The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-09-23
CHAPTER XIV (Continued).


she said, looking up at me quickly,
what has brought me back again
so soon.'
81 certainly did not expect YOU
I admitted.
Come outside she said, land I
will show you. Bring your hat"
We passed into the March twi-
light. She led the way down the
cliff and toward the great silent
stretch of salt marshes. An even
ing wind, sharp with brine, was
blowing in from the ocean. / felt
the delicate sting of it upon my
cheeks. Lady Angel. half closed
her eyes.
Il came for this" she murmured.
There is nothing like it anywhere
else"
We stood there in silence for sew
eral long minutes. Then she turned
to me with little sigh.
Il am content" she said. "Will
you come up and dine with us to-
night? Blenavon will be there, you
know"
l hesitated.
Il am afraid it Is rather a bother
to you to leave your work." she
continued. "but l am not offering
you idle hospitality. really want
you to come"
In that CASE" I answered, "of
course shall be delighted"
She pointed to Baster Grange,
away on the other side of the viii
lage. 1t was all lit up.
Have you heard anything Of our
new neighbors?" she asked.
"Only their Names" l answered.
81 did not even know that hey had
arrived"
There is only a woman, I be-
lieve," she said. II have met her
abroad. and I dislike her-greatly.
l hear that my brother spends most
of his time with her, and that he
has dined there the last three
nights. 1t is not safe or wise of.
him, for many reasons. i want to
stop it. That is why have asked
you to come to u.s.
''It is quite sufficient" I told her.
'If you want me for any reason I
will come. ! am two days ahead of
my work" !
Just as we came in sight of the,
road we heard the thunder of hoofs|
behind. We turned around. 1t was
Blenavon, riding side by side with
a lday who was stranger to me,
Her figure was slim but elegant. I
caught a glimpse of her face as
they flshed by, and it puzzled me.
Her hair was almost straw colored,
her complexion was negative, her
features were certainly not good.
Yet there was something about her
attractive, something which set me
guessing at once to the color of
her eyes, the quality of her voce, If
she should speak. Blenavon refined
in his horse.
so you havet urned up, Angela"
he remarked, looking at her a little
nervously. You remember Mrs.
Smith-Lessing, don't yorktown at
Bordighera. you know?"
Angela shook her head, and
never glanced toward the woman,
"ho oaI thOlC VIII SApCCtdlt
Il am afraid that l do not" she
said. Il remember a good many
things about Bordighera, but-not
Mrs. Smith-Lessing. shall see
you at dinner time. Blenavon. /
have some messages for you"
| saw the whip come down upon
the woman's horse, but l did not
dare to look into her face. Blen-
avon, with smothered oath and
black look at his sister, galloped
after her. I rejoined Lady Angela,
who was already in the road.
Dear me-" she said, what
magnificent nerve that woman
must have! To dare imagine that I
should receive her! Why. she is
known in every capital in Europe
police spy, a creature whose
brains and body and soul are to be
bought by anyone's gold"
What on earth can such a
woman want here l remarked.
in hiding. very likely" Lady An
gela remarked. "Or perhaps she
may be an additional complication
for you
l laughed little scornfully.
you. too, are getting suspi-
cious," | declared. The prince and
Mrs. Smith-Lessing are strong
combination"
BE careful, then, that they are
not too strong for YOU" she an.
swered, smiling. Il have heard
a famous boast of Mrs. Smitht
Lessings, that never a man
nor a lock has yet resisted
her. am not going to take
you any farther, especially as you
are coming up tonight. Eight
o'clock, remember. Go and salve
your conscience with some work"