The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-06-20
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dukes and American nabobs dangling
in her train, so why not general?"
"Ah! not General MERCER. There
can be but one explanation Of his pres
ence."
And that?" demanded Mark, curl
ously.
He has come personally to see her
leave the French capital, and the
quiet-looking officer in their rear will
accompany her all the way"
"You mean she is suspected and is
being chased out of France?"
THAT is literally true"
"Oh! well, it doesn't interest us a
Bit" remarked Merrick, carelessly
Perhaps there were others on this
early train for the South who might
interest our two friends did they but
know OF their presence.
The afternoon dragged.
There were numerous stops at places
of Importance, and, cramped by mac
ton, our friends found themselves
compelled to step out in order to
stretch their limbs.
| ing lest his comrade should in some
manner. he knew not just how, fail
under the malign influence of the adj
ventures.
OF course she discovered them, and
Mark was of necessity compelled to
obey the white hand that imperiously
beckoned him to the open window,
where milady reigned supreme, with
a maid, and accompanied by the dig
nified old officer General Mel cier had
appointed to see her oyer the border in
safety
1t was only for a few minutes, and
of course she begged him to take adj
vantage of the abundance of room in
her compartment, SO that she might
entertain him during the long journey
with some Of the novel things she had
experienced.
Merrick was equal to the emergency,
| and offered as an excuse that he and
his friend were engaged upon a match
in their own carriage, which his abb
sence would break up.
At least one pair of eyes had noted
his warm reception by the dainty and
vivacious woman who leaned from the
window of the first-class carriage, and
beamed upon him with such an ardent
! gaze
1t was from the very compartment
adjoining the one our friends occupied
that this gentle eavesdropper-if one
could dare bestow so harsh a name
upon so lovely little creature as the
South African heiress-was enabled to
observe without being herself SEEN
and the fact that she would thus stoop
to a procedure that her soul must
have abhorred, was positive evidence
of an interest in the young man of far
more than ordinary intensity
Nor could the fact that on the pre-
vious night he had carried her from
the burning hotel at the risk of his
own life wholly explain her eagerness
to fasten her eyes upon his face
Whatever emotions stirred Con-
lance Dare, as she crouched there, and,
holding her BREATH peeped from be-
hind the half-drawn curtain, she made
no move toward addressing Mark,
even when he passed within a yard
of her, sauntering back to his own
compartment when the cries of the
guards gave warning that the south
ern train was about to pull out.
Jones followed him-Jones who had
remained on guard and watched it ALL
1t required keen eyes like those of
Jones to discover that the wonderful
princess meant business for perhaps
the first time in her life-that she had
conceived a passion for the daring
young fellow who had chased her run
away motor on a wheel and succeed
ed in saving her a spill that might at
least have risked marring the beauty
which was her capital
And, knowing this, shrewd Jones
feared for his friend, though he hardly
knew himself in what way danger
could come if Mark continued in the
same frame of mind as at present.
We'll" he said, lighting cigar,
"let's drop the princess for the pres
ent We have other fish to fry, that
are good enough for the Joneses.
While you snapped chances with that
enchantress, l looked around"
"And from your tone, imagine you
discovered something"
Jones thrust his thumbs into the
armholes of his vest, as he said, in a
dramatic whisper:
"Only this-that our dear Count
Leon and his yellow-topped Russian
bear occupy the next compartment to
the rearl"
When Jones made his astonishing
announcement Merrick did not appear
shocked.
"H'ml" was the way in which he
commented upon the matter, "they are
very affectionate to snuggle up to us
that way"
"Yes," returned Jones, dryly, 1--WE
quite won their hearts by the warm
reception we gave the brethren at the
monastery meeting"
Mark laughed in a cynical way.