Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-09-03

valet. I had to leave the man behind at
the last moment with a case of measles -
the reporters did the rest | beseech you,
do not be afraid of me - lie spread out
his hands in comic depreciation. Il have
had that dangerous disease myself years
ago, | assure you do not want to be
avoided in the least"
And for the next hnlf-hour he was most
certainly not avoided, being undoubtedly
the lion of the occasion, the chief center
of attraction; and at the end of that
time-such is the magic influence of that
trio of forces, ready tongue, a ready
smile, and an attractive personality
there was not a man in the large, dimy
lighted room who would not have been
willing to swear that Del Pine was not
only capital good fellow but a born
! ariStocrat with every sign of his birth
and breeding
A little while after he had been borne
on by two attaches in the direction of the
embassies, 1.-the, middle-aged man was
admitted at the front door, left his hat
in the hall. with glance at the stacks
the table, and, hurrying upstairs, pushed
his way past the footman. entering the
drawing room unannounCed
At sight of him there was general
turning of heads and cry of "Soura-
vief You here
why, NJ. lie Comte," Gussie looked
around. This is surprise. We thought
you were in Newport :"
Count Souravielf bowed over her hand.
II am only here for the day he said,
Il must return to Newport tonight
in fact | am due there this very minute
(this impressively). You are respons-
bic for my not keeping my appointment.
Ah.' he settled down in the chair beside
Mrs, Waring and dropped his voice to
confidential pitch. The Fates have been
working against me of late. | had in
tended to be on the docks to greet you
on your arrival yesterday, but alas =
your miserable steamship companies over
turned my cart of apples He waved
his white hands. "Concevez done. when
l reached there with my permit, you had
gone. Even my friend Del Pine had de-
parted. There was no one to speak to
me but his chauffeur"
What :" exclaimed Gussie at this juno
ture. She stared at him with suddenly
awakened interest "Who did you say
was the only person to be seen?'
Souravieff dslked interruptions ex-
cessively. Checked in the full flow of
his eloquence, he raised his eyebrows as
we'll as his voice. and explained to Gussie
in a tone of mild reproof. THE man
whom l met, madame, was the chauffeur
of my friend Del Pine"
Then. conscious that he had the undi
vided attention of the room he went on
with restored equanimity: "Eh bien
from the fellow l acquired the informa
tion that his master would be at the Club
Union at the hour of four, so to that
abominable place | repaired, in order to
find out if Del Pine knew of your where
aboutS."
But at this point in his narrative there
was another unaccountable interruption.
Excuse me-" Gussie said, in a curious
ly strained voice. what was the name
of the man who directed you to the club?
The Prince del Pine, as far as I know,
hasn't any chauffeur"
Souravieff eyed her with rising dis
pleasure. Never having heard of the
Waring robbery, he considered this sec
ond interruption on the part of his host
ess absolutely inane and in conspicuously |
bad taste.
Pardon, madame" he said formally; |
but the prince has a chauffeur-a man |
named Ludovic Sarto, who managed his |
motor while we We're in the Tyrol.'
There was a pause, while everyone in
the room looked wonderingly at the pair
by the tea table, one of whom was lean
ing forward, her eyes unnaturalIy bright |
and dilated, her manner more and more
excited.
You saw Ludovic Sarto." she eiacu-
lated at length. Il really can't believe
it ~
Count Souravieff now began to think
that Gussie Waring was going out of
her mind.
"Wel." he said. laughing in a CON
strained way and gIancins around for
sympathy. II can only state that | met
the Princes chautfeur-or his double
coming out of the steamship docks yes
terday morning. Behold my deposition,
madame ~
There was another pause Then the
prince was right.' remarked Gussie
slowly. Her face had grown curousy
pale and she shvered a little. Yes"
she repeated as if to herself. He was
right! Oh, think of it.'-this with
half-frightened gasp-"that man must
have been on board with us all the
time."
Ito be continued)