Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-01-20
Gill DTNAS RUBY

to her; he would take it, from her as
soon as they were alone and return
1t to his own pocket; and being an
oriental, he would probably beat heI
for robbing him, but would not let he1
out of his sight again till he was tired
OF her. Lady Maud had heard from
her late husband how all Turks be
lleved that women had no souls and
should be kept under lock and key
and we'll fed, and soundly beaten now
and then for the good of their TEN.
pers. This view was exaggerated, but
Lady Maud was in a humor to recall
1t and accept it without criticism, and
she made UP her mind that before
leaving town to join Margaret she
would make sure of the facts. No
friend OF hers should marry a man
capable of such outrageous deeds.
So she went to Logothetis lodgings
and asked to see him, as regardless of
what any one should think of her, if
she were recognized, as she had been
in the old days when she used to go
to Van Torp's chambers in the TEN
pie in the evening
She was told that Logotheti was
out of town. Where? The servant
did not know that. The lady could
see the secretary, who might, per-
haps, tell her. He received every one
who had business with Mons. Logo
theft
She went up one flight and was ad-
mitted to a very airy sitting room,
simply furnished.
The Swiss secretary rose ponder
ously to receive her, and as she did
not sit down he remained standing.
His vast face was fringed with beard
OF no particular color, and his eyes
were fixed and blue in his head. like
turquoises set in pale sole leather.
II am Countess Leyen,' she said,
'and I have known Mons. Logotheti
some time Will you kindly tell me
where he is?''
Il do not know, madam" was the
answer.
He is not in London"
cat present 1 do not know, madam.
Has he left no address? Do you
not forward his letters to him?'
mo, madam. l do not forward his
letters to him.
Then l suppose he is on his yacht, "
suggested Lady Maud.
Madam, do not know whether he
is on his yacht"
You don't seem to know any-
thing!"
Pardon me, madam, think l know
my business. That is all l know"
Lady Maud held her beautiful head
a little higher and her lids dropped
slightly as she looked down at him,
for he was shorter than she. But the
huge leathern face was perfectly i'm
passive, and the still, turquoise eyes
surveyed her without winking. She
had never seen such stolidity in a
human being.
There was clearly nothing to be
done, and she thought the secretary
distinctly rude; but as that was no
reason why she should be, she babe
him good-morning civilly and turned
to 60 Somewhat to her surprise. he
followed her quickly across the room,
opened the door for her and went
on into the little hall to let her out.
There was small table there, on
which lay some of Logotheti's hats,
and several pairs of gloves were laid
out neatly before them There was
one pair, of light gray, very much
smaller than all the rest, so small, in
deed, that they might have fitted a
boy of seven, except that they looked
too narrow for any boy. They were
mems gloves as to length and buttons.
but only child could have worn
them.
Lady Maud saw them instantly. and
remembered Baraka's disguise; and
as she passed the big umbrella jar
to go out, she saw that with two of
Logotheti's sticks there was third,
fully four inches shorter! just a plain
crook-handled stick with a silver ring.
That was enough. Baraka had GER
tainly been in the lodgings and had
probably left in them everything that
US1OASSu " uSl u1SS L lie ldCl
that the gloves and the stick were in
the hall looked very much as if she
had come in dressed as man and
had left them there when she had
gone away in womans attire. That
she was with Logotheti, most prob
ably on his yacht, Lady Maud had not
the least doubt, as she went down the
stairs.
The Swiss secretary stood at the
open door on the landing till she was
out of sight below, and then went
in again, and returned to work over
a heap of business papers and letters
When he had worked half an hour, he
leaned back in his leathern chair to
rest and stared fxedly at the book
case. Presently he spoke aloud in
English, as if Lady Maud were still in
the room, in the same dull, matter-of-
fact tone, but more forcibly as to eX-
preston.
1T is perfectly true, though you do
not believe me, madam. I do not know
anything. How the dickens should l
know where they are, madam? But
know my business. That is ALL
CHAPTER K.