Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-24

on
on on our honeymoon
ne had won, but she made one last poutins AZ.
Tempt. Frank, you know there is no time now
Ior that' She put her arms about him and whis.
e pe'eu tendery' We have all our lives before
us Tor marriage, dear. That is only contract.
II am content to wait and trust you-surelv
you" ~
He put her gently from him. 1--WE regard these
cmngs differently in England Kate" he answer.
cd note Of sternness in his voice MY wife's
Do you understand dear?"
How cruel you are, Frank. You think of the
world; only Of our two selves" Tears stood in
her eyes.
The woman was so beautiful in her distress
tnat Cressngham took her in his arms and sat
lsned her amply with the ardor Of his kisses but
presently he led her to the door and to her wait
ing carriage. She gave him her address in vi
emma and departed, charging him with her latest
breath to follow soon-she could not live without
him long, she said
Cressingham found Oeltjen waiting in his draw.
ing room. II heard everything" said the Count
Il think you should have sunk all considerations
and gone off with her. I cannot understand why
you did not"
land" -As
'I forget nothing-those instructions depended
upon Madame, and were only given you in order
to curtail her movements through her infatua-
ton for yourself"
Cressingham hesitated moment, then blurted
outs Look here, Oeltjen, I'll be frank with
you. simply can't leave London until hear
from Miss Elliott-there the murder is out 80
Oeltjen gave long, low whistle. "Ah, pardon
E'I do" ''' -'N''
The Count laughed happily and executed pas
seul, efervescent as a schoolboy.
MY friend, / could kiss you," he cried. 'I can
now be your friend for l am no longer Jealous
he coid H.
as his spirits had risen, 'I have worshipped Mad
anne so long and, in spite Of me- cannot help
but hate all others who love her too All, what
have suffered these days! but now no longer
care-she loves you, yes; but you love another
All, you smile at me, you do not understand
You love with your heads, you cold Englishmen
With us, we love with the heart For myself I
love Madame knowing what she is too well, but
still love her."
| Cressingham silently took and pressed the
Counts hand. The men looked deep into each
others eyes, and from that moment friend
ship sprang up between them which no circum-
stance could mar completely.
| Won Oeltjen spoke presently. I'VE are in
great difficulty, my friend. wish that Mr..
! Perigord were here"
'He is here" replied a Deep low voice, which
made the gentlemen start as if thunderbolt had
! fallen.
Standing in the open doorway was the huge
loose figure of the master, holding before him in
a grasp of iron, foot from the floor, the help
less pyiamaclad form of Cressingham's servant,
one hand across his mouth to suppress outcry
'1t appears you wanted me" he said. Indeed.
L think it is time that l returned, although /
have only been from England few hours. So
Katherin Viyella sets out for venna?"
"You know that?" gasped Cressingham and
Oeltjen in breath.
"And more-but not enough, not enough Who
is the woman that her friends have kidnapped in
mistake for her?'
| He eyed the pair before him keenly, but their
! faces expressed only blank surprise
| Him, you don't know; that's bad You do
nothing, you know nothing! Are you blind, the
pair of you? It is lucky that of my agents
are more sensible. She is tall, slight, fair, blue
eyes, rather pretty dressed from head to heel
in yellow sealskin coat, fur outside, blue silk
| lining"
ingham.
''Elliott, Elliott; not the daughter of Colonel
Francis Elott?'
''The same-she went with Madame yesterday
evening to a concert, and has not returned home
| since. Her servants and-er-friends have been
awfully anxious about her, and only waiting
until morning to put the matter in the hands Of
the police"
"Ah this lady visited you late last night, Lord
| Francisl"
"She came to warn me of a plot to murder
me- It seems that was seen coming from your
my intimacy with Madame, made your enemies
anxious. They determined to get rid of me, and
concocted PLAN.
'I see. She must be plucky girl"
Cressinghams eyes flashed. 'Plucky, yes-but,
great heavens, it seems that she's come TO harm
through me. Where is she"
Softly, my lord said Perigord, zone thing at
a time please. Was Madame Vyella here when
Miss Elliott called? -
'No, she arrived while we were talking and
Miss Elliott, not caring to meet her, waited in
nv dressing room until she had gone"
''Ha it was a clear mistake; true, their heights
are similar, and then the abductors were probably
ignorant fools who took the girl for Madame in
the first instance and let their proper quarry
slip"
''why should they want to kidnap Madame!"
gasped Cressngham.
''Your fault my Lord; you kept her dangling
too long You should have got her secret from
her the first day The circle having their suspi-
cions wakened on hearing that you had visited
my house, tried to get Madame away from Eng
land, for they feared lest you should exert your
influence to worm some of their secrets from her
But Madame refused to leave you-and they got
panic-stricken. Therefore they determined to
cause your assassination, and at the same time
spirit Madame off TO the Continent. Their dou.
bic plot failed You were warned in time and
their agents kidnapped Miss Elliott instead Of
Madame On discovering their mistake they
adopted the final expedient Of cabling Madame
some message which must be Of most vital mo-
ment for Immediately on receipt Of it she tele-
eraphed TO Kaputsly, the chief Of the second cir
Gle in Vienna. that she would set off this morn
ing for the Continent. What the message they
sent her was, ] cannot tell for although hold