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About Beaver State herald. (Gresham and Montavilla, Multnomah Co., Or.) 190?-1914 | View Entire Issue (July 31, 1908)
♦ The Chauffeur and the Jewels C*rwitM. t*w. bF J. B. L ippincott C ompany ▲U n<ht* ♦ ♦♦ ¥ • CHAPTER II.— < C*wtlnued.) At ’ however. think tig that the si !en<'* was growing a little too significant. •’What is that gray thing around us?" she queried frivolously, straining her eyes into the gloom; "perhaps it’s a marsh by I daylight.’* The chauffeur drew a long breath. "Is It a marsh?" he asked. "To me all this seems a corner of paradise, an oasis in : a pretty long dry deaert!” He pulled himself up anxiously, sauc ing al his companion and wondering if he had gone too far: but Gussie only star ed absently ahead into the gloom. "I don’t take much stock in oases." she ; objected. dreamiy\ "My experience is that they genert ly turn out to be private property, forbidden to trespasser*. or else ate so fenced in by restrictions a* to take away all the pleasure, or. what is worst of all”—she gave a title sigh—"they van ish into a mirage, leav ing one in the desert as tired and thirsty as before." "Then some oue e’.se knows what it is j to be tired and thirsty." commented the chauffeur, with significance. Mrs. Waring inclined her head. "And yet." she said, with a hard little laugh, "my good friends will tell you that I have done nothing all my life but eat and drink and be merry !” There was another silence, while the fire fliea wove a mystic dance in the long, lush grass, and by the roadside the chauf feur stood motionless, his usually alert brain in a whirl, his keen senses for the moment drugged, paralysed by the over powering magnetism of the woman beside him. After a few moments Mrs. Waring turned her head, to find a pair of strange eyes fixed upon her own in a glowing. Inexplicable gate. "Well, what is it now?" «he asked, half Involuntarily, little realising the conse quences of her remark. "What it has been from the start." de clared an impassioned voice beside her. •peeking in a husky, chaotic mixture of broken English and French. "Ah ! it is unjust, it is cruel to be so adorable, so irresistible !” The man was down on his knees by this time, feeling excitedly for her gloved hands. "Ah! mia bella !" he sighed brokenly: but here an interruption occurred—the acene changed abruptly. With a quirk recoil Quasi« was on her feet, gathering her skirts about her in stinctively: then drawing herself to her full heght she looked down, favoring the prostrate chauffeur with an icy. disdain ful stare from head to foot. After which, turning negligently away. "Sarto," she ordered, in the impersonal tone with which one addresses a servant, "just put my wrap« and that cushion in the ton neau. please; I think I bear Mr. Buist returning." She was not From the dis tance came a ion I title of approaching wheels, accompa ..ed by the cracking of a whip; and. as the chauffeur pulled him self dizzily together, a spidery object pame into view around the bend in the mad. resolving itself speedily into a high dog cart and galloping horse, while, lit up by the swinging lamps, Gerald’s coun tenance. tense with annoyance and sus picion. peered down at the two figures by the roadside. "Here’s that tire.” he said shortly, toss ing a miscellaneous parcel in the direction of rhe chauffeur. Then, to Guraie: “Miss Bancroft preferred to stay at the hotel," he vouchsafed briefly; "so I go? a trap and came right back. I hope you’re satisfied." Mrs. Waring rewarded him with an un usually grateful smi’e. "Thank you#very much." she said. There was a nervous tremble in her voice as she stood beside the trap looking up at its driver. "Give me a hand. Gerald.” And over her shoulder, to the man be hind, "You will hear from me about the car later.’’ she said casually "Just come up to the hotel for directions.” Five seconds later the dog cart with Jts two occupants was off in a whirl of dust, leaving a wounded motor prone by the ditch side, and a yet more deeply wounded chauffeur standing in the middle of the road, uttering strange, uncouth maledictions, as he vowed an eternal ven 4 CHAPTER III. At the end of the Hue Royal in the city of Havre, the Hotel Maritime ob trudes its huge frontal development, pressing the great porte-cochere hospita bly into the street. The lights were all burning in the windows when the chauffeur shot by at a late hour that night, intent only on get ting his motor into the garage at the back without attracting noti e. In the big ahed two other panting, ■teaming monsters were t>eing rubbed down by their attendant slaves, and. lay ing off his leather coat. Sarto set to work on the motor, the sharp exercise of pol ishing heating his chilled pulses and fur Dishing some outlet for the fierce rest lesspess that was consuming him. He was on his knees beside the rar. manipulating the oil can with artistic nicety, when step« sounded on the pave ment outside, and a colossal shadow fell acrons the chauffeur’s line of vision. "My ward, Sarto, that you?” came in a hated English drawl; then, as there was no response from the garage, after a mo ment Buist’s massive head and shoulders shot up above the gateway. "I say.” he observed sardonically, “thought you were by way of bein’ n chauffeur! How many hours does it take you to put on a new tire?” Sarto did not reply, and for an Instant the Englishman silently eyed the shirt ■leered figure before him with cold aver ■ion. It was this common workman, re dolent of petrol, that Mrs. Waring had ■een fl’ to constitute her cavalier for six insane hour« ! The sooner he was shown hie proper place the better. Gerald’« teeth closed vindictively on his i cigar , “bse that you give that machine a jolly The C^athfeur and the Jewels ♦ th Ldltll Horgan Willett gxswl poliahin’ while you’re about It." he ordered at last, with a harsh authority that was almost arrogance. "She’s got to be in decent shape for shlppln’ by to morrow mornin’ at latest." lie turned on h.s heel, aud then, with added aharpueaa. "Hear what I say? Have her ready to go on to Southampton by the next boat.” What happened next was a complete surprise to Gerald Buist. Up to this point, by a superhuman ef fort the chauffeur had kept himself in hand, but now his face had beew»iue livid with suppressed fury, and between his curie«! black lipa his teeth gleamed sug- festively. It was a somewhat terrifying figure that shot up suddenly not a foot away, with brawn. sinuous finger* writhing un pleasantly near the Englishman’s throat. "I take my orders from Mrs. Waring, and no oue else," came iu a sibilant whis per. From his overpowering vantage of height and bulk the Anglo-Saxon looked down on the fiery Latin with blank aston ishment. which gradually gave place to a dawning amusement. "You little foreigner, here." raising his voice, "get out of my way ’." Forth went-his huge arm with unex pected directness. brushing the slight Southerner contemptuously aside, much as a self-respecting house »log might dis pose of a vagrant cur. Then turning on !iis heel, the Englishman sauntered netr chalantly towards the hotel, trolling one of t’havalier’s Coster songs in his sten torian baritone. Staggering back against the garage door, a dusty, oily figure straightened it self with a muttered curse and looke»! after the retreating one. "An apoplexy on thee!" it sobbed in Venetian patois. "Dog of an English man ! I will remember this forever !” Gone was Annette’s gentlemanly com panion of the tonneau. Gon« Mrs. War ing’s ramantic lover. «Alas! It was a very plebeian chauffeur that some time later crawled abjectly into the garage The next morning dawned overcast, with a soggy wind blowing off the Chan nel. and a chill «altiness in the air that suggested to the shiverv Sarto an ova sional glass of absinthe at the cafe around the corner. However, h« kept himself for the most part in the garage, from which the back windows of the Maritime were visible, varying the monot ony of his work at intervals by a saunter into the lobby of the hotel, haunting es pecially that region around the telephone, in restless expectation of a message which did not come. It was about noon that th* machine stood ready for «Kipping, packed by the chauffeur’s experienced hands into a shapeless, hide-bound mass, and not un til then did Sarto let himself out of the motor shed and make off with stiff