Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-07-17
ers- with roubles and lire and francs


did so involuntarily, for lack of further
funds. They called her villas Circe's
Isles. She hated but two things in the
world; the man she could have loved
and the woman she could not surpass.
Some one was at the speaking tube.
The singer crossed the room impa-
tiently What is it?" she asked in
French.
The voice below answered with
query in English. ''Is this the Signo-
rina Desimone?"
Yes. And now that my identity Is
esta blished, who are you and what do
you want at this time OF night?"
Il am Edward Courtlandt."
well, what is 1t you wish ?" amiably.
"You once did me an Ill turn" came
up the tube. Il desire that you make
some reparation."
"Sainted Mother! But It has taken
you long time to find out that have
injured you,' she mocked.
"Will you give me her address,
please? Your messenger gave me
your address, inferring that you
wished to see me-"
I?" There was no impeaching her
establishment
Yes, madame"
MY dear Mr.. Courtlandt, you are
the last man In all the wide world I
wish to see. And | do not quite like
the way you are making your request"
DO you not think. madame. that
you owe me something?"
mo. What owe pay. Think. Mr..
Courtlandt; think we'll"
81 do not understand" impatieltly.
"Ebbene. owe you nothing. Once
l heard you say-T do not like to see
you with the Calabrian; she is-well.
you know stood behind you at an
other time when you said that / was a
| fool"
Madame, | do not forget that, that
is pure invention. You are mistaken"
mo. You were. am no fool" A
light laugh drifted down the tube.
Madame. begin to see.'
"Ah!"
"You believe what you wish to be-
lieve."
81 think not"
81 never even noticed you," care
lessly.
ut Is easy to forget" cried the diva,
furiously. 1T is easy for you to for.
get, but not for me-"
Madame, do not forget that you
entered my room that night. :"
Il shall give you her address," In.
terrupted the diva. hastily. The play
had gone far enough. much as she
would have liked TO continue It. This
was going deeper than she cared to
go. She gave the address and added
Tonight she sings at the Austrian am
bassador's. give you this information
gladly becauee know that 1t will bt
Of no use to you"
Then | shall dispense with the for
mality OF thanking you. | add that
wish you two-fold the misery you hav,
carelessly and gratuitously cost me
Good night" Click! went the llttl
covering OF the tube.
with the same inward bitterness
that attends the mental processes OF
performing tiger on being sent back 4
its cage, Courtlandt returned to hi
: taxicab. He wanted to roar and lasl
and devour something. Instead, b,
could only twist the ends OF his mus
tache savagely. 1t did not seem pos
sible that any woman could be so full
of malice. He simply could not under
stand. II was essentially the Itallar
= spirit; doubtless. till she heard hi,
voice, she had forgotten all about the
episode that had foundered his shiI
of happiness.
Her statement as to the primal cause
was purely inventive. There was moi
a grain OF truth In II. He could moi
possibly have been so rude. lie had
. been too Indifferent. Too Indifferent!
e The repetition OF the phrase made him
sit straighter Pshaw! II could moi
e be that. He possessed little vanity;
e II ho had not. his history would moi
= have been worth scrawl. But he de
MED the possession yehemently. as
men are wont TO do.
, Too Indifferent! Was It possible
that he had reused her enmlty simply
. because he had made II evident that
her charms did not interest hlm7 Be
: yond lifting his hat to her. perhaps OK
} changing n comment on the weather
his courtesles had not been extended
Courtlandt was peculiar in some 70
spects. A woman attracted him, OF
she did not. In the ono case he was
affable. winning, pleasant. full OF those
agreeable little surprises that in turn
, attract woman. In the other case
: he passed on. for his impressions were
, instant and did not require the usual
J sklrmlshing.
. CTo BE CoNTINUEDJ