Western Kansas world., 1912-05-25
SCOTT

his plain evening dress; one fold was
raised to hid his face. He dropped 1t
as he closed the door.
Mrs. Spencer lowered her book, then
arose with all the sinuous grace she
knew so well how to assume.
Welcome, your royal highness," she
said, and courtesied very low. 1t was
good of you to come
The Duke of LotZen tossed off his
cloak and, coming quickly over. took
her hand and kissed it.
1T was more than good of you to
let me come" he answered when they
were seated.
Il feared you might not get my
note" she said. Il believe | am under
constant surveillance"
He smiled. Even the secret police
would hesitate to tamper with my
mail.'' he said. ''Tell me, how did you
know me last night?''
What matters it? Particularly since
it was only because you knew me that
you spoke
You think l was searching for you 2"
he asked
Were you?'' she asked.
If l said yes. would it please you:"
Not unless / thought it true. mon
sieur, and also knew the reason
He looked at her steadily i moment.
What better reason could l have
than that you are the most beautiful
woman in Valeria?
She put her fan before her face.
Your highness' compliment is very
delicate.'' she laughed.
He hooked his hands about his knee
and leaned back.
DO you know he said, its a cry
ing shame you are married to my dear
cousin
She looked him full in the face and
smiled.
why didn't you make me a widow.
then. last night when you had the
chance?"
Lotzen shrugged his shoulders.
THE chance was all right. but the
end was bad. though you didn't stay
, to see it,
| She laughed Didn't L? 1 stayed
long enough to see your sword stick
! ing in the turf. l took that to be the
end. Was there more of it later?'
No; that was the end-for that
time
And for that particular method. 1
fancy" she said. He wields a pretty
blade. But you seem to have escaped
last night
/ He looked at her for a bit.
Are you aware, my dear. that you
are conniving at-some might call it
instigating-the death of your hus-
! band? % he asked.
! She smiled. Am I?'
1T is very extraordinary situa-
tion.'' he said, blowing ring of smoke
and watching it circle away. You
| are so tired of him; you want him
killed. He seems equally tired OF you,
and. moreover. he is determined to
marry another woman. Yet neither
of you gets a divorce. and you actual
ly follow him here. and he then actual
| ly refuses to let you depart"
| The fan kept moving slowly.
"A very extraordinary situation in
deed, your highness, as you state it"
she said.
LAS 1 state it," he echoed.
| She nodded. You have omitted the
one material fact in the case
And what is that?' he asked.
The fan stopped, and she laughed
lightly.
simply this. 1 am not Armand Dal-
| berg's wife"
Dehra reached over and took my
hand. The king looked at US both
ana HOQOeu, lQeu ClappeQ NE on lHe
| knee.
/ For a space Lotzen stared at Mrs.
| Spencer, and she smiled sweetly back
at him.
Not his wife, he calculated pres
emily.
Come. monsieur. let US be frank
with each other she said. Not only
am / not Armand Dalberg's wife. but
you have always known it"
| He frowned My dear girl he said.
| I've been sorrowfully accepting your
own word that you are his wife. How
should know that you've BEEN he
hesitated.
She finished it .fcr him
Lying. duke. lying" she laughed
He held up his hands protestingly.
Not at all, my dear; teasing is the
word / wanted"
She sat up sharply.
so then it was intended only as a
| joker she exclaimed. Il thought 1t
had another object
He frowned again
Il don't quite follow you.'' he said
She looked at him with a queer smile
MY being brought to yaleria to pose
| as his wife, she explained
You don't mean you came here from
America expressly for that purpose q
he asked
Her smile grew broader.
| Really, duke, you are most deli