Evening star., 1912-09-26
CHAPTER XVII-Contiuned.

CHAPTER XVII-Contiuned.
much explaining and long conversations
with his Office. with his associates and
with police headquarters. where his
plight was regarded as great joke. This
was all very well. but there were other
and unforeseen consequences.
Bernie Dreux heard of the affair with
blank amaZement, which turned into
something resembling rage. His duty,
however, was plain He packed a valise
and set out for the quarantined house
like man marching to his execution;
for he had deadly horror of disease,
and smallpox was beyond compare the
most loathsome.
But the health depaI tment had given
strict orders and he was turned away;
nay, he was rudely repulsed. Crushed.
Inundated. he retired to his club, ana
there it was that Rileau found him,
stepped in melancholy and a very insidi-
GUS brand of kentucky bourbon.
When lie Compte accused Blake OF
breaking the rules of the game the little
bachelor rose resolutely to his sister S
defense.
'Norvins got a perfect right to protect
her; he lied and / honor him for 1t.
You mean he's engaged to herr" Ril-
leau inquired. blankly.
Bernie nodded.
well. so am 1, so are Delavan and
Marigny and the others
flush deepened. "He thought she was in
danger. so he flew to her side. Mighty
unselfish to sacrifice his business and
brave the disease. He did it with my
consent. understand? When he asked
me. I said 'Norvin, my boy, she needs
your So he went Unselfish is no word
for it, he's a man of honor a hero"
Mr.. Rilleaus gloom thckened and he.
too, ordered the famous bourbon. He
sighed.
fered to- and I'm no hero. l suppose
that ends us. It's a great disappoint-
ment, though. I hoped-during carnival
week. that she'd-well, l wanted her for
my real queen.
Bernie undertook to clap the speaker
on the shoulder and admonish him to
buck up, but his eye was wavering and
his aim SO uncertain that he knocked off
Mr.. Rilleaus hat. With due apologies
he ran on:
''She couldn't have been queen at all
only for him. He made it possible"
did"
Bernie whisper ID: ''He lent me the
money understand? 1t was all right,
under the circumstances, everything be-
y
Rilleau rose at last. saying: YOUR
all to be congratulated. He is the best
fellow in New Orleans, and there's only
one man I'd rather see your sister marry
than him-thats me. Now. I'm going to
select present before the rush COM
mences. What would you think of an
onyx clock with gold cupids straddling
around over it?"
Fine; I'm sorry. old mani like you.
y understand" Bernie upset his chair
in rising to embrace his friend, then,
catching sight of August Kuhn, who en-
tered at the moment, he made his way
to him and repeated his explanations.
Mr. Kuhn was silent, attentive, de-
spairing and spoke vaguely of suicide.
whereupon DreuX set himself to the task
of drowning his Teutonic instinct in the
flowing bowl.
Il don't know what has happened to
the boys" Myra Nell complained to Nor
vim the second day after his arrival. lie
Compile was going to read me the 'Ru-
baiyat,' and Raymond Cline promised me
a bunch of orchids, but nobody has
shown up"
Its jealousy he said, lightly.
Il suppose SO. OF course, it was nice
of you to compromise me this way-it's
delicious, in fact-but l didn't think it
would scare off the others
You think l have compromised you?"
"You know you have. terribly. I'm en-
gagged to all of them, everybody. in fact.
except you
"But they know my presence here is
.'Oh. Is it. really?" She laughed.
Don't you believe it is?''
Goodness. Don't spoil all my pleas
ure. If ever | saw two cringing, self
conscious criminals, it's you and Papa
Montegut. Men are SO deceitful Heigh
no, l thought this was going to be splen-
did, but you play cards all day with Mr.
La Branche while 1 die of loneliness
What would you like me to do?' he
faltered.
Il don't know. It's very dull. Couldn't
you sally forth and drag in LIE Compte or
or Raymond?' She looked up
with eyes beaming. Bernie was furious
wasn't he?"
Mr.. La Branche came trotting in with
the evening newspaper in his hand. Its
in the paper," he chuckled. Those re-
porters get everything"
Whats in the paper?" Myra Nell
snatched the sheet from his hand, and
read eagerly as he went trotting out
step. ooh, Lordy!'
Blake read over her shoulder and his
face flushed.
''Norvin, were really. truly engaged
now. See" After pause, And you've
never even asked me-
There was only one thing to say.
'.Myra Nell" he began, Il want you
will you-'
'Oh, you goose; you're not taking a
cold shower!
''Will you do me the honor to be my
wife,
She burst into delightful laughter $50,
you actually have the courage to pro-
pose? Shall ] take time to think it
over or shall L answer now?'
Now. by all means"
Very we'll. of course won't
'Why not?" he exclaimed, with a start
''The idea! You don't mean it.
81 do
"Why, Norvin, you're old enough to be
ny father
'Oh, no I'm not
do you think I could marry a man
with gray hair
1T all gets gray after WHILE
mo. I'll be engaged to you, but I'll
never marry any one, never. That would
spoil all the fun. This very thing shows
now stupid it must be; the mere rumor
has scared the others away
you're a Mormon
I'm not. I'll tell you what I'll do: if
ever marry any one, I'll marry YOU"
That's altogether too indefinite"
II don't see it. Meanwhile, we're en-
gagged. aren't we?'
IF that's the case he reached .un-
certainly for her hand and pressed it. |
lin very happy.'
She waited an instant, watching him
shyly, then said, Now i must show this
% Vittoria: But-please don't look SO
frightened |
The next instant she was gone When
Miss Fabrizi entered her room a half |
lour later it was to find her with eyes
ed from weeping.
AS for Norvin, he had risen to the oc-
,asion as best he could. He loved Myra |