Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-05

"She exists, at any rate
so does the other"
well, then let meet to-morTow-"
But time is all important"
There can't be such mortal hurry, seeing
that Saint Peter has hung SO long undisturbed
in Delgratz," said Felix dryly. Moreover, it
will clear the air if tell you that the lady is not
in Paris, SO / cannot possibly give you her
swer before tomorrow morning.
How can l be sure that she is the person
| actually intended for this commission"
There won't be the least doubt about it
| when King Alexis III. sets eyes on her"
Julius was certainly not himself that day. His
pink face grew crimson with amazement. !" If
you tell her that you will defeat my friends OBJ
ject in sending her to Delgratz!' he blurted out.
"Eh, what are you saying9 What then, be-
comes of that poor Saint Peter?"
Exactly. She is going there to copy it, not
to philander with Alec
Poluski screwed his ewes up until he was peer
ing at Julius excited features as if endeavoring
to catch some transient color effect. Frankly,
you puzzle me- he said after a pause; but
come again tomorrow. And no tricks, no spy
ing, or that sort of thing! l am the wrong man
| for it. If you doubt me, ask some one who has
heard of Felix Poluski. You see, Count Julius
Marulitch, am far more open than you.
knew you all the time, and, as to your motives,
| can guess good deal that don't actually
know. Still, there is nothing positively dis
honest about Byzantine Saint Peter. 1t is
not art; but five thousand francs sounds like
| Business Half the cash down, you said. Any
| thing by way of preliminary expenses?"
"Meaning?"
Say one per cent, fifty francs. Otherwise,
| l must paint all day and trust to the post-the
least eloquent of ambassadors"
"Oh, as to that" and Julius produced hun
dred franc note from his pocketbook.
The Pole accepted it gravely Il go in
stanty, monsieur" he said. He began to fold
| his easel and put away his brushes and colors
Once he glanced up at the rapt Madonna;
"An 'poi,, ma belle" he murmured. This
| affair of Saint Peter must be arranged. 1t
presses. They change Kings speedily in Del
gratz nowadays. and their taste in saints may
| follow suit. But courage! l shall return. and
who knows what will come of this excursion
| into the forgotten realm of Byzantium?"
COUNT MARULITCH, of course, had not
- counted on one who was a complete
| stranger not only recognizing him but stripping
the pretense so thoroughly of the artistic COM
mission offered to Alec's fair companion of that
| memorable morning. He must put the best
face on his blunder when discussing it with
Belani and he promised himself quite def
mite understanding with Poluski ere another
sou left his pocket.
Meanwhile, who was Pouski? That ques-
tion at least, could be answered easily. One
clue might lead to another. Tomorrow when
they met, it might be his turn to astonish the
warped little Pole.
FELlA, 1ee1ng that ne nad 1ared exceHentiy
in the mornings work, hobbled off to
his favorite cafe. Early the hour was, va
rious cronies were there already, slipping their
morning REFRESHMENTS but he passed them
| with nod and made for the fat proprietress
| throned behind high desk. When she caught
sight of him. a certain air of irmness seemed to
struggle with sympathy for possession of her
bullying features, and she hastily thumbed
small account book taken from beneath pile
| of walters dockets.
How much. madame?" asked Felix, who
had missed none of this.
"Twenty-seven seventy-fve," she said Sc
| verely.
Can one make it thirty, mignonnes"
Thirty! Tell me, them how market bills
are to be met when one is owed these thirtieS? ,"
"Dear angel, Providence has decided that
| you shall deal with such problems"
| "Well. well, no more, not a centime beyond
the thirty!"
"Monstrous yet all heart" murmured Felix.
| He struck an attitude, and sang with exquisite
| feeling the opening bars of the Jewel Song from
Faust" As applied to the earthly tabernacle
| of madame's generous SOUL the effect of that
| imprisoned address was ludicrous. But Felix
rocked little of that He threw the hundred
| franc note on the counter.
There, ma petite. be rewarded for your
trust" he cried Now give me the railway
| timetable; for l have far to go ere l return,
| when YOU and l shall crack bottle of good
| champagne with dinner"
| Madame who had not betrayed the least en-
harraSSment when she and her cafe were AMOS