The Dolores star., 1915-11-19

was destined never to be finished
More weighty matters were under dis
cussion.
I wondered what they were talkini
about and, suppressing q yawn.
walked toward them. AZ approached
heard scattered remarks abou
styles and dress fabrics. -. O..
Elaine had completely forgotten ten
mis- and me. She took q couple ol
steps away from the court with the
woman as I 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frightfully out Of date.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 Q
chance to get new ones. very reasona
bly,, too"
They walked on. and I could not
help scowling ct the visitor. On to.
ward the house Elaine and Madame
Larenz proceeded. and around it 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 car again and drove OF.
When I came down I found Aunt
Josephine still on the veranda. In ad.
dition to my horse, which I 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 60 with your" pleaded.
mo. Walter" she replied. laughing
merrily. "You can't 90. I want to
try them on"
Properly squelched, I retreated.
Elaine drove away. and q 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 q leather specimen
case, perhaps six inches long. under
his other arm.
AZ Madame Larenz whizzed past in
her car. he looked up keenly, in spite
OF his seeming Observation-Disclosures and
huge smoked glasses. He watched
her closely. noting the number of the
car. then turned and followed It.
Madam Larenz drew up, q second
time, before Del Mars. As she got out
and entered, the naturalist, having
qufckened his pace. came up and
watched her go 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 homer" inquired
Madam Larenz, as the valet ushered
her into the library.
mo. 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 at the desk
and wrote hastily When she had fin
ished the short note she read It over
and folded It 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 to her
driver. as he started off, while the
valet returned to the bungalow.
Outside. the naturalist had come
through the shrubbery and had been
looking in at the library window.
every move of Madame Lar
eng as she wrote. AS she went out
he paused just a second to look about.
Then he drew 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 it.
There was the note. He picked 1t up
and read 1t eagerly.
ror moment ne seemed to con-
slider what to do. Then he replaced
the note. Suddenly he heard the
sound of footsteps. 1t was the valet
returning. Quickly the naturalist ran
to the window and jumped out
q A moment later the valet entered
the library again. That's strange"
he exclaimed. under his breath: Il
don't recall opening that window over
there today"
He looked puzzled. But as no one
was about he went over and shut 1t.
Some distance down the road the
naturalist quietly emerged in safety
from the bushes. With scarcely a
moments hesitation, his mind thor
oughly made up to his course, he hur.
ried along the road.