Evening star., 1909-05-29

nothing OF the honor OF It! Where's the
ticket they gave you?"
She produced it. "Oh, start lecturing
now. do! You'd-you'd think to hear
you'-she gulped-'that it was a pleasure
for me to go pawning! And when we
know very well she's safe in Exeter
The ticket was not in itself terrifying
document It looked much like a receipt
for registered letter. But Mr.. Morton
Carter was regarding 1t with all the hor-
ror he had vainly sought to put into the
expression OF Claude de la Courcelle upon
the sight Of his letters de cachet. How
how much will it take to get them out
again?"
BY this time Mrs Carter was beginning
to partake Of his emotion in spite of her
self. ''Why. it's only per cent. as you
said, and the fees. OF cow;se, there was
my cab fare, there and bafk-"
Cab fare? Why. did YOU go over to the
head ofiice-on the right bank?"
Certainly I did. Papa says It's al
ways good business to go to the head Of
fee. Besides. how did know that some
time or other Miss Pastonbury mightn't
have been at that place around the cor
ner herself"
1t was a revelation OF the femininely
Machiavellian which staggered Mr.. Carter
almost as much as the pawning itself.
WELL" he said at length. "just little
more than half our eleven francs is gone
Thank heaven we have the rest of it."
''Oh-if you must get 1t out Of me. we
haven't 1t all. I thought while was
over there. and near the Anglo-American,
it would be chance toto get some tea
that is really nice. You know how par
ticular ELY Winston is about her tea. And
and. anyway. we've got 1t now.'
Yes. and I hope Ely Winston may
choke on it,! He looked at his watch
I'm not even sure there's time to mae
It today
"Just as like as not there's a draft down
at the concierge's now!"
Thereupon he opened his hand and
glanced at the card in it. He did not ex-
claim. or even change color to any marked
degree. But at the look which began, as
it were. to warp his countenance. she ex-
claimed-"On. Norton-it isn't-not Miss
Pastonbury-?"
That's all! And she says on the other
side-'Am passing through on my way to
Switzerland with my cousin, Mrs Gloy-
den. Shall be here until tomorrow after
noon. Shall try to come in again before
g."
He was still holding the watch in his
hand. 1t was now $50.
"welI. at least" she cried, "that gives
us some time to plan"
plan. All we can do is to put for IT,
But she'd know from the concierge that
you got her card. And-and supposing we
met her at the corner!'
She ran to the front window. 81 knew
1t! knew It. knew It! She's just
paying the cabman now!'
1--WE could both be laid out sick" And
for his part he could have given the most
perfect imitation Of an exceedingly we'll
bred young man having q fit.
'If we both were, she'll insist on coming
In But I'm going to be. I'll have to be!
I couldn't be around after my taking the
things out!" She fed into the bedroom.
"You can tell her I've had headache and
am asleep"
well. my heavens. like that. BY
James I do! And how am I to square
it with herr
why. you're all the time making things
up. It's your profession. And you know,
Morton. you always say that when offer
you suggestions in your plots I only get
you mixed!-I guess I'd help you il
could! But tit needn't be any trouble
at all. You can do 1t just as II It were
a part Of a story"
Miss Pastonbury was middle-aged,
educated English spinster Of infiexible
principles and unconhding temperament.
who had long gained a fair livelihood by
teaching her language to the patrician
youth Of Paris. She had let her apart
ment during the period Of her visit home.
and she had let It to Americans-for
whom, as a sister race. she had very
half-sisteriy affection. But she had put
that apartment under the egis both OF
the concierge and the house agent And,
although she had not mentioned 1t to the
Carters-she had from the beginning
counted upon the present continental tour
to give her the opportunity Of returning
at the end Of the second month for q visit
OF inspection herself.
Nor did Mr.. Morton Carter need any
psychic intuition to tell him that It was
q visit Of inspection. And while. outward
Iy. he was making apology for Mrs. Car
ter. ana leading his guest to the seat In
front Of the fireplace. inwardly-with a
tightening OF every sinsw OF defense-his
mind was speeding back to frst and basic
principles. He had once a. q youngster.
against parental warnings. applied the
tip Of his tongue to an iron pump handle
in zero weather. Immediately In an in-