Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-08-26

~ VIC yOuA6 anu OkNA oNkAVSs
He spoke, and in an instant rec
ognized the voice of the hunchback
Remenyi. Just then lady, passing
me, laughed merrily in my face; and,
eager for any excuse to remain in that
room, invited her to dance with me.
"M'sieur is very kind" answered
well-m0dulated voice in French, which,
however, was not quite perfect in its
accent. but for the moment prefer
to remain here. It is too hot and
crowded in the theater."
noticed she was looking across at
the lady in the clowns dress.
"A pretty dress that, is it not?" I
remarked.
EYES," she replied. "And. If i mis-
take not, its wearer is even prettier."
"You know herr" I inquired,
eagerly.
Eyes. If she's the lady I mean. Her
name is Madame de Courier. and she
comes from Petersburg"
And you, madame, are Russian al.
so-eh?" l inquired.
What makes you think that:" she
asked, with low laugh.
only Russian can pronounce the
word Petersburg as you have just
pronounced it." I answered.
At that instant l noticed that,
at her throat, beneath her domino
OF mauve satin, she wore a brooch
with a tiny watch enameled in blue
and set with diamonds. It was a
beautiful little ornament, and !
marked its appearance we'll.
Some days later, however, met the
hunchback in the roulette room. He
was accompanied by young, dark
eyed, pale-faced lady, whom I judged
to be about the same stature as his
companion at the ball: but I could
not tell with any degree Of accuracy,
because had only seen her seated.
She was not more than 25, and her
face was pretty, with a grave, intense
expression, which added to it's attrac-
tiveness. Her dress of dark grey stuff
was not exactly of that elegance usu-
ally seen at Monte Cairo, yet it fitted
we'll, and suited her admirably.
AS I stood watching. the pretty
young woman took of one of her
gloves the more easily to handle her
louis, thereby revealing to me a white
hand with dimpled knuckles, the same
l had noticed at the ball. BY this one
fact alone was convinced that she
was Madame de Gouireff, and a few
moments later my interest in her
was increased by a dumb motion
which she made to tall, florid-faced,
falr-haired man, who was sitting at
the opposite side Of the table. 1t was
as if she desired him to remain pa,
tient. In return, he smiled cynically,
as if tired of waiting, and, resting both
his elbows upon the green cloth. con.
suited the register-card before him.
Suddenly he rose, and, as he passed
her closely without stopping to speak,
she whispered to him:
| You're a fool. Be patient. You
know what single blunder would
meant"
I'm sick of the whole thing" he
replied, half turning towards her.
All except Pasquale left the Casino
soon afterwards; but, as the old game
ster knew me SO we'll, l hesitated to
speak to 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 I felt assured, but
vi what nature could only discover
by vigilant observation.
Several days went by and l saw
them not. One morning I noticed
Remenyi lounging in one of the wick.
er chairs in the entrance of the Grand
hotel, smoking and reading a paper
but he did not enter the rooms. The
fair-haired man apparently lived in
Nice, and in order to find out what
l could, went over there one morning
Suddenly, an object caught my eye
as it passed, flashing for an instan,
in the sunlight. I turned and glanced
a second time at it to make certain
Yes, it was the little jeweled 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, well-dressed, young, and
rather handsome woman, who was
walking alone in the direction of the
Quai Massena. She had passed ere
l had time to glance at her, therefore
could only catch sight of her pro
file. But in an instant I made q
resolve, and turning, followed her
That she knew more of the mysterious
Nina de Gourieff than she had tolt
me was evident, and I intended tt
make a strenuous endeavor to dis
cover all could.
AS I got level with her I raised ms
hat and claimed acquaintance. At first
she was inclined to repudiate having
met me, but when explained by what
means I had discovered her identit,
she laughed heartily, and we began tt
chat as we walked along together
With infinite care led up the CONVEX
sation to the woman de Courier, bu!
in an instant her mouth closed, ant
she glanced at me with quick lool
of suspicion. In the course of oul
careless gossip she, however, lei
drop the fact that she intended goine
over to Monte Carlo that afternoon
therefore, resolving to meet her agai1
there, as if by accident, wished he1
au revoir, opposite the Hotel des An
glais, and We parted.
! About three o'clock that same after
! ministrati0n when my fair acnnain