The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-03-27
CHAPTER l.
Two Letters
fkT WANT QUO million frames
Monsieur tho Count Raoui
n'EAte rcrend the sentence

k<T WANT QUO million francs
Monsieur tho Count Raou
n'Este rcrend the sentence
in the letter which ne had received
that mornlnr for perhaps the twon
1 tieth time. Tho contents we're type
\ written. and tho signature, Victor
l Glrard. ms we'll.
Vet the name Victor Girard was
4 ono that was quite well known To
the count. for he had received a
letter OF the same sort. signed IN
tho same way. almost every day Tor
the past four weeks
Tho earlier letters had only an
nounced tho writer's desire for the
money. The later ones informed
him that the said Girard would
within a short time indicate the
method by which tho sum was "a
Do paid over % him.
Presently tho count uttered m
exclamation. I'm call up Lefcvre.
ho said, angrily This thing must
stop"
lie aprang from his chair. rams up
tho project ~ police. Monster
Etlenno Lefeyre. and at once ex'
planned tho circumstances which
had prompted his call The project
agreed 60 Join him Within half an
hour.
Tho Count nEs,e was n small
man, perhaps % years OF age. but
he looked somewhat older.
Tho appointments OF the room IN
which he vat indicated him 20 be
a man ~ more than ordinary
wealth. Yet until his marriage with
"A widow OF large wealth. an Amer.
lean. some five years before. he had
been distinguished far more Tor his
debts than for his ability 10 pay
them. iila sole asset had been hts
title.
This he brought into the great
market for such commodities. New
York. where he was able presently
20 exchange Il for Mrs Randall and
a fortune estimated nt some two
million dollars. MrH. Randall or as
she thus became. tho Countess
D'EHte. having died within the past
year. the count Was left with what
was FOR Paris. large fortune.
Luckily FOR him they had no
children The count himself had a
nephew. Emile. who was dependent
upon him. and Mrs. Randall had IA.
sisted upon having With her during
the last few months ~ their mar
fied ifs her niece. Grace Eliicott
Tbs latter had upon aunt's death
beea left penuiicss. sh0 WAS an or
phan with no near relatives.
Tho young girl had supposed. At
tho time OF her huut'a death. that
tho latter had made provision for
her Ia will Great was her sur
prise. therefore. upon being in-
formed by her uncle tha; no such
provision had been made
The count. however. bad made
her . Regular tho small allowance.
and opposed al her suggestions
that HLe should return to America
As 30 finished telophoning. Grace
Ellicot, camo into the room.
Grace Eiiicoif had just passed
oct Of hor teens, and was a girl
Of unusual beauty and charm.
II Count DEsts.~ she exclaimed
seriously. here is letter which
have Just received. wfl you please
read itT'
The count took the letter. and
proceeded 20 examine It's contents
u vas written IN feminine hand.
and bore neither superHcriptian
nor signature
DO not return 90 America q
read This money which was l0ft
you ~ your aunt you vii receive
before tho erd pf the month
DEste looked up with frowu.
What nonsense IA thar he asked
irritahiy. II command you not 20
mention the suhiec; again. Should
you do so. am afraid shall be
Obliged" lie paused. his tone
fun OF meaning.
Don't threaten mo. Count
D'Este am not afraid Of you. I
have friends
Is Victor Girard ono OF them -
AZ asked "a a harsh voice.
Grace recoilad in surprise vic.
tor Glrard'" abe asked vaguely.
who IS ho9"
The count shrugged his shout.
ders. Never mind. II he IL. I
imagine he will soon be quite
harmless"
Grace Jaw that II would he use.
less TO continue tho discussion. 4
shall 80 away tomorrow. she OK
claimed. Under the circum.
stances. I do not care 10 exist
unon your charity any longer. F."
with an angry nod. she ief, the
room.
D'Este sat down and attempted
} TO read his paper. but the letter
=. which Grace Ellicott had shown
him had made him extremely un.
comfortable.
\ Presently he heard some one
coming along the hail. and glanced
up as Eugene, the butler. entered
with visiting card. D'EBte glano-
cd az the card. read the name upon
II in utter aBtouishment.
Victor Girard!" he Fasped, his
nand trembling with excitement
That man here7 lmbecllel Why
did you lot him in7"
Alas. monsieur. could not help
Il"
Where n tho fellow now" do.
manded D'Eate.
In the library. Monsieur the
Count"
CHAPTER II.
The Count Has n Caller
About tho time Count D'Este was
afrsr 1t