The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-05-22
CHAPTER III-contlnued.

N'NNiHllH'A ~ e'''
CHAPTER IIl-continued
Oh, stubborn Dutchman that he had
been! Blind fool! To have run away
instead of fighting to the last ditch for
his happiness! The Desimone woman
was right; it had taken him a long
time to come to the conclusion that
she done him an Ill turn. His jaw set
and the pressure of his lips broke the
sweep of his mustache, converting il
into bristling tufts, warlike and reso
lutte.
What Of the pretty woman in the
Taverne Royale? What about her? Al
whose bidding had she followed him
One or the other of them had not told
the truth, and he was inclined to be
leve that the prevarication had its
source in the pomegranate lips Of the
Calabrian. TO give the old barb one
more twist, TO learn If its venomous
point still held and hurt; nothing
would have afforded the diva more de-
light.
When the taxicab Joined the long
line of carriages and automobiles op-
posite the Austrian ambassador
Courtlandt awoke to the dismal and
disquieting fact that he had formu.
lated no plan of action. He had done
10 more than to give the driver his
directions; and now that he had ar
rived, he had the choice of two alter
natives. He could wait to see her
come out or return at once to his hotel,
which, as subsequent events affirmed,
would have been the more sensible
course. He would have been confront
ed with small difficulty in gaining ad-
mission to the house. He knew enough
of these general receptions; the an
nouncing of his name would have con
veyed nothing to the host, who knew
perhaps a third of his guests, and
many of these but slightly. But such
an adventure was distasteful to Court
landt. He could not everstep certain
recognized boundaries of convention
and to enter a mans house unasked
was colossal impudence. Beyond this,
he realized that he could have accom-
plished nothing; the advantage would
have been hers. Nor could he meet
her as she came out, for again the
odds would have been largely in her
favor No, the encounter must be
when they two we're alone. She must
be surprised She must have no time
to use her ready wit, An idea pre-
sented itself 1t appealed to him at
that moment as quite clever and
feasible.
Watt" he called to the driver.
He diyed among the carriages and
cars, and presently he found what he
sought-her limousine He had taken
the number into his mind too keenly
to be mistaken. He saw the end of his
difficulties; and !, went about the af-
fair with his usual directness. 1t was
only at rare times that he ran his head
into a cul-de-sac. If her chauffeur was
regularly employed in her service, he
would have to return to the hotel; but
IL he came from the garage, there was
hope, Every man is said to have his
price, and a French chauffeur might
prove no notable exception to the rule
Are you driver for Madame da Tos-
cana?" Courtlandt asked Of the man
lounging in the forward seat.
The chauffeur looked hard at his
questioner, and on finding that he sat
isfied the requirements of a gentle
man, grumbled an affirmative. The
limousine was we'll known in Paris,
and he was growing weary of these
endless inquiries.
Are you in her employ directly, or
do you come from the garage?"
81 am from the garage, but i drive
mademoiselle's car most of the time,
especially at night. 1t is not madame
but mademoiselle, monsieur"
MY mistake" A slight pause 1t
was rather a difficult moment for
Courtlandt. The chauffeur waited
wonderingly. Would you like to make
five hundred francs?"
"IIow, monsieur?"
Courtlandt should have been warned
by the tone, which contained no un-
usual lul6IGSJ VI GdS6TueSS.
Permit me to remain in mademoi-
selle's car till she comes. wish to
ride with her to her apartment"
The chauffeur laughed. He stretched
his legs Thanks, monsieur. 1t is
very dull waiting Monsieur knows
good joke"
And to Courtlandt's dismay he real
ized that his proposal had truly been
acce. ted as a jest.
81 am not joking. am in earnest.
Five hundred francs. On the word of
a gentleman I mean mademoiselle no
harm | am known to her. All she |
has to do is to appeal to you, and you
can stop the car and summon the pc
lice"
The chauffeur drew in his legs and |
leaned toward his tempter. Monsieur,
II you are not iesting, then you are a
madman. Who are you? What do | |
know about you? never saw you be-
fore, and for two seasons have driv-
en- mademoiselle in Paris. She wears
beautiful jewels tonight. How do |
know that you are not a gentlemanly !