The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-04-25
Pitch and Toss.
~HE following morning l cabled
detective agency In New
/ York giving il all the ma

loIk, giving IL all tue MA
= terial facts in the case and re-
Questing it to make an exhaustive
investigation of the movements of
Madeline Spencer during the period
Intervening between my confirmation
ss an archduke and her sailing for
Europe. told it l required evidence
promptly to disprove the marriage and
gave ii carte blanche in its gathering.
About noon Bernheim came in with
q card in his fingers and a queer smile
about his firm set lips.
took the card
II didn't dare to dismiss her with
out your direct ORDERS" said my aid.
As she well knew"
And as she had the effrontery to
tell me-" he added.
l laughed. And did it very pretti-
ly, too. III wager" i can't imagine
what she wants. but you may admit
her. Stay moment. Could you
manage to overhear the conversa-
tion:'
"Only by leaving the door ajar''
well. do what you can l said.
l was curious by what name he
would announce The lady. but he used
none. He simply swung back the
door and spoke into the outer room:
Madame. his royal highness will
receive you"
You are most kind. Colonel Bern
helm,' she said in her sweetest tones
as she passed him. II owe you many
thanks"
You owe me none. madame" was
the rather gruff answer.
Then he went out and closed the
door with altogether unnecessary
vigor.
She turned and looked after him.
What great bear he is. Armand"
she said. with a confidential air.
l stifrened You wish to see me,
Mrs. Spencery' l said.
She laughed. "Still denying me, are
you" she rippled, land even In your
own private otiice?"
"Is 1t possible, madame. that here,
alone with me. you still have the ef-
frontery to maintain you are my wife?'
l said.
And do you, sir, here, alone with
me, still have the effrontery to main
tain that l am not your wifeY she
asked.
Its not necessary" said I, "for you
know 1t quite as well as do"
She shrugged her shoulders. You're
a good bit Of brute, Armand"
And you're a. l began quickly,
then stopped.
Yes" she infected. II am a.
Il leave the blank to your own fll-
Ing" said with bow.
She laughed gayly. do you know
you have played this scene very nicely,
my DEAR" she said. "If Colonel Bern
helm has CHANGED to stay close enough
to the door he so neatly slammed MAR
he has heard all that we have said,
though whether 1t was by your order
or due to his own curiosity l, OF course
do not know. Either way, however
you scored with him"
I was SO sure that Bernheim would
now be far enough away from the door
that reached across and flung it back.
The anteroom was empty. and
through its open doorway we could see
Bernheim and Moore coming slowly
down the corridor, twenty feet away.
But she only laughed again.
(which simply proves Colonel Bern
helms wonderful agility" she said
"He must be most valuable aid"
closed the door.
II take it we may assume that you
did not seek admission to me for the
sole pleasure Of looking at meT said.
quite right, Armand, though there
was a time, and not 30 long ago, when
we both were more than glad to look at
each other. And maybe have not
changed" And she leaned forward
and smiled with the frankness of a
sweet faced child.
made a gesture Of repugnance.
For heavens sake, madame. lay
aside this simulated sentiment and be
good enough to come to the point"
1.-THE point? The point?" she replied
sbsently. "True. was forgetting. The
sight Of you, dear, always stirs me So
1 came here very angry with you. and
now l have almost forgiven you"
l put my finger on the electric but
ton, and Colonel Moore responded.
Mrs. Spencer desires her carriage"
I said.
She gave him one Of her sweetest
smiles. then arose.
"And your royal highness does not
wish to hear my particular errand?"
she said.
mo more than before you entered"
I replied.
"1ntruded, you mean"
Possibly that would be more &C.
curate," admitted.
She gave sarcastic laugh.
"Your royalty seems to have been
fatal to your courtesy"
1--WE but waste each others time,
Mrs. Spencer" l answered curtly.
81 may be very stupid, Armand" she
said but l cannot understand why, II
my presence in Dornlitz is so annoy
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