Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-03-12
NUMBER II.

Laura tried on three gowns, to the
very great surprise Of her maid Usu-
ally her mistress told her In the morn.
ing what to lay out for dinner Here
there were two fine looking young
men about. and yet she was for se-
Letting the simplest gown Of the three.
She was hazily conscious that they
would notice this dress, whereas the
cleaning satin would have passed as
a matter Of fact Round her graceful
throat she placed m Indian turquoise
necklace; nothing in her hair, nothing
on her fingers. She went downstairs
perfectly content
AS she came into the hall she heard
soft music. Some one was In the mu.
sic room. which was Just of the libra.
ry. She stopped to listen. Chopin.
with light touch and tender feeling.
Which of the two wanderers was II?
Quietly she moved along to the door.
Breitmann; she rather expected to find
him Nearly all educated Germans
played. The music stopped for a mo.
ment. then resumed. Another melody
followed. melody she had heard from
one end Of France to the other. She
frowned. not with displeasure. but with
puzzlement For what purpose did Q
soldier. Of the German empire play the
battle hymn of the French republic?
The Marsellaise. She entered the mu.
sic room. and the low but vibrant
chords ceased Instantly. Breitmann
bad been playing these melodies stand
Ing. He turned quickly. When Fitz-
gerald Joined them they were serious
ly discussing Wagner and his I'll treat
ment in Munich and the mad king OF
Bavaria.
AS she had planned. both men no.
ticed the simplicity Of her dress.
1T is because she doesn't care"
thought Breitmann.
1T Is because she knows We don't
care" thought Fitzgerald Aud he WIS
nearer the truth than Brcitmann
The dinner was pleasant. and there
was much talk OF travel. The admiral
had touched nearly every port. Fitz.
gerald had been round three times and
Breitmann four SO far as the ad-
miral was concerned. he WAS very well
pleased with the new secretary.
Fitzgerald was not asleep. he had
an idea. and he smoked his yellow
African gourd pipe till this same idea
shaped itself into the form OF a re-
solve He laid the pipe on the man
tel. turned over the logs-for the
nights were yet chill and fire was
comfort-and raised n window. lie
would like to hear some Of that tap
ping in the chimney. He WAS fully
dressed. excepting that he had ex-
changed shoes for slippers
He went out into the corridor.
There was no light under Breitmann's
door So much the better He was
asleep Fitzgerald crept down the
stairs with tue caution Of hunter
who Is trailing new game. As be nr
rived at the turn Of the Grst landing
he hesitated. He could hear the Old
clock striking or the seconds In the
lower hall. He cupped his ear. By
George. Joining the sharp monotony
Of the clock was another sound. softer.
intermittent. He was certain that II
came from the library That door was
never closed Click-click. Clirk-clicE'
The mystery was close nt hand
He moved forward He wanted to
get as close us possible To the treplac"
He peered in The fire was all dead
Only the corner Of log glowed duly.
Suddenly the glow died. only to reap
pear, unchanged This Nhpnomenh
could be due to one thing, passing Of
something opaque Fitzgerald had
often seen this In camps when some
ones legs passed between him and the
fire. Some one else was I'm the room
With n light bound he leaped forward.
to find himself locked IN n pair OF
arms no less vigorous than his own.
And even In that lively moment he
remembered that the sound in the
chimney went on.