The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-09-05

ledSlUlS.
Watt" he called to the driver.
lie Owed among the carriages and
cars, and presently he found what he
sought-her limousine. He had taken
the number into his mind too keeuly
to be mistaken. He saw the end of his
difficulties; and 70 went about the at.
fair with his usual directness. II was
only at rare times that he ran his head
into cul-de-sac. If her chauffeur was
regularly employed in her service. he
would have to return to the hotel: but
II ne came from the garage, there was
hope. Every man is said to have his
price, and 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 well 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?"
Il am from the garage, but drive
mademoiselle's car most of the time,
especially at night 1t is not madame
but mademoiselle, monsieur"
My mistake" A slight pause. It
was rather a difficult moment for
Courtlandt. The chauffeur waited
wonderingly. Would you like to make
five hundred francs?"
How, monsieur"
Courtlandt should have been warned
by the tone, which contained no un-
usual interest or eagerness.
Permit me to remain in mademoi-
selle's car till she comes. l wish to
ride with her to her apartment"
The chauffeur laughed. He stretched
his legs. Thanks. monsieur. 1t is
very dull waiting. Monsieur knows a
good joke"
And to Courtlandt's dismay he real
lied that his proposal had truly been
accel ted as jest.
Il am not joking. l am in earnest.
Five hundred francs. On the word OF
a gentleman l mean mademoiselle no
harm. l am known to her. All she
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 jesting, then you are
mailman. Who are you? What do
know about you? l never saw you be-
fore, and for two seasons l have driv-
en- mademoiselle in Paris. She wears
beautiful jewels tonight. How do
know that you are not gentlemanly
thief? Ride home with mademoiselle!
You are crazy. Make yourself scarce,
monsieur; in one minute l 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 boy
who was making his first appearance
at the stage entrance. 1t was nightly
disconcerting, 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 po-
liceman and endeavor to explain, In
foreign tongue. situation at once so
delicate and SO singularly open to mis-
construction. So. for the second time
in his life he took to his heels. OF
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 on his tempter he rec
ognized that now he would never be
able to find out who he was. He should
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 propo-
sition. 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.
It was not an isolated