The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-08-21

Onlh RUSSIAN can pronounce the
word Petersburg as you have Just
rpnuunced IT," | answered
At that instant | noticed that
n her throat, beneath her domino
If mauve satin. she wore brooch
with a tiny watch cnamelcd in blue
and set with diamonds. 1t was a
beautiful little ornament, and |
marked its appearance well
Some days later, however, met The
hInchback in the roulette room He
vas accompanied by a young, dark.
eyed. paIcf faced lady, whom Judged
10 be about the same stature as his
pnIpanion at the ball, but | could
not ''ll with any decree of accuracy,
because had only seen her seated.
SIN" Was not more than 81. and her
Sac" was pretty, with a grave, intense
Nrr"ssion, which added to It's atlrac.
iyurs. Her dress Of dark grey stun
VAS not exactly Of that elegance usu.
My seen at Monte Cairo. yet It fitted
H.l, and suited her admirably.
As I stood watching. the pretty
Young woman took off one of her
aivrs the more easily TO handle her
louis, thereby revealing to me a white
hand with dimplcd knucklcs, the same
] had noticed at the ball. BY this one
'aCt alone was convinced that she
was Madame de Gouircn, and few
moments later my interest in her
VAS increased by a dumb motion
which she made to a tail, horidfaced,
lairhaircd man, who was sitting at
the opposite side of the table II was
AS II she desired him to remain pa.
'icnt In return he smiled cynically.
as If tired of waiting, and, resting both
his elbows upon the green cloth, con
suited the rcgistcr.card before him
Suddenly he rose, and, as ne passed
her closely without stopping to speak,
She whispered to him:
You're fool BE patient You
know what single blundcr would
mean"
I'm sick Of the whole thing" he
replied, half turning towards her.
All except Pasqualc left the Casino
soon afterwards, but, rs the old game.
atcr knew me so well, | hesitated to
speak 10 him yet, fearing lest by so
doing It might prevent the truth be.
coming known. That there was some
mysterious system about to be worked
against the bank | felt assured, but
Of what nature could only discover
by vigilant observation
Several days went by and | saw
them not. One morning noticed
Remenyi lounging in one of the wick.
or chairs in the entrance of the Grand
hotel, smoking and reading a paper,
but he did not enter the rooms. The
Iairhaired man apparently lived In
Nice, and in order to find out what
| could, went over there one morning.
Suddenly, an object caught my eye
as 1t passed, flashing for an instant
In the sunlight. | turned and glanced
a second time at 1t to make certain.
Yes, 1t was the little jeweed watch
which the fair masker had worn at the
ball on the Jetee. 1t now hung openly
on the smart. white serge coat Of its
owner. welldressed, young, and
rather handsome woman, who was
walking alone in the direction of the
Quai Masscna. She had passed ere
had time to glance at her, therefore
could only catch sight of her pro-
lille. But In an instant | made a
resolve, and turning. followed her.
That she knew more of the mysterious
Nina de Courier than she had told
me was evident, and | intended to
make a strenuous cndca, or TO dis
cover all | could
As | got level with her raised my
hat and claimed acquaintance. At FIRST
she was inclined to repudiate having
met me. but when | explained by what
means | had discovered her identity
she laughed heartily, and we began to
that as We walked along together. |
WEh infinite care | led up the CONVEX. |
sation to the woman de Gourieff. but |
n an instant her mouth closed, and |
she glanced at me with quick look |
If suspicion. In the course of our
,areless gossip she. however, let |
irop the fact that she intended going
,yer to Monte Carlo that afternoon:
therefore,. resolving to meet her again
here, as If by accident, wished her
u revoir, opposite the Hotel des An.
,lais, and we parted.
About three o'clock that same after.
loon ! was In the bureau Of the adj.
when my fair acquain-
ance entered. and, to obtain her card
I admission, presented Der passport,
onnd up in one of those neat little
ilt-edged books which the better.class
russians carry. Unobserved, | glanced
I 1t AS 1t lay In her hand, and saw
pom the gray paper, headed with the
russian arms. wise, which caused
lie start of surprise. Her name, 1t
tated. was Vera Severine. and when,
quarter of an hour later | encoun.
cred her In the rooms and addressed {
er by the name she looked at me
uickly, with mingled annoyance and !
lrprIse.
Madame has no necessity to dis
uise her identity from me-" | OK. {
aimed menuiuply In n Iou ynIco ~