Evening star., 1912-10-03
CHAPTER XXI.
A misunderstanding.

Several days later Vittoria Fabrizi led
Bernie Dreux into the room where Nor
win lay. The little man walked on tiptoe
and wore an expression Of such gloomy
sympathy that Blake said:
''Please don't look SO blamed pious: it
makes me hurt all over
Bernies features lightened family; he
smiled in a manner bordering upon the
natural.
'.They wouldn't let me see you before.
Lord! How you have frightened u.s."
My nurse won't let me talk
Blake's eyes rested with puzzled inter-
rogation upon the girl. who maintained
her most professional air as she smoothed
his pillow and admonished him not to
overtax himself. When she had disap-
peared noiselessly he said:
well. you needn't put rose in my
hand yet awhile. Tell me what has hap
pened. How is Myra Nell?'
''Shes heartbroken. of course. she
came here that first night. but the smell
of drugs makes her sick.
II suppose Marufh got away?
Dreux Strengthened in his chair. his
face flushed proudly: he put on at least
heard?" he inquired. incredulously.
'.How could 1 hear anything when I'm
doctored by a deaf mute and nursed by
a divinity without tongue?
'Marufi was captured that very night.
Sure! Why, the whole country knows
about it, Again a look of mellow sat
isfaction glowed on the little mans face.
My dear boy, you're hero, OF course,
but there are others
who caught him?'
your Norvin stared in open-mouthed
anna cement.
THAT'S what said. I-me-Mr. Ber-
nard Efingwell DreuX, the prominent CO.
tillon leader, the second hand dealer, the
art critic and amateur detective. l un-
earthed the notorious and dreaded 81
Gillian desperate in his lair, and now he's
cooling his heels in the parish prison
along with his little friends
"Why-I'm astonished.
Naturally. 1 found him in Joe Pogsis
house. Mr.. Poggi also languishes in the
bastille''
"How I'm the world
Well. it's quite story. and It all ls nap
tiushed'a bit as he met his companion
eye when told you about Mrs. Poggi
I didn't exactly go into all the intimate
-er-details. The truth is she became
deeply interested in me. 1 told you how
met her. Well. she wasn't averse to
receiving my attentions. Heavens. no!
She ate 'em up! Before I knew it |
found myself entangled in An intrigue
had hold of an electric current and ,
around she followed me. When I didn't
make love she did She learned about
Felicite, and there was Excuse me!
Bernie rose, put his head cautiously out
side the door to find the coast clear, then
said-"hell to Pay! 1 tried to back out.
but you can't back away from some
women any more than you can back
away from prairie fire.. He shook his
head gloomily. 1T seems she wasn't
satisfied with Poggi: she had ambitions.
She'd caught a glimpse Of the life that
went on around her and wanted to take
part in It. She thought I was rich, too
my name had something to do With 1t,
presume-at any rate she began to talk
that terrorized me. She was quite willing
that l murder her husband poison her
relatives, or adopt any little eNpedient OF
that kind which would clear the path for
our true aove. was in over my depth,
but when / backed water she SWAN out
and grabbed me. When l stayed away
from her she looked me up. I tried once
TO tell her that I didn't really care for
her-only once The memory brought
beads of sweat to the detectives brow.
life If I'd had the money I'd have left
town.
I'D been meeting her on street corners
UP to that point. but she finally told me
away-it was the day you were hurt.
rebelled. but she made such a scene l
had to agree or be arrested for blocking
traffic. She carries A dagger. Norvin. in
her stocking or somewhere; It's no longer
than your finger. but it's the meanest-
went. along about dark. determined to
have 1t out with her once for all, but
those aristocrats during the French revo-
luton had nothing on. me. / know how
lotine.
(To be continued tomorrow3