The Washington herald., 1912-07-07

Win your appearance and gifts mar
rage with our excellent friend is surely
not the summit of your ambitions Here
in Paris, ! promise you, here-we can
do much better than that for you. You
have not. perhaps, doti Good! That
is our affair. Give up our friend here.
and we deposit in any bank you Ike
to name the sum of 100000 francs
Two hundred and fifty thousand
francsH Violet repeated slowly.
Monsieur de Founcelles nodded
rs it enough" he asked.
She shook her head.
Monsieur de Founcelles," she said,
can you tell me the amount of the
national debt of France"
Somewhere about ooo.ooo,ooo francs,
l believe" he answered.
She nodded.
That is exactly my price," she de-
clared
For giving up Peter Ruff he
gasped.
She looked at her employer thought
fully.
He doesn't look worth it, does her"
she said, with a queer little smile. Il
happen to care for him, though--thars
all"
Monsieur de Founcelles shrugged his
shoulders. He knew men and women,
and for the present he accepted defeat"
He sighed heavily.
Il congratulate our friend, and / envy
him." he said. IF ever you should
change your mind. Mademoiselle-"
1T is our privilege, isn't it," she re-
marked with brilliant smile. IF do,
| shall certainly let you know"
On the way home, Peter Ruff was
genial-Miss Brown silent He had es-
capped from a difficult position, and his
sense of gratitude toward his companion
was strong. He showed her many little
attentions which sometimes escaped
him. From Dover, they had a carriage
to themselves.
Peter" Miss Brown said. after he
had made her comfortable. when is it
to be-"
When is what to be-" he asked, puz-
zled.
Our marriage" she answered, look
ing at him for a moment in most be-
wildering fashion and then suddenly
dropping her eyes.
Peter Ruff returned her gaze in blank
amazement.
What do you mean, Violet:" he ex-
claimed.
Just what say" she answered, COM
posedly. When are We going to be
married."
Peter Ruff frowned.
What nonsense" he said. I'VE are
not going to be married. You know
that quite well"
ooh. no. l DON'T" she declared,
smiling at him in a heavenly fashion.
AT your request have told Monsieur
de Founcelles that we were engaged In
cidentally. have refused 100000 francs
and, believe. an admirer, for your
sake. I declared that | was going to
marry you. and must keep my word
Peter Ruff began 10 feel giddy.
Lock here, Violet he said. you
know very well that we arranged all
that between ourselves"
Arranged all that" she repeated.
with a little laugh Perhaps we did
You asked me to marry YOU, and you
have posed as my hance. You kept it up
just as long as it suited you-it suits
me to keep it up a little longer"
DO you mean to say-do you seri-
ously mean that you expect me to
marry youi" he asked, aghast.
II do" she admitted Il have meant
you to for some time, Peter
She was very alluring. and Peter Ruff
hesitated. She held out her hands and
leaned toward him. Her muf fell to
the floor She had raised her veil. and
faint perfume OF violets stole into the
carriage Her lips were a little parted,
her eyes were SAYING unutterable things.
You don't want me to sue you, do
YOU. Peter" she murmured.
Peter Ruff sighed-and yielded.
Copyright. 1917. by the Associated Literary PreS)
Title of next Sundays Adven-
ture, "wonderful John Dory."