The Spectator. (Ozark, Ark.) 1911-1916, 1914-08-07


has to do is to appeal to you, and you
can stop the car and summon the po-
lice"
The chauffeur drew in his legs and
leaned toward his tempter. Monsieur,
If you are not testing, then you are q
mailman. 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 I
know that you are not gentlemanly
thief? Ride home with mademoiselle!
You are crazy. Make yourself scarce.
monsieur; In one minute | shall call
the police"
"Blockhead!"
English of this order the Frenchman
perfectly understood. La, la" he
cried, rising to execute his threat.
Courtlandt was furious, but his fury
was directed at himself as much as at
the trustworthy young man getting
down from the limousine. His eager
ness had led him to mistake stupidity
for cleverness. He had gone about the
affair with all the clumsiness of a boy
who was making his first appearance
at the stage entrance. 1t was nightly
dlsconcerting. too, to have found an
honest man when he was in desperate
need of dishonest one. He had faced
with fine courage all sorts of danger
Gus wild animals: but at this moment
he hadn't the courage to face a po-
liceman and endeavor to explain. in
foreign tongue, situation at once so
delicate and so singulariy open to mis-
construction. So, for the second time
in his life he took to his heels. or
the first time, more anon. He scram-
bled back to his own car. slammed the
door. and told the driver to drop him
at the Grand. However. he did not re-
turn to the hotel
Mademoiselle da Toscana's chauf-
feur scratched his chin In perplexity.
In frightening off his tempter he rec
ogniZed that now he would never be
have played with him until mademoi-
selle came out. She would have known
instantly. That would have been the
time for the police. To hide in the
car! What the devil! Only a mad
man would have offered such a propo-
siton. The man had been either an
American or an Englishman, for all
his accuracy in the tongue. Bah! Per
haps he had heard her sing that night.
and had come away from the Opera,
moonstruck. 1t was not an isolated
case. The fools were always poster
ing him. but no one had ever offered
so uncommon a bribe five hundred
francs. Mademoiselle might not be-
lieve that part of the tale. Mademoi-
selle was clever. There was stand
ing agreement between them that she
would always give him half OF what
ever was offered him In the way of
brides. 1t paid II was easier to sell
his loyalty to her for two hundred and
fifty francs than to betray her for five
hundred. She had yet to find him I'M
truthful, and tonight he would be as
frank as he had always been.
But who was this fellow in the Ba-
varian hat. who patrolled the side
walk? He had been watching him
when the mailman 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 d. X coat had a
military cut about the hips and shout
ders. From time to tir he saw him
glance up at the lighted windows. Eth.
well; there were other women in the
world besides mademoiselle. several
others.
He had to wait only half an hour for
her appearance. He opened the doos
and saw to It that she was comfort
ably seated; then he paused by the
window. touching his cap,
What is 1t. Francois"
"A gentleman offered me five hun
dred francs, mademoiselle. II | would
permit him to hide in the car"
Five hundred francs? To hide in
the car? Why didn't you call the po-
lice?"
Il started to. mademoiselIe. 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 well 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.
babe him be off"
Would you know him again."
Surely mademoiselle"
The next time anyone bothers you.
call the police. You have done well.
and | shall remember 1t, Home"
The man in the Davarian 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 ambassador the real