The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-06-24

I'm glad to see you looking 30
we'll, Miss Lorraine" he said, ig-
noring all that had gone before,
and meeting her stormily anxious
eyes with bluff affectation OF
openness. "T've been looking for
ward to introducing your cousin to
you--here he is. Stephen, this is
Mis-. Dagmar Lorraine, of whom
you Have spoken to me. It's a great
privilege to be the means of bring
ing you two together"
He motioned his confederate for
word, and Seager entered jauntily,
striding up to her with out
stretched hand, his coarsely hand
some features lit up by what he
meant to be a frank smile.
"This Is a pleasure I've long
looked forward to-" he said with
florid effusion. ut would have
saved us a whole pck of trouble
II I'd only known, the last time l
met you, that you were Miles
Quaintance's daughter"
He stopped, confronting her
where she stood beside Fanchette,
both hands behind her, her head
back, looking him over with a dis
concerning air Of detachment which
presently deepened into contempt
as his glance fell before hers; and
his face darkened visbly. She had
recognized him, at once as the man
she had met on her long night
journey from New York to Storm
port. His methods of dealing with
women were quite on a par with
this of Miles Quaintance, his uncle.
Il am not Miles Quaintance's
daughter" she answered distinctly
my fathers name was Lorraine"
Eyes, yes; know all about
that" he assented with sudden i'm
patience, land you know well
enough too what mean. The main
point is that I'm Stephen Quaint
ance, and-send that old woman
outside while we talk things over.
Arendsen, you can look after her."
For all answer she put an arm
through Fanchette's, and Arendsen
did not think fit to interfere. He
wanted to hear for himself what
arrangements was come to be-
tween those two, and he was not
greatly pleased with the prelim-
inaries.
ooh. very WELL" Seager re-
marked. Have it your own way.
I've nothing to say that | need be
ashamed of, and all l desired was
to spare your bushes. l suppose
you can guess what I've got to tell
your"
He once more assumed his smile,
bubt she shook her head.
"Come. comet" he protested.
"You know that you and l have
common interests under my
uncles will, don't you? And on
what condition? I've taken lot of
trouble to help you to your fair
share Of ten million dollars, and,
] must say don't think you're
treating me very handsomely in re-
turn. Sit down, and act sensibly.
Don't stand on so much ceremony.
I'm not bad sort of chap, as
you'll find out In time, but you
mustn't rub me the wrong way too
much or I'll scratch"
He threw himself into chair,
pulled cigarette case out of his
pocket. and struck match.
"Sit down, and act sensibly," he
repeated between puffs, but she re.
manned as she was, very lovely in
her disdain, and he looked up again
with scowl which changed to an
appreciative leer. Arendsen was
still standing sentry beside the
closed door. He did not doubt the
ultimate outcome OF the interview,
and only wished that he had been
Seager. Fanchette had one of the
girls hands fast in her own, had
subdued her own fears for the sake
of her mistress. Neither yet quite
understood the motive for their alb,
duction, but that was made thor.
oughly clear, to the duchesse at
least, by her so-called cousins en-
suing remark.
We've only twenty.four hours
left to get married in" he said sui.
lenly. "and we might just as well
carry the thing through on 4
friendly footing. I want"
II don't think you can be aware.
Mr.. Quaintance," she interrupted,
"that / am the duchesse des
Reeves"
ooh! cut that out" he cried
harshly. you're not fool enough,
surely, to take that fellows fairy
tales on trust. Duchesse des
Reeves! 1Xou're not the first by
long chalk who's tripped over that
lined twig, and ! wouldn't have
twitted you with 1t either II you
had said nothing about It. You
were Miss Lorraine when you left
the Rue des Trois Freres q few