The Washington herald., 1912-07-21

III you see anything suspicious,
Peter said, "tap the table with your
forehnger. Personally. / will. admit
that ! have had my doubts of the bar
oness, but on the whole have come to
the conclusion that they were ground
less"
The butler fetched them in a very
few moments and showed them into a
pleasantly furnished library, where he
mixed cocktails for them from collec-
ton of bottles upon the sideboard
Then, before they had expected her, the
baroness reappeared. She wore won
derful gray gown which seeemd to be
made in single piece, a gown which
fitted her tightly. and yet gave her the
curious appearance of a woman walking
without the burden of clothes. So
grange, Pansian to the hnger-tips,
watched her with admiring approval.
She laid her fingers upon his arm, al
though 1t was toward Peter that her
eyes travelled.
will you take me in, marquis?" she
begged. 1T is the only .formality We
will allow ourselves"
They entered long. low dining room.
paneled with oak, and with the family
j portraits of the owner of the house still
left upon the wall Dinner was served
upon a round table and was laid for
four. There was profusion of silver.
very beautiful glass. and a wonderful
cluster of orchids. The marquis, as he
handed his hostess to her chair, glanced
toward the vacant ploce.
1T is for my companion, an Austrian
lady," she explained. Tonight, how
II &hs.L tkat eh~ xs-,tt
She was distant connection of Berna-
dimes and she is much upset. We leave
her place and see You will sit on my
other side, baron"
The fingers which touched Peters
arm brushed his hand, and were with
drawn as though with reluctance. She
sank into her chair with little sigh.
TT is charming of you two, this she
declared, softly you help me through
this night of solitude and sadness. Nha,
should do if were alone, cannot
tell You must drink with me toast
if you will. Will you make it to our
better acquaintance?
Peter raised his glass and looked into
the eyes Of the woman who was leaning
so closely toward him that her sof,
breath fell upon his cheek. She whis-
pered something in his ear. For a mo-
ment, perhaps, he was carried away
but for a moment only. Then So.
oranges voice and the beat of his fore.
finger upon the table stiffened him into
sudden alertness. They heard motor
car draw up outside.
who can il be-" the baroness ex-
claimed, setting her glass down abrupt
It is. perhaps. our fourth guest who
arrives" SosSange remarked.
They all three listened. Peter and So
grange with their glasses still suspend
ed in the air.
"Our fourth guest" the baroness re.
peated. Madam Won Estenier is up,
stairs. lying down. l cannot tell whs
this may be-
Her lips were parted. The lines o
her forehead had suddenly appeared
Her eyes were turned toward the door
hard and bright Then the glass whicl
she bad nervously picked up again an,
was holding between her fingers fel
onto the tablecloth with i little crash
and the yellow wine ran bubbling o.
to her plate. Her scream echoed I
the roof and rang through the room.
was Bernadine who stood there in tn
doorway, Bernadine in long travelin
ulster and the air of one newly arrive
from a journey. They all three locke
at him, but there was not one VIII
spoke. The baroness, after her on
wild cry. was dumb.
81 am indeed fortunate Bernadin
said. You have as yet, see, scarcel
commenced. You probably expecte
me. l am charmed to find 50 agreeabl
a party awaiting my arrival.
He divested himself of his ulster an
threw it across the arm OF the butler
who stood behind him.
Come" he continued: for a ma
who has just been killed in a railwa
accident, find myself with an appetite
A glass of wine. Carl. | do not kno,
what that toast was. the drinking O
which my coming interrupted, but lc
us all drink it together. Aimee, m
love. to you, dear. Let me congratulate
you upon the fortitude and courage Wit
! which YOU ignored those lying report
of nv death. | had fears that | NIGH
find you alone in darkened room. wit
tcar-stained eyes and sal volatile b
your side. This is infinitely better. Gen
temen, YOU are welcome
Sogrange lifted his glass and bowe
courteously. Peter followed suit.
Really" Sogrange murmured, til
press nowadays becomes more unrelis
. bic every day. 1t is apparent. my dea
Won Hern. that this account of YOU
death was, to say the least Of it. exag
gerated"
Peter said nothing, His eyes wer
|, fixed upon the baroness. She sat in he
, chair quite nlotionless, but her face ha
become like the face of some grave
! image. She looked at Bernadine, BIT
! her eyes said nothing. Every CLINT c
expression seemed to have left he
features. Was this trap into whic
they had fallen, or was the woman, to'
deceived?
You bring later news from PAR
than / myself" Sogrange proceeded
helping himself to one OF the dishe
| which footman was passing rount
I How did you reach the coast? Tn
, evening papers stated distinctly ths
, since the accident no attempt has bee
made to run trains
{ "By motor car from Chantilly,' Bel
, nadine replied. 81 had the mIstortun
to lose my servant, who was wearin
my coat. and who, ! gather from tn
! newspaper reports, was mistaken tc
me / myself was unhurt. hired
, motor car and drove to Boulogne-ne
5 the best of journeys. let me tell yo'
for we broke down three times. Thei
I was no steamer there, but l bird
6.h;no hoat which brought me acros