"

peaking Romanly, brother, I want him to be my rom in the G

The girl was beautiful, and with her added cleverness she might be able to gain her ends, and these accomplished, would c

cool manner, and watched Pine wickedly. "You'd better help me, brother, i

o Pine's dark chee

d I tell you, brother

a wedding-ring from him

love me yet, but he will, when I get him away from the Gen

to?" demanded Pine, his

the brother of your romi. Like an owl

, rather. Prove this, my sister, and I

-she held out her hand in

dding-ring will part them as surely as any knife.