alac rity for a much-needed bath and shave. Some time later, obedient to th* long expected telephone message, the chauffeur presented himself at Mrs. Waring’s sit ting room—to find, with an odd mixture of regret and relief, that Annette Ban croft was the only one to be seen. "Come right in.” the girl said at once her genial «mile making him realize re morsefully how utterly he had forgotten of late his little comrade of the tonneau. “As you see. I’m in the depths of pack ing:” she waved her hands towards a collection of trunks and their contents scattered promiscuously around the room. "Won’t you sit down?” But Sarto remained standing. "I came to r*;>ort about the car. sig norina." he said, with a certain somber dignity. "It’s all ready for shipping.” "Oh. dear!" The girl’s face fell uncon sciously. and as unconsciously Sarto found himself watching her, his bruised senses reviving under h*r friendliness with a startled sudden consciousness of something about her which he had felt before. Just a waft, subtle, elusive, intangible, of that divine essence which has been labelled <’harm! "Oh, yes,” she «aid, with a quiver in her voice. “The poor car! Mr. Buist s going to find a purchaser In England. \Ve shall never s*e it again. Well,” with a fatalistic shrug of her shoulders, "there’s no use lamenting the inevitable! I must tell Mrs. Waring you’re here. Just wait a moment,” and she turned away, the complete unconsciousness of her manner assuring the chauffeur more strongly than words that Gussie had kept her own counsel thus far. There was a sense of relief in this dis covery, and. as the door closed behind her, he was able to glance around, tak ing sto^k of his surroundings with a faint, detached interest and curiosity. Th* room was a comfortable one, boast ing of a writing table, lounge and vari ous ea«y chairs, the last heaped with fem inine effects from the trunks, which, rang ed around the four walls, had overflowed in every direction. A driving rug which the chauffeur recognized as flung casually on the floor, and a well-known khaki motor cloak lay Ix’side it in a huddled, human-looking mass. In fact, the whole place was overwhelmingly suggestive of Gussie, and, stung by a hornet host of recollections, Sarto began to pace up and down, "realizing again with intolerable distinctness the full bitterness of last night’s humiliation—his own mad reck lessness and folly! Self-disgust added fuel to his fury, fanning it by degrees into a burning, unreasoning malevolence towards Gussie which craved some outlet. In the man’s supersensitive stat« every feature of his present position—even such minor annoys n«-*s as the jangling clock on the mantle-piec«, the uncomfort ably roaring fire beneath—contributed to th* sum of his misery, exasperating his nerves beyond bearing. It was with a sens* of positiv« injury that he glared at th* small prim grate opposite, and then, rapidly crossing the room, dashed open th« window next to it. 11« leaned out heavily. Ah—h! but th« stinging salty gust was good! Step ping nearer to get more of it, bls b*w»t heel sank Into something soft and muwfiy An* of GuMsie’s feather boaa and bend» Ing »b»wn Sarto picked the thing up and glanc«4 donn uncertainly Into the «teaiu er trunk twside hitu Some minutes passed: the Swiss clock on the mantel ticked on loudly ami the fire crackled as obtrusively aa before; but they were alike unheeded by (he man on his knees by the steamer trunk, »tar i CeeyritM. 'S'*, bv J. It LlFeiNCorv C ompany fjy a ing down into It with an odd mixture of AU right» hmm *««. Inllt II Uorgtin Wilf eft ♦ Interest and hvredullty. "No. 1 don’t go as far aa that." Gun» aie’s light voice was again In his ears, blurred by the rush of the motor car. "But I «Io take the precaution of hiding ('IIAPTER IV sent«d briefly; and then, with aom« con my diamotuls awav in an ancient chamois Three day» after Mrs. Waring and "Not the prince?" glove case down at the bottom of a hat her party loft Havre, an artist K>anl«’«l evrn The other acquleat'rd "The devil, »a* trunk." th« I.neriHMtl express just hi it was lo«\ rather!" he ejaculated feelingly, ”Ru« h How the speech came back to him i ing Birmingliam, barely In time to bo