Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-21

to Alice, had driven directly to the
Rue du Cloitre Notre Dame, and at
twenty minutes past 9 by the clock In
the Tavern Of the Three Wise Men be
had drawn up at the house where the
Bonnetons lived. Five minutes later
the young man was seated In the
sacristan's little salon assuring Alice
that he didn't mind the rain, that the
banquet was a bore anyhow and that
he hoped she was now going to prove
herself sensible and reasonable little
girl. Alice welcomed her lover eagerly.
Alice had never seemed so adorable.
Then came sudden and ominous en-
trace of Mother Bonneton. She eyed
the visitor with frank unfriendliness
and proceeded to tell him that his at
tentions to Alice must cease and that
his visits here would henceforth be
unwelcome.
In vain the poor girl protested
against this breach of hospitality.
Mother Bonneton held her ground
grimly. declaring that she had duty
to perform and would perform it.
"What duty?" asked the American.
"a duty to NJ. Groener."
At this name Alice started apprehen-
sively. Kittredge knew that she had a
cousin named Groener, woodcaryer,
who lived in Belgium and who came
to Paris occasionally to see her and
to get orders for his work.
1.-THE last time NJ. Groener was here
that's about month ago" the woman
said-"he asked me and my husband
to make Inquiries about you and see
what we could find out. And we
found out things-well, just few!"
'sWhat things"
1--WE have found out, my pretty sir,
that you lived for months last year by
gambling. suppose you will deny
it?'
NO." answered Kittredge in low
tone; "it's true"
'Ah! We found also that the money
you made by gambling you spent with
a brazen creature who"-
"Stopy' interrupted the American,
and, turning to the girl, he said:
"Alice, l didn't mean to so into these
details. I didn't see the need Of it,
butt
st don't want to know the Details"
she interrupted. II know you. Lloyd.
That is enough"
She looked him in the eye trusting
ly, and he blinked little.
''Plucky!" he murmured. They're
trying to queer me, and maybe they
will, but I'm not going to lie about
1t. Listen. I came to Paris year
age on account Of a certain person. !
thought l loved her, and made fool
Of myself. gave up a good position
In New York, and after l had been
here awhile I went broke. So gam
bled. It's pretty bad. don't defend
myself. only there's one thing 1 want
you to know. This person was not
low woman, She was lady"
Huh" grunted Mother Bonneton.
ga lady! The kind Of lady who
dimes alone with gay young gentlemen
In private rooms! Aha, we have the
facts!"
The young mans eyes kindled. mo
matter where she dined, say she was
a lady, and the proof Of it is IL want
ed her to get q divorce and-and mar
~ me-"
"Oh!'' WINGED Alice.
'tYou see what he u.s." niumphed the
sacristan's wife-'running after mar
RED woman"
But Kittredge went on doggedly:
you've got to hear the rest now. Onei
day something happened that-that
made me realize what an idiot had
been. So at last decided to break
away, and did. 1t wasn't exactly q
path Of roses for me those weeks. but
I stuck to 1t, because-because l had
some one to help me''-he paused and
looked tenderly at Alice-"and-well,
I cut the whole thing out, gambling
and all. That was six months ago."
"And the ladyT'. sneered Mother
Bonneton. "Do you mean to tell us
you haven't had anything to do with
her for six months?"
Il haven't even seen her." he declar-
ed, ''for more than six months"
"a likely story! Besides. what we
know is enough. shall write NJ.
Groener tonight and tell him the facts.
Meantime She rose and pointed to
the door.
seWell" said he. facing Alice with n
discouraged gesture. I'D like to
know why you turned me down this
afternoon"
He was actually moving toward the
door when the bell in the hall tinkled
sharply. Mother Bonneton answered
the call and returned a moment later,
followed by the doorkeeper from be-
low, CHEEKY little woman, who bus
tied In, carrying a note.
"It's for the gentleman" she explain
ed; "from a lady waiting in a car
riage. It's very important" With
this she delivered note to Kittredge
and added in an exultant whisper to
the sacristan's wife that the lady had
given her franc for her trouble.
what kind Of q lady" chuckled
Mother Bonneton.
ooh, very SWELL replied the door
keeper mysteriously grand toilet,
bare shoulders and no hat should
think she'd take cold" /.
''Poor thingr' jeercd the other.
Kittredge stood as IL In a daze, star.
ing at the note He read 1t, then read
q - Ia - To- Ia.