The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-07-04
BY Arnold Frederfcks
Copyright by the
Frank A. Munsey Co.
I(Coattnued from our last ISSUE
CHAPTER III.


bf the Project of Police, and sent
In her card to Monsieur Lefevre.
He rushed into the anteroom
and embraced her with true Gal
! Ito fervor, kissing her on both
cheeks until she blushed. Then
he drew her into his private Of
flee,
Where is your husband?" he
asked, eagerly.
I'll do not know. Probably on
his way to Paris"
"But-my dear child! Did he
not come with your"
mo. He--he had other bust
ness
"Other business! But l under
stood that he had temporarily re-
tired
80 he had; but an old friend,
Mr.. Stapleton-"
"Stapleton!" Lefevre fairly
shouted. He is employed by him?
Mon Dieu!"
"Why not?" asked Grace in
surprise.
Butt was for that very case
that | desired his assistance. And
by this Stlpleton, who cables that
the whole police force of Paris are
a lot of jumping jacks! Sacre!"
Grace could scarcely repress a
smile How excessively French
the Project was. after all.
my husband did not know
when he agreed to take the case
for MIR. Stapleton, that you wanted
him. He does not know it now.
He has not yet received your
meAsage."
Then he does not know you
sre In Parish"
mo. | thought he would be
crossing on the same boat. When
I found that he wasn't, my first
thought was to send him a wire
less. Then l realized that | could
not do so, without saying some
thing about the business that had
called me to Paris. l feared to
do this-for there are so many
people nowadays tapping the
wireless.
''And he doesn't know that you
are in Paris? Ma foi!-what a
joke! am going to ask you to
take up this case, yourself. II
can't have your husband. at least
Z I shall have you"
But shall be working in OPP
position to him."
mot in opposition. You will
both have the same object in view
-4Ae recovery of Mr.. Stapleton's
By. You must disguise yourself
somewhat. Change the color of
your hair; it is easily done-here
in Paris. A slight alteration in
appearance only will be necessary.
And do not recognize your hus-
band, should you meet him face to
face. That is most important"
well" said Grace. her sense OF
mischief getting the better of
her, now that I'm here, ! suppose
might as well keep busy. Rich
ard won't be here for two days,
and / may find out something in
that time"
IOu nave TWO
start. In two days, much may be
accomplished.
An hour later, Grace left the
Projects office in a taxicaD, hav-
ing arranged to have her baggage
sent to Monsieur Lefevre's house,
where she was to stay while in
Paris. Her previous acquaintance
with Madame Lefevre made this
an ideal arrangement.
She ordered the driver to take
her to Mr.. Stapleton's house.
She found Mrs. Stapleton to be
a pretty and stylish woman of
thirty, whose beauty, however,
was sadly marred by the suffering
through which she was passing.
She answered Grace's questions as
well as she could. There was,
after all, little to say.
1T is all SO mysterious-so tel
rible," she cried. Poor Mary -
she is too i'll to see you, / fear,
or would have her tell you the
story herself"
TOO ill?" inquired Grace, who
had come more to question the
maid. than Mrs. Stapleton.
"They tried to poison her
last Friday"
They? Who?"
Il do not know. She went out
for walk. She tells me she
stopped to get a cup of chocolate
ut q cafe In the Rue st. Honore.
After that she came back to the
Champs Elysees, and sat upon a
bench. she began suddenly to feel
deathly i'll. and calling a cab, was
driven home. When she arrived
hore, she was unconscious, and
had to be carried to her room.
She has been in bed ever since"
Grace left the Stapleton house,
feeling somewhat baffled. Size was
walking in the direction OF the
Arc de Triomphe. revolving the
affair in her mind, when a young
man, evidently a Frenchman,
came up beside her, bowed polite
Iy, and In excellent English asked /:
miss Lanahan-is she better?"
who are you, monsieur"
asked Grace.
Il am a friend of Miss Lana
hams" the man replied. Il hear
thnt she is Ill. saw you enter
and leave the house. and I ven.
tured TO ask you II she is better