The Western news., 1908-01-01

little handle to turn the views. Scat
tered here and there were few early Wis
itors already trying their eyes at the
lenses. amongst them Mr.. Zeno, who
bowed with great politeness on the ar
rival OF the party from the Hotel des
Postes. Master Austin went off on
stealthy tiptoe to join the delightful for
eigner, who took him by the hand and
called his attention in laboriously chosen
single words to various curiosities of the
show.
Mountain. Eth? High. Oh, so high
Not? Vite. Snow. Ware fine. Eh?
Look. Van uzzer."
After some FIVE minutes of this amuse-
ment Mr.. Zeno appeared to tire of it,
and leading the little fellow across the
chamber, raised his hat to the mother,
surrendered his charge, bowed all around,
and left the chamber.
1t was very simple entertainment,
and yet 1t entertained, and the visitors
went solemnly round from one little box
to another for the space of half an hour,
by which time all had stiff necks and
aching eyes.
My DEAR" said Austin, IT feel as II
| had travelled far enough for single
journey"
And l, too," returned Lucy.
Really" said the major, they're re-
markably pretty, but one gets tired"
I'VE must come back for another even
ing" said Angela. The Swiss views
are really charming"
This was to Maskelyne, who said, "Yes,
very" in an absent manner.
Suddenly from the far end of the room
arose a cry. "Oh, mamma, mamma,
mamma! Look here! !"
Hush !" said mamma, crossing over to
him. Little gentlemen never shout in
that way. What is it, darlingT
Mr.. Zeno," said the boy, clapping his
hands and laughing. "Mr. Zeno."
Lucy took the seat and looked through
the sterescopic lenses, and there was Mr..
Zeno, sure enough. Mr.. Zeno was talk
ing to somebody else, and he and his
companion were curiously out of proper
tion with the rest of the picture. The
photograph represented court in the
Vienna Exhibition, and it seemed proba-
bic that at the instant of time at which
the artist had lifted his little shutter to
catch the moving crowd Mr.. Zeno and his
friend had stepped into the field of view
The expression of both countenances was
clearly defined and animated, and the
figures were so large that they only came
into the picture to the waist. The two
were arm in arm, and Zeno had turned
with stretched forefnger toward the
other, as if to impress him with a sense of
Importance in what he was saying.
Yes" said Lucy. at is Mr.. Zeno,
certainly, Austin" she said to her hus-
band, who had followed half across the
room, this is curious. Here is an ac-
tual portrait of Mr.. Zeno."
"Who is Mr.. Ieno?" asked Angela,
crossing over, whilst Farley stopped to
look at the picture. "Is he a friend of
yours?"
NO" answered Lucy! "a stranger.
But he is staying at our hotel Mr..
Farley thought at one time that he was
spy, and he is not nice person at all.
He seems very fond of Austin, though,
and it is certainly curious to find his
portrait here
Here's an odd thing, Lucy" said Aus
tin. There's a tictional use in that, if
| could only see my way to it,
Crash went something close at hand
with a sound of breaking glass. Angela
had somehow overturned the box, and
had broken the lamp behind it. She was
on her feet, and her face, dimly seen in
the scmi-obscurity of the chamber. wore
look of more alarm and amazement
than than so simple disaster seemed to
warrant She lifted the box from the
table, and Farley instantly put out the
light of the broken lamp. and extinguish-
ed with his handkerchief and foot a de-
tached stream of burning oil which had
already begun to trickle from the table
to the floor.
While this was doing, Angela with the
box in both hands. had walked across the
room, and at the door had encountered
the woman who had charge of the exhi-
bition.
Madame she said, rapidly in French.
Il have by accident broken lamp. Let
me pay you for it. Have you private
room here? Show me to it, if you please"
Her breathing was so quick and dis
turbed that these simple phrases were
painted rather than spoken.
Certainly, madame" said the woman.
and led the way into side room illum-
mated by brace of tall candles. 'Angela
set the box she carried upon the table
between the candles. and turned it rapid
ly this way and that.
How do you open this box, madame p"
So said the woman, in surprise, pro-
ducing small key, and suiting the ac-
tion to the word.
Take out the photographs. if you
please" The woman obeyed, wondering
more and more, and Angela. taking them
| from her hand. selected that which bore
the portrait of Mr.. Zeno IL wish to
buy this" she said drawing forth her
purse and laying a gold coin upon the
table. "Will that pay you for the broken
lamp and the photograph"
"Assuredly," the woman answered, The
whole thing was curious, and she would
have been well content to have 1t ex-
planned, but her visitor chose to Offer no
explanation.
Angela thrust the photograph into her