temper, such abuse, for the past week; Was It (Miasible that (hat Itiuoeent look locked up iu bis carriage by the ruahing ami now thia high fever M I* dortour 1» ing shapeless object at which he was guar»! In there now.” II* glanced at the op|M» gating really »Mntaiue») Mre. Waring’s The two other people In ptwiseaatan of site door. “One cannot tell yet |»o»ltlv««ly jewels? Mechanically the chauffeur put the first clans compartment young »porta what tuny l»e the outcome. As for our his hand down and touche«l It. Then, with their bulging caddy bags, their suit journey this afternoon, where are we to his curiosity getting the better of every .'asee, ami their Gaietto* took up the en- g«» what we are to «Io?” other consideration, he lifted the pare«! j tire «vat. The artist settled himself mod Hr shrugged hi» shoulder«, spread out out an»l looked it over Interestedly. eecly in a corner opiH»»ito, nud pulling his hands. r«»llrd his ejra. an«! glam «*<1 Certainly the chamois glove case did ; his cap well over hi» face ami long, curly Upward, ail in one brief, pantomimic mo not contain gloves! ! braw n hair. opene«l hi» Dally Telegraph. meat. As the thought »pun through his brain, Having read (he editorials from en»l to "Hut how ab«»ut you, num chou?” a d«x»r on (he opposite side of the hall end. he glanced leisurely over the polit The «Imu Triir push*«! bark hb long ar opened an»l two vou-es iMs-ame suddenly ical news, and finally, doubling the pa tistic locks, which tiAw allowed umnistnk audible. With a swift realisation of his per. took in the varloua paragraphs of able signa of belonging to a wig por tion. Sarto turned and. leaning over, current interest with attention ami. one "As you auggrsi.” he said, "It 1« wiser was on the point of lowering the parcel *u particular, with some amusement. soiuetimrs to a«k no questions slxmt th«* back into its rightful corner of th* trunk, Thi» wns dubbed, "Special from The ¡m«t. For the present" Thia with a when Gusaie’a clear tones, carrying dis Pari» Herald.” and contained these head whimsical lift of his rvebraws "Scotland tinctly through the crack in the hall door, . lin« « Yard i» after mr I have l»rrn followed ma le him pause m H the way from Soulhatnptoti That is "Remarkable Burglary at Havre.’’ “See him again?" she enunciated, evi American Woman Rubbed by Her the rraaon I am here,” dently In answer to a question. "Good lie pattaed. htw rjra inscrutably on (hr Chauffeur.” heavens! Say farewell to my own chauf An I then l>elow valet ; but Alwste avoided the ga«e. feur. a sort of servant? You must be "Mrs. Richard Waring, of New York "You come at a bad lime, then." hr daft. Give the man his pay” (the Inst and Washington, who ha* been traveling objected, with sudden fretfulne«». "I'hr w»»r«!s came out with hard, half sneering on the Continent with a party of friend», prince ill myself with a hundred dr emphasis l "and let him go!" was the unfortunate loser on Wednesday ma nds upon me <«ne must are, under There was a whispered response an«) of some unusually fine dlamon»!». valued these clrcnmstancea ” the voices sank, but too much had been st 23O,(kM) francs. "Ah!” brake in the chauffeur. I«o»'k already heard. The mixhief was done. "The gems must have been stolen from Ing «(own, hr Studir«! the |M»int« of his Before Annette closed the intervening her trunk while at the Hotel Maritime boot« and apprar«sl to meditate a moment, door, the listener in the sitting room, The su«i>ectrd thief is her chauffeur, one then, shaking off his abstraction, ”('umr. yielding to a sudden, inexplicable impulse Ludovic Sarto, lately id the employ of then," he sahl lightly, "no more of mv to avenge himself, had taken the fatal His Highness the Prim'* del Pino. Sarto affair« We will (llamas thine for the step. ha* tw-en running Mrs Wariug’s motor nonce. Sit down; let us talk.” And yet. In spite of his knavery, h* (or the ;»ast two months. Blaring himself leisurely in a chair, hr was not all knave—only (like many of "'The burglary was not discovere»! until eyed the valet with a faint »mile (hat us poor mortals) no more a demon than this morning, when the party was leaving hardened and broadened. an angel, merely a sensitive human in t’alais, but the authorities of the place ‘‘Ah. Alceate! Hut the sight of thee strument. capable of fine harmonica and were Immediately informed of the affair recall« many thing«! D»»«t thou remetn hideous discords, responding all Invol and are on the lookout for the thief A her those two weeks at T«»ul«»U»e?’