The Marshall republican., 1912-11-29
V.L.BARNES

came to look after him herself, and
an 90 took me away TO dance.
Out OF the whirl two things were
distinct, like beacon lights shining
through q mist. One vas His Grace.
the Due dc Trouvilie. I suppose I
should have been frightened talking,
French at that, with a real live duke
who Travelled with a retinue, and
even In the jam always had q cleared
space about him like n charmed circle,
but from the moment he bowed low
over my hand IN acknowledgment Of
my name all fear vanished In q vague
Idea that somewhere before I had
seen him. He was not extraordinary
In appearance. lie was exactly ones
idea OF a French duke; small. dapper.
distinctly foreign In dress and man
ner, with q precise mustache and q
p%ompadour.
I searched my memory. America7
OF course not. England No. The
continentf Perhaps. But whereY
Howl Whenf Was the name ia
miiinrf In the FIRST flush OF my awe
Of him ! couldn't say. Why should I
remember hint I couldn't answer
that. and Il worried me.
The other distinct thing was q lit
tie indisposition on the part Of Miss
Agazzix. which amounted to nothing
at the time. but which developed into
n mystery. She complained OF feeling
faint while dancing with His Grace.
and they came upon the balcony
where Mr.. Abbott and I were talking.
She recovered Immediately when Mr..
Abbott brought Q glass Of water. but
His Grace meanwhile was very much
excited IN q tumble Of awfully poor
English and graceful French. Later.
when the evening was all Overland
. goodly portion Of the morning. too
and ! had gone. absolutely exhaust.
ed and entirely happy. to my sitting.
room. the door Of which was open. NJ
We had left II between Laura's suite
and mine. I stumbled on rather
tense scene.
Natalie was draped languidly upon
o chair In the center OF Laura's pretty
white and gold room. while Laura
stood rigidiy by O. window. and Mrs
Hazard sat rather upright In n chair
hardly proportioned 70 her short legs.
with q quicker between her eyes that
was most unusual.
II couldn't have lost IT. Natalie
was saying I'm too partic-
ular about the clasp. it's q patent
affair and has 20 be undone"
"But my dear child" expostulatcd
Mrs. Hazard. "even patent affairs can
be defective I had the servants
search the rooms thoroughly and the
yard beneath the balcony. under the
~aIl-seeing eyes Of q detective. but We
will search more thoroughly tomor.
row. myself questioned here and
there. but Of course II any one had
found II they would have come direct
~ to me You can't imagine how II
distresses me-"
didn't know whether to close the
door or not. ! moved . chair with
Q bump to lot them know I was there.
and Laura called to me.
"what IL ~" ] asked. joining them.
"Can ! hsipf"
Natalie has lost Q bracelet" Laura
answered me, - most valuable one.
She missed It after she was on the
balcony. You were there, Louiie."
why, yes, with Mr.. Abbott" I
looked from % TO the other. and
my case came to rest upon Laura's
distressed face. "Mr. Abbott went
for q glass OF water while His Grace
and I unfastened Miss Agazzis's
gloves and chafed her wrists"
II seemed an awfully long minute
before any one said anything else.
Natalie. Go you think any one took
itY~ Laura demanded.
why. Of courss notf" Natalie 70
piled. But "a that rather bclied her
former statement no one believed her.
my DEAR Mrs. Hazard said.
-there were detectives all over the
place.
III you couldn't have lost II. Ma.
taiie." Laura persisted. "thsre can
be only one other answer. And II q
thief. Why take Just one bracelet"
Natalie arose.
I'm awfully sorry, dear. Il I said
20. Il really, doesn't matter. OF
course I can't got another like Il. DO
cause there isn't another like Il n
the world, or 90 many emeralda
matched u perfectly. II came down
10 me from . Observation-Disclosures,
and has al sorts Of history attached
70 II. But II its ~gons-lts gonsi"
She picked up her wraps and ] has
tsasA forward TO help her. while Mrs
Hazard, n her decisive. direct way
went 70 . desk that stood n . cornell
q ths room.
sHev, much No. Il worth. Natalisr
she asked.
aoh. without TIE associations aaA
the history, and the matchlses per
eection II the stores. I may BE- abb
y seplaees \ Ter hfty thessan1 ~
iars.. Natalis rsplisd srhat's whai
tt,a Insured for"
|fIu AX1LX.-It |. - 80