New-York tribune., 1911-02-26
THURLEY RUXTON

and the inescapable suspicious that knowl-
edge of the "Princess" disappearance would
Immediately engender. Nevertheless, to
maintain smiling compoSure and to parry
insidiouS queries was taxing the utmost Of
her ingenuity and all but driving her dis
tracted.
Major Phpps, who had been away re-
cuperating from his literary labors for sever
al weeks, was one of the callers. He came
with Kelsey Woods, and was annoyingly in
sistent in his probing as to Thurley, her
whereabouts and prospects. Willie Stetson,
with twenty different punches of flowers for
Thurley to accept or reject, but to exercise
her wholly untrammclcd choice upon, was
early on the scene. Algy Dearborn brought
a brand new limerick. Captain Fowler and
Beau Brymmer of the diplomatic service
arrived almost together.
Lady Honore Calthorp and Count Fiaschl
came together, as they had on number OF
occasions. Gaillard came later, with floral
contributions, and by great good fortune did
not collide with the Count.
Fiaschi was sufficiently persistent IN his
reiterated desire to be made acquainted at
once with Thurley's whereabouts. lie cor
nercd Alice by herself, at moment when
the others were engaged in a mild debate on
woman suffrage, and repeated his WisheS
anew.
at is not that shall be considered as one
of the limpid others he explained. MY
nature is one of fire and action-ah! SO I'M
patient to move, to surround! Miss !hurley
herself understands. She would wish II Tor
me to be informed where she IS, what she
does away from her home, where shall Send
my eager thoughts to remind her OF the
pleasant times whenever we have met.
81 quite understand" said Alice, dis
traught by her haunting fears. "lf were
to tell YOU, Count Fiaschi, that she was TAR
away and in peril, what would your ilre and
action do?"
He grinned 81 should be aware, dear
lady, that you are humorous people, you
Americans. shall wait. She must present.
" return. Ny longing shall bring her back!
"Perhaps," said Alice; but would pray
God to send her a humorous American man
with a good strong arm and fearless heart.
pUT. if the Count was nsstent Gaillard
- was fairly intolerable. The man was at
the brink of ruin. FiasChi had crowded HIM
fairly to the edgc-and he felt already that
the slightest push must hurl him downward
to the pit.
Someway, in his desperate plight, he felt
the necessity for Thurley Ruxton, some
one of the other days, to. whom to open the
gates of his soul and relieve the pressure
within. She had not replied to his letter,
that note amounting to a curt demand that
she let him announce their engagement:
He was not prepared to accept her mo tor
his answer Today, however it was any
thing to find her, and perhaps compel her
consent to be his wife. He felt it would con-
uuer Fiaschi. To discover that she was abb
sent from the scene, and to receive no adj
euuate explanation of what her absence
meant. increased his annoyance.
"See here" he said to Alice in his domi-
neering way. 1--WE both understand that my
position with Thurley is unlike that Of any
one else. have right to know where shes
gone.
Alice was nettled. 81 wish it were such
right as might keep you better informed.
and then perhaps you might assist instead OF
goading me-
"What do you mcan?' he demanded.
"You're not declaring your ignorance as to
where she isl"
"And if were. what then?'
He narrowed his gaze upon her, countless
suspicious flashing briefly in his brain.
"You' re sure she hasn't gone to New Haven"
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