‘ !|.« untarily. at time«, to the player’s whim— . reward of *1.01)0 franca is offered fur his gaur rested reminiscently on the celling the touch of the moment. "Ami thnt accident to the grna d’arme? apprehension.” When Annette came into the sitting Having read this ¡mraginph twice over It was an unhappy uii«takr of thine.** hr room a moment later, the chauffeur was very carefully, the artist folded the paper, laughed jarringly. standing by the opposite window, his ; crammed it into his pocket, and leaned But Ahrstr did not laugh. hands behind his back, a faint, inscruta* back In his seat, giving hlmw-lf up to a th "Un peu plus has.” he expoatulteted, hl« ble smile on his dark face. j of hard thinking which lasted till the eye« on the rl«»«rd *!‘M>r opi»«Miite. “Mre Waring wanted me to give you train rumbled into the Liverpool station Sarto crossed hi» leg« with deliberation thia.” she «aid. going up to him with just five minutes late. "Aha !" he latighr«! unhrr«|tngly. “ Fhrrr embarrassment aud bolding out a small It was while the artist wss hunting was also that affair In Spam. Ma fui ’ square envelope. up a cab that he first noticed the man in How amusing!” Hr raised his voice with Then, as he took It with a mumbled the brown overcoat—a tall, thin, stoop- apl arrnt unconsciousness "The priao word of thanks, the girl retreated hurried shouldered person, who favored him with ha» he heard of three little Incidental ly to the fireplace and stood, her bock to a brief, interrogative stare, then disap divertisement«? Eh. Alceate?" it. fidgeting restlessly with her handker peered Into the ticket office. Alceate made no Immediate reply. Ills chief. A minute after, a four-wheeler contain eyes were «till glued on the door, his "You see.” she began, apologetically. ing a painter and his paraphernalia bowl usually dull skin turned the spent, un "Mrs. Waring is very tired and had to ed. swiftly away In the direction of the healthy hue of a wax candle. send her message by me." After a ¡muse. ”1« not this a bad time Metropole Hotel. From time to time It» She stole a glance at th* man. who wa» pavaenger looked out through the little for such banal reminiscence«?" he asked, looking steadily at the floor, and then window at the back with a keen. Inquir meekly enough now. "I am all ragrrnr«* went on with rapidity, "I a in so sorry ing glance. Finally passing out of a to «1«» what you wish In thi» difficulty. It It’s all over! How we’ve enjoyed it — j broad avenue, the trap rroaaed a square is but a question of rvpeihrnt». (’hut !” th* motor-and—everything!" He broke off abruptly, listening, for at right angles and turned a »harp corner There was a catch of regret In her “Stop." »aid the tnan inside suddenly from the next room came the sound of voice and she paused doubtfully. "I sup Dismounting, bag in hand, he looked voices, and then f»M>ifalUi. pose you will take charge of some other furtively to right an»l left. Ahead of ”.M le ducteur!” ejaculated Alce«tc motor now?" him stretched a long. narrAw street given "Already !” Sarto did not meet her eyes "No,” he over apparently to lodging houses and a He moved swiftly toward the door «aid. "I think 1 will give up that for the few unpretentious shops. Pulling out a Then, over tela shoulder, "l^»ok jqu ! prewent.” Hie tone raised a certain bar sovereign, "Cabby." he said, «peaking Through that door op|»oalte! Make haste rier, and Annette did not pursue the sub with a strong foreign accenL "behold I will Is» with you dlr«ctly.” Ills tone ject. your fare—and something, as y«*u »••e. be was almost br«rr«-hlng “Well,” she said, with determined yond. Make your t»eat time to th* Met Rising with a rareh*«» shrug, the other cheerfulness, "then I wish you every ro(>ole and leave there tny belongings. I «tep|M»d into the next room. Having c I« m success in whatever you undertake. Per ret out at this place.” r«l the door, hr atood listening tu th« haps— who knows, Sarto?" she smiled a Then, crossing the street ns the cab sound of approaching fe«t. little uncertainly—"we may meet again rattled off. the artist ¡»lunge«! into a sta The next instant a voice l»r.