The Red Cloud chief., 1907-05-31
ut must have been somewhere

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.
pcctcd happened. A hand flashing with
jewels was rested for "A moment upon
her table. When 1t was withdrawn a
scrap of paper remained there.
Phyllis looked up in amazement.
The girl to whom the hand belonged
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 1t.
This is what she read, written in Eng
lish, but with Il foreign turn to most
of the letters:
M. Alfred lied. Your brother was
here. Wait till | speak to you"
Instinctivcly she crumpled up this
strange little note in her hand. She
struggled hard to maintain her CON.
posture. She had at once the idea that
every II 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 prodlgality
| which for n woman was almost reck.
less. Then she ordered coffee and aft
err a seconds hesitation cigarettes.
Why not? Nearly all the women were
smoking. and she desired to pass for
the moment as one of them. Fol the
first time she ventured to gaze at her
neighbor.
1t was the young lady from Vienna.
She was dressed in a wonderful demi-
toilet of white lace, and she wore a
large picture hat adjusted ut 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 M
solent GOODNESS. But q moment later,
when NJ. 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 ONE all the nights.
You will see l hold my handkerchief
so in my right hand. When he comes
/ 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
talkT' she asked.
mo. You must not speak to me
again. You must not let any one, es-
pecially the man himself, know what
l have told you. No more now. Watch
for the handkerchief"
but what shall l say to himY"
The girl took no notice of her. She
was looking in the opposite direction.
She seemed {, havr cdCcd away as far
as possible from her. Phyllis drew a
long breath. Sic felt her heart beating
with excitement. The place suddenly
seemed to her like part of a nightmare.
And then all was clear again. Fortune
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. Floss!e had arrived with q 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 acquaint'
ances had been renewed and new ones
made. Mademoiselle from Vienna was
surrounded by n little circle of admir-
ers. Still she held In her right hand
, a crumpled up little ball Of lace.
Men passing down the room tried to
attract the attention Of the beautiful
i young English demoiselle who looked
| out upon the little scene SO Indifferent
ly as regarded individuals and yet with
/ such eager interest as a whole. Nc