Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-10-01

tail? Britt is looking for hallucina-
lions and all'-
SSH" came In a loud hiss from some
where neal at hand, and the two In
the gallery looked down with startled
eyes upon the distressed face of Lord
Deppingham. They started to their
feet at once, establishment and wonder
In their faces. They could scarcely
believe their eyes. The enemyl
He was smiling broadly as he lifted
his helmet. smiling in spite Of the dis
comfort that showed SO plainly In Dep
pingham's tanner.
Chase was warmly welcomed by the
two heirs. Lady Agnes was especially
cordial. Her eyes cleaned joyously as
she lifted them to meet his admiring
gaze. She was amazingly pretty. The
conviction that Chase had mistaken
her for Lady Agnes the evening be-
fore took a fresh grasp upon the mine
of the Princess Genevra. A shameless
wave of relief surged through her
heart.
Chase was presented to Drusilla
Browne, who appeared suddenly upon
the scene, coming from no one knew
where. There was a certain strained
look In the Boston woman's face and
q suspicious redness near the bridge
of her little nose.
"It's very good of you" said the en-
envy after all of them had Joined In
the invitation. "Why is it that | am
more fortunate thar your w attor-
- l.N a. lrrpaI1a | n uxynr
after all, no better than they. Would
you mind telling me why | am hon.
ored by an invitation to sit at the table
with you?' The touch of easy sarcasm
was softened by the frank smile that
went with it. Deppingham felt 1t his
duty to explain.
"It's-it's-er-oh, yes, it's because
you're a diplomat" he finally remarked
In triumph. 1t was a grand recovery,
thought he. saunders is an ass, and
Britt would be one If Browne could
only admit 1t, as l do. Rubbish! Don't
let that trouble you. Eth, BrowneT
"Besides," said Bobby Browne breez-
lily, II haven't heard of your clients
inviting you to lunch, Mr.. Chase. The
cases are parallel"
'Im not so sure about his clients
wives" said D%eppingham, with a vast
haw-haw! Chase looked extremely un-
comfortable.
81 am told that some of them are
very beautiful" said Genevra sedately.
"Other mems wives always are, I've
discovered said Chase CALAMITY.
The party had moved over to the
great stone steps which led down into
the gardens. Chase was standing be-
side Lady Deppingham. and both of
them were looking toward his distant
bungalow.
THAT Is my home. princess. It.lHl
the first time l have seen 1t from your
point of view. Lady De%ppingham. !
must say that 1t doesn't seem as far
from the chateau to the bungalow as
1t does from the bungalow to the cha
teau. There have been times when
the chateau seemed to be thousands of
miles away"
"When in reality 1t was at your very
feet" she said, with IA bright look into
his eyes. For some un~accountable
reason Genevra resented that look and
speech.
us that really where you liver" she
asked, SO innocently that Chase had
difficulty in controlling his expression.
At that instant something struck
sharply against the stone column above
Chase's head. AT least three persons
saw the little puff of smoke In the
hills far to he right. Every n heard
the distant crack of a rifle. The bullet
had dropped at Chase's feet before
the sound of the report came floating
to their ears. No M spoke as he
stopped and picked up the warm, dead
ly missile. Turning it ove in his
fingers. he said coolly, although his
cheek had gone white:
with Won Blitz's compliments, la
dies and gentlemen. He is calling on
me by proxy"
Good God, Chase" cried Browne,
they're trying to murder us! Get
back, every onei Inside the doorsP'
'I'm sorry to bring my troubles to
your door," said Chase. at was meant
for me, not for any of you. The man
who fred that did not intend to kill
me. He was merely giving voice to
his pain and regret at seeing me In
such bad company" He was smiling
calmly and did not take a single step
to follow them to safety.
"Come in, Chase! Don't stand out
there to be shot at"
'Ill stay here for a few minutes, Mr..
Browne, If you don't mind, just to con-
vince you all that the shot was not in
tended to kill. They're not ready to
kill me yet. I'm sure Lord Depping-
ham will understand. He has been
shot at often enough since he came to
the island"
He lighted a cigarette and coolly
leaned against the column. his gaze
bent on the spot where the smoke had
been seen. The others were grouped