Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-08
THE POWERS AND MAXINE.

| fumbling for the pocket had tapped sug-
gestively a moment ago l let her draw
out the long case which had been guard
ing-the case / had not once touched since
leaving London. except to feel anxiously
for It's outline through my buttoned coat.
At least, whatever might be about to hap
pen. she had it in her own hands now
Neither of us spoke made a sound
during the instant that she chung to me.
the faint, well-remembered perfume OF her
hair. her dress in my nostrils. But as she
started away and l knew that she had the
letter-case the knock came again. Then,
before I could be sure whether she wished
for time to hide. Or whether she would
have me cry come In without seeming to
hesitate, the door opened. For second or
two Maxine and l and group of figures
at the door were mere shadows In the
ever-deepening pink dusk: but I could
scarcely have counted ten before the long
expected light sprang up. l had turned II
on In more than one place, and sudden.
brilliant illumination showed me tall COM
missary of police, with two little gen.
darmes looking over his shoulder.
l threw glance at Maxine, who was still
yelled, and was relieved to see that she
had found some means Of putting the let
ter-case out of sight. Having ascerta:ned
this. sharply inquired in French what IN
the devils name the commiSsary OF police
meant by walking into an Englishm,n's
rooms without being invited. and not only
that but what under heaven he wanted
anyway.
He was far more polite than l was.
Ten thousand pardons. monsieur. Re
apologized. Il knocked twice, but, hearing
no answer. entered, thinking that, per-
haps. after all. the salon was unoccupied
Important business must be my excuse. |
have to request that Monsieur Dundas Will
first place in my hands the gift he has
brought from London to Mademoisellc de
Renzie.'
II have brought no gift for MademolseIe
de RenZie,' / prevaricated boldly; but the
mans knowledge of my name was omnous.
If the Paris police had contrived to learn it
already. as well as to find out that 1 was
the bearer of something for Maxine, 1t
looked if they knew enough to play the
game in their own way-whatever that
might be.
perhaps 1 should Say. the thing which
mademoselle lent-to a friend In England
and monsieur has now kindly returned"
amended the commissary of police as po-
litely, patiently, as ever.
Really, l don't know what you are talk
ing about I said, struggling my shoulders
and looking bewildered-or hoping that
looked bewildered All the while l was
wondering. desperately. if this meant ruin
for Maxine. or if she would still find some
way of saving herself. But all 1 could do
for her at the moment was to keep calm
and tell many lies as necessary. l hadn't
been able to lie to Diana, but had no COM
FUNCTIONS about doing it now, if it were to
help Maxine. The worst was that l was
far from sure that 1t would help her.
Il trust, monsieur, that you do not wish
to prevent the French police from doing
their duty said the officer, his tone be-
coming peremptory for the first time
SHOULD you attempt it, l should unfortu-
nately be compelled to order that monsieur
be searched"
You seem to forget that you're dealing
with British subject" said 1.
Who is offending against the laws Of
You COmDlain aftprwar0 monsieur
''Why don't you empty your pockets. Mr..
Dundas." suggested Maxine. lightly, yet
.contemptuously land show them that
you've nothing in which the police can
have any interest? 1 suppose the next
thing they propose will be to search me-.
Il deeply regret to say that will be the
next thing, mademoiselle. unless satisfac
ton Is given to me- returned the commits
sary of police.
Maxine threw back her thick veil. and if
this were the first time these men had ever
seen the celebrated actress off the stage
1t seemed to me that her beauty must al
most have dazzled them. thus suddenly dis
played. for Maxine Is a gloriously hand
some woman, and never had she been more
striking, more wonderful, than at that mo-
ment. when her dark eyes laughed out of
her white face. and her red lips smiled S
il neither they nor the great eyes had any
secret to hide.
Look at me- she said, throwing back
ward her slender body in the tight black
sheath of the dress which of the fash
ion which, think. women call princess"
1t fitted her as smoothly as the gloves that
covered her arms to the elbows.
do you think there is much chance for
concealment in this dress?" she asked. Il
haven't pocket, you see. No Self-reSpect-
ing woman could have in a gown like this
1 don't know In the least what sort of
gift my old friend is supposed to have
brought me. Is it large small? I'll
take off my gloves and let you see my
rings. If you like Monsieur le COmmisaire
public to be civil to my fellow servants,
even if they should be unreasonable. No?
You don't want to see my rings? Let me
oblige you by taking off my hat then. 1
might have put the thing-whatever 1t is
in my hair"
AS she spoke she drew out her hatpins
still laughing in a half scorneul, half good
natured way. She was bewitchng she
stood smiling, with her black hat and veil
in her hand, the rufied waves of her dark
red hair shadowing her forehead.
Meantime, fired by her example, turned
out the contents of my pocketS-a letter or
two fiat gold cigarette case, match
box. my watch and handkerchief; Also
in an outer pocket of my coat, small bit
of crumpled paper of which had no recol-
lection. but as one of the gendarmes po-
litely picked it up from the floor, where 1t
had fallen. and handed it to me without ex-
amining it, mechanically l slipped it back
into the pocket and thought more Of it
at the time. There were too many other
things to think of, and l was wondering
what on earth Maxine could have done
with the letter-case. She had had no more
than two seconds in which to dispose of it,
hardly enough, 1t seemed to me, to pass it
from one hand to another yet apparently 1t
was well hidden.
Now are you satisfied" she asked
Now that we have both shown you we
have nothing to conceal, or would you like
to take me to the police station and have
some dreadful female search me more thor
oughly still? I'll go with you, if you like
/ won't even be indiscreet enough to ask
questions, since you seem inclined to do
what we've no need to do-keep your own
secrets. All l stipulate is, that If you wish
to take such measures you'll take them at
once. for, as you may possibly be aware.
this Is the first night of my new play, and
l should be sorry to be late"
The commissary of police looked fixedy
at Maxine for moment. as II he would
read her soul. mo, mademoiselle," he
said. II am convinced that neither you nor
monsieur are concealing anything about
your persons. / will not trouble you further
until we have searched the ROOM
Maxine could not blanch, for already she
was as white as she will be when she lies
in her coffin. But though her expression
did not change, I saw that the pupils of her
eyea dila ted Actress that Ia sha could