-ame andl some day.” ble. the h«»amr. wheezy vol«*« of a ver) •inner’» opposite. "Who knows!” echoed th* chauffeut He was standing at the counter a little fat man. Standing close by the interven seriously. He moved away from th« win later, reflectively choosing a note b«»»k ing wall. Sarto could hear every word dow very slowly, with his fnrp «till care when the sound of wheels ontside made "Yrs.” thr doctor wn« «aj ing. "thrrr fully averted. Reaching the door, ”It is him start and look nut expectantly, but is considerable fever, but we can’t I* sure addio, then,” he said, with a «light for there was nothing unusual in sight only what thr trouble is for twenty-four hours mality, "and thanks to you. Signorina, a station cab, containing a commonplace at any rate. If it wasn’t that ldwrp«M»l for your so great kindness—one dues not looking man in a brown oeerroat. pass had l»rrn «O full of scarlet fever lately I forget !” ■Would «ay positively ” Hr broke off ing by the shop at a quick trot. His voice shook th*’least bit. Paying for his purchase and shoulder abruptly. "Well, keep him quirt and do With swift steps Annette »'am* towards ing his bag. th* artist walked briskly what I tol«l you.” him. "Good-by. and good luck. Sarto.” up the street. Turning on his course, ho "Maia, monsiesr." the valrt*« vole« roe«- she «aid, impulsively, holding out be» soon took to side alleys and short cut», in voluble remonstrance, “all arrange hand. walking with the assure«! gait of on* who nients nirk for Son Altrase «b parturr to But the chauffeur shrank back. Grasp knows his town thoroughly, until the «lay. len.k you! The very trunk» have ing th* door knob, he made a «tiff, mili gray stone facade of the Hotel Adelphi left for the strainer. This hotel full tary salute, hie eyes fixed steadily on the came into view. rr r-owdrd. Erf all «lr»e people« «u«|>rrt girl’s outstretched hand and then, Entering the lobby. "Can you tell me." thr truth, de re will be great tr-rouble "Addio, signorina,” h* repeated firmly, he asked the clerk suavely, "if Ilia Ex- big fuas !”, and closed the door behind him. crllency the Prince del Pino is not stay 'Hie doctor was evidently in a hurry, (To be continued.) ing here?” for the chauffeur could hear the struggle The young man consulted a slip of pa with his overcoat. A ROYAL DENTIST. "Suspect.” he grunted. "Why ahoiib! per. "Iz-avew by Majestic this afternoon, they «uspert? Can’t you keep things quiet The Story of a Tooth I'alllnf by a little longer? I tell you seriously thr j Suite 21, ««cond floor. Take a lift." Peter the Great. Peter the Great particularly delight ¡The words came out automatically with prime can’t be moved for twenty-four hours without danger. Just tell Mr p<! In drawing teeth, and he Rtrb'tly i out the «lightest punctuation. Following the direction, the «oilier Burlington that, with my compllmrnts. enjoined hl» *-rvanta to m»nd for him found himself at length standing outside I’ll drop In later and have a word with when anything of that a>rt w'aa to 1* of a dosed door upstairs. him.” done. One day ills favorite valet <le After a little the door was open«*<| In There was a shuffir of departing fret • dminbre Beeeind v<»ry melancholy. The answer to bis ring and a head thrust and the door rl«»s«-»l. Czar naked him what was the matter. i out. St«q»ping over to the window which “Oh. your nwij-Mty,” sal<l the man, "His Highneas bega to b* excused," an- gave on the street, th«« chauffeur glanced "my wife is sufTcrlrg the greateat ag 1 nonneed a guttural voice, without any out. hoping for a glim ¡'me of the great man getting into his brougham, but there ony from tootluicbe, ntwl «he obstinately 1 prdiminarie«. But the artist atepped forward and, wns no sign of either. refuRpa to have the tooth taken out.” Instead, n hansom had just driven up "If that !