The Washington herald., 1907-10-06
CHAPTER VI.-COntinued.

means we'll disposed toward the courteous
Frenchman. The next moment however,
he found his hand seized in a most
friendly grip and his host smiling in;o
his face with a cordiality which made
him ashamed Of his momentary coldness
WhateSer he might fancy. suspect, or
imagine about Monsieur Leblanc when
away from him, the kindly greeting, the
pleasant smile, the quiet, easy, Well
bred manners almost set At rest all his
fears when he was with him.
Monsieur Leblanc chatted amiably with
his guest and with his niece until
madame came from the kitchen garden,
laden with a basket Of apples. and beam
ing broadly upon St Quinun as she came
slowly across the lawn with out@,retchea
hand to greet him. Marie took the bas-
ket from her and the two ladies went
toward the house together. while Mon
sieur Leblanc led the young man to ad-
mire his dahlias. which were the pride
of his heart.
But they would not grow so well here
as in France" he said with a hall sigh.
But you've been settled in England a
long time, 20 speak our language as weil
as you do, haven't you?' asked St Quin-
Tin, anxious to lead his host into The
direction Of autobiography
Monsieur Leblanc sighed again. He
was TOO polite 10 say r0undIy that he
had beep longer in England than he cared
to be. and said evasively that although
ne loved England and had lived mere
many years, it was natural he should
sometimes long for the bluer skies and
warmer climate Of the land of his birth.
St Quintin admitted this. and then
turned somewhat abruptly to a subject
which he wished TO thrash out before
they We're rejoined by the ladies.
BY the by, Monsieur Leblanc. did you
see in the papers that Mr.. Burdock who
visited You on the day 1 was here last
has Disappeared" he asked p0int-blank.
But II he had thought 10 disconcert his
host by the sUddenness of the question
ne hat miscalculated his effect. Mon
eiaur Leblanc nodded gravely and said
at once:
4 have seen it. and it has filled me
with the gravest concern. He left me in
q state Of great distress. because he had
asked for the hard of my niece, which
vas obliged 90 deny him. He was pas
s.onately in love with her he said, but
] had an idea it was her money he was
fond of, and although he was profuse in
his gifts-most generous, in fact-I had
20 decline the honor Of an alliance with
h.E. Whether he was sincere in his pro-
testaCons Of love I cannot be sure. 7
may have done him an injustice In think
ing the contrary. One can but follow
ones reasoning, and may make mistakes.
But Ia any case, my niece did not like
him. She is particular, and though my
wife and I are French, and should wish
20 influence the choice of our niece. yet
as she is English we have 10 consider
her own fancy more than il the custom
in our own country She, il seems, pre-
fers TO marry a younger man, one nearer
her own age"
And, either by accident or design, Mon
siedr Leblanc cast q glance at St. Quin-
Tin which seemed 10 suggest that it was
upon him that her choice was already
fixed
St. Quintin felt his heart grow lighter
as ne listened. This was all perfectly
possible probable in fact. The fact that
Monsieur Leblanc had not admitted the
Identity of his visitor that night had
nothing suspicious about il, since after
the scene ne represented himself TO have
had with the unwelcome suitor. it was
hardly likely he would care TO enter into
a discussion as TO the unpleasant inter
view, or to answer questions about the
visitor of whom he had been so anxiou.
% get rid.
and what 60 you think has become
of him. he asked. Has It occurred tc
you, Monsieur Leblanc. that ne may have
get back again to the house or the neal
neighborhood Of the house, and that ht
may have-have-"
Made an attempt upon his Hfe?" broke
IN his host gravesy. THAT is exactly
what I have been asking myself, evel
since I read in the papers that he haC
disappeared"
St Quintin breathed more freely. Bu
still he had p final suggestion TO make
TO clear up the mystery entirely
Has it occurred to you that it Nigh
be as well toto communicate with tn,
pollce?"
Monsieur Leblanc put his finger quick
ly upon his lip and looked mysteriously
round him.
That, my dear Mr.. St. Qulntin." re
piled he, rapidly, IN low voice. when h,
had assured himself that there was n,
one within hearing, is exactly what
have done"
ST. Quintin could have uttered a cry o
JOY. He refrained, Of course, from am
such exhibition Of feeling. and only drew
a long breath OF relief at the news. Mon
sieur Leblanc, however. came a steI
nearer TO him and said in his ear:
But DO not, pray you, say oae wor,
Of all this to the ladies' They would no
only be in a state Of acute terror an,
distress at the idea OF the place bein,
connected with any mischance to Mr.
Burdock but I uore than suspect tha
they would. none Of them, stay here, an,
I should have the place on my hands
And although I am not poor man.
should not care TO have the rent Of
big house ike this TO pay indefinitely
while I had 10 keep another house goinl
somewhere else for my wife and niece
oh 1 sec that. Of course. But il
there no fear of their finding out wha
you have done? Won't the police COM
mere to conduct a search, an invesuga
ton?"
mo doubt they will. But I must con
trive that the ladies shall be out Of tn
way. In any case. however. have aske,
that no one shall be sent except in plail
clothes. So if you see a man you don
know, and who is not exactly ike
guest, though he is treated as one, yol
viii know what to make of him"