New-York tribune., 1909-12-05

should prove how irretrievably she had ruined
him,
This might be sound commonsense, but 1t
was not love; vet all this, and more. Joan said
70 Felix POluski, and the little man had nodded
his head with grlns OF approval. Meanwhile,
he sang and was busy.
Count Julius. posted now in the Poles mot
tied history had demanded absolute anOnvru-
ity before he carried the negotiations for the
picture any further. Felix gave the pledge
readily since Joan could not be IN Delgratz
day ere she suspected the truth. vt any rate,
Marulitch was satisfied; he introduced Felix 70
a well known dealer in the Rue St. HOnore, and
thenCefOrth disappeared from the TRANSACTION
loan herself entered into the necessary business
arrangements, about which there was nothing
hidden OF Contraband. The terms proposed
were liberal considering her poor status IN the
art world; but they We're quite straightforward
She was given return tickets 10 Delgratz for
herself and her maid; Felix was similarly pro
vided for; five hundred dollars was paid IN ad-
vance. and written guaranty was handed 20
her that similar sum, together with hotel ex-
penses. would be forthcoming IN exchange for
a copy of the Byzantine Saint Peter.
OF course reviewing matters calmly in the
~ train she hardly expected that the second
part of the contract would be fulfilled She
knew quite well that the COnSpIratOrS hoped 70
turn her presence IN the kOsnOvian capital 70
their own account, and when their scheme was
baked they would devise some means OF wrIg-
Cling out of the bargain; but she laughed at
the notion that she. an unknown student,
should have suddenly become q pawn IN the
game OF empire There was an element of
daring, almost OF peril. IN the adventure which
fascinated her. IL savOred OF those OUtlandish
incidents recorded IN novels of a sensational
type, wherein fur coated SalOw faced, cigarette
smoking scoundrels plotted the destruction OF
dynasties and used fair maidens as decoys for
susceptible Kings. Certainly, Felix POluslcI,
Judged by his past, was no bad prototype OF
character IN that class of fiction; regarded IN
his present guise, as he sat opposite her IN the
dining car of the Orient Express, he looked the
most harmless desperate that ever proved on
quivering world.
His face seemed TO be smaller and more
wrinkled than usual From Joan's superior
height MS hump was aCcentuated TIL II showed
above the top OF his head. and the girl was con-
scious though she resOlutely closed her eyes 70
the fact. that the adnirIng glances with which
she favored by some OF her fellow paSsen-
gers were somewhat modified by the humorous
incOngruity of Poluskis appearance.
A T first they tacitly avoided any reference
10 Alec or Delgratz. Their talk dealt with
art and artists. and Joan had good deal 70 saw
about the delights OF painting IN the open air.
Felix bLnked at her sagelv. Behold then
the beginning OF the end!' he CaCkled.
The end Of WHAT" she asked, with some
klndllng of suspicion, since her queer little
friends tricks OF conversation were not new
20 her
OF your career as an artist. Barbizon is
fatal TO true emotion. IL induces a fine sense Of
the beauty OF sunsets of diffused lights IN svl-
solitudes, of blues that are greens and
browns that are reds. In a word the study of
nature nclInes one toward truth, whereas art
Is essentially a gracious lie. That IS why the
Greeks were the greatest artists: because they
were most pleasing liars. They understood the
crassness Of humanity
Joan laughed, and the CHEEKY sound OF her
mIrth seemed 10 startle the staid folk in the car
At a nelghborlng table a middle aged couple
were dining, the woman dignihed and matronlv
the man small, slight. with a curiously bloated
aspect, which. on analysis. seemed 10 arise from
putty cheeks and thick. sensual lips He sand
something that caused his companion TO turn
and look AZ Joan, for the woman is vet unborn
who VIII hear another woman described as
pretty and not want 10 decide for herself how
tar the statement Is Justified
80 the eyes OF the two met. and loan saw
worn, kindly face, endowed with a quiet charm
OF expression and delCacv of contour that Of
Tered a marked contrast 20 the mans unprepos-
sesslng features. Both women were too well
bred 10 stare and Joan instantly brought her
wits 20 bear on Poluski's quip: bat that tleeting
glimpse had thrilled her with subtle recognition