The Mena weekly star., 1913-07-10

TOTS confronting woman, so madame sald' was first in number. | Be very careful how you handle that blue ball-gown." on, Madamel" reproachfully.
 Tt Is the silver braid. Do not press the rosettes too harshly"
 Celeste looked up. Mrs. Chedsoys answered her inguiring gaze with a
 You are wonderful, Madame!"
 And so are you, Celeste. in vour way" 'OU-
 At ten o'clock Mrs. Chedsoye was ready for her pillow. She slept fit. 1uliy; awoke at eleven and again at twelve. After that she knew nothing more till the maid reused her with the cup Of chocolate. She sat up and slpped slowly. Celeste waited at the bedside with the tray. Her admira tlon for her mistress never waned Mrs. Chedsoye was just as beautiful m dlshabille as in ball-gown. She drained the cup, and as she turned | 10 replace 1t upon the tray, dropped It With clatteri startled cry coming from her lips.
 "Madame"
 "Fortune's bed!"
 It had not been slept In. The steamer-cloak lay across the counter. pane exactly where Celeste herself had laid 1t the night before. Mrs. Chedsoye sprang out of her bed and ran barefoot to the other. Fortuna had not been in the room since dinner. time.
 Celeste. dress me as quickly as possible. Hurry! Something has happened to Fortune"
 Never, in all her years of service. could she recollect such a toilet as madame made that morning. And never before had she shown such con cern over her daughter. It was amaz. ing!
 "The little fool! The little fooll" Mrs. Chedsoye repeatedly murmured as the nimble fingers of the maid flew over her. "The silly little fool: and at a time like this!" Not that re. morse of any kind stirred Mrs. Ched. soye's conscience; she was simply ex- tremely annoyed.
 She hastened out into the corridor and knocked at the door of her broth. CTS room. No answer. She flew downstairs, and there she saw him coming in from the street. He greet. ed her cheerily.
 It's all right, Kate; plenty of room on the Ludwig. We shall take the aft. ernoon train for Port Said. She sails at dawn tomorrow instead of to. night What's up?" suddenly noticing his sisters face.
 Fortune did not return to her room last night"
 What? Where do you suppose the little fool went, then?"
 They both seemed to look upon For tune as little fool.
 Yesterday she threatened to run away"
 Run away? Kate, be sensible How the deuce could she run away? She hasn't a penny. It takes money to go anywhere over here. She has probably found some girl friend, and has spent the night with her. We'll soon find out where she is." The Ma jor wasn't worried.
 Have you seen Horace?" with dis cernible anxiety.
 No. didn't wait up for him. He's sleeping off a night of 1t. You know his failing"
 Find out If he is in his room. Go to the porters bureau and inquire for both him and Jones'"
 The Major, perceiving that his sister was genuinely alarmed, rushed over to the bureau. No, neither Mir. By anne nor Mir. Jones had been in the hotel since yesterday. Would the DOT ter send some one up to the rooms of those gentlemen to make sure? Ger tainly. No; there was no one in the rooms. The Major was now himself perturbed. He went back to Mrs. Chedsoye.
 Kate, neither has been in his room since yesterday. If you want my opinion, it is this; Hoddy has seques- tered Jones all right, and is some where in town, sleeping off the effects of night of it."
 "He has run away with Fortune" she cried. Her expression was tragic. She couldn't have told whether it was due to her daughters disappearance or to Horace's detection. Did he not thgeaten?"
 "Sh! not so loud. Kate"
 "The little simpleton defied me yes- terday, and declared she would leave me-"
 "Ohol" The Major fingered his im- perial. "That puts a new face to the | subject. But Jones! He has not turned up. We can not move till we find out what has become of him. I know. I'll jump into carriage and see if he got as far as the English Bar"
 Mrs. Chedsoye did not go upstairs, but paced the lounging-room, 1.-the and pantherish. Frequently she paused, as if examining the patterns in the huge carpets. She entered the recep- tion-room, came back. wandered off into the ballroom, stopped to inspect the announcement hanging upon the bulletin-board, returned to the win dows and watched the feluccas sail past as the great bridge opened; and during all these aimless occupations but & single thought busied her mind: what could a man like Horace see in