The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-05-04

conducted for me by Courtney's secret
agents yield anything more satisfacto-
~. Nevertheless l was none the less
positive that there had been some sort
Of communication between Madeline
Spencer in America and the Duke of
Lotzen In valeria in response to which
she was here.
So II seemed Courtney was correct.
as usual. He had predicted that moth
ing would be found by the detectives.
There seemed to be nothing but to cul-
tivate patience and settle down to walt
for some one to blunder or for the lady
to get tired of her enforced residence in
Dornlitz and begin to get restless and
do something which would give us a
clew to work on.
She had retained her apartments at
the Hotel Metzen-the management
having, however, addressed me al to
my pleasure in the matter-and at least
once every day she had sought to pass
some one of the city gates. and when
refused would then demand exit as the
wife of the Grand Duke Armand.
She drove and rode and walked about
the town the cynosure Of all eyes, and
some OF them of admiring men. who
would have been very ready. doubtless,
to start u Irritation. both for their own
pleasure and in the hope Of gaining my
good will by discrediting her. But she
would have none Of them and vent her
way with the serene blindness Of an
honest woman.
OF course / pointedly ignored her
when we CHANGED to pass each other.
but 1t had no effect. for the next tins
her greeting was only the more effu-
sively intimate. Naturally the people
stared. The whole situation was in
tensely irritating and growing more
so every day, and my patience.
long at best. must have been a trihe
uncertain for those around me.
was n bit lonely too. The king was
in the north, and the princess was with
/ happened to know, though under
stood he had now left them and was
returning TO Dornlitz. l wished him a
long Journey and n slow one.
His suave courtesy was becoming
unbearable. and my sorest trial vas to
receive it calmly and TO meet it in
kind. Truly. If he lad found n bril-
liant leading woman in Madeline Spen-
Ger. he had an equally brilliant leading
man in himself.
was no possible match for him.
and l could feel the sneer behind his
smile. | wanted to give him a good
body beating. and | was sure he knew
1t and that 1t only amused him.
He must have fancied | wished him
a long absence. for he returned with
astonishing promptness. | saw him
the next afternoon in the officers club.
and our greeting was almost ELUSIVE.
"Ill ride over to headquarters with
you" he said.
I'm walking" | answered.
Good. I'll walk. too" he replied.
So we set out. the orderly following
with 'fhe dukes horse.
When we reached headquarters I
suggested that he come up to my office
and smoke n cigar. | thought he
would decline. Blu there | erred.
Thanks" said he; I'll join you as
soon rs I've registered and he turned
down the corridor toward the adjutant
generals office.
On my desk was q wire from the
princess. She and the king would
reach Dornlitz the next morning. and
! was expected to lunch at the pal
ace. i dispatched an answer that
would meet the royal train EN- route
and thought of Lotzen with indiffer-
ence almost.
When he came I vas going through
a batch of papers which had just been
brought in for my signature.
Don't let me disturb you." he said
heartily. Finish the miserable red
tape"
nodded.
He chose a cigar and, having lighted
it with the careful attention he seem
ed to give to the smallest matters, he
sauntered to the window that over
looked the avenue.
Presently he glanced around at me.
! signed the last of the papers. push
ed them aside and arose.
as oPtbNSA AZ oDOoN " PeoSs dC
said.
Il trust So" said l. I'm sure I've
no desire for her to stop"
Then suddenly be frowned and made
a short bow.
"She had the impudence to speak to
me-" he said. "She must be u most
extraordinary woman"
| shrugged my shoulders.
yet. what | can't understand is
what she hopes to gain by m~asquerad-
ing here as your Wife"
looked Mt him and waited. He was
steering into strange waters, it seemed
to me.
NOW, II she had done Ii in Paris or
Vienna or any place outside of Va
~leria," he went on, lone could see the