Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-05-05

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ooh, certainly, And that was at
the end of July, and Leven was killed
late in June"
Eyes. That only leaves month
for him to have been to Asia-that's
absurd"
utterly, totally, and entirely impos-
sible," asseverated Mr.. Van Torp.
"One Of two things. Either this man
is your husband, and If he is, he's not
the man who found the rubies in Asia.
Or else, II he Is that man, he's not
Leven. 1 wish that heather girl had
been here yesterday She could have
told in a minute. She'd better have
been here anyway than cutting around
the Mediterranean with that fellow
Logotheti!"
YES" Lady Maud answered grave
ly. "But about myself-if Leven is
alive, what is my position-I mean
don't really quite know where I am,
do II"
Anybody but you would have
thought of marrying again already" OBJ,
served Mr. Van Torp, looking up side.
ways in her eyes, for she was taller
than he. "Then you'd really be In a
bad fix, wouldn't you? But as 1t is,
don't see that 1t makes much differ
ence. The mans going under a false
name, so he doesn't mean to claim
you as his wife, nor to try to get a
divorce again, as he did before He's
just going to be somebody else for his
own good, and he'll get married that
way, maybe. That's his business, moi
yours. don't suppose you're going
to get up in church and forbid the
banns, are your"
II would, like a shot!" said Lady
Maud. 80 would you, I'm sure!
Think Of the other womanl"
That's So" answered Van TORI
without enthusiasm. However, we've
got to think about you and the pres
ent, and decide what Wen do. I sup
pose the best thing is for me to pu
him off with some excuse, SO that yot
can come on the yacht"
please do nothing Of the sort!'
cried Lady Maud.
"But want you to come" objected
her friend.
81 mean to come. Do you think In
afraid to meet him?"
Van Torp looked at her in some sur
prise, and not without admiration.
There isn't anybody like you, any
way" he said quietly. But there
going to be a circus on that ship 1
he's Leven," he added. "If he make
fuss I'll read the riot act and loci
him up"
"Oh, no." answered Lady Madd, VIII
was used to Mr.. Van Torps familia
vocabulary, why need there be an
trouble? You've not told him l an
coming, you say. Very well. If h
sees me suddenly after he has beel
on board little while, he'll certainl
betray himself, and then I shall b
sure. Leven is a man of the world
was or Is'-God knows which! Blu
if it is he, and he doesn't want to b
recognized, he'll behave as If nothin
had happened, after the first momen
of surprise. At least I shall be Gel
tain. must be positively sur
whether Leven is alive or dead, 70
what l have got back in these las
two months is my whole life A mer
recognition at first sight and at te
yards is not enough. 1t may be onl
a marvellous resemblance, for the
say every one has a double some
where in the world"
| 81 kInA
met your double one of you woul
die" observed Van Torp. "Thos
things are all stuff and nonsense, {
course. I was just thinking. Well
he continued, dwelling on his favorit
monosyllable, eff you decide to com
on the yacht, and If the man doesn
blow away, we shall know the truth
three or four days from now, an
that's a comfort. And even If he turn
out to be Leven, maybe we can mai
age something"
Lady Maud chose not to ask wht
her friend thought he could manage;
for she had glanced at his face whe
he had spoken, and though 1t was ha
turned away from her, she saw h
expression, and it would have scare
nervous person. She did not liz
him to be in that mood, and was so
~ that she had brought him to 1t.
But Mr.. Van Torp, who was a stron
man, and had seen more than one a
fray in his ranching days, could NJ
help thinking how uncommonly cas-
1t would be to pick up Count Kralil
sky and drop him overheard ON a dar
night next week, when the Lancashii
Lass would be doing 20 knots, an
there might be a little weather abol
to drown the splash.
CHAPTER XIII.