Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-09-05
MoNTMoRENcI.s SECRET.



terious BillI0naire.
And you are not happy. Hortense?''
''Happyr'
The intense scorn with which Hor-
tense Montmorenci uttered the word
can not be adequately expressed in
cold. pulseless type.
Happy"
She moved rapidly across the great
'drawing-room to where her husband
stood under the great crystal chande-
Her with it's myriads of wax lights
casting a soft glow over the rich fur
nishings of the apartment.
''Happyr'
The lovely woman looked like a
queen as she stood there in her superb
toilet and looked with proud disdain
full in her husbands eyes.
Happy"
That's what / said"
There was a suspicion of you-make-
me-tiredness in Herbert Cecil Mont
morencis tone as he carelessly tipped
the ashes from his cigarette upon the
rich Gobelin tapestry carpet with an
air of well-bred ease.
He was a tall. handsome man, was
Herbet Cecil Montmorenci, and he
'scribable grace which is so character
istic of your true aristocrat and your
English society actor.
There were no flies on his style and
bearing.
"Have 1 not surrounded you with
every luxury which mans ingenuity
can suggest and money can buy?' he
asked, with slight sheer just playing
around the corner of his well-bred
mouth. ''Have l not gratified your
slightest within regardless of cost? Is
there better dressed woman in all
the circle of your acquaintance? Have
1 not built a palace for you to live in,
and filled it with the richest and most
beautiful works of art which the wide
world could supply? Have 1 not sur
rounded you with a multitude of SER
wants to do your slightest bidding?
Have begrudged you money!"
"Ah. there it is again." said Hor-
tense, in a tone of great WEAKNESS.
Money, money. money! IT'S the
thought of that which SO frightens
me. Where does it all come from?
Why, oh why. won't you tell me, Her
bertP Why conceal longer your bust
ness from your wife? You can not
but know that your silence upon this
subject fills me with dread forebod
ings. Remember, Herbert Cecil, l
have seen Jim. the Penman.' and l
can not help drawing my own conclu-
sions about how you acquire your
enormous wealth SO mysteriously and
so rapidly. Have a care! l am a
woman, and have all a woman's curl
osity. I will not much longer remain
in ignorance of the matter. Herbert
Cecil Montmorenci, I am not fool"
With his face as white as that, of one
of his own marble statues which graced
the drawing room. he answered.:
''Softly, my tigress, softly! Do not
go too far, or l swear to you by the
rich blue blood of my ancestors. you
will rue the day you ever married
me. have spoken. Good evening.
madam"
With low bow he left the room,
and passing through the double row of
diverted lackeys in the great hall, en-
tered his carriage and was whirled
swiftly away.
IL
1t is in the private Office of the great
detective firm. of Simpson, Ferret &
Simpson. A vailed lady is engaged in
an earnest conversation with the great
est detective of the age, Theophilus
v. Simpson.
''And can you then discover the ma
ture of his business?" she asks, in
tones of suppressed excitement.
MADAM, I myself will shadow him
if need be day and night. but 1 will
discover ALL" -
Enough said.- When you have OBJ
tanned the information 1 seek come to
me and 1 will double this sum. and
with these words the vailed lady slips
into the detectives hand a large roll
of 81 900 bills. tf s
Again we are in the palatial home
of Herbert Cecil Montmorenci, the
mysterious Millionaire.
Herbert and Hortense are sitting
'tete-a-tete at the table in the break
fast room. 1t is furnished entirely in
light blue and white. The walls are
covered with silken draperies and
dainty aquarelles of fishing and hunt
ing scenes. There is an air of refine
ment and subdued luxury everywhere.
''Once more, and for the last time,
Herbert. ask you to tell me what your
business is" says Hortense, as she
toys with her golden teaspoon and
glances across the table at her hus.
band.
'.And once more, and for the last
time, refuse" answers Herbert. with
a grim smile. as he daintily wipes hi:
mouth with a point-lace napkin.
You positively refused"
II positiv ely refuse"
-''Enough!'
The lady stretches forward he,
dainty jeweled hand and touches I
golden bell. A stately butler enter.
with noiseless tread.
johnson, tell Mr.. Simpson I will
see him here at once"
The butler disappears and in tn,
next moment uShorS in TheODhilus v