The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-03-11

AN abominable iie!" I cried indig-
nantly.
Another paper says that your for
tune has been placed at his disposal
In the fight he Is making against the
criminally rich Americans. In this
particular article you are quoted as
saying that ! am q dreadful person
and not at to have the custody Of q
child"
Good Lord" gasped helplessly.
You also expect to do everything
In your power TO interest the Admin
istratiop at Washington In his be-
half"
"weii. Of all the Oh. I say. coun-
tess. you don't believe a word OF all
this. do your"
She not only came for dinner with VI
on Sunday. but made the dressing for
my alligator pear salad. We were
besieged by the usual crowd Of Sun
day sight seers, who came clamoring
ut our staunch. reinforced gates, and
me soundly for refus-
Ing admission. Button brought me the
rather disquieting news that he had
recognized two of Mr.. Pless's secret
agents in the mob.
II wonder II he suspects that am
here" said the Countess paling per-
ceptibly when I mentioned tho pres
ence OF the two men.
1T doesn't matter" said I. He
can't get into the castle while the
gates are locked. and. by Jove. In
tend to keep them locked"
What a delightful ogre you are,
Mr.. Smart" said she.
Nevertheless. did not sleep we'll
that night. The presence of the two
hatAnfiVAa n.ptatdo sv,Sy
to be taken too lightly. Unquestion.
ably they had got wind of something
that aroused suspicion In their minds.
I confidently expected them to reap
pear In the morning. perhaps dis
guised an workmen. Nor were my
fears wholly unjustified.
Shortly after nine o'clock q sly-faced
man In overalls accosted me In the
hall.
II beg your pardon. Mr.. Smart" he
said in fairly good English, may I
have word with you? / have q
message from Mr.. Pless."
From MIR. Pless?" inquired. sim
surprise.
He would have you meet him Sc
cretly tonight At the Rempf Hotel
across the river. It 10 most import
Ant that you should do 20. and that
you should exercise great caution. I
am to take your reply back to him."
ned. Then I experienced q feeling Of
relief so vast that he must have seen
the CLEAN Of triumph In my eyes. The
trick was mine. after all.
"You may tell Mr.. Pless that shall
be there AT nine." said /.
I found Mr.. Pless al the Rompf at
O'Clock. He was In his room when
entered the Quaint old place.
Mr.. Pless welcomed me with q great
deal Of warmth. He called me dear
old fellow" and shook hands with me
with more heartiness than ! had
thought him capable Of expressing.
His dark. handsome face was agiOw
with pleasure. lie was quite boyish.
A smallish old gentleman was with
him. My introduction to the stranger
was a sort OF afterthought. It seemed
TO me. ! was Informed that he was
one OF tho greatest lawyers and ad-
vocates In Vienna and Mr.. Pless's
personal adviser In the unfortunate
! accepted O cigar.
Il fancy you are wondering why I
II am"
Il trust you will understand. Mr..
smart. that l do not ask favor of
you. but rather put myself under a
certain obligation for the time being.
You have become a landowner in
This country. and ~ such. you should
ally yourself with the representative
people Of our. land. ! do not hesitate
10 admit thdt II my wife once gets
The child to New York We NAV Az
L,ect serious dinculty In obtaining our
rights. I humbly confess that I have
hot the means to tight her In a land
where her fathers millions count for
20 much. ! am a poor man. My es-
Iates are heavily involved through
litigation started by my forbears.
You understand my position" He
said II with a rather pathetic twist
of his lips.
II understand that you received q
million In cash At the time OF tho
said I, what has become
of all THAR"
He shrugged his shoulders. Can
you expect me to indulge an extrava.
gant wife. who seeks to become q
social queen. and still save anything
Jut Of . paltry millionf"
"Oh, I Sc. This 10 Q new phase Of
he matter that hasn't been revealed
g me. II vas she who spent the
nillionf''
"Aftar Q fashiea. ~" sail ~,
UoeAoo1 Q 0ong6 - 49, ~