The Detroit times., 1913-10-06

uer since. Al the last moment they
had to find a substitute for her part
In the Puccini opera. The maid tes-
tilted that her mistress had gone
on an errand of mercy. She had not
mentioned where, but she had said
that she would return In time to
dress for dinnea. which proved con-
lclusively that something out OF the
Ordinary had befallen her.
The automobile that had carried
her away had not been her own, and
the chauffeur was unknown. None
Of the directors at the Opera had
beer notified Of any change In the
singers plans. She had disappeared,
and they were deeply concerned.
Singers were generally erratic, full
of sudden indispositions. unaccount-
able whims; but the Signorina da
Toscana was one In a thousand She
was i'll. she said so at once; she
never left them in doubt until the
last moment. Indecision was not one
of her characteristics. She was as
reliable as the sun. II the directors
did not hear definitely from her by
noon today, they would have to find
1 another Marguerite.
The police began to move. and
they stirred up some curious bits Of
information. A man had tried to
bride the singers chauffeur, while
she was singing at the Austrian ana
bassadors. The chauffeur was able
to describe the stranger with some
accuracy. Then came the bewilder-
Ing episode in the apartment; the
pistol-shot. the flight Of the man, the
astonished concierge to whom the
beautiful American would offer no
explanations. The man (who Tailed
with the description given by the
chauffeur) had obtained entrance
under false representations. He
claimed to be an emissary with i'm
pOrtant instructions from the Opera.
There was nothing unusual in this;
messengers came at all hours, and
seldom the same one twice; so the
concierge's suspicious had not been
aroused. Another item. A tall.
handsome Italian had called at
eleven o'clock Saturday morning, but
the signorina had sent down word
that she could not see him. The
maid recalled that her mistress had
intended to dine that night with the
Italian gentleman. His name she did
not know, having been with the
|signorina but two weeks.
Celeste Fourier. the celebrated
young pianist and composer. who
shared the apartment with the MISS
Ing prima donna, stated that she
hadn't the slightest idea where her
friend was. She was certain that
misfortune had overtaken her in
some inexplicable manner. To i'm
plicate the Italian was out of the
question. He was well-known to
them both. He had arrived again
at seven, Saturday, and was very
much surprised that the signorina
had not yet returned. He had wait
ed till nine, when he left. greatly
disappointed. He was the Barone
di Monte-Verdi in Calabria, former
ly military attache at the Italian
embassy In Berlin. Sunday noon
Mademoiselle Fourier had notified
the authorities. She did not know;
but she felt sure that the blond
stranger knew more than anyone
else. And here was the end OF
things. The police found themselves
at a standstill. They searched the
hotels, but without success; the
blond stranger could not be found.
Abbott's eyes were not happy and
pleasant just now. They were dull
and blank with the reaction Of the
stunning blow. He, too, was certain
Of the Barone. Much as he secretly
hated the Italian, he knew him to
be fearless and an honorable man.
But who could this blond stranger
be, who appeared SO sinisterly in the
two scenes? From where had he
comet Why had Nora refused to
explain about the pistOl-shot? Any
a man who forced his way into her
apartment. Was he one of those
mad fools who had fallen In love
with her, and had become desperate:}
Or was 1t some one she knew and
against whom she did not wish to
bring any charges? Abducted! And
she might be. at this very moment, |
suffering all sorts of indignities. 1t
was horrible to be 80 helpless.
The sparkle Of sunlight upon the |
ferrule Of cane. extending over |
his shoulder. broke in on his
agonizing thoughts. He turned, an
angry word on the tip Of his tongue. |
He expected to see some tourist who
wanted to be informed.
Tied Courtlandt!" He jumped up, |
overturning the stool. And where
the dickens did you come from? +
thought you were in the Orient?"
Just got back, Abby.
The two shook hands and eyed
each other with the appraising
scrutiny of friends Of long standing.
you don't change any" said Alb |
bolt.
Nor do you. I've been standing
behind you fully two minutes. What
were you glooming about? Old
Silenus offend your"
Have you read the Herald this
morning?"
II never read 1t nowadays. They
are always giving me roast of
some kind. Whatever I do they are
bound to misconstrue it," Court
landt stopped and righted the stool
but sat down on the grass, his feet
in the path. What's the trouble? |
Have they been after your"
Abbott recued the offending paper
and shaking 1t under his friends
nose, said: Read that"
Courtlandt's eyes widened consider.
ably as they absorbed the significance
Of the heading-"Eleanora da Toscana
missing"
hn