Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-24

| kK6iiVfFS sion, for he recognized at once that
Efal2EdN the situation no longer offered hope
of extracting from Madame Viyella the
information required by Mr.. Perigord Regard
ing Miss Elliott's disappearance, he was inclined
to be quite tranquil, preferring to believe that
she had some good private reason for absenting
herself. When, however, Cressingham informed
him of Katherin Viyella's wild and jealous threat
against Miss Elliotts life and also of the crcum-
stance of the two men who had met himself and
Miss Elliott at the door the previous night and,
lastly, of the two figures he had caught glimpse
of running after Miss Elliott's cab as she drove
off, the Counts face became grave and thoughtful
as that of his companion.
He strongly urged Cressingham at all hazards
to keep his appointment with Madame Viyella
as course which offered the only present chance
of sounding their joint suspicious. For
long while Cressngham utterly refused, feeling
himself entirely unequal to the task Of making
love to woman he had commenced to detest.
But they were saved the trouble of determining
| by the advent Of Madame herself, who entered
the room abruptly, the light of battle in her
eyes. Perhaps she had thought to find her lover
engaged with some other woman; at any rate, her
face grew instantly composed on sight of Oeltjen.
With wonderful sang froid she advanced to the
two men, offering hand to either. "How fortu-
nate am I, messieurs, to find two friends, expect
ing only one. You will be surprised dear Count,
to find me visiting your friend at such an hour,
but less so, I hope, when / tell you that Lord
Francis is my fance, and that 1 have come to
make him mes adieux. Tomorrow, at daylight
(she glanced at the clock), indeed, but that is
only two short hours hence, L set off for Vienna,
having been called suddenly to visit the death
bed Of relative"
The two men exchanged unquiet glances.
THAT is unfortunate Madame" said Oeltjen.
"If you will permit me them shall retire. l am
at present guest of your fance, Madame. /
wish you bon voyage and happy return-to
you. Cressingham, l offer my heartiest felicita-
tions Au revoir."
eau revoir, Count said Madame; then as the
door closed upon him she turned fercely on the
other 1nfame, perJurcd one' what have you to
say"
Cressingham found ii necessary to exercise his
incest diplomacy.
Nothing, Katherin except that l have not
been able to help myself. A strange thing has
happened 1t appears that your new friend Miss
Elliott has mysterously disappeared Lethby,
her cousin, has been frightfully upset about it,
only learned the facts few hours back, and he
hurried at once to me to demand my assistance
in searching for her, 1t was impossible to re-
fuse l have been with him driving for hours
from one police station to another, longing all
the while to slip away and go to you"
Miss Elliott has Misrepresentation" de-
manded Madame,
"No one has seen her since the concert last
night to which you accompanied her, Katherin" :"
'That is strange-perhaps some accident"
"I confess l rather feared at first that her dis
appearance was due to you" said the man point
ediy; ''you said some queer things the other day,
you know
Madame frowned
what nonsense, Frank. / was mad at the
time and scarcely knew what l said But
enough of her. You must come with me to vi
emma"
"Eh, what"
"You must come with me to Vienna. My faith
er has been taken very i'll; he has cabed me to
60 TO him at once
Cressingham looked at her stupidly a rush of
whirling thoughts aching his head. Here indeed
was a marvellous opportunity given him of dis
covering the identity OF her mysterious parent, a
chance he felt he ought not to abandon. But on
the other hand, what of Miss Elliott? A tor
tured moment left. him nerveless and miserable.
Not knowing what to do, he vaguely temporized.
'FBut how can | accompany you, Katherine p
"How you like my friend, my lover, my hus-
band Do we not belong to each other?"
"But, dear, we must have some regard for APP
pearances"
"Ah, bah! appearancesl Am / not my own
mistress"
"Really, dear, think it would be better for
me TO follow you. l know how devoted you are,
sweet one, and glory in il; but must take care
of my dear girls good name. Some day you
will be my wife, Katey is it not so!"
Well he knew that such thing was far re
moved from the regions of the possible but Mad
anne did not know he knew and she had played SO
long a part that she was bound in it, She dared
not undeceive him yet fearing that the coldness
of his English nature might revolt from her con
troll did he know that she had lied to him.
"Ah, Frank" she murmured with melting
look "Can you waltz"