The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-29
CONTINUED


terrupted quickly: Unhappy mar
riages are so common nowadays that
the women who go into 'em are always
heroines. People like to read about
suffering and anguish among the rich,
too Besides, you are countess. That
puts you near the first rank among
heroines. Don't you think It would be
proper at this point to tell me who you
are?"
She regarded me steadfastly for a
moment and then shook her head.
I'D rather not tell you my name, Mr..
Smart. 1t really can't matter, you
know. I've thought 1t all out very
carefully, and I've decided that it is
not best for you to know. You see If
you don't know who it is you are shell
tering the courts can't hold you to ac-
count. You will be quite innocent of
deliberately contriving to defeat the
law.
mo, shall not tell you my name.
nor my husbands, nor my fathers. II
you'd like to know. however. will
tell you my baby's name. She's two
years old and | think she'll like you
to call her Rosemary"
BY this time 1 was quite hypnotized
by this charming. confident trespasser
upon my physical-and / was about to
say my moral estate. Never have
known a more complacent violator Of
all the proprieties Of law and order as
she appeared to be. She was a revela-
tion-more than that, she was an in
spiration.
What an exceedingly courageous. in.
dependent, fascinating little buccaneer
she was!
Rosemary" repeated. "And
what am l to call your"
Even my enemies call me countess" /"
she said coldly.
"Oh," said l, more respectfully. II
see. When am to have the pleasure
Of meeting the less particular Rose
mary"
II didn't mean to be horrid." she said
plaintively. please overlook 1t. Mr..
Smart. If you are very. very quiet l
think you may see her now. She Is
asleep"
II may frighten her If she awakes, &c
l said in haste. remembering my an
tipathy to babies.
Nevertheless l was led through a
couple of bare. unfurnished rooms into
a sunny, perfectly adorable nursery. A
nursemaid-English. at a glance-arose
from her seat in the window and held
a cautious finger to her lips. In the
middle of bed that would have ac-
commodated an entire family. was the
sleeping Rosemary-a tiny. rosy cheek
I'd, yellow haired atom bounded on
four sides by yards of mattress.
l stood over her timorously and
stared. The countess put one knee
upon the mattress and, leaning far
over, kissed little paw. I blinked.
like confounded BOBBY.
Then we stole out Of the room.
Isn't she adorable?" asked the
countess when we were at safe dis
tance.
"They all are" said grudgingly,
when they're asleep"
You are horrid"
by the way" said sternly, "how
does that bedstead happen to be yard
or so lower than any other bed in this
entire castle? All the rest Of them are
SO high one has to get into them from
chair"
"Oh," she said complacently, ut was
too high for Blake to manage con-
veniently, so / had Rudolph saw the
legs off short"
One Of my very finest antique bed.
steads! But l didn't even groan a sin
gle groan.
"You will let me stay on, won't
you. Mr.. SmartT she said when we
were at the fireplace again. IT am
really so helpless. you know"
I offered her everything that the cas-.
tie afforded in the way Of loyalty and
luxury.
And we'll have telephone in the
main hall before the end of a week. >
! concluded beamingly.
Her face clouded "Oh. I'd much
rather have 1t in my hallway, If you
don't mind. You see, can't very well
go downstairs every time I want to
use the phone, and 1t will be nuis-
ance sending for me when I'm want
ed"
This was rather high handed. I
thought.
But IL no one knows you're here II
seems to me you're not likely to be
called"
you never can tell" she said mys-
terious'y.
l promised to put the instrument in
her hall and not to have an extension
to my rooms for fear of creating sus-
picion. Also the electric bell system
was to be put in just as she wanted 1t
to be and lot of other things that do
not seem to come to mind at this mo-
ment.
I left in a daze at half past 3 to send
Britton up with all the late novels and
magazines.
CHAPTER TX.