Mexico Missouri message., 1910-04-21
CHAPTER xI.

waiting for her at the Bayreuth sta
ton.
You don't mean to say you've
cone right through" he inquired,
looking at her with admiration az he
grasped her hand. You're as fresh
as paint"
I That's rather a dangerous thing to
say to a woman nowadays" she an
swered in her ripping voice. But
mine won't come off. How is Marga-
ret?"
Her tone changed as she asked the
question.
"She showed me your letter about
Logo" answered her friend without
needing the question, and watching
her face to see If she were surprised.
She got into the carriage he had
brought, and he stood by the door
waiting for the porter, who was get
ting her luggage, She had no maid
with her.
I'm glad you have told me-" she
answered, though I wish she had
not. You probably think that when
wrote that letter l remembered what
you said to me in London about Civ
ing me money for my poor women"
NO" said Van Torp thoughtfully,
II don't believe l do think so. It was
like me to make the offer, Maud. It
was like the sort of man I've been.
and you've known me. But it wouldn't
have been like you to accept it. It
wasn't exactly low.down of me to say
what l did, but it's so precious like
low-down that wouldn't say 1t again,
and suppose I'm sorry. That's all"
His rough hand was on the side of
the little open carriage. She touched
it lightly with her gloved fingers and
withdrew them instantly, for the por-
ter was coming with her not very
voluminous luggage.
Thank you" she said quickly. 81
understood, and understand now"
They drove slowly up the Bahnhof-
strasse, through the dull little town,
| that looks so thoroughly conscious of
its ancient responsibility as having
once been the "residenz" OF a duke of
Wurtemburg, and of its vast impor-
| lance as the headquarters of Richard
Wagner's representatives on earth.
See here" said Mr.. Van Torp.
I've almost persuaded them all to
run down to Venice, and 1 want to
know why you won't come too?"
"Venice?" Lady Maud was surprised.
TITS as hot as Tophet now, and full of
mosquitoes. Why in the world do
you want to take them there?"
We'll" answered the American,
taking plenty of time over the mono
syllable, 81 didn't exactly mean to
stay there more than a few minutes.
I've bought pretty nice yacht since
l saw you, and she's there, eating her
head off. and l thought you might all
come along with me on her and go
home that way, or somewhere, and
what I want you to decide right away
is whether you'll come, provided they
will-for 1 don't suppose you and !
could go incoming around in the yacht
by ourselves"
And l don't suppose" returned
Lady Maud, mimicking him ever SO
little, that if they decide not to
come, you will have time for a long
cruise"
Now that's not fair" objected the
American. II didn't intend to put IL
in that way. Anyhow, will you come
if they do? That's the point"
Really, it depends a little on who
they are. Do you mean only Marga
ret and that nice old friend of her
Mrs. Patmore, isn't she? never met
her"
'Rushmore," said Van Torp, correct
ing her. Then there's the Russian
Count Kralinsky. Ever hear that
name?"
Never. 1t sounds Polish"
He might be anything. Sometimes
I'm absolutely sure he's a man useC
to know out west when was on the
ranch, and then again there's some
thing quite different about him. Some
thing about his legs or his eyes,
can't tell which. l don't quite make
him out"
o They reached the hotel, and Val
II Torp went off promptly, leaving Mar
l. garet to take Lady Maud upstairs
and introduce her to Mrs. Rushmore
d An hour later the two young won
e en- were together in Margarets room
while Potts was unpacking for Lad,
Maud in the one that had been Sc
o cured for her in spite of all sorts O
Il difficulties.
q The prima donna was sitting at he
toilet table, turned away from tn
" glass, and Lady Maud occupied tn
t only possible chair there was, small
d IOu aasV chair annaranfIv much 10
; small for such tall woman, but les
d uncomfortable than 1t looked.
+ Are yea going on Mr.. Van Torp'
yacht?" asked Lady Maud suddenly
4 'He spoke to me about it on the wa
t from the station, and asked me t
$ come, in case you accept"
Il don't know. VIII you go If do
1 That might make difference"