Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-16


never have lavished in spoken words. Sim
gu1arly free from vanity would be its recipi-
ent if he did not read more than she meant
between the lines! Her mind empty, she
sealed the missive and herself delivered it
into Justin's hands.
"Don't think twice about what l said
awhile ago." she entreated, quite herself
now. Something upset me. l don't really
care about your affairs. You know that"
eyes, know" he said; @but l want to
ask you question or two before we drop it.
I'll be up stairs shortly"
Ann" he said, "what is it you know"
REALLY nothing at all" she protested.
"Out with it,"
Her budget seemed lean indeed, now that
she must turn its contents to the light. II
know that Oliver did not go back in the hills
to hunt" she stated.
"What else?"
"And know whom he met there. One of
the men was Baron Saccarello; the other was
la Count Somebody who"
"Yes?' he prompted as she hesitated.
"Let us hear about Count Somebody"
"He was really Grand Duke, a Russian
Grand Duke"
.Justin's gaze narrowed. "Go on!"
1llCy Wclc very lIlcHIly Will olVcI.
"What did they talk about?" he cross
examined.
a haven't the least idea"
"You've reached your limit"
IL have told you all | know"
absolutely ALP
absolutely"
@Did Price Buckley seem curious?"
Ann widened her eyes, IL did not say it
was Price Buckley who told me"
at wasn't necessary. Truscott wouldn't
have mentioned it. He probably never gave
the thing a second thought. But Buckley is
different. Did he seem to think the meeting
was prearranged?"
Il don't think so. He merely said all
three had gone there to shoot wild boars. |
don't think you need trouble yourself about
him."
II sha mt, said Justin laconically.
Cor about me-" she added. "You see for
yourself how little | know"
at isn't what you know, but what you
may imagine"
Il won't concern myself with it at all,
Uncle Justin" she promised contritely. Il
am sorry lost control of myself down stairs
and worried YOU
Justin dismissed her apology summary.
"The milk is split" he responded. "There
isn't much actually on the ground; but it
IOOkS DlS. Sct IIluSL Icil you d lew lIllIlSS
His wife spoke for the first time. al don't
think care to hear" she said. at will not
be free confidence on your part. You
feel forced to tell. That's not our way,
Justin"
He gave her glance of shrewd apprecia-
ton. "Dont think haven't wanted to tell
you, Helen" he rejoined. "If it had been
wholly my affair, you would have shared it
from the first. But it was first of all Pages
business; then it became Italys business;
and now," he weighed his words an instant,
"now it has even got to be the business of
Russia" He turned an ironical smile on his
niece. "You see, Ann. the secret is of some
consequence after ALL"
II see."
Her response was so meek that Mrs
Blair took up her defense. "The child has
apologized once" she reminded. GO on
with your story"
WELL" said Justin, at of course began
at Rheims. 1t was there | made up
my mind that Page could give the other
aviators cards and spades 1t did not bother
me that he wasn't entertaining the grand
stands. He told me what he had been able
to do elsewhere and, coming from Joe Pages
boy, that was enough. promised to back
him for further experiments,-he had ideas