The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-10-07


urally. blond strangers would be In
demand The complications that
Would follow his own arrest were not
TO be ignored. He agreed with his
conscience that he had not acted with
dignity in forcing his way into her
apartment. But that night he had
been at odds with convention his spirit
had been that OF the marauding old
Dutchman OF the seventeenth century
He perfectly well knew that she was
In the right as far as the pistol-shot
was concerned. Further, he knew
that he could quash any charge she
might make in that direction by the
simplest Of declarations she would
prefer silence above all things. They
knew each other tolerably well.
1t was extremely fortunate that he
had not been to the hotel since Sat
! urday. He went directly to the war
ONCE. The great and powerful man
there was the only hope left. They
had met some years before in Algiers,
where Courtlandt had rendered him
very real service.
Il did not expect you to the min
ute." the great man said pleasantly,
You will not mind waiting for a few
minutes
Not In the least. Only. I'm in q
deuce Of mess frankly and directly.
'lnnocently enough. I've stuck my
head into the police net"
Is 1t possible that now | can pay
my debt to you?"
Such as 1t is. Have you read the
article In the newspapers regarding
the disappearance OF Signorina da
TOscana, the singer"
Yes"
Il am the unknown blond. Tomor.
row morning ! want you to 60 with
me to the prefecture and state that I
was with you all Of Saturday and Sun
day; that on Monday you and your
wife dined with me. that yesterday we
went TO the aviation meet, and later
to the O6eop"
In brief. an alibi?" smiling now.
"Exactly. l shall need one
And perfectly good alibi. But I
have your word that you are In no
wise concerned? Pardon the question
but between US 1t Is really necessary
II am to be of service to you"
ON my word as gentleman"
That Is sunicient."
In fact, do not believe that she
has been abducted at ALL VIII you
let me use your pad and pen for .
minute?"
The other pushed over the required
articles. Courtlandt scrawled q few
words and passed back the pad.
For me to read?"
YES" moodily.
The Frenchman- read. Courtlandt
watched him anxiously. There was
mot even 4 flicker OF surprise In the
Of4ciAl eye. Calmly he ripped OF the
sheet and tore II into bits. distribute
ING the pieces into the various waste
baskets yawnfng about his long nat
|44ok Next, still avoiding the young
ysSAARs eye. he arranged hls papers
[4f4SH Ina locked Them, Nd " : hue
- AwwhtsA enays the eTtjll Of -
6stmAM army could have forced. He
4GR. cslled for his hat and stick.
|51s~becksned~%0 0Uu1tlaadt TO follow.
|Npr 1.wdfd wH 4aid' until The Oar
49, -humning on .tAe road ~ VIM
|c&4nos. 49, = s~@'--, -s'-
EtMxlI?" said Courtlandt, anally.s It
- not possible for hiM 20 hold hack
nv Qpe9t3up Gffy lonSer. IL. =. -
q Ny dear blend Il am talIinl you
.0qt 70 the vills for tho.n1Eht.s t1.y-''..-''
!. But ] have nothing =. :" Il.
And I have ,sverythins, even fore
sight II you were arrested tonight Il
would cause you some Inconvenience.
I am hfty-six. some twenty years your
senior. Under this hat Of mine I
carry thousand secrets, and every
one Of these thousand must 70 to the
grave with me. yours along with them.
have met you q dozen times tince
those Algerian days, and never have
you failed to AFFORD me some amuso-
ment or excitement. You are the
most interesting and entertaining
young man I know. Try one Of these
cigars"
Precisely at the time Courtlandt
stepped into the automobile outside
the war-ofice. q scene. peculiar In
but inconspicuous In that
1t did not attract attention, was en-
acted In the Care de rEst. Two 90
ber-visaged men stood respectfully
aside to permit q tall young man IN
q Bavarian hat to enter q compArt-
ment of the second-class. What could
be seen OF the young mans face WAS
full Of smothered wrath and disap-
pointment. How he hated himself, for
his weakness, for his cowardice. He
was not all bad. Knowing that he was
being watched and followed, he could
not 20 to Versailles and compromise
her, uselessly. And devil take the
sleek demon Of a woman who had
prompted him to commit so base an
act.
You will at least" he said, "deiiv-
er that message which have intrust-
ed to your care"
1t shall reach Versailles tonight,
your Highness."
The young man reread the telegram
which one Of the two men had given
him q moment since. II was q COM
mand which even he, wilful and DISC
bedient as he was, dared not ignore.
He ripped Ii into shreds and flung
them out of the window. He did not
apologize to the man into whose face
the pieces flew. That gentleman red
dened perceptibly. but he held his
tongue. The blare OF horn announc-
ed the time OF departure. The train
moved. The two men on the platform
saluted, but the young man ignored
the salutation. Not until the rear
car disappeared In the hazy distance.
did the watchers stir Then they left
the station and got into the tonneau
OF touring-car. which shot away and
did not stop until II drew up before
that imposing embassy upon which
the French will always look with more
or less suspicion.