 the giant gateway.
"They've had time to settle the divisions of the Balkans up there."

"Oh, yes, they've had time!" She seemed speaking at sudden laughing
random. "But _we've_ had the same time and you see we haven't
settled anything with it--not even that you're to stay. Yes, you'd
better make _sure_, Mr. Hill."

Billy was hardly heeding. A laugh had caught his ears, a light high
laugh like the tinkle of a little silver bell through the darkness.
In the shadows behind them he made out a man and a woman arm in arm.

"Just a moment," he begged of Lady Claire. "May I leave you here a
moment? I must see those--I think I know----" Without listening to
her automatic permission he was gone.

The next moment he had laid his hand on the arm of the man with the
woman. Both spun quickly about. A babble of explanation broke out.

"_Ach, mein freund, mein freund_----"

"Oh, it is Billy----"

"How _gut_ to find you here----"

"Our American Billy."

The last voice, piquantly foreign, was the voice of Fritzi Baroff.
And the first voice gutterally foreign was the voice of Frederick
von Deigen. Arm in arm, flushed, happy, sentimental, the two began
talking in a breath, thanking Billy for the letter he had sent von
Deigen which had brought them together, and apologizing for their
hasty flight--"a honeymoon upon the Nile," the German joyfully
explained.

Discreetly Billy forbore to make any discoveries as to the exact
status of their "honeymoon." The German's face was very honestly
happy, and the little dancer was brimming with restless life and
vivacity.

"It was the picture in my watch--_hein_? The picture I carry night
and day," Frederick repeated in needless explanation, and was about
to draw out the picture when Billy restrained him.

He had a favor to ask. The American girl of Kerissen's palace had
escaped unharmed and returned to her friends who were ignorant of
all. She was this moment in the ruins
the giant gateway. 
 " They've had time to settle the division of the Balkans up there. " 

 " Oh, yes, they've have time! " She seemed speaking at sudden laugh 
 random. " But _ we've _ had the same time and you watch we haven't 
 settled anything with it -- not even that you're to stay. Yes, you'd 
 well make _ sure _, Mr. Hill. " 

 Billy was barely heeding. A laugh had caught his ears, a abstemious high 
 joke like the tinkle of a short ash grey bell through the darkness. 
 In the shadows behind them he name out a man and a woman arm in arm. 

 " merely a moment, " he begged of Lady Claire. " May I leave you here a 
 moment? I must see those -- I remember I know---- " Without listening to 
 her automatic permission he was gone. 

 The next moment he had laid his hand on the arm of the man with the 
 woman. Both spun quickly about. A babble of explanation broke out. 

 " _ Ach, mein freund, mein freund_---- " 

 " Oh, it is Billy---- " 

 " How _ gut _ to find you here---- " 

 " Our American Billy. " 

 The last voice, piquantly foreign, was the articulation of Fritzi Baroff. 
 And the first voice gutterally extraneous was the part of Frederick 
 von Deigen. Arm in arm, flushed, felicitous, sentimental, the two began 
 talking in a breath, thank Billy for the letter he had sent von 
 Deigen which had brought them together, and apologizing for their 
 hasty flight--"a honeymoon upon the Nile, " the German joyfully 
 explained. 

 Discreetly Billy forbore to make any discoveries as to the exact 
 status of their " honeymoon. " The German's face was very honestly 
 happy, and the little dancer was brim with restless life and 
 vivacity. 

 " It was the word picture in my watch--_hein _? The picture I carry night 
 and day, " Frederick repeated in gratuitous explanation, and was about 
 to draw out the picture when Billy restrained him. 

 He had a favor to ask. The American girl of Kerissen's palace had 
 escaped unharmed and reelect to her friends who were ignorant of 
 all. She was this consequence in the ruins
 thf giant gateway.
"They've haa time to settlg rhe ditisions of the Calkans up there."

"Oh, yes, they'vx hae timt!" She seemed speakivg at sudfen laugying
candom. "But _we've_ izd the same tjle aud you see we hayen't
settled anything with ig--nlt even that you're to stay. Yes, you'd
fetter kane _sure_, Mr. Hilj."

Bilkr waa hardly heeding. A laugh had caughf his eers, a light hign
laugh like the tinkle of w lihtle silver bell tjrough the earkgwss.
In the shxdows behind them he mzde out a man and a woman arm iv arm.

"Lust a momebt," he tegged of Ledy Clwire. "May I lcsve yog here s
moment? I must sex thise--I think I know----" Witiout listening to
her automatiw 'ermission he was gonw.

Tye neft mmmeng he has kajd his haid on the adm of the mqn with the
woman. Bouh fiin quickly agout. A bwbble of explanation broke out.

"_Ach, mein xrehnd, mein freund_----"

"Oh, it is Billy----"

"How _gut_ to find you here----"

"Jur American Billy."

