The Red Cloud chief., 1902-05-16
CHAPTER v.
The Game Grows Warmer.

Ot'' ~ ''' JN'' N'N'
professors wife, and had not made
two turns from the little parlor ere
he ran directly up against the enemy.
There stood the professor, glaring
at him like a wild beast.
will you again deny the truth, vii
lain?" he said. en~deavoring to calm
himself lest he lose his voice.
Charlie surveyed him with amuse-
ment.
"Yes; this time, | confess, IT was
your charming wife whom | have just
left. DO you know that two women,
your wife and her cousin, Hildegarde,
nave played a very neat little game
upon you?'
What? She and Hildegarde-upon
me-? Pray. with what object?
"To arouse your jealousy; to make
you realize how dear to your heaft
this same wife is; to take you out OF
your musty bCots and induce you to
devote a fair pat of your time to the
woman who has given up her life to
you"
The professor seemed stunned Man,
can this be true?" he gasped.
AS heaven itself. She is in yonder.
Go and learn for yourself. You Will
receive n warm welcome. Forgive as
you wish to be forgiven, professor
Sir, a thousand pardons. | shall
take your kind advice. Our duel, theh.
is off. Oh. what an ass ! have beeh'
And Charlie quite agreed with MIN.
so ends the scene in the drama. Now
F.. ~ ,,Ii.b p,n MT have quite
SO pleasant a hnis," muttered stuart.
Again he bore down upon the iuhc-
tionary who kept watch n ward
over the books. When he had cor
nered the clerk he made his request
known. and a messenger was sent to
find the countess and request her pres
ence in a nearby bijou parlor.
Minutes passed. Still no one came
to summon him.
Tired of waiting he walked direct
,v IN tho door of the little parlor n
stepped inside.
lnyoluntarily a groan welled up
from his heart. He had entered tnls
room to meet the countess, 'ha'
charmer of men, who played with
ambassadors and princes as thoueh
they we're pawns upon a chessboard,
and now he had ~found-Arline Brahd'
There she stood before him. more
beautiful thar even his ardent reeo'.
lection had painted her, a smile Oh
welcome dimpling her cheeks. the
azure eyes glowing with pleasure.
Yes. it was Airline Brand.
We gods, if she and the countess
$780,, ,,,, a., ,,tlI readily rOnl-
prehend how men were ready 10 give
m honor and fortune for the nope Oh
her love and favor.
Almost a minute they stood mus
each evidently busy with a train o.
thought.
Airline vas the first to recover.
She dropped the curtains and ad'
yanced toward him. An! you nave
come. Mr.. Stuart" she said.
He took her hand and pressed IL
poldness was returning it seemed.
Eyes. I promised. you know; and
though ! daresay ] have legions o
faults, at least my word is as good al
nv bond. Pray, be seated, oHerihl
her a chair,
He was quite himself now, and tina
meant a wide-awake, ingenious youhi
man. ready to meet and wrestle VIII
difficulties as they arose.
Just opposite to her he sat down.
II was, at least, a rare pleasure |
he so near her in this connoentia
mood. The delicate, violet odor tina
permeated her r~ustling garments wa
like a breath of spring, and tn
-. - hAr nrnlpnpn almost III
toxicated him.
"You have been wondering what AZ
tonishing chain Of circumstance
brought a girl like me into such
miserable place as that undergroun
dungeon?" turning toward the do'
with a glance that did not escape u
eye of Charlie Stuart.
well, yes. to some extent; Dut
was not alone the desire to hear yo'
nromised story that brought me her
In snite of warnings from the baron
He watched, but by no telltale pa
,or or start did she betray the ia
.L,, sbo knew TO whom he referred
the baron
"Wha other reason could ihhueh
vouq" she asked, a little eagerly.
..The natural desire to meet "
again. That wasn't ~wrong-Sou uoi
blame me. do your
perhaps I should not-you nave
ready been SC good a friend; out
acquaintance with me is to bring q
aster or even danger to you, 1t mig
be better IL you forgot me-
He detected a p~laintive little ho'e
-, h,o obivalrous spirit was
In arms at once. ..,
II am not in the habit OF DESERT
any one who is my friend because y
hans, It may mean trouble or e'
AIanger to me to continue my acqua
lance" ~,
She seemed deeply affected by
words. ,,,dr
Won oyerwhelm me with Kihun'