Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-03-22


understand. is to take him as far as
Marseilles. After tonight everything
will be quite formal. | suppose. Hon.
estly. feel i'll at ease in accepting
your splendid hospitality. I'm an inter-
lOper. | haven't even the claim Of an
ordinary introduction. 1t has been very.
very kind of you"
"You know Mrs. Coldfeld. will, il
you wish it, ask her to present you to
me-"
81 am really serious"
80 am l."
They will be here tomorrow"
Eyes. And in four days we sail. Oh,
1t is all so beautiful! A real treasure
hunt"
1T does not seem possible that /
have been here a week. 1t has been
a long time since | enjoyed myself so
thoroughly. Have you ever wondered
what has become Of the other man?"
The other man"
YES: the other one in or outside the
chimney. I've been thinking about
him this long while. Hasn't it occurred
to you that he may have other de-
vices"
If he has he will find that he has
waited too long. But / would like to
know how he found out. You see"
triumphantly, he believed that there
is one" She shook the rein. for the
sleek mare was nOzzling her shoulder
and paving slightly. LET us be of. -
She put her small booted foot on his
palm and vaulted into the saddle, and
he swung on to his mount. He stuff
ed his cap into a pocket, for he was
no fair weather hOrseman, but loved
the tingle Of the wind rushing through
his hair, and the two cantered down
lue CitdT SdHul Tulu.
Fitzgerald was light hearted and
boyish. Breitmann was grave and dig
nifed. but in the eyes of each there
was a force the girl had encountered
so seldom as to forget its being. Brett
mann. in his capacity as secretary,
was not so often in her company as
Fitzgerald; nevertheless she was
subtly attracted toward him. When
he was of the mind he could invent
happy compliment with a felicity
no less facile than Fitzgerald And
the puZzling thing of it 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, differentiation
which she had no inclination to re-
solve into first principles. That Brett,
mann was secretary for hire drew
no barrier in her mind She had
known many gentlemen of fine
families who had served in like situa-
tons. There were no social distinc-
tons. On the other hand, she never
felt wholly comfortable with Brett
mann. There was not the least mis-
trust in this feeling. 1t was rather
because she instinctively felt that he
was above his occupation. TO sum it
up briefly, Breitmann was difficult to
understand and Fitzgerald wasn't.
Fitzgerald had an idea; boldly put,
1t was a grave suspicion. Not once
had he forgotten the man in the chin
ney. Once the finger had pointed at
Breitmann or some one with whom
he was in understanding. This had
proved to be groundless. But he kept
turning over the incident and inspect.
Ing 1t from all sides. There were
others a-treasure hunting; persons un
known: and a man might easily be-
come desperate in the pursuit Of 1000.
900 francs, almost half a million OF
American money. more. for some OF
these coins would be rare. He had
thoroughly searched the ground out
side the cellar window. but the sea
gravel held its secret with a tenacity
as battling as the mother sea herself
There was new under groom, OF
rather there had been. He had left
and where he had gone no one knew
Fitzgerald dismissed the thought Of
him; at the most be could have been
out an accomplice. one to unlock the
cellar window.
While Breitmann fingered neal
Laura. offering what signs of admira
don he dared. and. while the admira
chatted to his country neighbors who
were gathered round the tea table
Fitzgerald and NJ. Ferraud were brac
ed against the terrace wall. a few
yards farther on, and exchanged view:
on various peoples.
america is a wonderful country.
said NJ. Ferraud. when they had ex
hausted half a dozen topics. He spread
out his hands. Frenchman wise.
so it is" Fitzgerald threw away
bis cigarette and quietly caught the
other by the wrist and turned the
palm.
NJ. Ferraud looked into his face witt
an establishment on his own. mos
genuine. But he did not struggle
"Why do you do that"
Il am curious, Mr.. Ferraud. when
see a hand like this. Would you minC
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