Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-25
CHAPTER K.
The Goddess Of Chance.

If you have ever had to walk uncon-
cernedly into the crowded vestibule Of a
fashionable hotel. not knowing at what
moment you might be identified and ar
rested as a notorious criminal. you will,
no doubt, understand, and, perhaps. SYM
pathize with Slyne's state of mind as he
entered the Hotel de Paris. II not. you
can, at least, imagine how he felt as he
made his way through the throng to-
ward the bureau. grimly conscious OF
every inquisitive glance
There was little enough to shield him
from immediate detection. beyond the
flight Of time and the facts that he had
been wearing beard and living under a
French alias-or, as he would have pre-
ferred to put it, incOgnito-when, only q
season or two before, he had earned such
undesired and undesirable distinction
throughout the Cote d'Azur. And he
knew very well what his fate would be II
he were recognized.
He was very devoutly thankful, there.
fore, when, having safely run the gantlet
of all those argus eyes which had seemed
to be searching his by the way. he found
himself installed in an ornate apartment
vacated only that morning by a grand
duke.
II can't afford to do things by halves
now!' he had reflected. struggling his
shoulders, as he had agreed with the
manager. who happened to be on the spot
that the suite in question would probably
serve his turn. And even the manager
had been impressed by his manner-and
his fine car.
$50 far. so good, Them said Slyne to
himself with a somewhat nervous gri-
mace as he crossed to the window of his
sitting room and looked out over the
moonlit bay. after tossing his keys to a
valet with a curt order to lose no time
And now-I must go on as I've begun
But I can't help wishing / were well
through with it all. didn't half like the
way that clerk watched me- with his
mouth wide open-and I knew him all
right!'
No one could have appeared more care
free. however, than he when an hour
later he left his dressing room ready to
face-and outface-the detective talent he
still must meet. and sauntered very much
at his leisure, a cigarette between his
tight lips, in the direction of the table
d'hote.
Seems pretty dull here" he comment
ed after an Indifferent inspection Of the
elaborate company there. I've a good
mind to go on to Ciro's and find out II
they've forgotten my face by now, too.
I won't have any peace of mind until I've
been all round the old place." In pursuit
Of which bold policy he sent a page for
his coat and hat. and stood displaying
himself to the general public till they
arrived.
He found Ciro's well filled when he
strolled In, taking with perfect outward
calm the risk that he might be remem-
bered there. But no hostile glance met
his rowing eye as he entered the restau-
rant. He was obsequiously received by
an observant head waiter, and shown to
a table which suited his immediate needs
to a nicely.
Among. the more ebullient gathering in
that gay resort he could discover no cause
for alarm. And no one took any special
notice of him until among some still later
Corners he noticed a haggardly handsome
woman, in q gown so scant that she
might well have been glad Of the great
bunch Of camellias she wore at her