The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-04-15

| well III uiSuO.
II daresay the mother loved thu
child. which ought to c0ndone on.
among her multitude OF sins. take 1t
of course. that she was entirely t.
blame for everything that happened"
They ut once proceeded to tear tht
poor little mother to shreds. delicatel,
aud with tineSse. to be sure. but none
the less completely.
"What was her social standing In
New York;" inquired.
"Oh. good senuugh." said Betty Billy
"She was in the srnartest set. IT that Is
recommendation
To my disgust the three OF them re-
fused to eniighten me further as to the
history. identity or character OF either
MIR. or Mrs. Pless. but Ut course
knew that 1 was entertaining under
my roof by the most extraordinary
coincidence the Count and Countess OF
Something.or.other, who were at war.
and the child they were lighting for
with motives OF an entirely opposite
nature.
What time do we dine?" asked MIR.
Pless later. with suppressed yawn.
AT s. said Elsie promptly.
~ think IN take nap" said he.
With languid smile and little Haunt
OF bis hand as ii Diminishing us. he
moved languidly of. but stopped after
few steps to say to me, well ex.
plore the castle tomorrow, Mr.. Smart,
If it's just the sa me to you" He spoke
with Il very slight accent and in Pc
culiariy attractive manner. There was
charm to the man. was bound tn ad.
nit. ~ know Schloss RothhOefen very
we'll. 1t is an old stamping ground OF
mine"
"Indeed"' said l. affecting surprise.
II spent very joyous season mere
not so many years ago. Hohchdahl is
a bosom friend"
was eager to steal away to the east
wing with the news, 80 somewhat lat
er ! knocked at the countess door
realized that it was most unseemy
hour for calling on young. beautiful
and unprotected lady. but the exigen-
cies of the moment lent moral support
to my invasion.
The countess French maid peered
out at ME.
Tell your mistress that | must see
her at once"
"Madame is not at home. msieur,"
said the young woman.
Not at home:" ! gasped. "Where
Is she?"
MADAME ha. gone to bed"
oh" ! said blinking. "'rhen she is
at home. Present my compliments and
ask her to get up. Something very eS
aspcrating has hap
"MadAme has request me to inform
m'Siour that she knows the count is
here and will you be so good as to call
tomorrow morning"
what. She knows he's here? Who
brought the information?"
"'rhe bountifnl Max, m'sieur. He
brin. it with dejcuner. again with din
err and but now with the hot water.
m'sieur."
"Oh, l sce." said ! profoundly. "ln
tIAl CdSS I""N!Islu - uNA
Very stitily and cercmoniously ! nd
vised caution for the next twelve hours
and left.
Now it may occur to You that any
self respecting gentleman in possession
OF castle and grain of common
sense would have set about to find out
the trne names Of the guests beneath
his roof But it so happens that !
rather enjoyed the mystery. The stu
alton was unique, the comedy most
exhilarating. OF course there was a
tragic side to the whole matter, but,
now that was in for it. why mini
miZe the novelty 10y adopting arbitrary
measures? Somewhat gicefully de-
keep myself in the dark as long as
possible.
When | reached the room where my
guests We're assembled found Mr.
Plcss and the Baron Vmovitch engag-
cd i'm an acrimonious dispute over a
question Of bridge etiquette. The
former had resented a sharp criticism
coming from the latter. and they were
waging verbal battle in what tool,
to be five or six different tongues
none of which appeared to bear the
slightest relationship to the English
language. Suddenly Mr.. Pless threw
his cards down and left the table
, without word Of apology to the TIVE
ladies. who looked more hurt than ap
paIed.
He said be was going to bed. but
noticed that he took himself off in tho
direction of the moOnlit lOggia W.
were still discussing his detection il
subdued tones-with the exception u
the irate baron-when he re-enteret
the room.
Are there real spirits in your castle
Mr.. Smart. or have you flesh ant
blood mediums here who roam abou
in white night dresses to study thu
moods Of the moon from the dizzies
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