Evening star., 1912-07-21
CHAPTER vi (Continued).

tent with regari 70 Sidonie; but presently
she came to that which reminded her
thereof, .s,ss to wit. an ne empty M a, place.
Madame" returned Sidonie in ac-
cents as Suave.
The amethyst ring of the Due de
GuiSe -
Doubtless madame will recall that the
setting was loose and that she instructed
me to take it to the jeweler to repair.
But now Nine Savaran was sitting
back in her chair, watching Sidonie with
catlilke attention, a smile of open deri-
sion in her eyes and on her lips.
Positively, Sidonie. you bore me. Do.
the next time this happens, have the
sense to divert me with an original lie.
To be entertained with the same old
story, Sidonie, wearies me of you. How
much did you get'on it?'
''Ten dollars" replied Sidonie, placidly.
rs that all?'
Sidone grimaced her depreciation OF the
insult to the collection
'These pawnbrokers madame. What
would you? They have no SOUL"
Beast" said Nine. Savaran, slowly
and distinctly
It was like the puff Of wind that dark
ems the surface of calm waters. forerun-
ming the storm. Sidone prepared to bow
her head to the whitening blast. 1t Is no
good, trying to fight the elements.
You have the ticket. I presume?'
1T is here madame" Sidonie readily
opened her hand, exposing a scrap of
paper.
Nine Savaran gripped her cane and
leaned forward. Forked lShtnings could
be no more terrifying than the flashes
from her steel-gray eyes.
Just then the situation was saved for
Sidonie by the telephone bell.
Nine Savaran heard it ringing in the
called sidonie a devil Go and see what
that is!'' she commanded with violence.
And when Sidonie hastily disappeared
she settled back in the black temper of
tigress baked OF her prey.
The inevitable. however. was but tenn
porarily deferred. She would yet have
it out with Sidonie.
"Well?" she demanded, acidly. when
Sidonie returned.
"A young lady calling. madame; she
gave her name as Miss Grayce. 1 told
the office to send her up at once
You did," The mistress gathered her
self together again. ready to launch the
thunderbolt. What right
Pardon, madame. but one presumed
the young person was calling in response
Sidonie, hastily. Madame was so con-
cerned to replace the excellent Miss Bid
die without loss of time that l.
BE silent, you.'' snapped madame,
hastily replacing the trays and shutting
the jewel case.
She was on the point of treating herself
to q secret smile. to think Of how she
had outWitted madame this once, when
she was thrown into complete consterna-
ton (or a condition as nearly approxi-
mating that as her completely cold and
calculating nature would permiD to see
an open and an inexplicable smile on the
face of Nine. Savaran; a smile that said
'Aha!" or Sidonie's painfully acquired
lore of Nine. Savaran's weather signals
,xAf To- n{ hf frrr
1t limited at hideous things that smile,
of a reservation of secret strength of aw-
full potentialities. Sobered by alarm and
wonderment. the woman hurried away
to the door, grateful for the respite
promised by the knocking that summoned
her.
She opened, and there was Cynthia.
Heaven alone, it is believed, knows how
women manage these things. Certain it
is Cynthia had had little sleep the previ-
she had much TO do to make herself pre-
sentable in the morning-mending, clean
ing. pressing; task of tedious difficulty
when the iron must be heated by means
of a patent attachment which subdues
the solit AIRY gas jet to a mere ghastly
blue flicker. And after that. when at
length free to lay herself down. there
had been what seemed endless hours of
l,alf-conscious doing, eXcitemcnt-a froth
in her mind of fresh impressions and
enOIlONS-WOTklHS with care nOlO BACK
the craved loss of consciousness.
A man who had undergone as much
woul8 have felt and looked wretchedly
seedy.
But Cynthia, faltering on the threshold
there. was as fresh and pretty as any
dew-drenched rose at dawn. Her color
was clear and glowing with health: some
thing with which. no doubt, her rapid
walk across and up town had much to
do. Her manner of composure moder-
ated by reserve became her wonderfully
well. That incredible ingenuity Of the
impoverished woman of sensibility cum
ninsly concealed. and denied score of
lacks and faults and incongruities in her
attire. Her eyes alone may have be-
trayed her, fatigue rendering them un-
usually dark and big though at the same
time they We're luminous with hope and
confidence inspired of the ease with
which she had gained to this presence of
bountiful promise. For while she had
been, womanlike a bit late getting away.
and had lost some time vainly scanning
the Globe columns for Nine. Savaran' s
advertisement, she had found none to dis
pute precedence with her when she ap-
piled at the hotel desk.
In fine, she was altogether charming.
Nine Savaran and her maid granted this
at glance. though otherwise both re-
received her appearance with surprise,
wonder and doubt: community of feel
ing of which Sidonie. unhappily. was en-
Cynthia's gaze. moving from the maid S
face. fixed upon that of the handsome old
lady behind the small table by the win
dow. She inclined her head little diff
IDENTIFY.
Mime. Savaran?' asked she.
II am Nine. Savaran.' said that per-
son. Won't you come in?'
Cynthia entered and Sidonie shut the
door.
Come here, please-to the light" said
madame, in her most impressive manner:
and when Cynthia had complied: You
wished to see me-"
Your advertisement in the Globe ="
"Ah." said Nine. Savaran. dispassion-
|ately. In fact, she was disappointed.
She had hoped for something different,
Cynthia's appearance prepossessing her.
II wish to apply for the position" This
to be somehow demanded by madame S
manner.
The latter performed miracle of diplo-
matte chemistry coating seething deeps
of feeling with the thin. smooth ice of
judicial calm. This operation is under
stood to be. known under the name of
tact
"Sit down. said she. with just enough
hauteur to render Cynthia vaguely un-
comfortable, as obediently she took the
seat indicated by a motion of madames
graceful hand. Your name, please?"
Cynthia Urcilla Grayce.
.Ah." This time the interjecton was
Enthusiastically pregnant with meaning:
only the meaning remained indecipher-
able
With keen old eyes Nine. Savaran
looked the young woman up and down.
without ano1opy for her rndepaSS and