The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-10-16

fear that something had happened"
we walked home very slowly"
said Margaret, with pleasant smile.
"Ah2 You went for a little walk
to get some air?"
we just walked home very slowly.
in order to breathe the air" Margaret
answered innocently.
1t dawned on Mr. Van Torp that the
dignifed Mrs. Rushmore was not
quite devoid of q sense of humor Il
also occurred to him that her reped-
ton of the question to Margaret, and
the latter's answer, must have re-
vealed to her the fact that the two
had agreed upon what they would
say, since they used identically the
same words, and that they therefore
had an understanding about some
thing they preferred to conceal from
her Nothing could have given Mrs.
Rushmore such profound satisfaction
as this, and it revealed itself in ner
bright smiles and her anxiety that
both Margaret and Van Torp should,
if possible, over-eat themselves with
the excellent things she had been at
pains to provide for them and for her
self For she was something of an
epicure and her dinners in Versailles
were of good fame, even n Paris.
Great appetites are generally silent,
like the sincerest affections. Marga-
ret was very hungry, and Mr.. Van
Torp was both hungry and very much
in love Mrs. Rushmore was neither,
and she talked pleasantly while tast-
ing each delicacy with critical salts
faction
by the by" she said at last, when
she saw mat the millionaire was
backing his foretopsail to come to an
Choir, as Capt. Brown might have ex-
pressed it, 81 hope you have not had
any trouble about your rooms, Mr..
Van Torp."
None at all. that I know Of" an.
swered the latter MY man told me
nothing"
THE Russian prince arrived this
evening while you were at the thea
ter, and threatened the director with
all sorts of legal consequences be-
cause the rooms he had ordered were
occupied. He turns out to be only a
count after all"
You don't say So" observed Mr..
Van Torp. in an encouraging tone.
What became of him2" Margaret
asked, without much interest.
Did Potts not tell you, my dear?
Why, Justine assisted at the whole in
terview and came and told me at
once"
Justine was Mrs. Rushmore's Paris
ian maid who always knew every
thing.
What happened?" inquired Marga-
ret, still not much interested.
He arrived in an automobile" an
swered Ms Rushmore, and she
paused.
What old Griggs calls a sudden
death-cart," Mr.. Van TOrp put in.
What a shocking name for it,"
cried Mrs. RushmOre. And you are
always in them, my dear child" She
looked at Margaret. "A sudden-death-
cart! 1t quite makes me SILVER"
"Griggs says that all his friends
D
planned the American.
My throat-doctor says motoring is
very bad for the voice, so I've given
it up" Margaret said.
Really? Thank goodness your pro
fession has been of some use to you
at last, my dear!"
Margaret laughed.
Tell US about the Russian count"
she said. Has he found lodgings. or
is he going to sleep in his motor?"
my dear, he's the most original
man you ever heard Of First, heI
wanted TO buy the hotel and turn us
all out, and offered any price for it, |
but the director said It was owned by
a company in Munich. Then he sent |
his secretary about trying to buy a !
house, while he dined, but that didn't
succeed either. He must be very |
wealthy OF else quite mad"
Mad, I should say" observed Mr..
Van Torp, slowly peeling a peach.
Did you happen to catch his name, |
Mrs Rushmore?"
"Oh, yes We heard nothing else
all the afternoon His name IS hra-
linsky-Count Kralinsky."
MI Van Torp continued to peel his
peach scientifically and economically, !
though he was aware that Margaret
was looking at him with sudden curl
osity.
"Kralinsky," he said slowly, keep
ing his eyes on the silver blade of the
knife as he finished what he was do
ing It's not an uncommon name,
believe. I've heard it before. Sounds
Polish. doesn't it?"
He looked up suddenly and showed
Margaret the peeled peach on his
fork. He smiled as he met her eyes,
and she nodded so slightly that Mrs.
2 Rushmore did not notice the move
ment
Did you ever see that done betteT?"
ne asked with an air of triumph
''Rippingi" Margaret answered.