Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-15
CHAPTER XIII.
Why a Millionaire Shook the Hotel Du
Palais.

why Millionaire Shook the Hotel Du
Palais.
80 that's his game is It'll" snapped
Dirck Arendsen, f1inging down with con-
temptuous gesture the cable message
which he had found on his desk when
nc entered the dingy Duane street
Office at $50 one comfortless, drizzling
morning.
The girls left Paris, and he must
have more money AT once, too! Paris
has been too much for him. And now
he imagines he's got me roped fast to
grub-stake him to a finish!''
His beard and moustache were brist-
ling with rage His eyes blazed.
III stake him! I'll stake him so that
he won't move hand or foot when I've
done with him.
"Wulf! Wulf! Are you there, Wulf?
Run round to Rischoff's and tell them
to send me a ticket for Paris. Lowest
rate, by the very first boat"
Twenty-rour hours later he set out on
Seagers track, and for six long days
at sea did his wrath ferment. He knew
to a minute when the period Of grace
allowed by Miles Quaintance's will
would expire.
He was in no pleasant humor, there
fore, when he reached the Hotel du
ralais, and it was perhaps just as we'll
for himself and Dominic Seager that the
! latter was not at hand when the
| irate traveller arrived. 1t did not
soothe him to learn that Seager had re-
Gently been evicted from the hotel, and
| still owed lengthy score there.
"Monsieurs friend has come here
once or twice since he left, to inquire
for a cablegram he expects, said the
clerk. TT seems that, when it arrives,
he will settle his bill and then sue tho
hotel du Palais for damage, on the
ground of wrongous ejectment. He
will doubtless, therefore, return. and If
| monsieur cares to await him
You may give me a room, If you
have one available" he said abruptly,
land If this-this person should turn
up, you'll find means to detain him until
you can get word to me-"
Gladly, monsieur. That VIII not De ar
ficult."
| When Arendsen got to his room he was
almost on the point of explosion. 1t would
| be doubly hard now to sit there wasting
precious time and its irredeemable OPP
portunities.
That day passed uneventfully, and when
he went upstairs again at late hour,
his sullen rage was still mounting stead
ily. Twelve more hours had gone by,
/
great fortune diminished.
| On the fifth afternoon of the fuming
/ watchers seemingly endless ambush, Sea
ger walked carelessly into the vestibule
/ of the Hotel du Paris
He did not see Arendsen, and Arend-
| sen did not spring from his seat at the
sight of him. The big, black-bearded man
STAYED still where he was, watching his
unconscious accomplish swagger up to the
bureau. smiling sardonically as he saw
| the clerk point toward him in mute reply
| to Seager's assertive inquiry. But IL he
/ had hoped that the other would show
any sign of dismay over his presence
there. he was doomed TO quick disappoint-
ment. for Seager gave him back look
as black as his own when their eyes
met. and bore down on him like thun-
| ddercloud.
| 1t was in the expectation Of seeing
Black Dirck in Paris that he had eked
out a wretched existence OF late, rather
than take any desperate steps toward a
| return to New York. He felt hot against
the other for having left him in such sor-
~ plight, and his opening speech quite
I took the wind out of Arendsen's sails.
Curse you, Arendsen Why didn't you
reply to my wire? There's only week
Of the year left now, and we may be
J too late after all. What was the use Of
sinking over here after me? 1 gave you
the straight tip, but you're such crook
that you couldn't take 1t for that sup
pose. You're robbing me, that's what
you're doing and cutting off your nose to
spite wour damned ugly face"
Arendsen eyed him evilly, but heard
him out in silence, too much taken aback
by his unfeigned belief that the grievance
was all on his side to break in.
What have you done with all the
money 1 gave your" he Missed through
set teeth.
Curse you and the money you gave
me! Can't you get IL into your thick
skull that it's millions we're after? Is
this any time to haggle about a handful
of small change? tell you, Arendsen, If
we fall down now I'll hold you respon-
sible. Why didn't you cable me the price
of a passage? Would that have cost you
a cent more than coming across2"
| Arendsen was somewhat staggered by
Seager's obvious belief In his own blame
lessness. A thousand dollars was GER
tainly a small sum in comparison with
the prize they aspired to. 1t was no time
for profitless dispute. Arendsen reoog-
nized that fact and acted on II, sinking
all his own pent up animosity in favor
of final effort toward success.
Tell me what you found out about the
girl he ordered briefly.
/ Seager told him in few words what
he had been able to learn from the two
old maids in the Avenue Marceau.
And now comes the sore point" he
said Indignantly. The girls in New
York, as 1 told you, whatever she's doing
there And 1 met her, without knowing
who she was the night before 1 called
on you"
Arendsen stared at him half incredu-
lousy.
II met her on my way to Manhattan
from Long Beach. She was alone in a
runabout which had broken down, late at
night, too, and / helped her to start 1t
again. I'd swear to her anywhere and
one of those Winters women gave me
her photograph. Look at her. Don't you
think I'd remember a face like that
] tell you, Arendsen, I'll owe you the
grudge of my life If I miss this mar
riage."
.will you swear that this is the girl?''
demanded Arendsen eagerly.