Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-14
Cynthia's Chauffeur
Continued from page 9

IoW page
MRS. DEVAR, having had time to gather
IVA her wits, made gallant attempt to
retrieve her fellow conspirator's shattered
fortunes. my dearest Cynthia" she cried
effusively, do say you are not hurt!
mot bit" was the cheerful answer. 1T
is the car that is out of commission.
"Ah! the car has broken down. l do not
wonder-this fearful road"
1.-The road seems to have strayed out OF
Colorado; but that isn't the trouble. We
are short of petrol. Please give some to
Monsieur Marigny, Fitzroy. Then we can
hurry to Bristol, and the Count must PICK
up his chauffeur on the way"
Without more ado, she seated herself by
Mrs. Devar's side, and Marigny realized
that he had been robbed of golden oppor-
tunity. No persuasion would bring Cynthia
back into the Du Vallon that evening.
He strove to appear at his ease, even es-
sayed few words of congratulation on the
happy chance that brought the Mercury to
their relief; but the imperious young woman
cut short his limping phrases.
oh, don't let us waste these precious
minutes!" she protested. 1T will be quite
dark soon, and if there is much more of this
wretched track"
MEDENHAM broke in at that. Mrs. De-
A'A vars change of front had caused him
some grim amusement; but the discovery of
Marigny's artifce reused his wrath again.
1t was high time that Cynthia should be en-
lightened, partly at least, as to the true ma
ture of the "accident" that had befallen her.
He had already solved the riddle of Smiths
disappearance.
1.-The road to Bristol lies behind you, Miss
Vanrenen," he said
lone of the roads," cried the Frenchman
"No, the only road" persisted Meden-
ham. 1--WE return to it some two miles in
the rear. Had you followed your present
path much farther, you could not possibly
have reached Bristol tonight"
but there is village quite near. My
chauffeur has gone there for petrol. Some
one would have told us of our mistake"
"There is no petrol to be bought at Blag-
don, which is a mere hamlet on the downs.
Anyhow, here are two gallons, ample for
your needs; but if your man is walking to
Blagdon YOU will be compelled to wait till he
returns, Monsieur Marigny."
Though Medenham did not endeavor to
check the contemptuous note that crept into
his voice, he certainly ought not to have ut
tered those two concluding words. Had he
ransacked his ample vocabulary of the
French language, he could scarcely have hit
upon another set of syllables offering similar
difficulties to the foreigner. 1t was quite
evident that his accurate pronunciation star
tied the accomplices. Each arrived at the
same conclusion: this man was no mere
chauffeur!
Nevertheless, for the moment, Marigny
concealed his uneasiness. By display Of
good humor he hoped to gloss over the pal
pable absurdity of his earlier statements to
Cynthia Il seem to have bungled this
business very badly" he said airily please
don't be too hard on me. l shall make
amends when see you in Bristol. An revoir,
eheres damea Tell them to keep me some
dinner. l may not be so very far behind,
since you ladies will take sometime over
your toilet"
Cynthia had suddenly grown dumb; so
Mrs. Devar tried once more to relax the
tension.
do be careful, Count Edouard," she
cried. This piece of road is dreadfully
dangerous, and, when all is said and done,
another half-hour is now of no great con-
sequence"
"If your chauffeur has really gone to
Blagdon, he will not be back under an hour
at least" broke in Medenham's disdainful
voice. Unless you wish to wreck your car,
you will not attempt to follow him."