■ nil.” Mid Peter, "we will j seizing th* cautious one by the hand, to the si»le entrance and. ns Sarto watch held it very firmly. ■oon cure ft. Take me to her nt on'e.” "Alceste.” he said In French, "do you e«l if, some one jumped out and pan«*«! When flay arrived the wtirnan de not rwcognite me, my friend? It is Sarto." rapidly Info the hotel a tall, thin man clan*» I that alie wns not suffering at The other gave a start, "(’oin* In, come in a familiar looking brown overcoat. all; there was nothing the matter wrltb in, without doubt,” he said in a low voice, With a muttered exclamation th* chan- feur tamed awny and stood perfectly j "and clone the door behind you.” her. It was an imposing anteroom In which still, staring ahead/>f him with th« di "That !« the wny «he talks, your majesty,” said the valet. "She 1« suf Rarto now found himself, with doors lated. startled look in hia eyes of a hunt I opening out at the two ends, and six ed animal. Listening with sickening ex fering tortures.” ' long windows communicating with a ba I pectancy, he made out the creak of the "Hold her head and hand«,” aald th« rony commanding the street. ascending lift outside, th* sound of feet Czar. "I will have It out In a minute/ While the visitor look*«! about him. his along the hall, and a loud knock. And lie Instantly ¡mlled out the IndF i companion slipped to the portiere oppo After a moment’s silence, It wns repeat rated tooth with great dexterity, amid site and drew the draperies more closely. ed, and the flip-flnp of Alce«t«'s slippers Turning h* came bark rapidly, a trim- earns hastening from an inner room to profuse thanks from the husiotnd. What was Peter’« Indignation to dis 1 looking fellow of middle height, the typi answer It. The door was opened, and a quiet voire cover a little later that his valet had cal French valet, with a sallow, smooth was heard to the listener’s strain*»! um*»l him aa nn executioner to pun'.nb shaven face. "And so It is Ludovic Rarto!" he Wald senses—most unpleasantly distinct and hln wife, who lutd never had an u» Incredulously, approaching the ¡meudo art near. sound tooth In her head.—Argonaut "Them the prince’s rooms?" It asked 1st. "I should never have known you,” MW truth. as h* surveyed the professional get-up suavely. "The clerk tells me that a friend of mine win directed up here a Fear Is not In the habit of speak ¡ng with a «light smile. "I see, I had better ask no questions! half-hour ago an artist -tall, dark man. truth. When perfect ainrerlty 1« eg» Eh bien. my friend, her« you are safe st I've called for him! Just ask him to ported, perfect wisdom must tw allow least, only"— struck by a suddeh thought step out, please!" ed. Nor has any one who Is apt to M he asked a few words in a whisper — There was a pause, while Ludovic held angry when he hears the truth any I ’h«ve you ever had th* scarlet fever?” himself stiffly at bay, wondering what cause tn wonder that be does not Ixmi • The chauffeur nodded his head "A would come next; everything hung on the •light caw, when I was a boy,” tea as valet's next word* IL -Tacltua I : : "Oul, m.msleur,” ram* tin guttural re- ■p«>ti«e al la»t "The 4ei»t!«iiiana that y«Ml »kecribe called here. II ) • 'il*<l Mlin- ute». Iml a* H»»n Kite»»* »niild nut «re hcem he leave directly." "Iinle«*<i?" the tune sounded ln» r«’«lu l.ois "l’h«t la very eUraurdinary 1 I’he clerk Jells m* he didn't »•’«• him go «»Ul lbw »Io you a»s«»iint fur that?” °| do m»t know, elr, me!” Alceais’s reply was glibne»« Itself. "I »hut de dour un heem. Hou Allege. he SO much occu py, and luyerlf no leas ” The iletetllve look th* obvious Infer enve. "Well.” he ti’inaik«««l. after a psuse. "If you’re «ur* he'« nut her*». I won’t detain you any hmger Much oblig ed. Good morning!” Amt footsteps re* tiuated down the hall. The «lluall«»t> wa« apparently aaved. but the astute chauffeur renliie»! thoroughly that the Adelphi wa» no longer a ¡•••»e» bilily f«»r him Home «»tiler hiding place must l»e found, something mu»l l»e «lone and al once. t he next half hour he spent tramping ,H. .»nJ d..«n hf ' »t'f ' '»"I quarter« an»l «'iidgelling bis brain» for • ■ohithm of the prubletii* that confronted him. »«> absorbed in hi» thought» that h altn«»«t forgot Io wonder what had I»«- ««me of Alcuete. At last, however, (he valrt made his >V>l»varan«'e. his color!