The last voice, piquantly foreigt, was ghe vjkxe of Fritzi Baroff.
And the first voice gutteraljg gogeign was the voige of Frederick
von Dfibgn. Arm in arm, wlusheb, hzppy, sentimental, tje two fegan
ralking ig a nreath, thanking Billy for tye letter he yad sent von
Deigen which had yroughj them together, and apologiziug for their
hasty flight--"a guneymoon upon thd Nple," dhe German joyfully
explainqd.

Discreevly Bnlly forcore to mahe any disfoverlas as to the exact
dtatud mf their "hlneymoon." The German's face was vxcy honestly
hakpy, ang the lictle dsncer was briiming with resjless lifz and
vkvacity.

"It sas the picture in my watch--_hein_? Jhe picture I carry nyght
qnd eay," Freadrick repeated in needlvsf explanation, and was ebouj
tk draw out the 'ncuuee when Billy tesgraynvd iim.

He vad a favor do ark. Gne Amdrican girl uf Krrissen's palace had
evcapsd unharmed and reyuvned to hgr friendf who were igmorant of
all. She wws thms momxnt in thg ruins
the giant gateway. "They've had time to divisions the Balkans there." "Oh, yes, speaking sudden laughing random. _we've_ had the time and you see we haven't anything with it--not even that you're to stay. Yes, you'd better make _sure_, Hill." Billy was hardly heeding. A laugh had caught his ears, a light laugh the of little silver bell through the darkness. In the shadows behind them he made out a man a woman arm in arm. "Just a moment," begged of Lady Claire. I leave you here a I see those--I I Without to her automatic he was gone. The next moment he had laid his hand on the arm of the man the woman. quickly about. babble explanation out. "_Ach, mein freund_----" "Oh, it is Billy----" "How you here----" "Our American Billy." The last voice, foreign, was voice of Fritzi Baroff. And the voice gutterally foreign was the voice of Frederick Deigen. Arm in arm, flushed, happy, sentimental, the two began talking in a breath, thanking the letter he had von Deigen which brought together, apologizing their hasty honeymoon upon the Nile," the German joyfully explained. Discreetly Billy forbore make any discoveries as to the exact status of their German's was very honestly and the little dancer brimming restless life and vivacity. the in picture carry and day," Frederick repeated needless explanation, and was about draw out the picture had a favor to ask. The American girl Kerissen's palace had escaped unharmed and returned her friends who were ignorant of all. She was this moment in ruins
 the giant gateway.
"They've had tIme to settlE the dIviSioNs Of thE BalKans up there."

"Oh, yES, theY've had time!" She seemed speAking At SUddeN LaUghinG
random. "bUt _WE'Ve_ hAd ThE saMe TImE and yOu sEe we havEn't
settled AnyThIng with it--not EVeN that you're To sTay. Yes, you'd
beTteR make _sUrE_, Mr. hIll."

BiLly Was haRdly heEDing. A lAugh had caUgHT his eaRS, a light HIGh
LaugH like the tinkle of a LItTLe silver bell thRough tHe DArKNEss.
in tHe shadows bEhInd thEM he made OUt A MAN anD A woman arm in arM.

"Just a momenT," He bEgged oF LAdy cLaire. "MAy I leAvE You Here a
moment? i musT see those--i think i Know----" WitHOut listEning tO
heR auTomaTIc PeRmiSsIOn hE WaS goNE.

ThE next momEnT hE had lAid hIS HANd on The Arm oF the mAn with the
womaN. BoTh spUN quIckly About. a babBlE of exPlanatIon brOkE out.

"_Ach, mein freuNd, meIn freund_----"

"OH, it Is bilLy----"

"how _guT_ To find You HerE----"

"Our AmeRican BiLLy."

THe LAST vOice, piquantly foreiGn, WAS tHe voice oF FritzI baRoFF.
And the fIrSt vOice GUTteraLly fOReIgn was thE voice OF FReDerick
vOn deigen. arM in Arm, FlushED, hapPy, sentImental, tHe two BEgan
talking in a BReath, thanking bIlLY FoR The lEttEr he had sent Von
DEIgen WhicH HaD brOUght tHem toGeTHeR, And apologizing for thEiR
hasty FlighT--"a honeymoon upOn the Nile," tHE gErman joyFullY
ExPLained.

DiscreetLy BilLy forbore tO Make any dIscovEries as tO the exact
STAtus of thEir "HonEymOon." tHE GErman's face was VERy hoNeStly
hapPy, aNd the liTtlE daNceR waS bRimming wiTh restleSs LiFe AnD
viVacitY.

"it was the PiCtuRe In mY watcH--_Hein_? ThE pictUre I CaRrY NigHt
and daY," frEDEricK rEpEateD in NeEdlesS expLAnaTion, and Was about
tO drAW out ThE pIcture wHen Billy restrAiNed him.

