Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-18

| 1AvSliAAiSlbNeEt you are BLupt0,t re-
torted the pale man, blood mounting
his cheeks in tiny pink patches. He
coughed after the way of a man who
sees the end of the earthly road
The others coarse fingers twitched
upon the table. His breath came fast
as he blurted: You Hntourdio lump. I
am your imperial superior. How dare
you so address me?"
The pale man leaned forward, and
softly whispered few words across the
table. 1t was the sting Of a serpent
Hochmeister shuddered all over his huge
body. He had received a terrible insult,
and he blinked with the blind rage Of
a maddened animal.
DO not mind him, Baron" pleaded
the woman. ut is an honor 70 have
royal blood in your veins"
Her words were of no avail. Some.
thing venomous cleaned in the big
mans eyes as he slipped his right hand
through the front of his dinner coat.
mot all the devils in hell" he Kissed,
will keep me from killing him."
The woman tried to scream. Only q
plaintlve sob came forth, but It reached
| Monte Crispen. In glance he caught
| up the threads of the impending trag.
edy; the scared woman, the covering
| consumptive and the infuriated Hooh.
meister In the act of drawing forth n
revolver.
Crispen sprang at him like a panther.
his feet leaving the floor. Nothing but
Monte's quick leap and superb strength
saved the pale man. He caught Hoch.
meister's right arm in such q grip that
he swung him off his chair and, with
dexterous twist, the bone snapped and
an automatic gun fell from nerveless
fingers
You see. Madame" said Monte to the
unknown woman, how I deal with
brutes who lose their senses" He deft.
ly kicked the revolver toward Andrews,
who coolly picked it up and tucked It
under napkin.
Hochmeister regained his chair ana
looked sheepishly around the roof.
walters were running and the air was
surcharged with the coming OF hoisted
authority from the ground floor in the
persons of the hotel detective, the man.
ager and porters
Looks like we are in for it," shrilled
the pale man, rising.
Turning to the stout Hochmeister, he
said: II withdraw that remark, Baron.
1 had no right to make It,"
"The Countess zeda," he went on.
presenting Monte, ana adding: I'VE are
recent arrivals from Europe. 1 am an
American, one who has always lived
abroad. You were magnificent"
He neither introduced his sullen COM
panion nor gave his own name. Later
Monte knew why.
There flashed quick look of intel
ligence between Monte and the hotel
manager, who now came up.
"Only rehearsal of new sketch:
we are actors" Monte declared, with.
out a moments wait, in an unruhied
voice. Our sincere apologies"
The hotel manager hesitated for q
moment and then nodded. He beck
oned back the others from the office
floor.
Certainly. sir" he granted. but the
last rehearsal-remember the last re-
hearsal. I trust you are all gentle
men,"
All melodramas must reach the period
OF readjustment when the hero lets
cuffs fly back under coat sleeves ana
the villain sinks off in baffied rage.
Under twentieth century polish. in
real life. the normal setting returns
more gracefully.
Hochmeister had regained his COM
posure. He paid the check with a bin
of large denomination. and waved on
the overjoyed waiter. With his pale
companion he moved toward the coat
room in the wake of the manager. who
was quite satisfied at the turn in af-
fairs; no notoriety for the hostelry, no
pollce-court sequel.
The woman remained behind for .
few moments with Monte Crispen. An
drews was uncomfortably busy reas-
surfing some curious society people.
after having smuggled the revolver,
napkin and all, into his coat pocket.
AS Monte threw a gorgeous sable
wrap around a pair OF decidedly shap-
y shoulders, the Countess zeda leaned
a little closer toward him. and a mys-
terious perfume almost dazed him with
It's sweetness.
II know you. Monte Crispen." she
in a low, rich voice. the sub
iued passion of which thrilled him.
Never mind where we have met. Heed
he warning give you"
She then quickly drew a white card
rom the recesses OF her vanity Jag,
md with a tiny gold pencil hastily
'cribbled something on It. In turning
lway she pressed the card upon him.
He took 1t from her almost mechan-
cally. He remained at the table, grip
'ing the card tightly, and bowling as
The Joined her two companions at the
elevator. which soon dropped from
light. carrying away a pair Of wonder
ul black eyes. unfathomable and mys-
eriOus.
''welll 1t might have happened ia
Paris. but I doubt It," broke in
Andrews.
Enough for one night" responded
,rispen.
An hour later. Monte Crispen, stand