Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-25
CHAPTER XVIII.

AAAEAE En- - -"
The Scarlet Auto Leaves the Gateway OF
the Elysee-
Tna Duchesse des Reeves mind was still
preoocupfeo with the events OF the even
ing as she stepped lightly into the scarlet
auto and sat down. somewhat YEARLY,
hessae Fanchette who had faced about
ana was fumbling with a drawn blind.
Ara neither had anything TO say until.
as the car moved forward, the duchesse
suddenlv felt a vise-like arm thrown
about her. a cloth was clapped 10 her
lips so that she could not utter sound.
when she opened her eyes again Fan
Ghetto was bending over her, with
white. Mortified face
sswhat has happened. Fanchette?'' she
asked brokenly. conscious Of an overpOw-
ering languor, a sick sensation of help
lessness She was lying on a low couch.
IN a room she could not recognize, and
when she tried 70 raise herself that she
might look about her she had not the
strength. At the sound OF her voice Fan
chstte's eyes filed with tears of thank
fuIness.
..oh. ma'mseIfe." cried the woman. her
mind divided between relief and despair.
stin using the old. familiar form Of ad
dress. although her young mistress now
oh. ma'msellei IL Is that we have
been kidnapped. First. I. then you. I do
not Know for what purpose. nor where
We are. They brought me here instead of
10 the EIysee. in NJ. le Dues own auto.
Thev druzged me also, but I had partly
recovered before they carried you in, and
u was afraid you would not. Oh,
ma'mselle. what shall We
Help me to sit up" the duchess re-
ouexted the clouds clearing from her
brain under the shock Of such strange
Intelligence
The chamber which. IL what Fanchette
said were correct. was their prison, was
an old-fashioned studio with faded fur
nishings II looked very gloomy then,
with only the light Of a single lamp set
on a rosewood table beside her. but
lofty slyIight showed that il 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
zone Of them wore your cloak IN the
car" said the duchess as recollection
came slowly back to her. He seized
ne. and-I could not cry out"
she took a turn OF two round the room,
leaning heavily on Fanchette's arms.
scanning every corner. Soft footsteps
sounded without: someone knocked at
the door. They shrank back behind the
table. but the duchess curbed her alarm
sunaciently 10 answer. ''Entrez-" It 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 az an end when she had accepted
her husbands protection and the streets
OF Paris were not like the lonely roads
on Long Island.
The door opened slowly and Dirck
Arendssn appeared on the threshold. He
looked relieved at sight of the two wo-
men standing there, and spoke with
smooth geniality.
I'm glad TO see you looking so wei,
Miss Lorraine" he said. ignoring all that
had gone before, and meeting her storm
fly anxious eyes with blum affectation OF
openness I've been looking forward
20 introducing your cousin to you-here ne
IS Stephen. this is Miss Dagmar Lor-
It's a great privilege TO be the means OF
bringing you two together"
He motioned his confederate forward
and Seager entered jauntily. striding up
20 her with outstretched hand. his coarse
" handsome 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 ford emu.
sion 1T would have saved US a whole
time met you. that you were Miles
oraintance's daughter
He stopped. confronting her where she
stood beside Fanchette. both hands be-
hind her her head back. looking him over
with a dIsconcerting air Of detachment
which presently deepened into contempt
as his glance fell before hers; and his
face darkened visibly. She had recogniz-
ed him at once as the man she had met
on her long night journey from New York
to Stormport- His methods of dealing
with women were quite on a par with
those OF Miles Quaintance. his uncle.
u am not Miles Quaintance's daugh-
ter" she answered distinctly. MY faith
er's name was Lorraine"
Yes. yes; I know all about that" he
assented with sudden impatience, land
you know well enough, too. what mean.
The main point is that I'm Stephen
Quaintance. and-send that old woman
outside while we talk things over. Arend
sen. you can look after her"
For an answer she put an arm through
Fanchette's. and Arendsen did not think
1T 10 interfere. He wanted TO hear for
himself what arrangement was come to
between those two. and he was not great
~ pleased with these preliminsries.
"Oh. very WELL Seager remarked
Have it your own way. I've nothing TO
say that I need be ashamed of. and all
desired was to spare your bushes.
suppose you can guess what I've got to
tell you"
He once more assumed his smile, but
abe shook her head
~Come. GOMEZ he protested. You
know that you and have common inter
ests under my uncle's will. don't you?
And on what condition. I've taken a lot
Of trouble TO help you TO your fair share
Of ten million dollars. and-I must say
don't think you're treating me very hand
somely I'm return. SIT down and act SEN
sfbly I'm not a 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
cigar case out Of his pocket. and struck
q match
s'Sit down. ard act sensibly.'' he repeat
ed between puffs. but she remained as she
was. very lovely in her disdain. and he
looked I'D again with scowl which
changed 10 an appreciative leer. Arend-
sen was SIN standing sentry beside the
closed door.
We've only q hours left 10 get married
IN Scager said sullenly. "and we might
ii.st as well carry the thing through on a
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