The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-09-05

81 Oh AA4oAA Ct*
What makes you think that!" she
asked, with low laugh
Only \ Russian can pronounce the
word Petersburg as you have just
pronounced it" answered
At that instant / noticed that.
at her throat, beneath her domino
of mauve satin, she wore brooch
with tiny watch enameled in blue
and set with diamonds. 1t 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 a young, dark
eyed, pale-faced lady. whom | judged
to be about the same stature as his
companion at the ball; but could
not tell with any degree of accuracy,
because l had only seen her seated.
She was not more than rs, and her
face was pretty, with grave, intense
expression, which added to its attrac-
tiveness. Her dress of dark grey stuff
was not exactly of that elegance usu-
ally seen at Monte Cairo. yet it fitted
well, and suited her admirably.
AS | stood watching, the pretty
young woman took off one of her
gloves the more easily to handle her
louis, thereby revealing to me "a white
hand with dimpled knuckles. the same
| had noticed at the ball. BY this one
fact alone l was convinced that she
was Madame de Courier, and few
moments later my interest in her
was increased by a dumb motion
which she made to tall, florid-faced.
fair-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 fool Be patient. You
know what single blunder would
mean"
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 well. 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 l felt assured, but
of what nature could only discover
by vigilant observation.
Several days went by and / saw
them not One morning l 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
could, went over there one morning
Suddenly, an object caught my eye
as it passed. flashing for an instant
in the sunlight / turned and glanced
a second time at it to make certain.
Yes, 1t 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, a well-dressed, young, and
rather handsome woman, who was
walking alone in the direction of the
Quai Massena. She had passed ere
had time to glance at her, therefore
could only catch sight of her pro-
file. But in an instant / made
resolve, and turning, followed her.
That she knew more of the mysterious
Nina de Courier than she had told
me was evident, and l intended to
make strenuous endeavor to dis
cover all / could.
AS l got level with her raised my
hat and claimed acquaintance. At first
she was inclined to repudiate having
met me, but when explained by what
means l had discovered her identity
she laughed heartily, and we began to
chat as we walked along together.
With infinite care led up the CONVEX
sation to the woman de Courier, but
in an instant her mouth closed, and
she glanced at me with quick look
Of suspicion. In the course of our
gossip she, however, let
drop the fact that she intended going
over to Monte Carlo that afternoon;
therefore, resolving to meet her again
there, as II by accident, I wished her
au revofr, opposite the Hotel des An
glais, and we parted.
About three o'clock that same after
noon I was in the bureau of the ad- |
when my fair acquain- |
lance entered, and, to obtain her card |
Of admission, presented her passport, |
bound up in one of those neat little |
yilt-edged books which the better-class |
Russians carry. Unobserved, glanced |
1t it as it lay in her hand, and saw |
upon the gray paper, headed with the |
Russian arms, wise, which caused |
ne a start OF surprise. Her name, 1t |