The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-06-21
AllILLION
(Ih HudsoND 0u8loe
CHAPTER XVI.-Continued.


by such means that he might gain
her confidence.
Then may take my leave. And,
Dagmar-believe me, am very
grateful to you."
II only seek to do what see
to be right" she answered briefly.
He fingered on the threshold, not
daring even to hold out his hand,
and she took no least step toward
him.
"Will you permit me to make
known sapur marriage?" he asked
most humbly, and Fanchette could
scarcely recognize in such timid
suppliant the naughty Due des
Deves, Vicomte Aiglemont and
Seigneur de la Roche-Segur.
Tonight there is a reception at
the Elysee," he went on hurriedly.
"All Paris will be present. If you
care to accompany me, 1t would
be very opportune to announce it
them. I have just landed from
New York. My friends would as
sumo that we had met and mar
ried there, which would save Cos
sip. We need not undeceive
them"
VERY WE'LL" she agreed, will
ing to avoid needless notoriety If
that were possible, and he with
drew. sufficiently well pleased.
Dagmar, Duchesse des Reeves,
heard him go downstairs with drag
ging feet, and sank into chair. a
tired sigh on her trembling lips.
II could not but surrender. Fan
chette." she said drearily. There
was no other way, and"
"You have done well, dear
heart" she whispered, her tone a
caress, holding the quivering form
close In her grasp. "You have
done we'll, and-it is best so. For
get the past. Think no more OF
what might have been"
Presently Fanchette set to her
packing, her mistress helping her
so that they might not lose a
single moment in making their es-
cape from other callers. The foot
man came up from the carriage
to ask orders, and him they sent
to find cab, by which their bag
gage was sent on ahead of them.
Then they descended and drove off
in the more imposing equipage,
amid the open curiosity of the Rue
des Trois Freres.
Andre especially was interested,
anu although Fanchette had feed
him literally for such small serv-
ices az he had rendered. he could
not find 1t in him to forgive her
the rejection of his proffered COM
radeship. He dropped her gold
piece beside that the Duke had
given him, and spoke sarcastically.
"Ohe!" said he from his post on
the doorstep. "Ohe, old tongue OF
vinegar, is it thus thou wouldst
salve sour speeches? A pleasant
word is sometimes worth more
than a gold piece, helm! And 1t
may be that we have not yet heard
the last Of thee and thy fair mis-
tress. Where there is honey one
may see more than a single fly"
Nor was 1t long before events
justified him in his premonition,
for, a short hour after the two
had fed, there came to the Rue des
Trois Freres in a great hurry a
tall, fair man with bloodshot, quar-
relsome eyes, and a dark fellow
wearing a great black beard and
mustache. In whom Andre discov-
cred a fresh source of revenue, but
only after he had proved to them
that 1t was not his fault that the
girl had gone. He made high terms
with them, and having taken pay
ment for his information in adj
vance, told them how they might
find her, chuckling wheezily the
while.
"You must ask the great Due des
Reeves where she is now" he ex-
planned slowly, relishing their I'M
patience of his drawl, land when
you see him you will also see the
wickedest aristocrat that we have
left in France. Many a pretty bird
he's netted. that same gentleman,
aud uOu he has hcr In his tolls tho
prettiest Of them all.
Eyes, she went of in his car
riage, scarcely an hour ago. But
he set out on foot, to save scan
dali As IL any fresh scandal would
affect his reputation!
THAT is the clue you have paid
for, messieurs, and cheap at the
price, as you will find II you follow
1t up. may add, for your edifica-
ton. that mademoiselle wears no
rings"
He winked waggishly at the tall,
fair man, with quite unexpected re.
suits. For that individual sudden
ly. picked him up by the seat of his
tFjMsers and his coat collar, and
cast him untenderly into his lit
tered den underneath the stairs.
The door was shut upon Andre and
his anguished cutlery, the key turn.
ed in the lock and withdrawn. His
assailant pocketed II, and then de.
m tAA xprNk h. ~ -.