Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-01
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ENTERPRISE ASSN
opY RIGHT 1904 TtiE. NEw5pApEn ENTER PRISE Assn

This Is charming Mr.. Druce. she said
II do not think anything pleases me more.
Then she. added, turning to Rowland, MI
Dixon bruce is a very old friend of mine.
| Rowland gave me a bewildered glance
Madame turned and began to talk to her
hostess. Antonio was standing near one OF
| the open drawing rooms. She had on a
| soft dress of pale green silk. / had seldom
seen a more graceful little creature. But
the expression of her face disturbed me- 1t
wore now the fascinated look Of bird
when a snake attracts it. Could Mime. Sara
be the snake? Was Antonio afraid of this
woman?
The next day Lady Kennedy came to me
! with a confidence.
II am glad your police friend Is COM
ing" she said; cit will be safer"
"Vandeleur arrives at II o'clock" was
well, am pleased. 1 like that woman
less and less. / was amazed when she
dared to call you her friend"
"Oh, we have met before on business"
answered guardedly.
You won't tell me anything further, Mr..
Druce?'
You must excuse me, Lady Kennedy"
Her assurance is unbounded," continued
the good lady. "She has brought maid
or nurse with her-a most extraordinary
looking woman. That, perhaps, is allowa-
BILE, but she has also brought her black
servant. an Arabian, who goes by the name
of Achmed. / must say he is picturesque
creature, with his quaint oriental dress. He
the embroidery on his jacket was worth a
small fortune. But it is the daring of the
woman that annoys me. She goes on as
though she were somebody
She Is a very emphatic somebody"
could not help replying. London society Is
at her feet
Il only hope that Antonio will take her
remedies and let her go. The woman has
no welcome from me- said the indignant
mistress of Rowland's Folly.
l did not see anything of Antonio that
morning, and at the appointed time 1 went
down to the station to meet Vandeleur He
| arrived in high spirits, did not ask ques-
ton with regard to Antonio, received the
information that Nine. Sara was in the
house with stolid silence and seemed intent
on the pleasures of the moment
"Rowland's Folly!" he said, looking round
him as we approached one of the finest
houses in the whole of Yorkshire. "a folly,
truly, and yet pleasant one, bruce, Ell ?
/ fancy" he added with a slight smile,
that 1 am going to have a good time
here"
II hope you will disentangle a most tan
gled skein," was my reply.
He shrugged his shoulders. Suddenly hts
who is that woman?' he said with a
strain of anxiety quite apparent in his
voice.
"Who?" 1 asked.
| dress"
II don't know. She has been brought
here by Nine. Sara sort of maid and
nurse as well. 1 suppose poor little An
tonia will be put under her charge"
Don't let her see me, bruce; that's all.
All, here is our host"
Vandeleur quickened his movements and
the next instant was shaking hands with
Rowland
The rest of the day passed without ad-
venture. 1 did not see Antonio. She did
not even appear at dinner. Rowland how
ever, assured me that she was taking nee
nd ha oil -toJ,f tk,o
morrow. He seemed inclined to be gracious
to Nine Sara and was annoyed at his sis
ters manner to their guest.
Soon after dinner as / was standing in
one of the smoking rooms I felt light
hand on my arm, and, turning, encountered
the splendid pose and audacious, bright, de-