The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-06-23

~.~.9pl|QI!lllHIIDlllaY
dame in place of the carriage"
The groom Of the gateway glared
at him, but there was no time to
vent his displeasure on the insolent
mechanic. The duchesse was COM
ing down the steps and there was
a party behind her for whom he
had not yet called forward any
conveyance. He sprang ponder
ously to the door at the back of
the automobile, opened it and stood
bowling beside 1t that madame la
duchesse might step in speedily
and yet under all ceremony, closed
1t deity behind her and uttered the
one word, Forward" in a tone Of
thunder. Then he hurried back to
where the others were waiting,
still swearing under his breath at
the scarlet auto which had thus
annoyingly interfered with the
smooth working of his system. He
would soon lose his reputation If
M. lie presidents guests were to be
palace, even though it were
through no fault of his.
And meantime the object Of his
anathema was making for the Pont
de la Concorde, ostensibly on it's
way to the Boulevard st. German.
The duchesse des Reeves had
taken no notice of the change of
vehicle, and, If she had. would
have thought 1t but sensible to
have car out at that late hour in
place of pair of horses. Her
mind was still preoccupied with
the events Of the evening as she
stepped lightly in and sat down.
somewhat YEARLY, beside Fan
chette-who had faced about and
was fumbling with drawn blind.
And neither had anything to say
until, as the car moved forward,
the duchesse suddenly felt a wise
like arm thrown about her, a cloth
was clapped to her lips so that
she could not utter sound 49,"
When she opened her eyes again
Fanchette was bending over her,
with white, Mortified face.
what has happened, Fan
chette?" she asked brokenly, con-
scious of an overpowering languor,
"a sick sensation of helplessness.
She was lying on low couch, In a
room she could not recognize, and
when she tried to raise herself
that she might look about her she
had not the strength. At the sound
of her voice, Fanchette's eyes filled
with tears Of thankfulness.
"Oh, ma'mselle!" cried the wom-
an, her mind divided between re-
lief and despair, still using the old,
familiar form of address although
her young mistress now wore
wedding ring openly.
ooh, ma'mselle! 1t is that we
have been kidnapped. First l, then
you. l do not know for what pur-
pose, nor 'wher we are. They
brought me here instead of to the
Elyse, in M. lie Dues own auto.
They drugged me also, but l had
partly recovered before they car
ried you in, and-I was afraid you
would not Oh, ma'mselle! what
shall we"
Help me to sit up" the duchesse
requested, the clouds clearing from
her brain under the shock of such
strange intelligence, and, as her
maid heaped cushions around her,
she stared about her at her sur
roundings.
The chamber which, If what Fan
Ghetto said were correct, was their
prison, was an old-fashioned studio |
with faded furnishings. 1t looked
very gloomy then, with only the |
light of single lamp set on a
rosewood table beside her, but a |
lofty skylight showed that It would
not be dark in the daytime. The
walls were bare, broken by but one |
door without bolt or handle, and
that was closed. She could hear a
clock ticking.
How long have ! been here?"
she questioned, striving to speak
confidently, but her tones trembled
In spite Of herself.
mot yet twenty minutes, mann
selle," Fanchette answered.
"One of them wore your cloak in
the car" said the duchesse as rec
objection came slowly back to her.
"He seized me, and-I could not
cry out"
Because of the chloroform,"
said Fanchette.
Help me to my feet" begged
her mistress, and, when she had
risen, stood for q moment swaying
unsteadily.
water" she whispered, and
drank thirstily when that was
brought her.
She took a turn or two round the
room, leaning heavily on Fan
chette's arm, scanning every cor
ner. Soft footsteps sounded with
out; someone knocked Mt the door.
They shrank back behind the table,
but the duchesse curhed her alarm
sufficiently to answer, "Entrez." 1t
would be well to learn the worst
at once She only regretted that
she had so lately abandoned her
habit of carrying arms. But she
had thought that her troubles were
all at an end when she had accept
ed her husbands protection and
the streets of Paris were not like
the lonely roads on Long Island.
The door opened slowly. and