The Red Cloud chief., 1913-01-23


against the former, and gave rise to
ugly presumptions. am. however. AZ
you know, a pretty good reader Of
character, and I dni not believe the
count capable Of viilany. There re-
mained the countess, with whom dur.
ing my stay at the hotel had not ex-
changed half a dozen words DO you
remember my three days absenceT
Yes; I guessed you had gone to
Paris"
You guessed right. arrived there
in the early morning. and two hours
later knew that the countess father.
a broken.down absinthe-drinker, was
clerk to q money.changer and money.
lender i'm the boulevard st. Martin,
who was once seriously compromised
in case OF stolen bonds. | took q
cab, and slowly drove past the place.
when | saw our friend with the shaw
en- upper lip emerge from the Office. .
small travelling bag in his hand. and
jump on a bus. His name. ! was told
at the hotel, is I,allu. I did not hesi-
tate second. had seen through the
window that the principals private
room at the back was empty, and that
in the Office were only young man
behind "A desk and a girl at type
writer. went in and asked for M.
s.. the countess father
"'lle has left u.s. said the clerk.
Returning to tho station. saw
Ballu on the platform. and. unseen by
him. we both arrived at the hotel at
tho same time.
81 had already noticed that although
Ballu and the countess never ex-
changed word when others were
present. their eyes often met, and
when on the night of my return We
sat down at the table d'hote hardly
perceptible sign passed between them.
Keeping them both well In sight, I
saw Ballu at 3 o'clock stroll toward
the end Of the garden. He disappeared
In the darkness. but l felt sure he
had gone to the little summer-house
facing the tennis-lawn.
II soon arrived at the back Of the
little wooden structure. and felt re-
lieved when I heard some one move
inside. Half an hour later there came
light step. It was the countess
Their conversation. carried on In
whispers. did not last many minutes.
Ballu's voice sounded hard. almost
threatening. while that Of the countess
was imploring. Although I could not
catch every word they said. heard
quite enough to be able to reconstruct
the whole case. The moment TO act
had arrived.
The following morning as the
countess crossed the hall walked up
10 her and said:
"'Please go to the library. want
to speak to you at once
"She gave me look Of surprise and
fear. and entered tho room.
Madame ] said. to you and You
alone I will dlvulge who ! am. am
NJ. Goron. chief Of the Paris detective
force. My object 10 to help you. I
know your father has appropriated
or is accused OF having done So
money belonging to his employer. N.
H. know you wanted to save
him. and. not having the ready cash.
you handed to M. H. through his
understudy, M. Ballu, your pearl neck.
lace as security. In order to do this
you have-probably at this mans sug.
gestion-made It appear you had been
robbed. M. H, being afraid to dis
pose Of the pearls. is now pressing you
to redeem them. and for larger sum
than your father owes him. Am
right?"
"The poor lady sat motionless. Her
very lips had turned white.
"'Fear nothing continued: I am
here to save you. But you must prom
ise to follow my instructions implicit.
ly. VIII your
"'Yes,' she whispered.
"'Very we'll. Can you invent rea-
son that will satisfy your husband
why you should go to Paris. return
ing the following day?'
she nodded.
"'Then leave tomorrow early by the
express. having first wired to M.
H to make an appointment at his
Office. Go there straight. Tell him
you have seen me-letting him, Of
course, think I am In Paris-and that
you have come to me for advice. Ex-
plain that you know from me that his
attitude toward you places him in .
serious position. from which he can
extricate himself in one way only.
Having agreed to let you refund him
the money due to him by your father
always supposing that story to be
true-he must at once return you the
necklace. on your promise to pay him
a fixed sum on account every month.
You can manage that. can you not?'
eyes. NJ. Goron.' she said, putting
her hand on mine, I will
"'Hush! Don't pronounce my name
Should that fellow II make any
fuss. you can tell him he will soon
i haar &r0I,a InaN