The evening world., 1914-03-10
By George Barr McCutcheon

between two duties. She owed ono 10
him and one to mo.
1T II only fair. John. that YOU
should know that pless is not his
real name" sho said. lowering her
voice. But. Of course, we stand
sponsor for him. so II IL all right"
Your word is sufficient. Elsie"
HIS life In "a Tragedy" she whis-
pcred. His heart Ii broken. 1 firmly
believe. OH"
Tho RIlly Smiths came up. Elsie
proceeded to Withdraw into herself.
We were speaking OF Mr.. Pless,"
said !. He has "A broken heart"
We'll" said Elsie doggedIy, I'm
determined to tell this much: HIS
name isn't Pless. His wife got a
divorce from him. and now she has
taken their child and run OFF with Il
and thoy cant f,nd--whats the mat
terri
My eyes were almost popping from
my head.
Isis no n count?" I cried,
BILLY Smith regarded mo specula-
lively. Il daresay MIR. smart has
read all about the AFFAIR In the news
pagers. They've had nothing else
lately. ! won't say no Ii count. and
I won't say he isn't. We're bound
by deep. dark. sinister oath. sealed
with blood"
"rhe poor fellow Ii almost dis.
tracted. Really. MIR. Smart, We
In order toto take him out Of him
self for IA while. II has been such
tragedy for him. He worshipped tho
child" 1t was Mrs. Billy who spoke.
And the mother made way with
hinT' ] Qucried. resortinE TO n sud
dc Ny acquired cunning.
IL IL girl" said Elsio In . loud
whisper. THE lovciiest girl. Tho
mother appeared In Vienna about
three weeks or n month ago and
whiR! on goes the child. Abducted
kidnapped! And the court had
granted him tho custody OF the child.
That's what makes II so terrible. II
she " caught anywhere In Europe
well. l don't know what may happen
to her. II In Just such silly acts as
tnis that mako American girls the
laughing stocks OF tho whole world.
ashamed to have people point mo out
and say: There goes an American.
Pooh""
To my disgust. tho three Of them
refused to enliEhtsn mo further as to
the history. Identity or character of
either Mr.. or Mrs. Pless. but OF
course I knew that I was entertain
Ing under my roof. by tho most ex-
traordinary coincidence. the Count
and Countess Of Something brother,
who were at war. and tho child they
were h0hting for with motives Of an
entirely different nature.
Right or wrong, my sympathiss
were with the refugee In ths lonely
east wing. I was all the moro deter
mined now TO shield her a. far ~ Il
lay In my power to do %. and to dc.
fend her II the worst were to happen.
Mr.. Pless openly made love to Elsie
and the Baron openly made love 70
Betty Billy. Being a sort OF non.
committal bachelor, I ranged myself
with the two abandoned husbands
and We had quite . reckless tine OF
II. talking with uninterrupted devil
can dentistry in European cspitsis.
the way one has his nails manicured
In Germany. the upset price Of hot :
house straw berries and sundry other
topics Of similar piquancy. Elsie In
Vited all OF us to q welsh rarobit
party she was giving at eleven thirty,
and thsn they got TO work at the
bridge table.
II was absolutely necessary for the
Countess to know that her ex-hua-
band was In the castle. I would have
TO manage In Some way to see ber
before the evening was over. Tho
least carelessness. the smallest slip
might prove the undoing of both OF
W.. On an excuse Of letters to write
] left my guests.
Ten minutes later ] was sneakinR
up the interminable stairwsys In the
sepulchral east wing. Mr.. Poopen-
dyke stood guard below at tho pad
locked doors. holding tho keys.
Somewhat timorously ! knocked at
the Countess's door.
The Countess's French maid peered
out at me.
Madame has request me to inform,
m'sieur that she knows the Count II
here. and will you be NO good a. to
call tomorrow morning. Shs has
gone to bed"
"what?. She knows hes heref
Who brought tho informationr"
1.-THE bountiful Max. m'sieur. He
bring It with dejeunsr. again with
dinner. and but now with the hot
water. m'sieur."
tho guests were assembled I found
engaged In an acrimonious dispute
over . question OF bridge etiQuette.
Suddenly Mr.. Pless threw bis cards
down and LETT the table. without .
word Of apology to the two ladies.
who looked moro hurt than appalled,.
He said he was going 20 bed. hut I
noticed that he took himself OF In
the direction OF tho moonlit loggia.
We were stili discussing hts detection
in subdued tones-with the exception
Of tho irato baron-when he re.en-
tered the room. Tho expression on
his face was hooking. even accusing.
Directing his words to me. he uttered
a lazy indictment.
Are there real spirits In your
castle. Mr.. Smart. or have you ncsh
and blood mediums who roam about
In white night dresses to study tho
moods OF the moon from the dizziest
ramparts?"
Confound bis insolencs! He winked
at me!
CHAPTER WI.