The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-10-14


'T dare say" Margaret answered n
differently, but surveying the two
men through the white mist Of her
thick veil.
"Yes," said Mrs. Rushmore with dc.
light, and almost whispering in her
excitement. "He has seen us, and
now he's telling the count who We
are"
Margaret was used to her excellent
old friends ways on such occasions,
and gave no more heed to them than
she would have given to a kitten
scampering after q ball Of string. The
kitten would certainly catch the bali
in the end, and Mrs. Rushmore would
as surely capture the lion.
Mr. Van Tofp raised his hat when
he was within four or FIVE PAGES Of
the ladies, and his companion. who
was head and shoulders taller than
he, slackened his pace and stopped .
little way behind him as Mrs. Rush.
more shook hands and Margaret
nodded pleasantly.
May I present Count Kralinskyf"
asked the American. I've met him
before, and we've just renewed our
acquaintance"
Mr.. Van Torp looked from Mrs.
Rushmore to Margaret, and tried to
see her expression through her veil.
She answered his look by q very
slight inclination of the head.
"We shall be delighted" said the
elder lady, speaking for both.
Mr.. Van Torp introduced the count
to Mrs. Rushmore and then to Mar.
garet, calling her Miss Donne," and
she saw that the man was handsome
as well as tall and strong. He had
q magnificent golden beard, clear
complexion, and rather uncertain blue
eyes, in one of which he wore q sim
gle eyeglass without q string. He
was quietly dressed and wore no Jew.
elry, excepting one ring, in which
blazed . large "tallow-topped" ruby.
He had the unmistakable air Of man
Of the world, and was perfectly at HE
ease. When he raised his straw hat
he disclosed very white forehead.
and short. thick fair hair. There was
no sign of approaching middle age In
his face or figure, but Margaret felt,
or guessed, that he was older than he
looked.
In her stif1y correct French, Mrs.
Rushmore said that she was en-
chanted to make his acquaintance,
and Margaret murmured sweetly but
unintelligibly.
"The count speaks English perfect.
ly," observed Mr.. Van Torp.
He ranged himself beside Margaret,
leaving the foreigner to Mrs. Rush.
more, much to her qualification.
I'VE were going to walk" she said.
"Will you join us?" And she moved on.
1T is great pleasure to meet you."
Kralinsky said by way Of opening the
conversation. II have often heard
Of you from friends in Paris. Your
little dinners at Versailles are IA
nous all over Europe. I am sure we
have many mutual friends, though
you may never have heard my name"
Mrs. Rushmore was visibly pleased.
and as the way was not very wide,
Margaret and Van Torp dropped be-
hind. They soon heard the other two
enumerating their acquaintances. Kra-
linsky was surprised at the number
Of Mrs. Rushmore's friends, but the
count seemed to know everybody,
from all the grand dukes and arch.
dukes in Russia, Germany, and Aus
tria. to the author of the latest sue.
cessful play in Paris, and the man Of
science who had discovered how to
cure gout by radium. Kralinsky had
done the cure, seen the play, and dined
with the royalties within the last few
weeks. Mrs. Rushmore thought him
one of the most charming men she
had ever met.
In the rear Mr.. Van Torp and the
prima donna were not talking; but
he looked at her, she looked at him.
they both looked at Kralinsky's back.
and then they once more looked at
each other and nodded; which meant
that Van Torp had recognized the
man he had met selling rubies in New
York, and that Margaret understood
this.
I'll tell you something else that's
quite funny, If you don't mind drop
ping little further behind" he said.
Margaret walked still more slowly
till a dozen PAGES separated them
from the other two.
What is it," she asked in q low
tone.
Il believe he's my old friend from
whom I learned to whistle 'Parsifal,'"
answered the American. I'm pretty
sure of 1t, in spite of a good many
years and a beard-two things that
change a man. See his walk? See
how he turns his toes in? Most COW.
boys walk like that"
"How very odd that you should
meet again!" Margaret was surprised,
but not deeply interested by this new
development.
Well" said Van Torp thoughtful.
ly, 'if I'd known 1 was going to meet
him somewhere, I'd have said this
was as likely place as any to find
him in, now that know what it was
he whistlsd. But I admit that the
other matter has more in it. 1 won.
der what would happen II I asked
him about Miss Barrack?"
Nothing" Margaret answered con-
fidently. Nothing would happen. He
has never heard of her."
Van Torn'a aharp ovoc frtnA q, vot~