Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-30

combe was out He would inquire if | mademoiselle would wait, but he did | not usher her into the drawing room, | as would have been his duty in an ordinary case, or even ask her to take a seat Mile. Mermillion was of the order of young person who resents, but this aft ernoon she was far too nervous. Dur ing the porter's temporary absence she started at every footstep and scruti- nized anxiously every passerby. Often she looked behind her through the glass doors into the street. When at last he reappeared alone her disappoint- ment was obvious.
 "Sir George Duncombe is out, made ,moiselle," he announced. Twill you be pleased to leave message or your name?"
 You do not know how long he will be-" she inquired.
 "Sir George left no word," the man answered. He has been out since before dejeuner."
 Mademoiselle decided to leave note. The porter supplied her with note pa- per and envelopes. She sat down at a small round table and once more glanced around. Convinced that she was not being watched, she hastily wrote few lines, sealed and address ed the envelope and handed it to the porter.
 You will give this to Sir George i'm mediately he returns," she begged. Tt is important"
 Monsieur shall have it without doubt, mademoiselle," the man an- swered
 She pulled down her veil and left the place hurriedly. When she reached the boulevard she slackened her pace and drew little breath of relief.
 Ten thousand francsp' she murmur- ed to herself. If I took that with me, they would receive me at home. might start all over again. It is worth little risk. Heavens, how nervous I amr'
 She entered cafe and drank petit verre. As she set her glass down a man looked at her over the top of his newspaper. She tried to smile, but her heart was beating, and she was sick with fear.
 "What fool I amr' she muttered. '.It is a stranger too. If he were one of Gustav's lot, I should know him."
 She returned his smile, and be came and sat down beside her. They had another liqueur together. Later they left the place together.
 Duncombe returned to his hotel tired out after disappointing day spent in making fruitless inquiries in various parts of Paris. He had learned nothing. He seemed as far off the truth as ever. He opened the note which the porter handed him listlessly enough. After ward, however, 1t was different. This is what he read:
 I can tell you about the young English lady if you will promise upon your honor that you will not betray me. I dare not come here again. I dare not even speak to you while the others are about. Go to the Cafe Sylvain tonight and order din ner in a private room. will come at half past I. FLoSSIE
 Duncombe drew a little sigh of re- lief. At last, then. he was to know something. He was very English. a bad amateur detective and very weary of his task. Nothing but his intense interest in the girl herself-an interest which seemed to have upset the whole tenor of his life-wousl have kept him here plodding so relentlessly away at a task which seemed daily to present more difficulties and complications. Yet so absorbed had he become that the ordinary duties and pleasures which made up the routine of his life scarcely ever even entered into his mind. There had been men coming down to shoot whom in an ordinary way he would not have dreamed of putting off, cricket match which had been postponed until his return and which be had completely forgotten, Paris had nothing in the shape oi amusement to offer him in place Of these things. yet in his own mind these things were as they had not been. Ev. cry interest and every energy of bis life were concentrated upon the one simple object Of his search.
 He gave the man half a crown and walked to the lift whistling. The DOT ter shook bis head, and DuneOmbe re ceded considerably in his estimation notwithstanding the tip. He consid cred Mile FloSsie a little obvious foi a gentleman of Duncombe's class Duncombe treatel himself to a cock tail and a cigarette as he changed his clothes. It was positively the first gleam of hope he had had. And ther suddenly he remembered Spencer's warning. and he became grave.
 He was at the Cafe Sylvain early He ordered dinner, gave elaborate in structions about a young lady when she arrived and with a glass of ab sInth and another cigarette sat down to wait At a quarter to s he began to get restless He summoned ths waiter again and gave a more detailed description of Mile. Flossie. The wait er was rezreffuI. but positive NC young lady of any description had ar rived expecting tO meet a gentleman fn a private rOom- Duncoube tried him witE her name. But. yes. Nile MermIIIiOn was exceedingly well known shere. He would give orders that shs shouAd be shown up immediately sh' mr~swa.d If vxcsska ha eno7 rfthUu'