The Red Cloud chief., 1912-12-05
MILDRED IN VENICE
Did Things Not Strictly In Ac.
cordance With Matters Gen.
eraI Principles.
BY iZoLA FORESTER.

said 1t would be decidedly outre.
otherwise not In accordance to the
matters general principles, and you
mustn't do it,
Mildred turned from the lofty EN-
brasured window with a sudden dis
tate for the Grand canal. and It's
businesslike gondolas. They had been
In Venice two weeks. and already her
very heart strings twanged song OF
home longing. Seth regarded her
placidly. The family knew that only
Seth could adequately take care OF
Mildred in Venice. He was plump and
normal. and thoroughly indolent. 1t
was as II some one had tied an an
chor to gay little aeroplane, and af-
ter two weeks. the anchor was surely
dragging. Even Seth realized that
much.
when will mother get here?" She
did not wait for the answer. Not
until next Thursday, you know she
won't. Seth Turner. And tomorrow's
Thanksgiving. DO you suppose that
am going to sit around this decayed.
mOldy. miserable, dismal old palace
with you and eat oily Italian messes
on Thanksgiving day. Well, won't.
TO you understand. l won't do It,"
He won't have any turkey, child"
murmured Seth. kindly. Hes only
poor devil of an architect trying to
swallow all of Europe on about fifty
per-
"I'd rather be that than doing Eu.
rope as a girl bodyguard."
''Strike!" grinned Seth. sitting up.
why not? Lord knows you need a
bodyguard. Anyone who wants my
Job can have It,"
Seth! think brothers are awful
ly fussy."
They're the down.trodden Of the
sarth."
Wont you go over now and call
On him? His blinds are up"
You ought to be ashamed Of your
self for watching his blinds. I'm not
going"
*Don't. I'll invite him myself. then.
out I'm going to eat the nearest ap-
proach to turkey can find tomorrow.
and have Carl Devereaux for dinner.
and If you don't like 1t, you may 60
and stun table d'hote trash with the
5pencers'
Here goes me-" groaned Seth.
"What'l tell him?"
Tell him We are Americans, and
lonely. and we want him to come over
and talk home things"
The door closed noisily after Seth
Mildred waited moment, holding hes
breath at her own temerity; then
laughed and returned to the window
overlooking the canal. It was sunset
Half way down the old palace who're
they had secured rooms. was Carl
Oevereaux's studio. The blinds were
up. And while she stood there, he
came to the window. and lounged up
on the broad sill. smoking. and watch
Ing the bank Of red and purple clouds
piled UP behind the somber old sky
line out towards the islands.
Seths gondola was near there. Sud
denly Mildred saw q figure of man
outlined for a moment behind Deve
reaux. The next instant the body Of
I the architect pitched downward from
the window into the waters Of the
canal. Her clear shrek clipped the
nir like bullet, but Seth. lazy, easy
going Seth, was already on his feet
his coat half of. He slipped into the
water like a seal.
"He didn't rise because there are
stone steps there, and at high tide
they're covered. The devil knew 1t
TOO. and figured on his head striking
them" Seth spoke in a low tone. Or
the couch in his room lay Devereaux
two English doctors working ovel
him. well keep him here. II yor
don't mind. Millie. American. yor
know, and all that. I'm going tC
stand BY"
And how you scolded an hour ago
You old dear thing. Did they get the
fell0w?"
Seth shook his head
They'll get him at the wharfs
He's Sicilian. He cheated Devereau,
yesterday In o deal over boat fare
and got punched. They don't under
stand punch here. He was gettini
even. that's all. The doctors -!
he'll be laid up for couple Of weeks
and I'm going to see him through
He's one of my frat men. Beat mi
out Of Harvard by four years. Seems
nice sort"
Seth was frowning. and talking II
q deep voice, az he always did whel
he was covering any Of his own de
linouencies. But Mildred smiled, look
ing over at the head on the couch pill
low. It meant something to thil
stranger to have Seth Turner for ,
frat" pal. The doctors were leaving
While Seth talked to them in the yes
thule, she leaned over the face on tn,
pillow. He had turned In falling
from the window and had struck th'
stone steps ON his shoulder. throwing
IL nut of ioinf and hruiainR hia WhnlI