The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-03-27
CHAPTER w.
Continued.


AS Miss Reynler swept forward
With outstretched hand TO greet the
newcomers, Van Camp fixed his eyes
on his hostess with mingled express
sloL Of masculine rage and submits
sion. Whether he thought her too
cordial toward the other men or too
cool toward himself. was not appar-
ent Presently he too. was shaking
hands with the visitors, who were
evidently old friends OF the house.
Madame Reynier. the aunt of made
moiselle. was summoned. and Van
Camp was marooned on "A sofa with
Lloyd-Jones, who was just In from
the West Aleck found himself listen
ing TO an interminable talk about
copper veins and silver veins, n new
kind OF assaying instrument, aud the
Goo6 luck attendant upon the open
ing OF. Lloyd-Jones' new mine. the
Liza Lu.
Aleck was the essence OF courtesy
10 everything except sham, and was
able TO indicate mild interest in Mr..
l-loyd-Jones' mining affairs. IL was
sufficient. Lloyd-Jones turned side
wise on his end of the sofa, spread
out plump. gesticulating hands, and
poured upon him an eloquent torrent
of tact, speculation and high-spirited
enthusiasm concerning Idaho in gen
eral and the future OF the Liza La in
particular. More than that. by and by
his cheerful halfImpudent manner
threatened TO turn poetic.
It's great, living in the open out
there -went-on,- by this time in
Guiding the whole company in his
exordium. You ride, or tramp, or
dig rock all day; and at night you lie
down under the clear stars, thankful
for your blanket and your rock-bed
and your campfire; and more than
thankful II there's bit OF running
water near by It's great life
Miss Reynier listened to him with
ewes that were alternately puzzled
and appreciative. Ii was a discourse
that would have seemed TO her much
more natural coming from Aleck Van
Camp: but then, Mr.. Van Camp really
did the thing-that sort of thing-and
he rarely talked about It. 1t had
probably been Mr.. Lloyd-Jones first
essay in the world out Of reach of his
valet and club cocktail: and he was
consequently impressed with his
achievement. 1t was evident that Miss
| Reynier and the amateur miner were
on friendly terms, though Aleck mad
no; seen or heard OF him before. lie
thad hobnobbed with Mr.. Chamberlain
| in London and on more than one
scientific jaunt. The slightest flicker
of jealous resentment cleaned In
Alexis eyes, but his speech was as
slow and precise as ever.
! Il was just trying to convince Miss
Reynier that outdoor life has It's
| peculiar Joys" he said. Il was ever
now suggesting that she should dig
though not for silver. Does Mr.. Lloyd
Jones lucre seem more alluring thar
ny little wriggly beasts, Miss Rey
nier?"
IL Aleck meant this speech for a
trap TO force the young woman TO in
dictate preference, the trick failed
as IL deserved TO fail. Miss Rey
/ nier was able to play waiting game
Il couldn't endure either your mines
or your mudpuddles You are both
absurd, and | don't understand how
you ever get recruits for your hobbies
But come over and see this new en-
craving. Mr.. Jones; it's an old-fash
toned picture of your beloved Rhine
Aleck, thus liberated from Mr
Lloyd-Jones and his mines, made his
way across the room TO Madame Rey
nier The cunning of old Adam was
I in his eye, but otherwise he was the
picture of deferential innocence.
| Madame Reynier liked Aleck, with
his inoffensive Americanisms and un
! falling kindness; and with her
! friends she was frankness itself
With two men ON Miss Reynier's
hands for entertainment. 1t seemed Ia
Aleck unlikely that either one could
make any alarming progress. Besides
he was glad of tete-a-tete with, the
chaperone,
Madame Reynier was tan, straight
| woman, elderly, dressed entirely IN
black, with gaunt, aristocratic features
and great directness of speech. She
4 had the fine kind of hauteur which
| forbids persons of this type ever &c
speak OF money, of disease, of scan
! dali or too intimate personalities In
Madame Reyniers case 1t also re
strained her from every sort OF ex
aggerated speech. She spoke English
Van Camp seated himself on a
! spindle-legged, gilt chair by Madame
keyD:ef's side, and begged to know
row they were enduring the New
York climate. which had formerly
proved intolerabe to Madame Rey'
nfer. Az he seated himself she
stretched out saving hands.
81 can endure the climate. thank
YOU: but | can't endure to see your