The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1916-07-21

! BILE. He looked at her keenly.
IF you are sorry, mademoiselle, will
you do something for me? want you
to go back and find Madame Arnaud
! Ask her to speak to me for few min
utes. | shall be outside. Tell her Il
concerns her husbands proposed ex
change. She will understand. l would
go myself. but my condition forbids
| it."
Gabrielle glanced at him and saw
that he was in undress, and that his
uniform was stained with dust.
Colonel Destinn," she said slowly
'the man you have just punished fol
| speaking to me is my one friend. We
brushed shoulders, as it were, months
ago, when three flights of stairs sep
arated us-materially and socially
Now by chance we have met again or
the same level. Birds of a feather,
you know, Colonel Destinn. I too, an
something of a scalawag, and the only
virtue of the species is a certain 10y
| atty to their kind. I am here to keeI
| guard"
"Keep guard?" he echoed, half puz
zled, half amused.
He has an enemy"
And you are here as a sort Of deus
| ex machina? Name of heaven, friend
| Of metal Give me the name of this
evilly intentioned person?"
"That l cannot do, Colonel Destinn
But will make a bargain with you
If you will forget tonight's delin
quencies and will take my place unit
return, l will go on your errand
Otherwise stay here"
He was silent moment, his hand a.
his mustache; then he looked at hel
with a curious smile.
You are an unusual little woman
mademoiselle" He seated himself OF
the root of the tree, and drawing on
his watch held it to the light. 81 give
| you ten minutes" he added.
I'm ten minutes 1 shall have re
turned" she answered.
Zone thing more. do not wish any
one to know Of my presence here. l,
would cause comment. The matter IL
between Madame Arnaud and myself
You understand"
"Yes-I understand" she assenteG
slowly.
| At a bend in the avenue she glanced
back for a moment, searching the dark
ness. Colonel Destinn's somberly cla6
| figure was hidden in the black out
lines of the trees, but beyond, clear
cut against the silvery plain, she saw
Richard Farquhar's upright watchfu
| figure. Half satisfied, she hurried on.
AS she reached the Villa Bernotto's
and a few couples in search Of fresf
air drifted out on to the veranda. Syl
via Arnaud, with her hand resting
lightly on the arm Of young lieuten
ant, stood at the top Of the steps, hel
head thrown back little so that the
soft reflection from the overhangine
lantern flooded down upon her face
and the beautiful white neck.
| Gabrielle touched her on the elbow
and she started. "Oh, it's you, Miss
Smith! l thought What is it?"
Colonel Destinn is in the grove
was the quiet answer. He wishes tt
speak with you. Will you Gomez"
"Yes, wait" She turned carelessly
to her companion. You will excuse
me, won't you? My husband has SEN
for me-"
A minute later she stood at Gabrielle
Smiths side at the entrance of the
grove She had completely changed
The coquettish ight-heartedness was
gone, leaving her excited and little
breathless. She glanced uneasily abou
| her.
Il believe you are shocked" she saii
hurriedly. II had to say it was my
husband. And promised Colonel Des
tim. 1t is about Desire-and his pro
motion-a surprise"
Suddenly, with a little choking ex
clamation, she stopped and chung tt
her companions arm. Miss Smith
what is that-don't you see-there ir
the light"
Instinctively Gabrielle threw of thu
terrified hand. She had recognized
Arnaud. He stood in a bright patel
which the moon threw between two
great palms on to the sandy avenue
| His back was toward her, his heaG
bent, the stoop Of his shoulders, the
whole attitude unmistakable. She heard
the faint click Of a lock being slipped
back, and then he turned and looked
| IL @Lo1+ I,f qao
| lures were as visible as when limeligh
is turned on to the face of a consum
mate actor. Capt. Desire Arnau6
crossed the avenue and disappeared
| like a shadow in the darker shadows
Of the trees.
Sylvia shuddered and then laughed
unsteadily.
How stupid of me. l was really
| frightened. But 1 did not want him tt
see u.s. 1t would have been hard to ex
plain, and he has been so strange anG
excitable lately"
! She went on alone, walking in thu
center of the grove where the ligh
was strongest and humming softly tt
herself like confident child whose
momentary fear is passed and forgot
ten. Colonel Destinn heard her com
ing. He was still seated where Cab
riele had left him. smoking TRANQUILITY
and the dull glow of his cigarette light
ed up an enigmatical composure
Neither pleasure nor triumph had theil
place in those set features, but some
thing else-the suggestion of an incal
culable force under the heel of an in
calcuable will.
.. ..
When Sylvia actually knows
that her husband is preparing
| To shnnt IN innocent man from