The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-04-15

110T SOu0 Wd6 AOS uuhAAu' ~ W0O
affectionate.
"Now, my good man." she said to
Hammet Abou, in language totally
incomprehensible to him, money is
no object in this question, but what
will you do with Monsieur de Sabron
If you find him? He may be an in.
valid, and the ransom will be fabu-
LOUIS" ...
The Comtesse de la Maine felt the
girls arm in hers tremble. Hammet
Abou answered none Of these ques-
lions, for he did not understand them.
He said quietly to fremont:
"The caravan starts tomorrow at
shutdown and there is much to do"
fremont stood pulling his mus
tache. He looked boyish and charm.
ing, withal serious beyond his usual
habit. His eyes wandered over to the
corner where the two women stood to-.
gether.
II intend to go with you, Hammet
Abou," said he slowly, If it can be
arranged. Otherwise this expedition
does not interest me-"
Two women said:
"Oh, heavens!" at once.
Robert de fremont heard the note
of anxiety in the younger voice alone.
He glanced at the Comtesse de la
Maine.
"You are quite right, Madame" he
said, "a mans life is at stake and we
stand chatting here. know some
thing of what the desert is and what
the natives are. Sabron would be the
first to go if it we're question of
brother officer"
The Marquise dEsclignac got down
from her throne, trembling. Her eyes
were fixed upon her niece.
Julia" she began, and stopped.
Madame de la Maine said nothing.
Robert, you are my godson, and I
forbid it. Your mother"
els one Of the bravest women I
ever knew" said her godson. my
father was soldier
Julia withdrew her arm from the
Comtesse' de la Maine as though to
leave her free -
"Then you two girls" said the Mar
quise d'Esclignac, thoroughly Ameri-
can for a moment, must forbid him
to CO." She fixed her eyes sternly
upon her niece, with glance of en-.
treaty and reproach. Miss Redmond
said in firm voice:
I'm Monsieur de Tremont's case I
should do exactly what he proposes.
"But he is risking his life," said the
Marquise d'Esclignac. HE is not even
an intimate friend of Monsieur de Sa.
bron!"
fremont said, smiling:
"You tell us that he has no broth.
er, marianne. Eth bien, I will pass as
his brother"
A thrill touched Julia Redmond's
heart. She almost loved him. If, as
her aunt had said, Sabron had been
out of the question {.
Madame de la Maine," said the
Marquise d'Esclignac, her hands shak.
ing, II appeal to you to divert this
headstrong young man from his pur.
pose."
The Comtesse de la Maine was tho
palest of the three women. She had
been quietly looking at fremont and
now a smile crossed her lips that had
tears back of it-one of those beau
tiful smiles that mean so much on
woman's face. She was the only
one of the three who had not yet
spoken. fremont was waiting for her.
Hammet Abou, with whom he had
been In earnest conversation, was an.
swering his further questions. The
Marquise d'Esclignac shrugged, threw
up her hands as though she gave up
all questions of romance, rescue and
disappointed love and foolish girls,
and walked out thoroughly wretched,
Mimi tinkling at her heels. The Com
Jesse de la Maine said to Julia:
MA chere, what were the words of
the English song you sang last night
the song you told me was a sort of
prayer. Tell me the words slowly,
win you?"
They walked out of the vestibule
together, leaving Hammet Abou and
fremont alone.