, 1912-03-21

nara perhaps. At any rate. the opern
VIII know me no more.
lhere was the hard bIue of fin, l.,
oa'he"es eyes as they met and held
There was a duel and
Tue inter was routed. But hate burn
Gu nercely in the breast against the
man who could compel him TO lower,
MS eyes. Some day he wouId no :.
back that glance.
Now. NJ. ferraud had missed moth
ing. He twisted the talk into other
channels with his usual adroitness.
out all the while there was
IN his mind the news thai these rwo
men had met before. The history NJ
Hildegarde Won Mitter was known TO
hih' But how much did she know
OF TINS man Cathewe: The woman
was n thoroughbred. He. ApatoIe
Ferraud. knew. 1t was his business tn
know, and that she should happen
upon the scene he considered as one
OF these rare good pieces of luck that
rail- to the lot of few.
Did Laura note any of the porten-
tous Giances. those exchanged between
the singer and Cathewe and Brett
mann: Perhaps. At all events she
telt "A curiosity to know how long
Hildegarde Won Mitter had known her
fathers secretary. There was no envy
in her heart as again she acknowledged
the beauty of the other More
over. she liked her and was going to
ike her more. Impressions were
made upon her almost instantly for
good or bad and rarely changed.
She turned oftenest to Fitzgerald. for
he made particular effort to entertain,
and he succeeded better than be dream
ed. 1t kept turning over in her mind
what a whimsical. cnpricious. whirllgig
at work. 1t was droll. this mar
at her side, chatting to her as IL he
had known her for years. when, seven
or eight days ago, he had stood, a man
all unknown to her. on a city corner
selling plaster of paris statuettes on a
wager, and but for Mrs. Coldfeld she
had passed him for ever. Out upon the
prude who would look askance at her
for harmless daring.
Drop into my room before you turn
in." urged Fitzgerald to Cathewe.
That l shall. my boy. I've some
questions to ask Of you"
But n singular idea came into crea-
ton, and this was for him. Cathewe. to
pay Breitmann a visit on the way to
room. Not one man in u
would have dared put this
idea into a plan Of action. But neither
%externals o conventions deferred Ca
when he sought a thing. He
lightly on the door of the secre-
room.
"Come in"
Cathewe did so. gently closing the
door behind him. Breitmann was in
his shirt sleeves. He rose from his
chair and laid down his cigarette. \
smile broke the thiN line of his
He waited for his guest. or.
this intruder. to break the
And as Cathewe did not speak
at once there was IA tableau, during
each was sp%eculatively busy
the eyes.
II never expected to see you In this
house." said Cathewe.
"a compliment which I readily re-
"A private secretary, | " thought
Of you In that capacity"
lone must take what one can" tran
"A good precept." Cathewe rolled the
ends OF his mustache, a trifie perplexed
how to put 1t. But there should lie
exceptions. What" and his voice be
came crisp and ~cold-"what vas Hide
garde Won Mltter to your"
And what is that to your"
my question first"
81 choose not to answer It,"
Again they eyed each other like
"Were you marriedf'
Breitmann laughed. Here was his
opportunity to wiring this mans heart.
for he knew that Cathewe loved the
woman. 'You seem to be in her con
Ask her"
"A poitroon would say as much.
There is a phase in your makeup |
never fully understood. Physic-
ally you are a brave man. but morally
you are a cad and a poltroon."
Take care!' Breitmann stepped
forward menacingly.
'aThere will be no hsticuffs," con-
jemptuously.
Not If you are careful. have an
your questions. You had bet
er leave at once"
"She is loyal to you. 1t was not her
7oice that broke that night. 1t was her
,eart. You have some hold over her"
None that she cannot throw off ut
time" Breitmann's mind was
working strangely.
''If she would have me l would
marry her tomorrow" went on Ca
.hewe, playing openly. II would q