Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-04-25
Pitch and Toss.
following morning I cabled
detective agency in New
Ynrk ririnor II oil tho mo.

Investigation Of the movements of
Madeline Spencer during the period
intervening between my confirmation
as an archduke and her sailing for
Europe. l told it l required evidence
promptly to disprove the marriage and
gave it carte blanche in it's gathering.
About noon Bernheim came in with
card in his fingers and queer smile
about his firm set lips
l took the card.
Il didn't dare to dismiss her with
out your direct ORDERS" said my aid.
LAS she we'll knew
"And as she had the effrontery to
tell me-" he added.
l laughed. and did it very pretti-
iy, too, I'll wager" l can't imagine
what she wants, but you may admit
her. Stay a moment Could you
manage to overhear the conversa-
tion?'
"Only by leaving the door ajar."
well, do what you cam" l said.
l was scurious by what name he
would announce the lady, but he used
none. He simply swung back the
door and spoke into the outer room:
Madame, his royal highness will.
receive YOU"
"You are most kind, Colonel Bern
helm" she said in her sweetest tones
as she passed him. 81 owe you many
thanks"
you owe me none, madame" was
the rather gruff answer.
Then he Went out and closed the
door with altogether unnecessary
vigor
She turned and looked after him.
What great bear he is, Armand!"
she said, with a confidential air.
l stiffened. You wish to see me,
Mrs. Spencer?' l said.
She laughed. "Still denying me, are
YOU" she rippled, land even In your
own private office?
rs it possible, madame, that here,
alone with me. you still have the eff
frontery to maintain you are my wife?'
L said
And do you, sir, here, alone with
me, still have the effrontery to main
tain that l am not your wife?" she
asked.
cts not necessary" said I, "for you
know it quite as we'll as | do"
She shrugged her shoulders. you're
a good bit of q brute, Armand"
And you're a. l began quickly.
then stopped.
"9es?" she infected. 81 am az
II leave the blank to your own fill
ing" l said with bow.
She laughed gayly. do you know
you have played this scene very nicely,
my dear" she said "If Colonel Bern
helm has CHANGED to stay close enough
to the door he so neatly slammed ajar
he has heard all that we have said,
though whether it was by your order
or due to his own curiosity l, of course,
do not know. Either way, however,
you scored with him"
l was so sure that Bernheim would
now be far enough away from the door
that reached across and flung it back
The anteroom was empty, and
through its open doorway we could see
Bernheim and Moore coming slowly
down the corridor, twenty feet away.
But she only laughed again.
(Which simply proves Colonel Bern
helms wonderful agility" she said
"He must be most valuable aid"
/ closed the door,
81 take it we may assume that you
did not seek admission to me for the
sole pleasure Of looking at me?' said.
quite right, Armand, though there
was time, and not so long ago, when
we both We're more than glad to look at
each other. And maybe l have not
changed" And she leaned forward
and smiled with the frankness Of a
sweet faced child.
made gesture of repugnance
"For heavens sake, madame, lay
aside this simulated sentiment and be
good enough to come to the point"
"The point? The point?" she replied
absently. 'True, l was forgetting The
sight Of you, dear, always stirs me so.
came here very angry with you, and
now have almost forgiven you.'
l put my finger on the electric but
ton, and Colonel Moore responded.
Mrs. Spencer desires her carriage"
I said.
She gave him one Of her sweetest
smiles. then arose
"And your royal highness does not
wish to hear my particular errand 2"
she said.
mo more than before you entered"
1 replied.
"Intruded, you mean"
Possibly that would be more ac-
curate," admitted.
She gave sarcastic laugh.
"Your royalty seems to have been
fatal to your courtesy"
1--WE but waste each others time,
Mrs. Spencer" answered CURLY.
II may be very stupid, Armand" she
said, "but cannot understand why, if
my presence in Dornlitz is so annoy
ing to you, you prevent me leaving it,
l smiled. cat last" said l, 1--WE are
coming to the point"
bo1 Iva