The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-02
THE POWERS AND MAXINE
All Rights Reserved.

Ivor broke out impnlsively. That's rather hard name, isn't it7 There are better ones. And she's no traitor to her country. because, as you perhaps know, she's Polish by birth. l can assure you we've much for which thank her cleverness and tact--and beauty. For our sakes Tin sorry that she's serving our interests profession ally for the last time. For her own sake, ought to rejoice. as she's en- gagged to be married. And if you can save her from coming to grief over this very ticklish business. she'll probably live happily ever after. Did you know of her engagement?"
 ''No," replied Ivor. T saw Miss de Renzie often when she was acting In London year ago; but after she went to Paris--0f course, she's very busy and has crowds of friends; and I've only crossed once or twice since, on very hurried visits; so we haven't met, or written to each other"
 every good reason I thought bit- terly, behind my sofa. You've been busy. too--falling in love with Diana Forrest.")
 .It hasn't been announced yet, but thought as an old friend you might have been told. I believe Mademoiselle wants to surprise everybody when the right times comes--if the poor girl is- n't ruined irretrievably in this affair of ours"
 "Is there really serious danger of that"
 The most serious. If you can't save her. not only will the Entente Cordiale be shaken to its foundations, (and l say nothing of my own reputation, which Is at stake) but her future hap piness will be broken in the crash, and --she says--she will not live to suf- fer the agony of her loss. She will kill herself if disaster comes; and though suicide is usually the last re- source of a coward, Mademoiselle de Renzie is no coward, and I'm inclined to think I should come to the same re- solve in her place"
 "Tell me what I am to do," said Iv- or, evidently moved by the Foreign secretary's strange words, and his in- tense earnestness.
 You will go to Paris by the first train tomorrow morning. without men, tioning your intention to any one; you will drive at once to some hotel where you have never stayed and are not known. will find means of inform ing the lady of what hotel you choose. You will there give fictitious name Get us say George Sandford) and you will take suite, with private sit ting room. That done. you will say 
 upon you. and will see no one else. You will walt till Mademoiselle de Rem zie appears, which will certainly be as soon as she can possibly manage; and when you and she are alone together, sure that you're not being spied upon, you will put into her hands small packet which shall give you before we part tonight"
 Tt sounds simple enough" said 1vor, 'if tn; .'s all"
 "ft is all. Yet it may be anything but simple"
 "WouId you prefer to have me call at her house. and save her coming to hotel? I'd willingly do so if--
 ''No. As I told you. should 1t be known that you and she meet, those who are watching her at present ought not to suspect the real motive of the meeting. So much the better for us; but we must think of her. After o'clock every afternoon. the young Frenchman she's engaged to Is in the habit of going to her house, and stop ping until it's time for her to go to work. He dimes with her. but doesn't drive with her to the theatre, as that would be rather too public for the pres ent until their engagements announc- ednveB,sntS sd He sd0res ssadSs asE fns iEe most @ Latins. It's practically certain that he's heard your name mentioned In connection with hers. when she was in London and as a Frenchman invariably fails to understand that a man can ad- mire a beautiful woman without being in love with her. your call at her house might give Mademoiselle Maxine a mauvais quart dheure."
 T see. But if she sends him away. and comes to my hotel--
 Shell probably make some excuse about being obliged to go to the thea- tre early, and thus get rid of him. shes ouite clever enough to manage that. Then as your own name won't appear on any hotel list in the papers next day. | the most jealous heart need have no cause for suspicion. At the same time, l if certain persons whom Mademoiselle-- ay d we too--have to fear. do ma out | that she has visited 1vor Dundas, Wh" h s assumed a false name for the pleas l ura of A private interview with her, in- ferests of even deeper importance than | inc most desperate love affair may still. we'll hope be guarded by the pretext of your old friendship. Now you under | s. nd thoroughly"
 q think so," replied Ivor, very grave and troubled, I knew by the change in his manner. out of which all the gaiety had been slowly drained. T VIII oo my best" | 4If YOU are sacrificing any important engagements of your own for the next tvyo davs. you won't suffer for it in the end remarked the Foreign Secretary | meaningly. ,-,.
 No doubt Ivor saw the consulship at l AlRiers dancing before his eyes, bound up with an engagement to Dl' just as A slice of rich plum cake and WhlLs bride cake are tied together with bows of satin ribbon sometimes in America I didn't want him to have the consul ship because getting that would per hans mean getting Di, too.
 'srhank you" said 1vor.
 And what hotel shall you choose m Pa aris?" asked the Foreign Secretary. II should be a good one, I don't need tc remind you, where Mademoiselle de Renzie could go without danger of com promising herself, in case she should be recognized in spite of the veil she's nj atfv certain to wear. Yet 1t shouldn't ba in leo central situation"
 shall 1t be the Elysee Palace? asked Ivor.
 That will do very we'll" replied the other. after rehecting for an instant And I could have clapped my hapds' ir what Ivor would call my "impish joy. When it was settled; for the Elysee Pal ace is where Lord and Lady Mount. stuart stop when they visit Paris, anc they'd been talking of running over the next day with Lord Robert West. te look at a wonderful new motor ear fol sale there--one that a Rajah had or dered to be made for him, and died be- fore it was finished. Lady Mountstuari d g