Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-10-17
CHAPTER I.-continued.

CHAPTER l.-Continued.
"A wire from somebody who knew
was on this boat" thinks the Ameri-
can, and hastily tearing it open, reads:
Burton H. Barnes,
Steamer Constantine arriving Mar
settles. Ajaccio May 26, 1888.
En- evant double quick The devil is be-
hind you. Look out for Salicet. Details
by letter. De b.
From instinct Mr.. Barnes touches
his hip pocket just to be sure his re-
volver is there. Then he PAGES the
deck meditatively for moment, cogi-
tating: Something must be happen
ing in Corsica for that old Algerine
campaigner De Belloc to send such
dispatch. Best the ladies don't see
this" and tears the message up, toss
ing the pieces overheard. AS he does
so Miss Anstruther is beside him, a
fluffy white parasol over her head.
81 think" says Mr.. Barnes, well go
to London as soon as possible. We
have but 20 minutes to catch the train.
All, here's Tompson with the valises!"
He takes Miss Anstruther's maid, an
English girl of about 20, and rather
helpless in a French-speaking coun-
try, puts her with the heavier articles
of their baggage into a voiture and
dispatches her to the railroad depot at
once. Returning to his fiancee on the
deck of the boat he says impatiently:
why doesn't Edwin bring Marina on
deck?"
This is answered by the young Cor
sican bride herself. my husband"
she fingers on the word radiantly,
will be along in minute. He is
cording up our baggage, sailor fash
ion. All atauto, / think Edwin calls
it. Is it all ashore now, dear Mr..
Barnes" and Marina drapes her light
travelling robe with graceful hand
about her pretty feet.
Yes, as quickly as possible. Come,
Enid!"and the American leads the way.
Marina waves her hand to her hus-
band, who springs down the gangplank
carrying the corded articles and cries:
Hurry, Edwin! Twenty minutes to
catch the Paris train"
Then I've got you in time!" shouts
a voice from the quay that makes
Barnes start and turn about.
Before them stands Miss Maud Char
iris, her high, bronzed boots more
bronZy than ever, the cardinal red of
her long, silk stockings that outline
her legs from knees to ankles even
more aggressively cleaning. A pert
little sunshade is over her straw-hatted
head, which is adorned by two long,
blonde pigtails tied with blue ribbons
which she fiops about defiantly. The
rest of her between knees and neck is
white muslin frock and pink sash.
Ma said was to catch you, Edwin,
at the boatrif you came on it. She
wants you at her hotel, the Grand, Rue
Noailles. You're to look after that
plumbing job in her house in London.
The master plumber is robbing her"
"Awfully sorry cannot accommo-
date your mother, Maud" remarks An
struther. The carriage engaged by
Barnes is standing ready for them.
I'VE steer straight to the depot /
thought your mother was in London
already"
mo, we're going back to Nice. Won
Bulow Is there. Between us all, ma
means to marry him. How pity the
German. I'll ride up with you and tell
| you all about it," cries the Chartris
girl, whose widowed mother sternly
represses the unfortunate Maud from
growing into young ladyheod and abso-
lutely denies her birthdays till she,
Lady Chartris, has captured another
husband.
Already Enid and Marina are on the
back seat, Anstruther steps in; Barnes
| likewise.
Room for one more!" cries Maud,
who springs in and kisses both of the
young ladies effusively.
Already the carriage having rolled
up the Boulevard des Danes and
passed the Arc de Triomphe has
turned into the Rue Bernard du Bots,
making for the big railway station,
out of which nearly all trains leave
Marseilles not only for Paris, but
everywhere else.
You give my compliments to your
| mother, Maud" remarks the sailor,
| trying to cut off Maud's conversation.
Tell her to write me at my London
! address and I'll hoist her plumber at
the yard-arm."
BY this time they are at the great
| station. Miss Chartris skips out and
the rest follow her from the carriage.
Trains are ready to leave for the four
quarters of the globe; the platforms
are filled with hurrying passengers.
| 1t is hard to believe a medieval ven
delta can be inserted on such scene.
Barnes, glancing at his watch, finds
they have ten minutes before the train
departs: he says cheerfully but hur-
riedly: Look out for the ladies, Ed
win; I'll find Tompson and the rest of
the baggage" and goes off to get the
tickets and make the necessary ar
rangements.
But "look out for the ladies'" is
more easily said than done.
Three jabbering porters have seized
their hand baggage and are carrying
1t in sections towards different trains
that will scatter the pieces to the west
and the Pyrenees, to the east and Italy.
Edwin pursues these; then Enid
gives gasp. Another porter, calling:
"Arles, Tarascon and Avignon!" has
pounced upon her special handbag and
Is rushing away with 1t. Miss An
struther flies after him, leaving Maud
and Marina together.
Five minutes later. Barnes returns
to find Edwin supporting Marina,
J whose face is very pale. and whose