Mexico Missouri message., 1910-03-31

suggested the American, but the tone
in which she had spoken the word
creature" had not escaped him.
He was really trying to put the case
in fair light, and was not, at all
maneuvering to ascertain her state of
mind. That was clear enough now.
How far she might go he could not
tell, but what she had just said,
coupled with the way in which she
spoke Of the man to whom she was
engaged as mons. Logotheti," made
1t quite evident that she was pro
foundly incensed against him, and Van
Torp became more than ever anxious
not to do anything underhand.
Look here" he said, I'm going to
tell you something. l took sort of
interest in that Tartar girl the only
time saw her. don't know why. !
dare say I was taken in by her
just ordinary taken in like a tender.
foot. gave her that fellows ad.
dress in New York" He nodded to.
wards Kralinsky. when found he
was here, / wired Logotheti to tell
her, since she's after him. l suppose
thought Logotheti would go right
away and find her, and get more
mixed up with her than ever. 1t was
mean of me, wasn't it? That's why
I've told you. You see, 1 didn't know
anything about all this, and that
makes it meaner still, doesn't it?"
Possibly If he had told her these
facts 4S hours earlier she might have
H.,k nk NIarg
seemed to be rather in his favor. At
all events he was frank, she thought
He declared war on his rival, and
meant to fight according to the law Of
nations. Lady Maud would not be his
friend If he were playing any double
game, but she had stuck to him
throughout his trouble in the spring
he had emerged victorious and rein
stated in public opinion, and she had
been right. Lady Maud knew him
better than any one else, and she
was a good woman, if there ever was
one.
Yet he had accused himself Of hav-
ing acted "meanly." Margaret did not
like the word, and threw up her head
as horse does when beginner holds
on by the curb.
you need not make yourself out
worse than you are," she answered.
Il want to start fair" said the mil
lionaire, land I'd rather your impress
sion should improve than get worse.
The only real trouble with Lucifer
was he started too high up"
This singular statement was made
with perfect gravity, and without the
| slightest humorous intention, but Mar
garet laughed for the first time that
day. in spite of the storm that was
still raging in the near distance of her
| thoughts.
"Why do you laugh?" asked Van
Torp. Its quite true. l don't want
to start too high up in your estima-
ton and then be turned down as unfit
for the position at the end Of the
first week. Put me where I belong
and won't disappoint you. Say 1
was doing something. that wasn't ex-
actly low-down, considering the OBJ
ject, but that mightn't pass muster at
an honor parade, anyhow. And then
say that I've admitted the fact, IL you
like, and that the better 1 know you
the less want to do anything mean
1t won't be hard for you to look at ii
In that light, will it? And it'll give
me the position of starting from the
line. Is that right?"
eyes," Margaret answered, smiling
SLANG right and English right You
ask for a fair field and no favor, and
you shall have it."
'Tll go straight" Van Torp an
swered.
81 suppose Lady Maud will come
won't she?" he asked suddenly, after
short silence
II hope So" Margaret said. "If not
she will meet me. in Paris, for she of
fers to do that in her letter"
"Pm staying on in this place be
cause you said you didn't mind" OBJ
served Van Torp. do you want me
to go away If she arrives?"
why should I? Why shouldn't you
stay?"
ooh, I don't know. / was only think
ing. Much obliged anyway, and II
certainly stay If you don't object. We
shall be quite a party, shan't we
! What with us three, and Lady Maut
and Kralinsky there"
Mrs. Rushmore and Kralinsky haC
! stopped in their walk and were wait
ing for them. They quickened theii
pace.
81 thought perhaps this was fa
enough" said Mrs. Rushmore. 20
: course 1 could go ON further, and it,
not your usual walk, my dear, but un
less you mind"
!, Margaret did not mind, and said S,
!, readily; whereupon Mrs. Rushmor,
deliberately took Van Torp for he
companion on the way back.
p I'm sure you won't object to wall
ing slowly" she said to him, can,
Miss Donne and the count can go a
u fast as they like, for they are bot
good walkers. ] am sure you mus
g be a great walker" she added, turnin