Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-10-31
{ looked NJ this strange womsa u

Perhaps she had wished to make me
fall 10 love with her! She made the
frank confession with q childish
naivete. And in the same bres.h shs
asked for my respect!
You speak in riddles" I exclaimed
petulantly. Tell me your purpose"
She looked up at me swiftly. half In
defiance.
Tell me yours"
"My %purpose!" I cried. Il have
none"
A moment she scanned my face
keenly. Apparently she was satisfied
that | spoke the truth. But that she
should have even a glimmer OF a sus.
picIon was startling.
Look, my friend, | speak no more
in riddles. but very frankly. Come to
my chateau because there you can do
me a service, a great service. VOLTA.
I have told you everything"
Not quite everything" | replied
quietly. You have not told me, 70:
instance, the nature OF the service tina:
you ask of the first stranger yor
meet"
"when you are my guest I shall tell
you" she promised airly.
she plunged into a stormy mazurka
to drown my protestations. ] watched
her, irritated and yet half yielding. as
she played with the brilliancy and
elan of a virtuoso. Then | walked to
the window.
NJ. rnaAh 10 4 nosaal n pfar ole GO pnp.
eled in the wall. A mans face was
dimly reflected there. Though | did
not look, I knew that he must be
standing behind a door leading into
another apartment. He had been lis.
tening, of course.
! did not betray my surprise. |
stepped out on the balcony, looking
down on the street below.
This incident banished my last
shred of reluctance. These adven.
turers spied on me; II was equally fair
that | play their game. Yes; ! deter.
mined to meet them with their W
weapons.
The music reached a stormy climax.
There was silence. ] did not go back
into the room. / waited %curiously.
Would she again insist? II so, | deter.
mined to no longer refuse.
The heavy curtains at the window
were parted. She stood beside me,
Again | noticed the feverish light in
her eyes; her bosom rose and fell
t~umultuously; her color came and
went.
1tTbnn ba,., M 1lyinu for mn aH.
v%enture?" she demanded In a spirit
OF desperate gayety. Even when that
adventure is to be shared with a won.
an-Nss, a beautiful woman"
Not when adventures are thrust on
me" | replied coldly, Her emotion
repealed me.
"Ah, you persist in being ungra'
cious. Then say this adventure brings
happiness for yourself
81 should require proof OF that"
She saw that | was not to be won
over by coquetry. She became seri,
Gus. almost anxious. Instinctively !
felt that she was about to play her
last card. Had she known 1t, ] was al
ready decided. But she was ignorant
of that, and risked everything to gain
her purpose.
"You have set yourself a task. What
II | can help you fulfill it?"
Again you speak in riddles,
madam"
IF l said I were listening last
night"
] frowned on her, furious. but I did
not answer.
She felt no shame in making this
confession. One hand rested on heI
hip, with the other she snapped finger
and thumb.
MY dear monsieur, you are not at
tractlve when you look like that. Even
| have heard the English p%roverb, All
is fair in love and in war"
And since this is not love, you wish
me Il infer that 1t is war? And you
ask the enemy deliberately into the
camp"
at is neither love nor val. 1t is
truce. Does that satisfy your"
Until you tell me the service am
to do you, 1t must be an armed truce
| ~mterposed cautiously.
emphasized the adjective.
"Blen! At A~lterhoffen you shall
know all. Then 1t will be for you tc
decide II we are to be allies"
o Every WELL" I assented briskly. /"
u will go to your chateau with you
u When do we start?"
. Now that l had made my decision
y she grasped the railing OF the balcony
l. exhausted. Presently / noticed thai
her lips we're moving, and as / looked
at her in wonder, l saw her furtively
g make the sign Of the cross. When she
= spoke again, 1t was languidly, as witt
an effort.
DIR. Starva and myself are to go to
. night to Vitznau, a little town on Lake
u Lucerne, an hours journey from here
Tomorrow morning at the dawn "
drive en- diligesce to Alterhoffen."
:. rs it necessary that l go TO Vitz
nau?"
. Yes" she said hesitatingly, avert
e ing her eyes. The last boat leavei
3 Lucerne at IL. Your luggage, can i
y be ready them"
II | nodded absently.
CTo BE CoNTINUEpJ
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