Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-13
CHAPTER ".

\
humorously expensive lace, diamond anu
general vanity shops in the universe: the
Hotel Metropole and Ciro's restaurant.
And Ciro's has a terrace. where there
are little afternoon tea tables, covered
with pink cloths.
1t was late in the afternoon. and save
for a burly Englishman in white fam
nels and q panama hat, reading a maya
zine by the door. and Fora and Septimus,
who sat near the public gangway, the
terrace was deserted. Inside some men
lounged about the bar, drinking cocktails.
The red Tzigane orchestra We're already
/ filing into the restaurant and the electric
lamps were lit. Fora and Septimus had
just returned from days excursion to
Cannes They were pleasantly tired and
fingered over their tea In companion
able silence. Septimus ruminated dream
lily over the nauseous ENHANCEMENT of
chocolate eclair and cigar-,,e. while
Fora idly watched the burly Englishman.
Presently she saw him do an odd thing.
He tore out the middle of the magazine
1t bore an American title on the outside
handed it to the alter and put the az
vertisement pages in his pocket. From
another pocket he drew another maya
zine. and read the advertisement pages of
that with concentrated interest
Her attention was soon distracted by
young couple, man and woman, decently
dressed, who passed along the terrace,
glanced at her, repassed and looked al
her more attentively. the woman visit
fully, and then stopped out OF earShOt
and spoke few words together. They
returned. seemed to hesitate. and at last
the woman, taking courage. advanced and
addressed her.
Pardon madame-but madame looks so
kind. Perhaps will she pardon the lib
erty OF my addressing her?
Fora smiled gracidusly. The woman
was young, fragile, careworn and pit
eous appeal lay in her eyes. The man
,1rnrx anil cd =, 30 hat mol
ally. The woman continued. They had
seen madame there-and mOnsieur-both
looked kind, like all English people. Al
though she was French she was forced to
admit the superior generosity of the Eng
lisf. They had hesitated, but the kind
look of madame had made her confident.
They were from Havre. They had come
to Nice to look after a lawsuit. Nearly
all their money had gone. They had
little baby. who was i'll. In desperation
they had brought the remainder OF their
slender fortune to Monte Carlo. They
had lost it. 1t was foolish, but Yet the
baby came out that day with nine red
spots on its chest. and it seemed as if it
was a sign from the bon Dieu that they
should back nine and red at the tables.
Now she knew too late that it was
measles and not sign from the bon
Dieu at all. But they were penniless.
The baby wanted physic and d doctor
and would die. AS q last resource they
resolved to sink their pride and appeal
to the generosity of monsieur and ma
dame. The woman's wistful eyes filled
quivered. The man with great effort
choked a sob. Zoras generous heart
melted at the tale. 1t rang SO stupidity
true. The fragile creatures air was SO
pathetic She opened her purse.
"Will a hundred francs be of any use
to you?" she asked. in her schoolgirl
French.
.oh. madame.''
"And j. too, will give hundred 10 the
baby" said Septimus. 81 like babies and
pocketbook.
"Oh, monsieur" said the man. How
can I ever be sufficiently grateful?
He held out his hand for the note, when
something hit him violently In the back
It was the magazine, hurled by the burly
Englishman, who followed up the as
sHult by torrent OF abuse.
"Allez-vous-ong! Cochons! ct plus vite
que cali" There was something terrific
in his awful British accent.
The pair turned in obvious dismay. He
waved them off.
Don't give them anything. The baby
hasn't any red spots. There isn't baby.
They daren't show their noses in the
George Polin ct Celestine Macrou. Sales
voleurs. AileZ-vous-0ng on Jappelle la
police"
But the last few words were shouted to
the swiftly retiring backs of the pathetic
couple.
I've saved you two hundred francs,
said the burly Englfshman, picking up his
magazine and tenderly smoothing it.
Those two are the most accomplished
swindlers in this den of thieves"
II can't believe it, said Fora, half hurt,
half resentful. 1.-The woman's eyes We're
full of tears"
ITS true" said her champion. And
the best Of 1t is that the man is actually
an accredited agent of Jebusa Jones'
Cuticle Remedy"
He stood. his hands on his broad hips
regarding her with the piercing eyes of
man who is irnparting an incredible but
all-important piece OF information.
why the best of it,. asked Fora, puZ-
zled.
1T only shows how INSCRIPTIONS they
are in their business methods man
like that could persuade a fishmonger or
an undertaken to stock 1t. But he'll do
them In the end. They'll suffer.for it,.
who will?
why, Jebusa Jones. of course. Oh
see. he continued, looking at the two
rerpiexed faces, "you don't know who 1
am. am Glenn Sypher.'
He looked from one to the other. as IL
to see the impression made by his an
lnouncement
II am glad to make your acquaintance"
said Septimus. land l thank you for your
services.
Your name?''
MY name is Dix-Septimus Dix
Delighted to meet you. l have seen
you before. Two years ago. You were
sitting alone in the lounge of the Hotel
Continental. Paris. You were suffering
from severe abrasions on your face.
Dear me- sad Septimus. II remem-
ber 1 had shaved myself with safety
razor. / invented it.
II was going to speak to you. but | was
prevented" He turned to Fora.
i've met you, too. on Vesuvius in jan
uary. You were with two elderly ladies.
You were dreadfuliy sunburnt. l made
their acquaintance next day in Naples.
You had gone. but they told me your
name. Let me see. l know everybody
and never forget anything. My mind is
pigeonholed like my office. Don't tell
me-
He held up his forefinger and fixed her
with his eye.
Its Middlemist.' he cried. triumphant
iy. land you've an oriental kind of Chris
tian name-Zora! Am right?''
(To be continued tomorrow