of May, was dark and lowering, with a slow
storm blackly gathering in the southwest. It was four in the afternoon
when the _Zulu Queen_ came up the river, and under quarter speed crept
in and anchored within one thousand feet of the mouth of Storri's drain.
Perhaps, of all the folk in Washington, no more than three remarked the
advent of the _Zulu Queen_; one of these was Storri, one the San Reve,
and one Inspector Val. Storri saw neither of the others; the San Reve
saw only Storri; Inspector Val, whose trade was eyes, saw both Storri
and the San Reve. Four of Steamboat Dan's men came into town the day
before by rail, and for twelve hours prior to the advent of the _Zulu
Queen_, and under the lead of Steamboat Dan, had been in the drain
giving aid and comfort to Cracksman London Bill in his efforts to reduce
the gold reserve.

When Storri observed that the _Zulu Queen_ was safely a-swing on her
rope at the very spot he had specified, he turned and moved rapidly
away. The San Reve, who had seen what she came to see, was already upon
her return journey to Grant Place, bearing in her bosom a heart desolate
and heavy with no hope. The coming of the _Zulu Queen_ had confirmed to
her the treachery of Storri. Yes, she the San Reve could see it all!
Storri might have quarreled with Mr. Harley; but the loving
understanding between himself and Miss Harley was still complete!

Nor was the poor jealous San Reve wholly without a reason, as she beheld
events, for her conclusion. Within the past few days, Storri had been
several times to and fro in the vicinity of the Harley house. Only the
afternoon before he had cautiously studied the premises in company with
a couple of suspicious-looking characters, being indeed no other than
Steamboat Dan and Benzine Bob. The San Reve kept secret pace with Storri
in these reconnoiterings. But she made the mistake of construing
preparations to abduct as arrangements to elope. As the San Reve read
the portents, Storri planned to meet Miss Harley that very night; they
would fly together, the _Zulu Queen_ offering a sure means of baffling
pursuit.

The San Reve, biased of her jealous fears, had foreseen in the message
to Steamboat Dan some such end as this. It was all so plain and sure to
the angry, heart-broken San Reve. The false Storri had done what he
might to cover his intentions by daily lies as to how and when he, with
the San Reve, should sail for France and Russia! Ah, yes; the San Reve