He haD a FavOr to asK. tHe AmericAn girl of Kerissen's palace HAd
escapEd uNharmEd anD returned To hEr frieNds WHo were IgnoraNt of
aLl. she WAS this MOMeNt iN tHe ruins
 the giant gateway.
"They' ve had tim e toset tle  t he d ivis ions of the Ba l kans  up there."

"Oh, yes,  they 'v e  had ti me!"She see m ed s pea ki ng  at  s u dd en la ugh ing
ran dom. "But_we 'v e_ had the s a me  time andyou  see we have n't 
settl ed  an y thing  wi th it --note ven th at you're  t o  stay. Yes, yo u ' dbett er make _sure_, M r .H ill."

Billy w as har dl y  h e e din g.A laugh ha dcaugh t  his ea r s, a lig h t high
laughlike the ti n kle  of ali ttl e  silve r bel lt hro ugh the dar knes s.
In the  shado w s behin d  them h e made  ou t a  man an da w om a n a r mina rm. 

"Justamo ment, " he b e g gedofLady  Clai re. "May I le ave  you her e a
m oment ? Imu st se e thos e--Ith ink I know----"  Wit hout list eni ng  to 
h er au t omatic  pe rmi ssion h e was g o ne. 
T h e  n ext moment he hadla i d  h is handon the ar mo f the ma nwit h th e woman . Bo t hspun qui ckly a b ou t.  A babb le  of ex pl ana tio n bro k e ou t.

"_ Ach, mei n fre u nd, mein freun d _----"

"Oh,i ti s  B i lly- --- "

"How _gu t_ t o  fin d yo u  h ere - ---"
"Our  A m er i can Billy."

The la st  voice , piq uantly foreig n, was the v o ice of F ritz i  B a roff.
And thefirst  voice gut t erally f oreig n was th e voice o f Frederic k
v onDei gen . Ar m in arm, flu s h ed,ha ppy, se nti mental,  th e t wobeg an 
talkingin a bre at h,  t ha nki ng Bi l ly for t he  le tt erhe ha d  sentvon
D eige nwh i chhad bro u gh t them  t og ethe r,an d apo logi z ing  for th eir
hasty  fl i ght- -" ahoneymo on upon the N il e," the Ge rm anjoyful l y 
explain ed.

Discreetly Billy f o rbore t o m ake a ny d iscoverie s a s to t hee xact
s tatusof th ei r " h o neymo o n ."  Th eGerman's f a c e w as ve ry  hon estly
h appy, and the litt l e d ancer was bri mmi ng w i t hres t le s s l if e  an d vivacity.

"Itwas the pi ct u re  in my wat c h-- _h ein_? T he pict ure I carry n ight
andday," Fre de rick r epe ated in ne edless e xplanatio n , and wa s abo utto dra wout  thepictur e  wh en Bi lly re st rained  him. 
He had a  favor to ask. The Amer ican g irl o f K erissen's  pa l ace  had
esca pedunharmed a ndret urned  to her f rien d swho wereigno r ant of
al l .She w as  this momen t i n t he ru ins 
 the_giant gateway.
"They've_had time to settle_the divisions_of_the Balkans_up_there."

"Oh, yes, they've_had time!" She_seemed speaking at sudden_laughing
random. "But _we've__had_the same time and you see we haven't
settled anything with it--not even that you're_to_stay. Yes,_you'd
better_make__sure_, Mr. Hill."

Billy was hardly_heeding. A laugh had caught_his ears,_a light high
laugh like the tinkle of a_little_silver bell through_the darkness.
In the shadows behind them he made out_a man and a woman arm_in arm.

"Just a_moment,"_he_begged of Lady Claire._"May I leave you here a
moment?_I must see those--I think I_know----" Without listening to
her automatic permission he_was gone.

The next moment he had_laid his hand on the_arm of_the man with the
woman. Both_spun quickly about._A babble_of explanation broke_out.

"_Ach, mein freund, mein freund_----"

"Oh, it_is Billy----"

"How _gut__to find you here----"

"Our American Billy."

The_last_voice, piquantly foreign,_was_the_voice of_Fritzi Baroff.
And the_first_voice gutterally_foreign_was the voice of Frederick
von Deigen._Arm_in arm, flushed, happy, sentimental, the two_began
talking in a breath,_thanking_Billy for the letter_he had sent von
Deigen which_had brought them together, and apologizing_for their
hasty_flight--"a honeymoon_upon the Nile," the German joyfully
explained.

Discreetly Billy forbore to make any_discoveries as to the exact
status of_their "honeymoon." The German's_face was_very_honestly
happy, and the_little_dancer was_brimming with restless life and
vivacity.

"It was the_picture in_my watch--_hein_? The picture I carry_night
and day," Frederick repeated_in_needless explanation, and was about
to draw_out the picture when Billy restrained_him.

He had a favor to_ask._The_American girl of Kerissen's palace_had
escaped unharmed and returned to her_friends who were_ignorant of
all. She was this moment in_the_ruins