Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1914-04-23

walk. lie H3u uSei "atShih6 hi
when the madman approached. For
an hour or more he had walked up
and down, never going twenty feet be-
yond the limousine. He couldn't see
the face. The long dark coat had a
military cut about the hips and shoul-
ders. From time to time he saw him
glance up at the lighted windows. Eh,
we'll; there we're other women in the
world besides mademoiselle, several
others.
He had to wait only half an hour for
her appearance. He opened the door
and saw to it that she was comfort
ably seated; then he paused by the
window, touching his cap.
What is it, Francois?"
"A gentleman offered me five hun
dred francs, mademoiselle, If would
permit him to hide in the car"
Five hundred francs? To hide in
the car? Why didn't you call the po-
lice?"
81 started to, mademoiselle, but he
ran away"
"Oh! What was he like?" The
prima donna dropped the bunch Of
roses on the seat beside her.
"Oh, he looked we'll enough. He had
the air of a gentleman. He was tall,
with light hair and mustache. But as
| had never seen him before, and as
mademoiselle wore some fine jewels,
l bade him be off"
Would you know him again."
Surely mademoiselle."
"The next time anyone bothers you.
call the police. You have done we'll.
and / shall remember it. Home"
The man in the Bavarian hat hur-
ried back to the third car from the
limousine, and followed at reason
ably safe distance.
She shut off the light and closed her
eyes. She reclined against the cushion
once more, striving not to think. Once.
her hands shut tightly. Never, never,
never! She pressed down the burning
thoughts by recalling the bright
scenes at the ambassadors, the real
generous applause that had followed
her two songs. All, how that man
Paderewski played! They two had
cost the ambassador eight thousand
francs. Fame and fortune! Fortune
she could understand; but fame! What
was it? Upon time she believed she
had known what fame was; but that
had been when she was striving for
it. A glowing article in newspaper,
portrait in a magazine, rows upon
rows of curious eyes and patter Of
hands upon hands; that was all; and
for this she had given the best of her
life, and she was only twenty-five.
The limousine stopped at last. The
man in the Bava|ian hat saw heI
aIght His car turned and disappeared.
II had taken him a week 20 discover
wh are she lived His lodgings were
"p IL other side of the Seine. After
's;.r'.iE.; them he gave crisp orders to
ha driver. who sci his machjrc off at
top speed The naa in tie Bavariap
hat entered his room and lighted the
gas. The room was bare and cheaply
furnished. He took off his coat but
retained his hat, pulling it down still
farther over his eyes. His face was al
ways in shadow. A round chin, two
full red lips, scantily covered by a
blond mustache were all that could be
seen. He began to walk the floor i'm
patiently, stopping and listening when
ever he heard a sound. He waited
less than an hour for the return OF the
car. 1t brought two men. They were
well-dressed, smoothly-shaven, with
keen eyes and intelligent faces. Their
host, who had never seen either of his
guests before, carelessly waved his
hand toward the table where there
were two chairs. He himself took his
stand by the window and looked out
as he talked. In another hour the room
was dark and the street deserted.
In the meantime the prima donna
gave sigh of relief. She was home.
1t was nearly two o'clock. She would
sleep till noon, and Saturday and Sun
day would be hers. She went up the
stairs instead of taking the lift, and
though the hall was dark, she knew
her way. She unlocked the door of
the apartment and entered, swinging
the door behind her. AS the act was
mechanical, her thoughts being other
wise engaged, she did not notice that
the lock failed to click. The ferrule
or cane had prevented that.
She flung her wraps on the divan