Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1905-12-07

fess I am curious, and l shall be gla(
when you can tell me all without dis
tressing yourself"
THANK you very much, dear. AnC
now | want to ask You if there is any
one you would like me to send Il card Il
for this ball"
Jack flushed as he replied:
"Nes; there are two people | shoulc
like you to invite-Mr. Malett and hi'
daughter. They are everything desira
bic, or | should not suggest it; and the
old gentleman was very kind to me in the
days that are gone"
WAS the daughter kind too, Jack?
-playfully.
Again Jack flushed little.
Il think you are a bit Of a witch.
he said, with a laugh. Il may as well
tell you, and then there will be no secret
in my past for you to find out by and
by. Yes, she was kind to me, and once
| thought | liked her well enough to
make her my wife; but that was before
l met you, you siren.'
"1ou don't think so now?"
IF | did. should | be here?"
The rain continued to pour down
steadily, and the scratch, scratch of the
busy pens went on without interruption.
Pauline finished her list first, and sat
back in her chair, with a thoughtful,
chastened look on her face which was
strangely unlike her usual imperious air.
Jack noted it, and thought her more
beautiful, if that were possible, although
he wondered what had brought about so
great a change. He felt a forewarning
that this was the little cloud in their sky
that would darken the whole heavens.
AT last" he exclaimed, as he threw
down his pen.
You have been a good boy" Pauline
said, with a smile. I'VE could not have
finished them to-day without your help"
80 shall lose him, after all if can
fright she reflected alone in her dress
ing room. He will not allow a secret be-
tween us. What can | do? If | con-
coct a lie to account for it, there may
be an advertisement in tomorrow pa
per that will expose it. Who can want
to find Geoffrey Mailing after allowing
me undisputed possession for the last six
years? If they find him, they will tell
all, and he will claim his inheritance;
they cannot want him for anything else.
| must discover how much they know, or
how can | fight them? | can't trust
another; | must do it myself and with
these thoughts running through her mind,
she crossed to the bell, which Babetts
D. I NJ
to run up to London this afternoon. and
| don't want the whole house to know
about it,"
Babettes eyes flashed with a quick
glance of intelligence; but her lids droop-
ed instantly, and she answered, meekly:
"Certainly, mademoiselle.
IF the people see the brougham leav-
ing the house, it will set them wonder
ing; so | want you to run down to the
village during luncheon and bring back
one of the public flies from the inn there.
Tell the man to drive to the stable yard
in fact, you can come back in it; and
let it be there by a quarter past three"
Very good, mademoiSelle.'
Babettes face cleaned with mruel de-
light behind Pauline's back as she left
the room.
$50 you think you have only to go to
Messieurs DAVIS & Rayen and show your
pretty face and maybe a ten-pound note
or so, and they will tell you all about
the person who sent them that advertise
ment But you do not outWit French
woman so simply, my good friend. Mr..
DAVIS is quite prepared to receive you
with politeness, and to tell you that he
really knows nothing more than that his
client, whom he is not at liberty to name,
is anxious to obtain the address of the
present Sir Geoffrey;' and the girl
chuckled grimly as she went along. That
old DAVIS will hardly risk losing his
share of the plunder, even to oblige a
sweet, so handsome, so soft-voiced lady
as you, madame.' and she laughed again
as she pictured the meeting between her
mistress and the lawyer. Il wish | could
be there to see.'
Pauline stopped to speak to Jack as
they cross the hall after luncheon.
II shall lie down for the whole after
noon; my head is aching so dreadfully.
What will You do with yourself, Jack?
A wet day is such a terrible inhiction
in a country house
81 shall work. It's a week to-day
since | touched a brush: it will be a
grand opportunity. | should advise your
taking a good rest while you can get it."
Jack responded. in a matter offact tone.
Pauline set her teeth in her underlip
and left him, her mind racked with anx-
iety and fear
"At all cost must be in a position to
- /
tradicted | must find out how much
those people know before tonight"
(To be continuedD