The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-09-10

said Leonic, mysteriously, as Erns
blushed and turned away. ] suspected
q little romance.
At that moment pair of heavy hands
were laid on my shoulders, and looking
around saw my uncle standing behind
me very much heated and with twink
ling eyes.
by thunder! but this Nice suits me, :"
cried he. Zone does not see only in
valids here: does not hear that ever
lasting cough as in Mentone. The
charming little women here do not look ill
wonderfully pretty faces everywhere,
that must say, and fgures-l they are
natural" he whispered SO clos to my
ear that it ticklcd me. l laughed and
shrugged my shoulders. "Only look, .
continued he, briskly, ''therc comes a
little woman who makes my old heart
| feel quite warm"
turned around and saw in an ele-
giant costume of brown velvet and fur,
her little cap set coquettishly on her
brown hair, a large bunch Of white lilac
at her breast, Mrs. Clifford on Count
Degenfeld's arm, followed by her kus-
band and the professor.
Count Degenfeld looked at us sharply.
| My cousins pretty form had attracted
his experienced eye.
bowed. As the count returned my
bow, Mrs. Clifford looked at MS too Her
lovely eyes sparkled and vivid blush
covered her face.
"Ah! you know the coupled" cried my
| co,,Cin ssyVhn oro %hoyC,s
1T is Count Degenfeld, who is stay
ing at Hotel Suisse"
And the lady is his wife?'
mo-" said /, q trife embarrassed.
"His wife is great sufferer and seldom
goes out. The lady is Mrs. Clifford,
an Irish woman, the wife Of tho Eng
lish clergyman, who is walking behind
her, and my neighbor at table"
My uncle whistled softly and pinched
my ear.
1.-THE wife of clergyman" said
Erna astonished; well, she did not
look at all like one"
As we wandered along by the sea,
and were just turning towards the
Casino, to get some refreshment, Lopo-
tin came up to me. He bowed to the
ladies.
II must speak with you second"
said he. l fell behind with him.
what is it?'' / asked.
II followed you when / heard that
you were not going to eat at the hotel,
to warn you not to go to the club to-
day; unpleasant surprises are being pre-
pared there; they wish to trace dis
honest player and catch him in the act.
1t would not be pleasant If your name
were to appear in the papers as amongst
those present. Let me beg of you to
keep this secret" ! thanked him for
his thoughtfulness and added: II can
imagine who the dishonest person is; II
he is not called Monsieur lie Marquis de
Villeboisnet, / do not give much for the
study of physiognomy." Lapotin
smiled. Perhaps you may be mis-
TAKEN" said he, pressed my hand and
left me.
CHAPTER VIII.
At the depot I had Just helped my
cousins into q coupe and taken leave Of
them when saw Lapotin on the steI
Of the next one in earnest conversation
with one of the passengers.
The train was in motion, when with
short ''good-by," he sprang down. He
staggered and would have fallen had
not held him.
"Ah!" cried I, II have been able tt
act as guardian angel once"
"You here?" said he, astonished and
pressing my hand.
Eyes, saw my relatives off," an
swered.
"And l greeted some one passing
through" He seemed to me unusually
excited. "Just think, he continued, 81
was almost persuaded to 60 along
What would you have said if had dis
appeared sans adieu? Would you no,
have thought me the dishonest game
ster?'
l laughed. but asked uneasily: "Are
you really thinking of leaving SO soon?'
perhaps in January, not before. W.
shall spend Christmas together. 1t i.
celebrated very nicely at the hotel
Herr Metzler, our landlord, provides thu
Christmas tree and dinner, and thu
guests make one another gifts. Fol
you, who are accustomed to family
gathering, it is poor substitute"
As Lapotin was chatting he suddenly
ceased. Close by his side the dark blue
specialized man passed.
1.-THE man has followed u.s." sale
Lapotin softly to himself. II wonder
If he watched me at the station"
81 did not notice it." said l, land
was there quite time; he must have
been in one of the coaches"
Lapotin nodded.
YES" said he; ''that was the trair
from Marseilles that touches at Cannes
Did he not get in at Cannes when 20,
travelled with him?'
II cannot say positively. l was hal
asleep But what have you to do will
him, my friend? Have you a reason t.
-to-what shall l call ito avoid o.
face the man?"
more than you think" said Lapotin
softly, land in a different way from
what you think" he added with fain
mi Hzzztz,