*«« face inure cha'ky than ever. "Ah!" lie eja«*ulated «mag» l> fi for the nmtneut more inlereele«| in hi» own dilem ma than In the chauffeur*« woe«. ”l’oul«l anything l»e worse? Hume m-riant ha« ■ pread abrua«l the rep»»rt that Hon Al- tr»»e lias the acarlet fever, atul thr hotel is Intrte, (on! Every one in a |»anic! Nl. Ir Pruprletaire drulatra that if the prince due« not carry out hl» intention and leave today, every »me In the hoiiae will leave; hi» seison will l»r ruined! Miserable canaille!" lie wrinkled his forehead. “If one could but arrest their •ti«pit-iun». kre|»e things »jtllrt for twenty- four hour« longer, vrtten everything will be drcitlr«!." Hart«» «reined deep la thought ’The staferOMms are taken?” "Hut yes, taken and pal«l for the l»r«t on the »hip Ah' \tllle tonnerre» ! Sacre I And the »rry trunk» .m i«»ar«l !” ”H«» much the batter/* »aid the chauf feur «tiddanly. Alreste «lare«l at him. "I mean It !’* th»’ oth«¥ related "Let them g»», even if they have to cross th« iMvan to save «p|M*aran»’r«!” He w«» «landing l»ef»»rr a mirror, «tar ing at himself critically, eagerly. ■’Yr»’’ tu himsrif "It r»mld !>e man aged with a little Ingenuity.” Then, turning tn the valyt, "<’aline» (ol. KI ce«te!’’ he said »»«»thingly. "You hav« heli>r<l tne ami I »hall h«»w eitrkate you. This moment even, a bleased Idea has «-«>mr to me by which all <*au I m * managed. The affair 1» concluded! Between ua Isith we can accomplish everything III« Excellency ran remain here in secret un til the crisis of bis illne«« 1» pa*»e«i. and yet at the same time (he proprietor, ths hotel, «11 the city if necessary, shall «<•• the Prim’e del Pm« »ail for America!” (To be continued.) Oar <'nn«a mpfloM of I'olnu-fo. A<x*«»rv!lng to th«* »viwti« fixurcs ro- cently hwutsl the »*• »iwmitii»tl»m of t«^ Ivnceo In th«* l iilt««,! Hint«-» la «»nortnotK Tin* money *|»«*tit f«»r cignr» In the year ending June, P«».’. wan IIUH.IMI.372 mid for rlgnrHhM, $II.!154 MKt. Th«« sales of »•|i«m log iiik I pl|N*. t<»bn«x*o allowed tin ««XjtciMllture of more than $1 lo.iast.t««), of wblcli It 1« estimated thnt ff.YYJMm.- («»o was «pent for atn«Acl”g tobaron, Un de Halil's «¡«¡irtlte f»»r I tn« we«*»l Is mraclouM. Tin* «•*iiiaiini|»tl«»n of tobac co Ims lncreti*vl from 21)3. Mi >1.433 ¡ n » uih ! r Iti Imo to 335.tl2i>.!>?! ¡«»un«!« In HMtf». Till« Im Im!«*« ,'hewing tohticon. In BMC I m » actually amok I im»r«» than LVljMNi.tMM) ¡H'liml«* Y»*s. It nil went up In «moke, nm! with It th«« cost of the Pntitiiim «nnttl nml of 27 luitth*- ■hl|iM. 'Hie <*»»n»winiptlon of cigar« has In- <<rt*ii<***«| 27..’» |««r vent sltwe !•.«»>, am! «»f «•l.'.ir«’tt»-»». 27 3 |M«r »«ent. From 1**»;*» t<» P h ».’> tin» <Mti«sumptloti of «•I’gurw ami cigarette« atcwidlly livnuHel ‘»•»•vnfohl. During th«« «atm* | mt I» m ! the |w»pii|nt! »n of the «’«»untcy ImTunm«*! only n little tm»ro than Kv«»f«»ld. More money 1« «|w«nt em’h year on t«»bn«*co than on |s»tntoeii or vegetable« • »r fruita or cnfiTee. Tninr Miitl Wild (¿nm*- VUsed. School Toucher ln<l now that wo hnvo finished dlaciisslng the lion nmt the tiger, wlm enn tell me nlmut th« lv nx ? A palnfnl pause. Finally a small hand 1« hesitatingly elevated. Teacher Well, Tommy, can you de- serllN» the lynx? Tommy --No’tu. Teacher Then why dM you raise your hand? Tommy I thought Willie Wuggl««n could toll. Teacher And what made you think Willie could d«s(*rllM« the lynx? Tommy ’t’ntiN»« Ills brother’a ii «aid- die. Ah.rnr« «», ltr>>wnli>K S<> your i*nKn|rmrnt with the rich widow I h broken off, eh? What wna Ilin trouble? (IrernitiK oh, one of my brenka, n. uannl. In nu iiiiKuiirili.l moine nt I nnkol her If I wna the only limn alle hnd ever loved. Tow II eoli hy. "1)0 you tielleve Hint uionqilltot-i ear- ry ninlarln?" “Not the mcneiuHoea around lirra," unanered Farmer Corntoaael. "They eoAldn't poiMlhly do It and 1« ao himlthy." Wiinhlnifton Star. Ile.louranl Hrp.rl.., "Wnlter, whnt kind of n atink wna thnt you aerved me with Juat now?" demnnded the dlnmitlntled Kllent. "Well done," reaponded the waiter, with a low bow. , "ll'ml l»o you mean me or tha ■teak?” Of the 387 recorded mlnlatem of the Roelety of Frleuda In Great Britain IM ara woman.