Mountain advocate., 1914-05-22

| me tonight, disappOintedly.
Cant; awfully sorry, Abby. II wa
only luck that met you In the Luz
embourg. Re over about seven.
was very glad to see you again"
Abbott kicked a broken easel int,
corner. "All right. II anythin,
turns up I'll let you know. You're a
the Grand3"
yes. By.by."
IL know what's the matter will
him." unused the artist. alone. som,
woman has chucked him. silly littl,
fool. probably"
Courtlandt went down stairs and GU
into the boulevard. Frankly, ne wac
beginning to feel concerned. He still
held to his original opinion that the
diva had disappeared of her own free
will; but IL the machinery OF the pc
lice had been started. he realized thai
his own safety would eventually be
come involved. by this time. he rea
soned, there would not be a hotel In
Paris free Of surveillance. Naturally
blond strangers would be in demand
The complications that would follow
his own arrest we're not to be ignored
He agreed with his conscience that he
had not acted with dignity in forcing
his way into her apartment. But that
night he had been at odds with con
vention; his spirit had been that OF
the marauding old Dutchman of the
seventeenth century. He perfectly
we'll knew that she was In the right as
far as the pistol-shot was concerned.
Further. he knew that he could quash
any charge she might make In that d.
rection by the simplest of declara-
lions: and to avoid this simplest of
declarations she would prefer silence
above all things. They knew each 9TH
er tolerably well.
II was extremely fortunate that he
had not been to the hotel since Satur.
day. He went directly to the war Of
fee. The great and powerful man
there was the only hope left. They
had met some years before in Algiers.
where Courtlandt had rendered him a
very real service.
II did not expect you to the min.
ute" the great man said pleasantly.
You will not mind waiting for a few
minutes"
Not in the least. Only, I'm In
deuce of mess" frankly and directly.
'lnnocently enough. I've stuck my
head into the police net"
''Is 1t possible that now | can pay
my debt to you'"
Such as II is. Have you read the
article in the newspapers regarding
the disappearance Of Signorina da los
cana, the singer"
Yes"
II am the unknown blond. Tomor.
row morning want you to go with me
to the prefecture and state that was
with you all of Saturday and Sunday;
that on Monday you and your wife
dined with me. that yesterday we went
to the aviation meet. and later to the
Odeon."
In brief. an alibl?" smiling now.
Exactly. ! shall need one"
And perfectly good alibi. But I
have your word that you are in no.
wise concerned? Pardon the question,
but between us It is really necessary
II am to be of service to you"
"On my word as a gentleman
THAT is sufficient"
I'm fact, | do not believe that she
has been abducted at all. Will you
let me use your pad and pen for a
The other pushed over the required
articles. Courtlandt scrawled a few
words and passed back the pad
For me to read?"
Yes moodily.
The Frenchman read. Courtlandt
him anxiously. There was
hot even a flicker OF surprise In the
official eye. Calmly he ripped of the
sheet and tore II into bits. distribut-
ng the pieces into the various waste
baskets yawning about his long fiat
iesk Next. still avoiding the younger
mans eye. he arranged his papers
neatly and locked them up in a huge
safe which only the artillery OF the
German army could have forced. He
hen called for his hat and stick. He
oeckoned to Courtlandt to follow. Not
/ word was said until the car was
lumming on the road to Vincennes.
"Well?" said Courtlandt, finally. II
was not possible for him 10 Hold back
he question any longer.
MY dear friend, | am taking you
nut TO the villa for the night"
But have nothing :"
And have everything, even fore
tight. II you were arrested tonight II
would cause you some inconvenience
am fifty-six. some twenty years your
senior. Under this hat OF mine carry
| thousand secrets. and every one OF
hose thousand must go TO the grave
With me. yours along with them. !
ave met you a dozen times since
hose Algerian days, and never have
'ou failed to afford me some amuse-
nent or excitement. You are the most |
and entertaining young
nan know. Try one OF these cigars"
al. A..