The evening world., 1914-11-17
CHAPTER VI.
An Extraordinary Brand,

presented me. The hand.
AAv some. brown-sysd siri was
Miss Belle TIustts; ths
other was her oousid. Miss
0snsvisvs Cooper. She too was
strtkingly pretty. but instead Of
brown. her eyes were . dsep and
wonderful blue.
Can We not 20 ~ once. Royai7"
quertsd Miss Tluetts. doubtfully. 1T
u drsadfully warm and stuffy In
here Jspson = waiting With the
carriage"
Tn afraid not. Belle" answered
Maillot. mot for some minutes. Mr..
Swift and have toto discuss Mr..
Pages DEATH"
1T = true. then. y It. that your
uncle y dssdf' she asked In huahsd
voice.
His unolsi For the second time
that morning I was staggered. Felix
Pages nephew and Alfred Fiustts,s
daughter sweetheartsi The two men
themselves bitter enemies! One lying
cold In death-murderedi L. II any
wonder that waS stricken speochless7
1aillot was saying. THAT v only Q
part Of what have to tell"
"But-Felix Page your unclei"
marvelled. - soon - recovered my
breath. Look here, Maillot, It's not
often that I'm 20 thunderstruck; why
haven't you told me this7'
ITS true" he said slowly; he was
nv mothers brother. Neither Of u
was particularly proud OF the con.
necticn-not enough to brag Of Il.
1 was meaning to tell you. though,
Swift. 1t u an essential part Of my
story"
He wheeled q chair up to one side
Of the table for Miss Fluetts. and I
made haste to perform q like service
for Miss Genevieve Cooper an act
which she recognized with . slight
smile and one OF her friendly looks.
"Perhaps you and Genevieve had
better set out OF your wraps" the
young man suggested to Miss Flu
cite. because I want you to hear
all have 70 say to Mr.. Swift; 1t Will
take some Time"
She was now genuinely alarmed.
and the handsome basel eyes
searched his face with an apprehen-
sion and dread that made her love
for him only too apparent. Most
young fellows. l hazard. would court
any peril for such look from o girl
as beautifui as Miss Belle Fluette.
Tho object Of my coming here last
night" the young man at length be-
gan, " was only known to myself and
Mr.. Fluette, although l told MISS
Fluette the bare circumstance OF my
Intention. My mission would seem 20
absurd to any sane man, 70 utterly
hopeless-it would DO Impossible to
bring any one else to look at the mat
ter from my point OF vtew-that my
fear Of ridiculs stayed me from tax.
Ing even her Into my conndsnoe' ~
was this"
His voice dropped. and he had every
appearance Of one who speaks with
the utmost reluctance.
~ came TO ask my uncle for the
Paternoster ruby" he announced.
I merely waited, neither stirring nor
speaking; not so the two gfris, how
ever, who made no pretence OF con-
cealing their amazement.
"You asked him to give It to your"
gasped Miss Fluette.
Mailiot laughed bitterly. looking
straight at me.
II did" said he. as ono convinced
that he would not DO believed In any
event. II not only asked him to give
Il TO me---after having stated my rea-
sons-but he promised to DO so-this
morning"
Then you know Of the contest sew
eral years ago In London for the
ruby's possession" Maillot went on.
chow Mr.. Fiuette coveted 1t for his
collection, and how my uncle thwart-
ed his efforts to obtain It. Mr.. Fluette
Is very determined, and when his
purpose 10 once set It 10 not an easy
matter to change or sway It. He was
bitterly disappointed. though he never
ceased hoping that some day he
should acquire the jewel; but. know
Ing Mr.. Page as ne did. believe he
was In a measure reconciled to q
conviction that he would have to walt
until the owner died.
"And now, Swift. knowing all this
as did-the strong aversion which
each felt for the other-if l should
come to you and tell you that I In
tended asking my uncle to give me
his precious ruby for the purpose OF
passing It on to Mr.. Fluette. wouldn't
you think had become a 1T subject
for a lunatic asylum"
"Yet." returned !, calmly. you say
that you did this. and that your uncle
assured you he would give you the
stone this morning--promised after
he had heard your reasons. I'm
growing impatient to hear what moved
you to come here last night at ALL"
You already know what my most
cherished hope and ambition U.s." he
said, with glance at Miss Fluette.
I'm fairly well on by reason Of q
small Inheritance from my father. and
I'm Just beginning to make certain
my foothold In my profession; pros
pee as good as most young men can
boast of, ! don't hesitate to say.
"Ou- engagement, though. has new
CIR met the approval of Bellies father.
But that fails to express It; he has
been actively opposed to me from the
very start. We had the support Of
Mrs. Fluette. however. and 80 re-
mained hopefui-until one week ago
tonight"
He looked up In . momsnt and pro-
ceeded: