The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-08

been thought capable OF carrying 1t
out, - replied Forsyth, in tone Of an
:'Take it, then,' Benzon proceeded.
"And you are, please, to inform his
grace that Mr.. ziegler, tho he would
have preferred to see him in person, is
satisfied with the discretion of his
''Thanks, but I don't think I need
testimonial from Mr.. Ziegler to rec
ommend me to the duke,' replied For
syth coolly, as he buttoned the letter
and with a bow took his departure.
Out in the corridor he breathed more
freely. ''I don't think that 1 overdid
my exhibition of temper" he told him
self. "A little loneliness was to be
expected under the circumstances.
He had begun to descend the stairs
into the entrance. hall when he. saw
with something Of shock-coming up,
and, therefore, about to meet him, the
lady whom he believed to be in the
next suite to Ziegler's, advising her
partners thru the commune eating door.
He had got 1t firmly into his head that
during the twenty minutes he had been
and the terms of the letter settled be-
tween the two principals; and here was
Mrs. Talmage Eglinton not in her rooms
SHh, Mr.. Torsyth!T she cried CO.
quettishly. "You have been up to my
suite to look for me, with a view to
standing me, luncheon somewhere.
pointed when you found that, I had
not reached the hotel and that the suite
was locked up.'
Could he have been mistakenq For.
syth asked himself. If so, the mistake
was not really his, but General Sad.
J.. Ho+%
to this woman s completely.
"But l have not been up to your
rooms,' was all he could reply on the
spur Of the moment. ~ had business
with. the gentleman who occupied the
adjoining suite.'
If it was not genuine, the look of
disappointment that stole into her face
was consummate piece Of acting
ooh, was that ALL she said, with 3
queer little laugh. "Well, that doesh 4
absolve you from asking me to lunch
now that you have the chance
~ shall be delighted,' was the only
answer he could make without showing
open hostility.
IT, nWait in the hall, then said Mrs
Tanage Eg inter e1ra am only ,egs Ginf
When vent ses down 70 prios far
rant is safe.'
She hurried up the remaining stairs
and Forsyth continued his way dow
to the hall, a prey to conflicting emo
lions. Disgust at having to lunch will
, woman he abhorred was the least O.
them. What worried him most at tina
, moment was the doubt, restored by thi
meeting, whether Mrs. Talmage Eglin
! ton was not, after all, the victim Of
: chain of condolences.
: And then, suddenly flicker Of high
. broke on the situation thru-of al
places in the world-a tiny flaw in tn
) lady's defensive armor. She had spoke
: Of her suite as locked up, but he re
l membered now that the outer door O
it had been slightly ajar, when he wen
went up to the big uniformed porter O.
, duty at the swing doors, and aske
: him if he knew Mrs. Talmage Eglinto
: by sight. s.,,-
> WOh. yes, sir,' the man replied
"You IL catch her if you run up to he
| rooms sharp. She's just going out. -
Going orte', exclaimed Forsyth
With VT Tell on1 surprise p n -, -
/ upstairs moment ago. She seemed t
: have only Just arrived.o
| ooh, no, sir; she came in an hou
l ago, and was on her way out Just no.
: when she found she'd forgotten some
;, thing
: Forsyth left the proximity Of tn
r porter quickly, and went and waited Q
4 the foot Of the staircase. The horizo
f had cleared again. and he smiled at tn
e very. thin trick which had so nearl
d deceived him-would have deceive
him, in fact, if one of the gang, eagerl
}, expecting her. had not CHANGED to be 6
8 her door when he went up. After COZ
/ Guiding her business with her accom-
: plices she had contrived the meeting Q
J; the stairs to throw dust in his eye
. length Of explaining to the hall porte
/ why she had gone upstairs again aftt
$ coming down into the hall. Well. /
d would hold her to the lunch invitation