The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-05-23

his plain evening dress; one fold was
raised to hid his face He dropped 1t
MS he closed the door
Mrs. Spencer lowered her book. then
arose with all the sinuous grace she
knew SO well how to assume.
welcome. your royal highness." she
said, and cOurtesied very low. 1t was
good Of you to come"
The Duke OF Lotzen tossed Oh Ills
cloak and. coming quickly over. took
her hand and kissed 1t.
ut was more than good Of you to
let me come" he answered when they
were seated.
Il feared you might not get my
note" she said II believe l am under
constant surveillance"
He smiled Even the secret police
would hesitate TO tamper with my
mail.'' lie said. "Tell me how did you
know Me last night!"
What matters it? Particularly since
it was only because you knew me that
you spoke"
you think was searching for you7 :"
he asked.
III said yes. would it please your"
mot unless I thought it true. mon-
sieur, and also knew the reason"
He looked at her steadily u moment.
what better reason could I have
than that you are the most beautiful
woman in Valeria?'
She put her fan before her face.
"Your highness' compliment Is very
delicate" she laughed.
He hooked his hands about his knee
and leaned back.
DO you know" he said. Its a cry
ing shame you are married to my dear
cousin"
She looked him full in the face and
smiled.
"Why didn't you make me q widow.
then, last night when you had the
chance?'
Lotzen shrugged his shoulders.
'"The chance was all right, but the
end was bad. though you didn't stay
to see IT.
She laughed. Didn't 1? 1 stayed
long enough to see your sword stick
ing in the turf. took that to be the
end. Was there more of it later?"
mo; that was the end-for that
time"
"And for that particular method, l
fancy" she said. He wields pretty
blade. But you seem to have escaped
last night"
He looked at her for a bit.
Are you aware, my dear, that you
are conniving at-some might call it
instigating-the death Of your hus-
bandy" he asked.
She smiled. Am II"
ut is a very extraordinary situa-
tion," he said, blowing ring of smoke
and watching it circle away. "You
are so tired Of him; you want him
killed. He seems equally tired of you,
and, moreover, he is determined to
marry another woman. Yet neither
Of you gets divorce, and you actual
ly follow him here, and he then actual
ly refuses to let you depart"
The fan kept moving slowly
"A very extraordinary situation in
she said.
| AS state lt!' lie echoed.
She nodded. "You have omitted the
one material fact in the case"
"And what is that!" he asked.
The fan stopped. and she laughed
lightly.
simply this, am not Armand Dal
berg's wife"
Dehra reached over and took my
| hOr II !,
and nodded, then clapped me on the
knee.
For space 1.otzcn stared at Mrs
Spencer, and she smiled sweetly back
at him.
Not his wife," he calculated pres
/ emily.
Come. monsieur. let US be frank
. with each other" she said. Not only
am l not Armand Dalberg's wife, but
!; you have always known it."
. He frowned. "My dear girl" he said
"I've been sorrowfully accepting your
; own word that you are his wife. How
/ should know that you've BEEN he
hesitated.
. She finished it for him.
Lying, duke. lying" she laughed.
He held up bis hands protestingly.
} Not at all, my dear; Teasing is the
: word wanted"
She sat up sharply.
so then it was intended only as
} jockey! she exclaimed. II thought It
had another object"
He frowned again.
Il don't quite follow you." he said.
She looked at him with queer smile.
MY being brought to Valeria to pose
as his wife, she explained
You don't mean you came here from
America expressly for that purpose:
he asked.
Her smile grew broader.
Really. duke. you are most deli