The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-11-04

WonueTeu what tney were talking
about and. suppressing a yawn, |
walked toward them. As | approached
heard scattered remarks about
styles and dress fabrics.
Elaine had completely forgotten ten.
mis- and me. She took n couple OF
steps away from the court with the
woEian as | came up.
Aren't you going to play?" I asked.
Il know you'll excuse me, Walter"
smiled Elaine. MY frocks are all so
frightfully out OF date. And here's a
chance to get new ones, very reasona.
bly,, too"
They walked of, and I could not
help scowling at the visitor. On to.
ward the house Elaine and Madame
Larenz proceeded. and around IL to
the front porch, where Aunt Josephine
was standing.
Just think. auntie.' cried Elaine.
real Paris gowns down here without
the trouble OF going to the city-and
cheaply. too"
Aunt Josephine was only mildly in.
terested, but that did not seem to
worry Madame Larenz.
Il shall be glad to see you at three.
Miss Dodge" she said. as she got into
her n again and drove or.
When l came down ! found Aunt
Josephine still or the yeranda. In ad.
dition to my horse. which | had tele.
phoned for. Elaine's little runabout
had been driven to the door. While |
was talking to Aunt Josephine, Elaine
came downstairs and walked over to
the car.
May go with your" I pleaded.
NO, Walter" she replied. laughing
merrily. you can't go. I want to
try them on"
Properly squelched, l retreated.
Elaine drove away. and a moment
later I mounted and cantered OF leis.
urely.
Near Del Mars bungalow might
have been seen again the mysterious
naturalist. walking along the road with
a butterfly net in his hand, and what
appeared TO be n leather specimen
case. perhaps six inches long. under
his other arm.
As Madame Larenz whizzed past in
her car, he looked up keenly. in spite
OF his seeming near.sightedness and
huge smoked glasses. He watched
her closely, noting the number Of the
car. then turned and followed Il.
Madam Larenz drew up. n second
time, before Del Mars. As she got out
and entered. the naturalist, having
~quickened his pace. came up and
watched her 70 In. Then. after taking
In the situation for a moment. he made
his way around the side OF the bunga.
low.
rs Mr.. Del Mar at home?" inquired
Madam Larenz, as the valet ushered
her into the library.
NO, madam" he returned. "Mr. Del
Mar Is out. But he left word that II
you came before he got back you were
TO leave word"
The woman sat down nj the desk
and wrote hastily. When she had fin.
ished the short note she read II over
and folded II up.
Tell Mr. Del Mar I've left a note
here on his desk" she said to the
valet.
a moment later she left the library.
followed by the valet. who accom-.
panied her to her car, and assisted her
In.
THE hotel" she directed 10 her
driver, as he started of. while the
valet returned TO the bungalow.
outside. the naturalist had come
through the shrubbery and had been
looking In at the library window,
watching every move OF Madame Lar.
enc as h wrote. As she went out
he paused Just a second 10 look about.
Then he drew a long knife from his
pocket, forced the window catch, and
quickly climbed into the room.
Directly to the desk he went and
hurriedly ran over the papers to Il.
There was the note. lie picked Il up
and read II eagerly.
MY a~partment-St. Germain-3 D.
m.-Larenz."
For a moment he seemed 10 con-
slider what TO do, Then he replaced
the note. Suddenly no heard the
sound OF footsteps. II was the valet
returning. Quickly the naturalist ran
TO the window and jumped out.
A moment later the valet entered
the library again. That's strange"
he exclaimed, under his breath; 81
don't recall opening that window over
there today"
lie looked puzzled. But as no Cne
was about he wen over and shut Il.
Some distance down the road the
naturalist quietly emerged in safety
from the bushes. With scarcely q
moments hesitation, his mind thor.
oughly made up to his course, he hur.
ried along the road.
Meanwhile. at the st. German,
Madame Larenz entered and passed
through the rotunda OF the hotel, fol.
lowed by many admlring glances OF
the men.
Up in her room stood several large
trunks. open. From them she had