The Detroit times., 1909-06-04
AnILLION
0 HudeoND Douglas
CHAPTER xIx.-(contInued.)

ly and since he could not very wei
help himself. with this boisterous new
conner. in whom Quaintance recogniz
ed his own namesake. the man he had
first seen in Cornoyer's company al
the Cornucopia club In New York He
was dressed for motoring. and looked
more prosperous now that he had at
p that date
who's your friend. j. J.?" he de-
manded. but Cornoyer was convenient
ly deaf, and shook his head.
"Oh, come on. I'LL up" the other In
sisted Just this one round. And
maybe you won't have another chance.
for I'm going to get married, j. j..
my boy! You never saw such a peach
OF "A girl as rye got on a string up
stairs, and-ve1l both be rolling IN
money.
Quaintance saw that he was not as
sober as he might have been, and paid
no attention To what he said further.
He was in the midst OF some huskily
confidential communication 10 Corn
oyer when an misunderstanding man
with a big black beard and mustache
bore down ON him from the doorway.
reproached him holly for wasting his
time thus. He rose. sulkily querulous
but obediert. once more shook hands.
and departed unsteadily In the wake
OF his maserful companion.
Cornoyer scowled at his back as he
went.
Il wish they had kept that fellow
In jail In New York" he muttered.
LET us 70 home now. Newman.
They pissed through the deserted
brasserie, and stepping into the alley.
Quaintante looked right and left 10
see how the land lay. Standing there
while Crnoyer went back 10 buy Gig
arets. he caught sight of two DIM hg-
ures AT the blind end OF the lmpasse,
recognized in them his unworthy
names,Axe and that individuals black
bearded friend They seemed TO be
engaged in angry argument. Iney
turned away from the low door at
which they were standing, passed rap
idlv without noticing him In the shad-
ow and turned the corner into cross
street Quaintance lit cigar expedi-
tiousk. and started with Cornoyer TO
find cab.
"Eow Is the sorehead now" asked
that astute gentleman as they drove
acr,ss the silent Isle de la Cite. Il
saw a duchess at the Blue Rabbit, but
nos the Duchess des Reeves. There are
plmty OF peaches in Paris, Newman,
ard even that firs.-water cad or a
Oiaintance has found one TO marry
hm-the same girl he made to kiss
him before he would mend her auto
mobile"
: "Who?" asked Quaintance stupidity.
1.-The one that he told us about at
the club In New York-when you and
O'Ferral were so cross with me-"
Quaintance stared at him through
the darkness. unable TO understand
But how the devil can he marry
her IL she's the Duchess des Reeves al
ready" he demanded explosively. for
getting in his own bewilderment that
Cornoyer knew nothing OF her. Il
bought the duchess car from her be-
fore she left the other side" he ex-
plained RAPIDLY, land that's how |
came to know that IL was he who
held her up. in It. But she didn't kiss
him"
"Of course not" Cornoyer remark
ed cheerfully. Il did not believe him.
He's always too soused TO know what
he says. Forget him.
Tell me all you know about him.
J. j." Quaintance begged, his mind
full of dark and deadly suspicious.
who is he? Where does he hail
from? What did he tell you tonight?'
"His name is Quaintance." Cornoyer
replied readily, stephen Quaintance.
He told me when | first met him he
had Just come from Africa to New
York TO marry his cousin because she
was n millionairess. He told me a
lot OF hot air about his travels-where
he could get lot OF rose-diamonds
whenever he wanted to- and so on.
Tonight he said he had found her and
she was a peach--the same one he told
us about at the club. And so he Is go
ing TO marry her.
But how is he going TO do that. II
Des Reeves has married her first, eh?"
He's damned imposter!" cried
Quaintance, his mind made up on that
point at least, and quite unable TO con-
tain himself. Cornoyer looked at him
In surprise.
Hes a damned imposter He's
imrorsonating another man. must
do something to stop it.
Il knew Stephen Quaintance," he
went on excitedly. land that scoun-
drel's trying 10 pass for him. II you
gee him again. Cornoyer, find out
where he lives and let me know with.
out a moments delay It's matter
Of the most urgent Importance to me.
I'll tell you the rest OF the trouble
some other time. Here's the Rue st.
Roch. won't ask you in--I must