Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-11-15
CHAPTER .XX.-contInued.

A moment later. Buford entered,
smiling. almost patroniZingly urbane
and benign. He was dressed with a
rich and careful elegance which gave
him a somewhat dandified air After
bestowing upon Dominick greetings
that sounded as unctuous as a bene-
diction he took his seat at the end of
the coy corner facing the door which
led into the hall. From here he looked
at the young man with a close, atten-
tive scrutiny, very friendly and yet
holding, under its enfolding blandness,
something of absence, of inattention,
as though his mind were not in the
intimate customary connection with
the words that issued from his lips.
This suggestion Of absence deepened.
showed more plainly in an eye that
wandered to the door, or, as Dominick
spoke, fell TO the carpet and remained
there, hidden by a down-drawn bush
Of eyebrow. Dominick was in the
middle of a query as to the continued
success OF the "Klondike Monologue"
when the actor raised his head and
said politely, but with a politeness
that contained a note OF haste and
eagerness beneath It:
rs Madame at homer"
mo, she's not at home" said Mad
ame's husband But she may be in
any moment now. She generally goes
out for the afternoon and gets back
about this time"
Perhaps you can tell me-" said Blu
ford, looking sidewise at his gloves
and cane as they lay on the end of
the divan, 'who-you1l pardon my
seeming curiosity, but I'll explain II
presently-who was the lady that
came in here last night at about half
past seven?"
He looked up and Dominick was
suddenly aware that his face was
charged with the tensest, the most
vital interest. Thrust forward, II
showed a hungriness of anticipation
that was almost passionate. The young
man was not only surprised at the
expression but at the question.
Il haven't an idea," he said. 81
wasn't at home to dinner last night.
and didn't get in till late. Why do
you want to know?"
'Aor many reasons, or for one, per-
haps-for one exceedingly important
reason"
He paused. his eyes again turned
slantingly on the stick and gloves, his
lips tight-pressed, one against the
other.
- How did you know any woman
came in here last night at that hour?
Did you come up to CALF" asked Dom
mick.
e., Mono" the other spoke with
quick impatience evidently from the
surface OF his mind. mo, 1t was-at
first. anyway-purely accidental.
saw the woman-and-and-
! saw her enter here. Mr. Ryan," he
said suddenly, looking at his vis-a-vis
with piercing .directness and spea king
with an intensity of urgency that was
almost command, "can you give me-
e half IAN hour Of your time and your
full attention. / want to speak to you
of a matter, that to me, at least. is
Of great-the greatest---importance
You can help me; at least you can, |
hope, throw some light on what is a
dark subject. Have your permission
to talk freely to you, freely and at
length?"
Dominick, who was beginning to
feel as if he were in a play, and was
exceedingly surprised and intrigued,
nodded, remarking:
why, certainly, go on. If can be
OF any help to you or explain any
thing for you, nothing would give me
greater pleasure. Let me hear what
II is"
The actor dropped his glance to the
Moor for what seemed an anxiously-
considering moment, then he raised
his head and. looking directly at his
host. said:
You may remember that, while at
Antelope, | once spoke to you Of hav-
Ing been married-of having, in fact
been unfortunate enough to lose my
wife"
Dominick remembered, but 1t seem
ed imperfectly. for he said in q doubt