The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-05-31
Drawings by FRED PEGRAM.
Copyright, 1905, 1906, by Little,
Brown & Co. Boston.
CHAPTER ".
THE FALLING OF THE HANDKER-
CHIEF

CHIEF.
Monsieur Albert looked over her
shoulder for the man who must surely
be i'm attendance-but he looked in vain.
"Mademoiselle wishes a TABLETOP
herself aloner he repeated doubtfully.
IF you please" she answered.
1t was obvious that mademoiselle
was of the class which does not fire.
quent night cafes alone, but after all
that was scarcely Monsieur Alberts
concern. She came perhaps from that
strange land of the free, whose daugh-
tiers had long ago kicked over the bar
riers of sex with the same abandon that
Mademoiselle Flossie would display the
soles of her feet a few hours later in
their national dance. If she had CHANGED
To raise her veil no earthly persuasions
on her part would have secured for her
the freedom of that little room, for
Monsieur Albert's appreciation of like
ness was equal to his memory for faces.
But il was not until she was COM
fortably ensconced at a corner table,
from which she had a good view of the
room, that she did so. and Monsieur
Albert realized with a philOsophic
shrug of the shoulders the error he had
committed.
Phyllis looked about her with some
curiosity. 1t was too early for the hab-
itues of the place, and most of the ia
bles were empty. The scarlet-coated
band were smoking cigarettes, and had
not yet produced their instruments,
The conductor curled his black NOUS
tache and stared hard at the beautiful
young English lady. without, however
being able TO attract a single glance in
return. One or two men also tried to
convey 10 her by smiles and glances
the fact that her solitude need continue
+
tached ladies put their heads together
and discussed her with little peals of
laughter. To all of these things she
remained Indifferent. She ordered a
supper which she ate mechanically, and
wine which she scarcely drank. All the
while she was considering. Now that
she was here what could she do? OF
whom was she TO make inquiries? She
scanned the faces of the newcomers
with a certain grave curiosity which
puzzled them. She neither invited nor
repealed notice. She remained entirely
at her ease.
Monsieur Albert, during one of his
peregrinatiOns round the room, passed
close to her table. She stopped him.
Il trust that mademoiselle is well
servedr' he remarked with little bow
"Excellenty, 1 thank you" she an
swered.
tanned him.
you have very many visitors here, &"
she remarked. rs it the same al
ways?"
He smiled.
Tonight" he declared, lit is moth
ing. There are many who come here
every evening. They amuse themselves
here"
You have a good many strangers
alsO?" she asked.
But certainly" he declared. An the
time."
Il have a brother" she said, ''who
was here eleven nights ago-let me see
that would be last Tuesday week. He
is tall and fair, about p, and they say
like me. I wonder if you remember
him."
Monsieur Albert shook his head
slowly.
That is strange" he declared. for
ss a rule I forget no one. Last Tues
day week / remember perfectly we'll.
II was a quiet evening. La Scala was
here-but of the rest no one. If mad
emoiselle's brother was here il is most
strange.
Her lip quivered for a moment. She
was disappointed.
Il am so sorry" she said. Il hoped
that you might have been able to help
me- He left the Grand hotel on that
night with the intention of coming here
and he never returned. / have been
very much worried ever since.
She was no great judge of character,
but Monsieur Alhert's sympathy did
mot impress. her with its sincerity.
"If mademoiselle desires" he said, II
will make inquiries amongst the wait
ers. l very much fear, however, thai
she will obtain no news here"
He departed, and Phyllis watched
him talking TO some of the walters and
the leader of the orchestra.
Presently he returned.
Il am very sorry" he announced.
but the brother of MademOiselle could
not have come here. l have inquired
of the garcons, and of Monsieur Jules
there. who forgets no one. They an
swer all the same"
Thank you very much" she an
swered 1T must have been some
where else!'
She was unreasonably disappointed.
II had been a very slender chance, but
at least it was something tangible. She
had scarcely expected TO have it
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-
pected happened
a hand. flashing with jewels. was
rested for a moment upon her table.
When it was Withdrawn a scrap of pa
per remained there.
Phyllis looked up in amaZement. The
girl TO whom the hand had belonged
was sitting at the next table. but her
head was turned away, and she seemed
TO be only concerned in watching the
door. She drew the scrap of paper to-
ward her and cautiously opened il. This
is what she read, written in English,
but with a foreign turn 10 most of the
letters:
Monsieur Albert lied. Your brother
was here. Wait till / speak to you"
Instinctively she crumpled up this
strange little note in her hand. She
struggled hard to maintain her COM
posture. She had at once the idea that
every one in the place was looking at
her. Monsieur Albert. indeed, on his
way down the room wondered what had
driven the hopeless expression from her
face
The waiter brought her bill. She paid
il and tipped him with prOdigality
which for a woman was almost reck-
81, nd