Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-26

IL naQ been very slender cnance, put | at least it was something tangible. She had scarcely expected to have II snapped so soon and so thoroughly. | She dropped her veil to hide the tears | which she felt were not far from her eyes and summoned the waiter for her | bill There seemed to be no object in staying longer Suddenly the unex- l pected happened. A hand flashing with 1 jewels was rested for a moment upon her table. When it was withdrawn q
 scrap of paper remained there. Phyllis looked up sn anNzement. | The girl to whom the hand belonged 1 was sitting at the next table, but her | head was turned away, and she seem- ed to be only concerned in watching | the door. She drew the scrap of paper toward her and cautiously opened it. | This is what she read, written in Eng I fish, but with foreign turn to most l of the letters:
 ''M. Alfred lied. Your brother was here Wait till speak to you" Instinctively she crumpled up this strange little note in her hand. She struggled hard to maintain her com posture. She had at once the idea that 1 every one in the place was looking at her. NJ. Alfred, indeed, on his way down the room wondered what had driven the hopeless expression from her face
 The waiter brought her bill. She paid it and tipped him with prodigality which for woman was almost reck- less. Then she ordered coffee and aft CT a seconds hesitation cigarettes. Why not? Nearly all the women were smoking, and she desired to pass for the moment as one of them. For the first time she ventured to gaze at her nelghbor. It was the young lady from Vienna. She was dressed in wonderful deni- toilet of white lace, and she wore a large picture hat adjusted at exactly the right angle for her profile. From her throat and bosom there flashed the sparkle of many gems, The finger which held her cigarette was ablaze with diamonds. She leaned back in her seat smoking lazily, and she met Phyllis furtive gaze with almost in- solent coldness. But moment later, when M Alfred's back was turned, she leaned forward and addressed her rap- idly.
 "A man will come here," she said, ''who could tell you if he was willing all that you seek to know. He will come tonight. He comes all the nights. You will see I hold my handkerchief so in my right hand. When he comes I shall drop it-so,"
 The girls swift speech, her half fear full glances toward the door, puzzled Phyllis.
 Can you not come nearer to me and talkY' she asked.
 No. You must not speak to me again. You must not let any one. es- pecially the man himself, know what have told you. No more now. Watch for the handkerchief"
 "But what shall say to him"
 The girl took no notice of her. She was looking in the opposite direction. She seemed to have edged away as far as possible from her. Phyllis drew a long breath. She felt her heart beating with excitement. The place suddenly seemed to her like part of nightmare.
 And than a n HroS cIaar oaip Eort,.pa was on her side. The secret of Guys disappearance was in this room, and a few careless words from the girl at the next table had told her more than an entire police system had been able to discover. But why the mystery? What was she to say to the man when he came? The girl from Vienna was talk ing to some friends and toying care lessly with a little morsel of lace which she had drawn from her bosom. Phyllis watched 1t with the eyes of a cat. Every now and then she watched also the door
 The place was much fuller now. Mile. Flossie had arrived with small company of friends from Maxim's. The music was playing all the time. The popping of corks was almost in- cessant. The volume of sound had swelled. The laughter and greeting of friends betrayed more abandon than earlier in the evening. Old acqraint- ances had been renewed and new ones made. Mademoiselle from Vienna was surrounded by a little circle of admir- CTS. Shll she held In her right hand crumpled up little ball of lace.
 Men passing down the room tried to attract the attention of the beautiful young English demoisel,s who looked out upon the little scene go indifferent ly as regarded individuals and yet with such eager interest as a whole. No one was bold enough, however. to make a second effort. Necessity at times gives birth to a swift capacity. Fresh from her simple country life. Phyllis found herself still able with ef- fortless serenity 10 cOnfOund the most hardened boulevarder who paused to ogle her. Her eyes and lips expressed with ease the most convincing and ab- solute indifference to their approaches. A man may sometimes brave anger: be rarely has courage to combat indif- ference. So Phyllis held her own and waited.
 And at last the handkerchief fell Phyllis felt her own heart almost stop beating as she ga-.d down the room. A man of medium height. dark. immae- ulately dressed. distinguished. was slowly approaching her. exchanging greetings on every side His languid eyes fell upon Phyllis. Those who had