The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-03

the ear Of the man to whom they were
addressed.
We want TO know whether you are
one of the men whom Monsieur Leblanc
is marrying TO his niece"
Capt Danau leaped out of his car and
confronted Ince with a stare Of amaze
ment perplexity and Indignation.
InCe stood his ground and gave him
look for look
Eth. What the devil are YOU talking
about" he said. after a moments silent
contemplation of his iuterlocutor.
My friend has been professionally ac-
cspted by the Leblancs and by Miss
Densley as her future husband, and it
occurred TO us 10 wonder whether You
had not been accepted on the same
terms. said Ince, quietly.
St Quinun, who had heard the last
few words. now came forward.
Capt DarualI changed color a little.
Impossible said he. shortly.
James Ince, who dreaded any sort of
encounter between these two. interpOsed
his person between his friend and the
indignant Capt. DarUall, just as St Quin-
tin was about to make an injudiciOus
remark.
you can see.'' he said. that we have
done the bSt thing we could for YOU as
well as ourselves. in telling you at once
what his position is, 50 that YOU can
compare notes with MS. These people seem
10 have eccentric ways of treating the
sIitors for their niece. and We thought 1t
faiTer 10 yOu 10 let yOu know our ex-
DerienCe, hoping that you viii in return
tell us yours
Now. although Capt Darnau did not
look very intelligent and was inclined to
pat on lofty airs of superiority. the tone
and manner Of James Juce were so quiet
and impressive that he decided TO hear
all that there was to be said. He, there
fore, after q short pause asked.
What is the name Of your friend?"
or course he knew very we'll having
been introduced 20 St Quintin by the LIE
blancs. However, James Ince keeping a
steadying hand upon his friends arm,
gave him again the information he pro
fesSed 10 have forgotten, and St Quintin,
who looked very angry, bowed stiff1y in
return for the acknowledging bend of the
captains head.
well. Mr.. St Quintin," drawled he.
AT last. when he had taken a careful sur
vey Of the man who was now presented
to him in the character of rival, and
what have you to say?'
The young man found it difficult 10
control his anger at the quiet ins0lence
of this question. However, under Ince's
warning eye, he answered:
i have only to say that 7 am engaged
to marry Miss Densley; that she ac-
cepted me on Monday"
THE devil she did,
And that, although Monsieur Leblanc,
who calls himself her uncle, prOfessed 10
gagement until 1 could be seen and ap-
proved by his co-guardian, Mr.. Williams,
Leblanc said that I was the man he
should choose for his niece"
1.-THE devil he did"
Capt DarnalTs face had lost its look Of
amazed insulenCe. and now wore a look
of perplexity which was not unmixed with
Incredibly
He and James Ince regarded each 9th
ct steadily, and the captain spoke with
more civility than before
You think the old fellow is PLAYING A
double game. then? What can be his
object, thought"
We'll, he's already succeeded in getting
a man namd Marbeau TO give a hand
some diamond bracelet, not to the lady
herself bet 20 him to give-or MOTTO
her. And my friend St Quintin has given
her present handsomer still"
St. Quintin moved restlessly He hated
to hear the girl herself dragged into the
discussion.
1T was not her fault She didn't talk
about presents. It was Leblanc who sug-
gested it, said he
Have YOU, may ask, given her pres
ents, toO2"
The captain hesitated But he was
evidently so far convinced of the credi-
bility of the two men that he presently
said. with a SHOW of~jrritability:
I've lent the old chap 5000 to pay
off a mortgage on the property Of Dens-
ley Void James Ince and St. Quin-
tin both started. He hurried on with an
air of great cunning. But I can tell
YOU I took jolly good care to see first
the property in question.
You saw it," echoed both the young
men, who had begun by this time to
doubt the existence Of the estate in Lin
cOlnshiTe.
Capt Darnan nodded shrewdly.
Rather! I went down there and had