The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-11-06
CHAPTER |.
Conspirators.

M ONSIEUR JACOB1-the Bar
I'M oness de Nantiller'
1 L Monsieur jacob bowed with
grave courtesy-the Baroness
de NantilIe inclined her head without
raising her eyes, and the introduction
was complete. The introducer, Mrs.
Wright, turned away with little sigh
of relief to continue her duties of hos
tess. Monsieur jacob and the baron
ess had never been to her house before,
and the astute little English woman
was not preposseSsed in favor of the
foreign lady. Monsieur jacob, OF
course, was irreproachable. Every one
knew the name of the new musician,
whose violin had insinuated him into
every circle in London where the fine
arts came under improbable discus.
sion.
The introduction took place in the
smaller drawing room. which was al
most deserted at the moment. Indeed,
there was only one other person pres
ent. This was a man with hair and
pointed beard, mustache and overhang
ing eyebrows, as white as snow. The
head was that of an old man-such as
one pictures the ancient patriarchs to
have been-but the body was straight
and the movements, without being
1.-the, were far from denoting infirm1ty.
This was Laurance LOwe-a mossless
stone whose rollipgs days were done
People whispered to one another that
in days gone by Laurance Lowe would
fain have ceased his rolling ways, but
that providence had willed it other
wise, sending coura geous and fairly
intelligent young soldier-one Lieuten
ant Wright-to set the stone once more
a-going, and to gather for himself the
moss. Whatever may have passed be
tween the white-haired man and the
CHEEKY little matron-still comely and
hearty-in those forgotten days was
only known to themselves, and neither
ever referred to it. People wondered
why Mrs. Wright should trouble her.
self with this silent old man, who con-
tributed in no way to the entertain
: ment oe her guests. They considered
him an old bore, though he never dis
played the least ankle y to be honored
never confessed to fatigue, and never
partook in a general conversation.
1t was to him that Mrs. Wright
turned with her ready smile, which,
however, had something different in 1t
when her eyes met him.
"CoffeeY he said, interrogatively,
without moving mustache or beard,
and offered her his arm.
Thanks, La urance, 1 will" replied
the little lady, with grateful smile.
During the last twenty years these two
had gone through that l:ttle ceremony
many hundreds of times.
They passed into another room ana
the Baroness was left alcne with Mon
sieur jacob. He had possessed HIM
self of her engagement card, and was
now studying it, pencil in hand. Every
curve of his body, the very manner III
which he held his pencil, his eagerly
bowed head, were expret1iye' of tie ut-
most Difference and respect.
The Baroness had not yet raised her
eyes from the polished floor. Her
strong white hands, beautifully shaped
and incased only in open-wo:k m:ttens,
lay idly UPON her lap. There was
something in her whole attitude, in the
repose of her fair fac,, i'll her down
cast eyes, which was forced and unnat-
ural. Hers was indeed a beautiful
lace, sculptured Oh latEer a smaller
scale than EnglishI'en admire. pale
and very calm, with red, level lips an
close set eyes. Her soft, co;orleSS hair,
almost white in its exquisite fairness,
was arranged with extreme simplicity,
but she wore it parted upo" ne side,
In accordance with a tashioI- how obso-
Iete in England. She could not have
been more thai twenty-five years of
age, despite her repose of manner,
which was almost that of a matron.
When Monsieur J@ccb. lad made
sure that they were alone, the express
sion of his keen face underwent a re-
markable change, though his attitude
remained unaltered.
"Who?" he asked In n loW-pltched
voice, and with an unpleasant smile
"who is the old fossil who wears an
eyeglass in one eye and sees with the
other?' The Baroness raised her calm
blue eyes and met Jacobs s&rdonic
smile with contemptuous stare.
"Your conscience must indeed be an
evil one, Jacobi," she said, slowly.
"You are forever suspecting the most
innocent and harmless of trcachery
and double dealing"
Nevertheless, Baroness, who is that
MANI"
THAT man, my friend, is one Lau,
rance Lowe-an English radical. which
means nothing. He has hy tins uu.,
completely forgotten the existence Ot
both of us l should imagine that hi
whole attention and time are given to
the management of his own affairs"
"You know him, then" said jacob.
seating himself lightly and gracefully
near the Baroness.
"By reputation only
"You know come one who knows
him well:' persisted the yioius+,
calmly.
81 dOn
Gan. May inquire"
The Baroness suddenly cast DOVE
ncr eyes, and the white lids closed over
them \ faint pink tinge appeared Oh
either clIt Ck.
Il obtained my information from Mr.
Ch ,rles Mistley," she said i'll an IN
different voice.
Brother of the Mistlcy?"
Brother of the Mistley."
"Who is daily expect d in England,
with his chief, Colonel Wright"
The Baroness bowed her head in ac,
qufcsccnce. Her red lips We're pressed
close together. her colorless eyebrows
slighfly raised. Monsieur jacob prided