The Marshall republican., 1913-01-10
CHAPTER xi.
The Missing Ruby,
cONnciH IN
obbtiRRRu COMPANY


rained and the house was like a set
ting hen that wouldn't get settled.
got Dorothy Abercrombie started at
the plano to liven things up bit, but
she was In an impish mood and in
sisted on playing ragtime. The bridge
players objected TO the ragtime and
the racket Lydia and Jane Bliss were
trying TO cake.walk and Mrs. Aber.
crombie was frantic. She was afraid
they would shock His Grace. would
have given anything for a dozen
mushy novels and the magazines no
one had seen. but town was miles
away and the bottom seemed to have
dropped out OF the sky. Some OF my
fiends settled at poker in the up
stairs card.room, some went TO play
billiards. but Il left others downstairs
horribly mixed and scrapping briskly.
Our poor little duke was melan.
choly figure. The detached way In
which he looked out upon the rain
told me he was lonesome: Just plain.
ordinary lonesome. even II he did hap.
pen to bc duke with n secretary.
two valets. a butler and a chauffeur.
He didn't know poker. he didn't care
for billiards. and he had asked TO bo
excused from bridge. The girls who
usually amused and pettcd him were
either hilarious or grouchy; Mrs. Cut.
Ter. who was the only one besides my.
self who could speak good French TO
him, was upstairs with a headache,
xIh hA nd al
quarreled with hlm-or that's what
everybody suspected.
had not ceased to wonder about
His Grace-where I had seen him. II
I had. and why I should remember
him; but suddenly was ashamed OF
my suspicious. that vague something
of which ] was not sure. My heart
been sure about mo and my position.
but he accepted me along with great
many other American institutions he
did not comprehend.
"Have you seen tho gallery. Your
Grace!" I asked. 'If you wish. We
can pretend the gallery 10 tho Louvre.
and the garden outside the Tuilleries.
Will you Gomez"
"Ah. mademoiselle. you are ono
great genius" he replied. "You divine
without err. have n feeling here"
--he put his hand over his heart
II have remember my beloved France.
! have what you call him over here
the big homesickncss. I have seen
the gallery. and the beautiful pictures
- kA huN n
them with madsmoiselie. VIII ma
demoiselle DO me the honorf"
He offered me his arm In his formal
way. and We started for the gallery. I
had bssn there many times and 90. I
discovered. had His Grace. but We
made . detailed tour quite from q new
point Of view. was surprised at bis
knowledge of the pictures. their his
tory. their value. We were looking at
an alien among all these old masters.
called The Lioa Hunter" By aa On.
tirely unknown American artist who
nearly starved In Paris until The late
Mr.. Hazard saw that picture and
bought Il: when suddenly thought Of
something.
The Lion Huatsr was . fair.hairsd
man With q most remarkabls facs.
wsatAsrbsatsh. broassd. the tragedy
OF life. and death and In the tense
iiass about his mouth. and . huge
scar across his cheek.
do you know the Duo d'Aublgny.
Yovr 0rsosf" I asked.
He looked at the picture again b.
fore hs answered. felt rather shsky
after the question vas out.
"Ah. madsmoisslls." hs replied. "ths
mark he bears II not the claw Of .
lion such a. you ses in The picture.
hut saber cut most ignominious. one
scandal. He IL my friend. I am
ashamed for him." And whom tried
TO look surprised: "Malemoissils. you
have not hsardf He 10 . thief"
"A theft" I echoed. to gather my
senses and wonder what I would say
next; I felt rather foolish having said
anything about the Due d'Aubigny af-
ter he answered so readily. "He is
noble. Your Grace. ! can not com.
prehend."
'Noblemen may bs thieves, madem-
oisells" He smiled. . quick. flashing
smils. then. Enthusiastically French.
hs was sad again. 1T makes my heart
ache. He was never trustworthy. but
al. he was most lovabls. h It not,
mademoisellsf
"I do not know" I replied. II do
not know him" .sa..-.. ;..,.t
r had gained nothing exospt the
knowledge that he know the Due
GAubigny, and I had saddsnsd the
Door little duke By ne mention Of an
errlng friend. hastily spoke Of 9th
o. things. the pictures. places We both
knew and loved in his shelovsd France.
We were there an hour, much to my
sSnasemsnt. . long,, most intsresting
Hour. and I wondered that I'd ever
hen guilty Of suspectng him Of any.
thing but being q splendid little
French duke who couldn't help II II
- had IN ancient title. and all the