The Washington herald., 1911-02-20

weather horseman. but loved the tingIe
of the wind rushing through his hair;
and the two cantered down the clear,
sandy road.
En- avant!' she cried joyousty. with a
light stroke of her whip
For half a mile they ran and drew in at
the FORK OF the road. EXhilaration was in
the eyes of both of them.
There's nothing equal to it You feel
alive. And off there" with a wave OF the
whip toward the sea, on there lies our
fortunes. o happy day! TO take part in
a really truly adventure, without the
assistance OF a romancer"'
I think you are one of the most charm
ing women l have ever met" he replied.
Some women would object TO the mod
ifcation, but l rather like it,
L withdraw the modification" The
smile on his lips was not reflected in his
eyes.
The antithesis of the one expression TO
the other did not annoy her; rather she
was sensitive to a tender exultance the
recurrence for which later in the day sub
dued her: for Breitmann at tea turned a
few phrases of a similar character. Fftz-
gerald was Hght-hearted and boyish,
Breitmann was grave and dignified; but
in the eyes of each there was a force
she had encountered so seldom as to for
get its being. Breitmann, in his capacity
OF secretary, was not so often in her COM
pany as Fitzgerald; nevertheless, she was
subtly attracted toward him. When he
was of the mind he could invent a happy
compliment with felicity no less faciIe
than Fitzgerald. And the puzzling thing
Of 1t all was both men she knew from
their histories had never been ornaments
at garden parties where compliments are
current coin. She liked Fitzgerald, but
she admired Breitmann, difTerentia-
ton which she had no inclination TO re-
solve into first principles. That Brett
mann was a secretary for hire drew no
barrier in her mind She had known
many gentlemen OF fine families who had
served in like situations There were no
social distinctions. On the other hand
she never felt wholly comfortable with
Breitmann. There was not the least mis-
trust in this feeling. 1t was rather be-
causA she instinctively felt that he was
above his occupation. To sum IL up
briefly, Breitmann was difficult to under
stand and Fitzgerald wasn't
Fitzgerald had an idea: boldly put. il
was a grave suspicion. Not once had he
forgotten the man in the chimney. Once
the finger had pointed at Breitmann or
some one with whom he was in under
standing. This had proved to be ground
less. But he kept turning over the Incl
dent and inspecting II from all sides.
There were others a-treasure hunting;
persons unknown; and a man might easI-
fy become desperate in the pursuit OF
two million francs, almost half a mil
lion of American money, more, for some
of these coins would be rare He had
searched the ground outside
the cellar window, but the sea gravel
held its secret with a tenacity as baf-
fling as the mother sea herself There
was a new under groom, or rather there
had been. He had left, and where he had
gone no one knew. Fitzgerald dismissed
the thought of him; at the most he could
have been but an accomplice one to un-
lock the cellar window.
While Breitmann fingered near Laura,
Offering what signs of admiration he
dared, and while the admiral chatted to
his country neighbors who were gathered
round the tea table, Fitzgerald and NJ.
Ferraud were braced against the terrace
wall. a few yards farther on, and ex-
changed views on various peoples.
America is a wonderful country" said
NJ. Ferraud, when they had exhausted
half a dozen topics. He spread out his
hands, Frenchman-wise-
$50 it is" Fitzgerald threw away his
cigarette.
"And how foolish England was over a
Something like that"
But see what she lost!-' with second
GESTURE
I'm one way It would not have mat
tered She would patronize US as she
stiIl does"
DO you not resent it. this patronizing
attitude?''
"Oh, move are very proud to be pat
-onized by England" cynically. It's a
inc thing to have lord tell you that you
wear your clothes jolly we'll"
IT wonder If you are serious or jest
ng.-
Il am very serious at this moment"
aid Fitzgerald quietly catching the other
,y the wrist and turning the palm.
M. Ferraud looked into his face with
IN astonishment on his own most gen
line But he did not struggle. why do
You do thatT'
.T am curious, M. Ferraud, when see
hand like this. Would you mind letting |
ne see the otherr'
mot in the least" M. Ferraud offered
he other hand.
10 Be CONTINUED roMoKRow.