Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-05-17
The Mischief Maker
By E. PHILLIPS OPPENE4EIM

/ Whoever and whatever he is" she
said, "he is something 20 be abhorred
Hush! There is someone coming down
the footpath." .-
! They sat quite silent. Some instinct
seemed to tell them who it was, Sud
denly they heard the voice-rasping, un-
pleasant.
''You have bungled the affair, Foster.
1t is not well managed; it is not clever.
You were to have brought him to me,
to have let me know the instant he
reached Paris. 1 would have seen him.
Just as he was I should have succeeded.
Now, il may be that this woman has
warned him already. She is very clever.
If she has him, he will not escape"
Fosters voice was inaudible, but
whatever he said seemed to anger hts
companion.
Thunder and lightning!' they heard
the man exclaiIn. Am a fool that you
talk to me like this? Yes, l go to him
II go to him tonight, but l tell you
that it is too late! If it is too late there
is but one thing to be done. You are
coward Foster!"
They came out into the open, on the
path which fringed the river, and they
were Immediately silent. They came
strolling along and noticed for the first
| time the two figures upon the seat. In
stantly they began to talk upon some
/ local subject No escape was possible.
In few minutes they were opposite
the bench Foster started a little. The
other mans face darkened. He ventured
upon bow. Madame Christopher looked
I'm, 1fcr1,f nnlr
strange animal. Foster hesitated for
moment, but his companion pushed him
along.
az think" she whispered, that man
would like to do me an injury"
Julien was watching their retreating
forms.
81 don't understand what Foster is
doing there, or what the dickens they
were talking about" he said thought
fully. 81 think if you don't mind" he
added, I'VE will return"
why are you so suddenly uneasy?'
she asked. EF
He shrugged his shoulders.
Apparently" he answered, you know
who 1 am and everything about me. l,
on the other hand, am ignorant almost
of your very name. gThere are certain
circumstances connected with my late
career which make it .inadvisable-"
ooh, know all that you are going to
say!' she interrupted. But ask your
self. Have 1 made any attempt what
ever to ask a single unbecoming ques-
tion?" ST. A
You certainly have not" he con-
fessed. f-~
Your little friend returns" she whis-
pered. Sect sC rf
Foster came back to them slowly with
reluctant footsteps. He had the appear
ance of a man bent upon a mission
which he dislilxes.
'Sir Julien" he said, as he drew near,
would you grant me moments in
terview?"
Julien looked at him.
you probably know my address," he
replied coldly. you can call there and
see me. At present 1 am engaged"
"Sir julien, the matter is of some i'm
portance," Foster persisted. II have a
| friend who is anxious to meet you. It
would he an affair of a few words only,
and perhaps an appointment after
| wards
rs the friend to whom you refer The
person with whom you were walking
just Row?" Julien inquired.
"Yes!" Foster admitted. "If you can
spare me a momentSI can explain"
You need explain nothing" Julien in
terrupted Understand. please, that
decline aDSOluteAy 10 make Lndt person ;
lacquaini ance."
Foster looked away from Sir Julien to
the woman who stood by his side.
."Am l to take this as fnal?" he
asked.
Julien turned on his heel
! Absolutely" he said. The little 1
tndw of the person with whom you seem
to be spending the evening makes me
feel more inclined to pitch him into the
matter of fact, Foster, l don't know,
of course, under what instructions you
| are acting over here, but l should not
have considered him exactly a compan-
ion for you.A tS
Foster started. A new fear had sud
denly broken in upon him.
Il am doing my best to carry out in
1struetions. sir" he declared. II do not
understand why you should take so
| prejudiced a view of my friend"
! 1T is, perhaps" Julien replied, be
cause / know more about-him than you
seem to. Good night!'
They walked slowly back to the gar
dens The woman was thoughtful
Il am sorry" she said that those
people came along to spoil our first
evening together. / am glad, though,
that you refused to meet the German.
All that he would have done would have
/ Deen TO Try ana MI your nina Win SuS-
picions of me- Haven't you found me
harmless? ?" a.
81 am not sure" he answered.
She laughed softly. .
"Ah met she exclaimed, 81 gave you
an opening, didn't I; and one must re-
member that of late years the men Of
your nation have established a reputa.
ton over here for gallantry. Harmless,
at least, so far as regards tearing po-
litical secrets from your bosom?'
LAS a matter of fact" Julien re-
marked there are not so many secrets
between France and England, are
there?'
Thanks in some measure to YOU" she
reminded him, You take it for granted,
l notice. that / am Frenchwoman."
! He looked at her in great surprise.
why indeed. yes! Is there any
doubt about it?'
MY mother was an American" she
told him.
Tell me your real manner" he asked
suddenly.
ION the contrary, 1 am going to beg
you not to try and discover it. Let us
remain as we are for little time You
are lonely here and you need compan-
ionship. and l am very much in the
same position. You are hater of wo-
men and I have sworn eternal enmity
against all men. We are so safe, and