The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-14

out hopes of SUCCESS, and assured ma
of his discretion. On the whole was
pleased with him. He looked like a.
man who thoroughly knew his bus.
mess; and had 1t not been for tho
solemn warning of the Foreign Secre-
tary, and the risk for Maxine, would
gladly have put more efficient weapons
lin Girard's hands, by telling him every
thing.
BY the time that the detective had
been primed with such facts and de-
tails as 1 could give, II was past ten
o'clock. | could see my way to do
nothing more for the moment. and as
! was half famshed. / whizaed back
in my hired automobile to the Elysee
Palace Hotel. There had food served
in my own sitting-room, lest George
Sanford should chance Inconvenience
ly upon some acquaintance of Ivor
Dundas, in the restaurant. ] did not
hurry over the meal, for aH / wanted
now was to arrive at Maxine de Rem
zie's house at twelve o'clock, and tell
her my news--or lack of news. She
would be there waiting for me, l waa
sure. no matter how prompt might
he, for though In ordinary circum-
stances, after the first performance of
q new play. either Maxine would have
gone out TO supper, or invited guests
to sup with her she would have ac-
cepted no invitation, given none. for
Tonight. She would hurry out of the
theatre. probably without waiting to
remove her stage make-up, and she
would go home unaccompanied, except
by her maid.
Maxine lives In charming lltle,
old-fashioned house set back in It's
own garden. a great find In good
quarter of Paris: and her house could
be reached in ten minutes drive from
my hotel. l would not go as far as
the gate, but would dismiss my cab ut
the corner of the quiet street. az 1t
would not be wise to advertise the
fact that Mademoiselle de Renzie was
receiving visit from young man
at midnight. Fifteen minutes would
give me plenty of time for all this.
therefore, at about a quarter to twelve
started to so downstairs. and In tho
entrance hall almost ran against tha
last person on earth 1 expected to
see--Dinna Forrest
She was not alone, OF course; but
for second or two / saw no one else.
There waa none other except her pre-
cious and beautiful face in tho world,
and for wild instant. l asked myself
If she had come here to see me, to take
back all her cruel words of msunder-
standing and to take me back Also
But II was only for an instant--a very
mad instant.
Then ] realized that she couldn't
have known / was to he at the Elysee
Palace Hotel. and that even IL she hadi
she would not have dreamed of cons
ing To me. AS common sense swept
my brain clear, ! saw near the pre-
cious and beautiful face. other faces,
Lady Mountstuart's. Lord Mount
stuart's, Lisa Drummond's, and Bob
Vests.
They were all in evening dress. the
ladies' In charming traps which APP
peared to consist mostly of lace an.
chiffon, and evidently they had just
come into the hotel from some placI
of amusement. The beaptiful face.
which had been pale, grew rosy at
sight OF me. though whether witr
amazement or anger. or both, i couldn't
tell. Lisa smiled. locking more Inn
pish even than usual. but 1t was plaia
that the others, Lord Mountstuart
among them, We're surprised to sea
me here.
Goodness Is it you or your ghost?'
exclaimed Lady Mountstuart in ths
soft accents of California. which have
never changed in spite of the iona
years of hor married life In England.
| If 1t had been my ghost, ii would
have vanished Immediately. to sava
| prevent any delay in getting ~
| Maxne's. But unfortunately, flesh
| and blood young man must stop for
| conventional politeness before he can
disappear, no matter what presses.
said How do you do?' to every
| one, adding that | was as surprised ~
see them as they could be to see me.
/ even grinned civilly at l-erd Robert
West. though finding him here with
| ri, looking particularly pleased with
| himself made me want to knock him
down.
.oh, it was plan. as far as Mounty
| and Lord Robert and / G:e concerned.
explained Lady Mountstuart "Of
| course Lord Robert ought to have been
1 at the Duchess's bazaar this afternoon,
but then lie won't show up al such
things even to please his sister, AMI
# hi and Lisa We're to have represented
! me there. To-day and Tomorrow ere
| the only days all three of us could
possibly steal to get away and look at
/ a most wonderful motor car, made fof
a Rajah who couldn't take it after all
/ Lord Robert certainly knows more
about automobiles than any otheI
human being does, and he thoug as
was Just what would want. III had
thet most horrid headache this moiningiI
poor child. and Wasn't fit for tho
4 fatigue of a big crush so, as yes
| a splendid sailor, / persuaded Ler TO
come with usv-and Lisa, too, of course
4 We caught the afternoon train 81
Boulougne, and had such GLORIOUS
/ crossing that we actually all hsd thf
courage to dress and dine at MADRID
i wasn't it plucky Of us? But were
4 collapsine now, and have come rpaci
early, as we must inspect the car tht
I first thing Tomorrow morning ard d.
a heap of shopping afterwards
"If you're collapslng, mustn't keaG
YOU standing here for moment "a said
4 anxious for more than one reason %
get away. Dl wasn't looking at me,
i Half turned from me- purposely didn't
a doubt, she had begun a conversation
/. with Bob West, who beamed with 10y
/ over her Kindness to him and her api
]. parent Indifference to me.