Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-05-23
SCOTT

as he closed the door
1 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. ut was
good of you to come
The Duke of Lotzen tossed off his
cloak and, coming quickly over, took
her hand and kissed it.
cit was more than good of you to
let me come" he answered when they
were seated.
II feared you might not get my
note" she said. II believe am under
constant surveillance"
He smiled. "Even the secret police
would hesitate to tamper with my
mail" he said '"rell 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 was searching for your
he asked.
| Were your she asked.
"lf | said yes, would it please your
mot unless l thought it true, mon
sieur, and also knew the reason"
He looked at her steadily 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
Fdelicate," 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 widow,
then, last night when you had the
chance?"
Lotzen shrugged his shoulders
1.-The chance was all right, but the
end was bad, though you didn't stay
to see it."
| She laughed. Didn't L? I 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?"
mo; that was the end-for that
a time.'
and for that particular method, l
fancy she said. HE Yields 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 II
instigating-the death of your hus.
band" he asked.
She smiled. Am n"
at is very extraordinary situa.
tion," lie said, blowing ring of smoke
and watching it circle away. "You
4 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 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, y
she said.
CAS- state it," he echoed.
She nodded. You have omitted the
one material fact in the case
"And what is that!" ne asked
The fan stopped. and she laughed
lightly.
simply this, am not Armand Dali
berg's wife,
Dehra reached over and took my
hand. The king looked at us both
and nodded, then clapped me on the
knee.
For space Lotzen stared at Mrs
Spencer, and she smiled sweetly back
at him.
i mot his wife, he CALCULATED pres.
emily.
Come. monsieur. let us be frank
with each other she said. mot only
am I not Armand Dalberg's wife, but
you have always known it,
II He frowned. My dear girl he said
"I've been sorrowfuIly, accepting your
own word that you are his wife. How
should know that you've BEEN he
hesitated.
She finished it for him.
Lying. duke. lying 8 she laughed.
He held up his hands protestngly.
Not at all, my dear; teasing is the
Z word wanted"
]. She sat up sharply.
I so then it was intended only as a
] joke?" she exclaimed II thought Il
! had another object
lie frownel again.
II don't quite follow YOU he said.
q She locked at him withsa queer smile
My being brought to yaieri;l to pose
rs his wife. she explnined. M
q .You don't mean you came here from
America expressly Cor that purpose =
N he asked.
unp . mile yv,x - 49, i -. IN