The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1912-12-25
The
Stolen
Singer
BY Martha Bellinger


life endangered on that silly chair, my
dear Mr. Van Camp. There-thank
you" And when he was seated in a
solid mahogany. he was rewarded with
Madame Reynier's confidential chat,
They had returned to their New York
apartment in the midst of the summer
season, she said. "for professional ad-
vice" She and her niece liked The
city and never minded the heat. Me
LAME. her aunt explained, had been
enabled TO see several old friends, and,
for her own part, she liked home at
any time Of the year better than the
most comfortable of hotels.
"Thls is quite like home she add
ed, "even though we are really ex-
lies" Aleck ventured to hope that
the professional advince" had not
meant serious trouble Of any sort.
"a slight indisposition only"
"And are you much better now?'
Aleck inquired solicitously.
"Oh, it wasn't /; it was Melanie,"
Madame smiled. 81 became my own
physician many years ago, and now l
never see a doctor except when we
ask one to dine. But youth has no
such advantage" Madame fairly
beamed with benevolence while ex-
planning one of her pet idiosyncrasies.
Before Aleck could make any Roadway
In cleaning information concerning
her own and Melanie's movements, as
he was shamefully trying to do, Lloyd
Jones had persuaded Miss Reynier to
sing.
Some of those quaint old things,
please" he was saying; and Aleck
wondered if he never would hang HIM
self with his own rope. But Lloyd
Jones' cheerful voice went on:
Some of those Hungarian things
are jolly and funny, even though you
can't understand the words. Makes
vou want to dance or sing yourself
Aleck groaned, but Melanie began to
sing, with Jones lowering around the
piano. BY the time Melanie had sung
everybody's favorites, excluding
Alexis. Mr.. Chamberlain rose to de-
part. He was an Englishman, a Sc
rious, heavy gentleman, very loyal to
old friends and very slow in making
new ones. He made an engagement
to dine with Aleck on the following
evening, and, as he went out, threw
back to the remaining gentlemen an
offer of seats in his machine.
81 ought TO CO." said Jones; "but if
Van Camp will stay, will. That is"
be added with belated punctiliousness,
eff the ladies will permit?'
THANK you, Chamberlain, I'm walk
ing" drawled Aleck; then turning to
the company with his cheeful grin he
stated quite impersonally: 81 was
thinking Of staying long enough to
put one questiOn-er, matter of some
little importance-to Miss Reynier.
When she gives me the desired infor-
nation, i shall go"
"Me, toe" chirped Mr.. Lloyd-Jones.
81 came expressly to talk over that
plan of building up friendly adjoining
estates out in Idaho; sort of private
shooting and hunting park you know.
And l haven't had a minute to say a
word" Jones suddenly began to feel
himself aggrieved. AS the door closed
after Chamberlain, Melanie motioned
them back to their seats.
"It's not so very late" she said cas-
fly. "Come back and make your
selves comfortable, and I'll listen to
both of you" she said with a demure
little devil in her eye. Il haven't
seen you for ages, and l don't know
when the good moment will come
again" She included the two men in
a friendly smile, waved a hand toward
the waiting chairs and adjusted a
light shawl over the shoulders Of Ma
dame Reynier.
But Alec5 by this time had the bit
in his teeth and would not be coaxed.
His ordinarily cool eye rested wrath
fully on the broad shoulders OF Mr..
Lloyd-Jones. who was lighting a CT
gazette, and he turned abruptly to
Miss Reynier. His voice was as Sc
rious as If parliament, at least, had
been hanging on his words.
"May I call tomorrow, Miss Reynier,
at about twelye?"
"Oh, I say" put in Jones, "all of you
come to luncheon with me at the Lit
tie Gray Fox-will you? Capital place
and all sorts of nice people. DO come.
About one"
Van Camp could have slain him.
81 think my proposition prior one, 7"
he remarked with logged precision;
but. OF course, Miss Reynier must
decide" He recovered his temper
enough to add, quite pleasantly, con-
sidering the circumstances, unless
Madame Reynier will take my part?'
turning TO the older woman.
"Oh, no, not fair" shouted Jones.
MADAME Reynier's always on my
side. Aren't you, Madame?"
Madame Reynier smiled inscrutably.
I'm always on the side of virtue in
Distress" she said
That's me. then. isn't It? The way