Putnam patriot., 1915-08-13
 CHAPTER VI.
Lucene.

She made dawdlins round of the room, serutinizing ev- cry detail of its arrangement At the very last she came to the little table, toward which Andrew had glanced note the simmer of blue light By in stinct het eyes went straight to the ring on the instant of her approach. As she beheld the lusters of the jewel her handsome face suddenly famed with greed and she uttered an ejaculation of delight For long seconds she con templated the glittering bauble with rapture, bending her face ever closer and closer as under a spell Then. in a sudden realization of her avaricious thought, she started guilfiy. and peer ed about the room with furtive glanees. to make sure that none spied upon her. Again. she studied tlie stone with a sensuous ecstasy in it's prismed briliiance. again. she lore her eyes from its charm. and now she moved from it in resolute effort to escape temptation. But the old habit of life dragged her back to the table. and she put forth covetous hand. seized the ring, carried it to her bosom, smiling.
 But very soon her mood yeered The smile vanished from her full lips Her expression became that of poign ant grief By slow degrees the hand that held the ring moved from her breast. reached to the table. set the jewel back i'll its place. Ii was at this rpnrnaut tb1t ADdpayV ro aufafod At sight of him Mrs Blount realized with a shudder how narrow had been the margin of her escape from detection in the very act of theft. She pointed to- ward the little table and spoke with a catch in her voice:
 Andrew, just look at what you left on that table there. It's q good thing there haven't been any strangers In the house with that lying around loose
 Andrew crossed to the table and picked up the ring. There was faint smile on his closely set lips as he turn ed and went to the woman. He extend ed the ring with slight bow
 Mrs. Blount.' he said pleasantly, allow me Andrew nodded assent as he dropped the ring into her itching palm. "Only a word of counsel" he said Remember that who am and what my exact intentions may be are of no interest 10 you. So be careful.' Having thus admonished her he left her alone to her happiness.
 And Mrs Blount, watching the lux urlous play of th' varieolored rays from the diamond murmured content edly in the softest notes of her throaty voice:
 "Geel If sure pays to be honest"
 The servant soon announced to An drew the arrival of Miss Blount and was directed to show the young lady into the library as soon as she should be ready for an interview
 Andrew descended to the library with an eagerness of expectancy that was almost disconcerting to himself. He ordered Parker. whom he found al ready stationed in the hall, 10 main tain the privacy of the library. to bring Walter on hearing the bell And al last delicate rustling of draperies sounded at the door. and Lucene en- tered.
 The girl stopped short at sight of the man. arrested for a 'aoment by the stress of emotion. No least trace of Maggie Flint. nursemaid and convict remained visible in the poised loyeli- ness of this gentle maiden. Tie prom ise of her beauty had been most nobly fulfilled. She was of dainty fairness. with q golden crown Of locks like corn silk in the sun. as lustFeus. as finely spun. The exquisite features. set in the perfect oval of the face. were pearl pure of coloring. save where the blood int bIushad in cheeks G-ld daepened winsomely in lips.
 At his smile Lncene came to him swiftly.
 ~Oh. at lastt' she exclaimed.
 His smile grew as ,le spoke:
 You're not 1<'ng to be lonesome for France. gre you. Lucenef"
 indeed. nor" was the joyous an rwer. given with a half disdainful pout of the red lips. 'I was happy enough there. But, after all. it wasn't Aneri- ta-it wasn't home"
 Now. since her first strong emotion Ut the meeting was past, Lucene was