The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-10-25
MoNTMoRENCrS sECREr.
The Fatal Curiosity Of the Wife of Mys-
terl0us Millionaire.

teriOus Millionaire.
''And you are not happy, Hortense"
Happy
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-
lier with its myriads of wax lights
casting soft glow over the rich fur
nishings of the apartment
Happy"
The lovely woman looked like q
queen as she stood there in her superb
toilet and looked with proud disdain
full in her husbands eyes.
"Happy!"
That's what l said"
There was suspicion Of you-make-
me-tiredness in Herbert Cecil Mont
mOrenci's 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 tall. handsome man, was
Herbet Cecil Montmorenci, and he
wore his dress suit with that indie
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 I not surrounded you with
every luxury which mans ingenuity
can suggest and money can buy?" he
asked, with slight sneer just playing
around the corner of his well-bred
mouth. "Have 1 not gratiied your
slightest within regardless of cost? Is
there better dressed woman in all
the circle of your acquaintance? Have
not built a palace fog 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 biddingP
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 fromp
Why, oh why. won't you tell me, Her.
bertp Why conceal longer your bust
ness from your wifep 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 Pennan.' and l
can not help drawing my own conclu-
sions about how you acquire your
enormous wealth so mysteriously and
so rapidly. Have care! am a
woman, and have all woman's curl
osity. l will not much longer remain
in ignorance of the matter. Herbert
Cecil Montmorenci, am not fool"
With his face as white as that of one
Af 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. l have spoken. Good evening,
madam"
With low bow he left the room,
and passing through the double row of
liveried lackeys in the great hall, en-
tered his carriage and was whirled
swiftly away.
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 hAsiness?" she asks, in
tones of suppressed excitement.
MADAM, l myself will shadow him
If need be day and night, but 1 will
discover ALL"
Enough said. When you have OBJ
tanned the information l seek come to
me and will double this sum. and
with these. words the vailed lady slips
into the detectives hand large roll
of 81, 900 bills.
III.
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. Task you to tell me what your
business is" says Hortense, as she
toys with her golden teaspoon and
chances across the table at her hus-
| bind.
"And once more, and for the last
time. refuse" answers Herbert. with
grim smile. as he daintily wipes his
mouth with a point-lace napkin.
''You positively refuse?''
II positively refuse"
''Enoughr'
The lady stretches forward her
dainty jeweled hand and touches a
golden bell. A stately butler enters
with noiseless tread.
johnson. tell Mr.. Simpson will
see him here at once"
The butler disappears and in the
next moment ushers in Theophilus V.
Simpson, the famous detective. He
i hrSrxr ~.