Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-07

was starving."
 He set the tray down for her, placed chair in front of the table and busted himself opening the wine. All the time he was looking at her.
 Whatever have you been doing to yourself:" he asked at length.
 She laughed softly.
 "Oh, I had to amuse myself some how," she answered. I've done my hair new way, rearranged all my orna- ments, and really I don't think man has right to such delightful mani cure set. felt terribly nervous in the lavatory though. I could hear some one in the billiard room all the time."
 "That's all right" he declared. I've locked the door there and have the key in my pocket. No one can get in from that side"
 Please talk and don't watch me-" she begged. "I'm ashamed to be so hungry" -..-.
 He smiled and helped her to some more chicken. If he talked he was scarcely conscious of what he said. All the time his eyes kept straying toward her. She had taken off her jacket and was dressed simply enough In blouse of some soft white mate rial and dark skirt. Everything, from the ornaments at her neck, the dull metal waist band and the trim shoes, seemed to him to be carefully chosen and tho best of their sort. She wore no rings, and her fingers had the rosy pinkness of health. If she had seemed graceful to him before in the drawing room of Runton House and surrounded by some of the most beau tiful women in the country, she seem ed more than ever so now seated in the somewhat worn chair of his little studio. The color, too, seemed to have come back to her cheeks. She seemed to have regained in some measure her girlishness. Her eyes were ever ready to laugh into his. She chatted away as though the world, after all, contained nothing more serious for her than for any other girl. Duncombe hated to strike another note, yet he knew that sooner or later it must be done.
 You are quite sure that you will not have anything else?" he asked.
 Absolutely, thanks! have never enjoyed myself so much in my life"
 He glanced at his watch. It was half past II.
 ''I am afraid" he said, that I am going to be nuisance to you, but ones friends often are that. I want to be your friend. I want to prove myself such I am not an inquisitive person by any means, but fate has de- clared that should be your inquisitor. There are some questions which am bound to ask you"
 Her face grew suddenly grave.
 "There is so little" she murmured, (which can tell you"
 ''We shall sec" he answered. ''In the first place, Lord Runton has been here. He is one of my oldest friends and very good fellow. He came to tell me that De Rothe had been robbed in his house of some valuable papers. He came partly to ask my advice. All the time was sitting opposite to him with those papers in my pocket" She looked at him strangely. ' Perhaps" she said quietly, ''you gave them up to him."
 q did not" he answered. You know very we'll that did not"
 Tt was your duty" she said in low tone.
 1, Perhaps SO. On the other hand" be continued, you trusted me. The pa- pers are safe"
 'Does he know that you have them?" she asked.
 "He knows nothing"
 She looked at him steadfastly-not with any appearance of doubting his word, and yet as though she were re- volving something in her mind con cerning him.
 q am thinking" she said, ''how much better 1t would have been for both of us if we had never met"
 ''The fates thought otherwise" he answered. 'T searched Paris for you only to find you at my gates. The fates meant you to be my friend. We must be careful not to dIsappoint them" She shook her head a little wistfully.
 "You have been very good to me-" she said. but you don't understand"-
 "Preciselyr' he interrupted. T don't understand. I want to. To begin with. what in this world induced you to throw in your lot even for an hour with Ine man who called himself FieldingT-
 T can answer no questions concern ing myself" she said sadly.
 He smiled.
 Come" he said. "it isn't so serious as all that. is itT Sooner or later your friends are sure to ind you. and they will not be content with such state ment as that. You were summoned one day to Paris by or on behalf of your brother. who had unaccOuntabIy there. You immediately appear 10 have followed suit. You had 70 friends in Paris. Neither. I think. had he. I believe am correct in say ing that you had neither of you ever been there before If your brother has fallen into bad hands. and if those same people are trying to work upon your fears by leading you into this sort of thing-well. I have friends who are powerful enough to bring you safely out of any den of thieves in the world. You are in an impossible situation. my dear young lady Nature never meant you for an adventures. There Is no necessity for you to become one Why do you look at me Ike thaty