The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-12-14
CHAPTER xxI-Continued.


INJURED sis absolutely of no conse
quence, but remember that you live
here, and"
Don't be silly" he interrupted
"What does that matter? And besides
according to you and all the rest OF
you here, these things don't affect a
mans reputation-they are expected
of him. See, have rung the bell for
breakfast. Now 1 am going to tele-
phone down for messenger boy to
go for your Clothes"
They breakfasted together, a little
later, and she made him smoke. He
stood before the window, looking down
upon the river, with his pipe in his
mouth and an unfamiliar look upon
his face.
"Do you suppose that Louise knows
anything?" he asked at length.
Il should think not" she replied.
at is for you to tell her. I rang up
the princes house while you were in
the bathroom. They say that he has
q broken rib and some bad cuts, sus-
tanned in motor accident last night,
but that he is in no danger. There
was nothing about the affair in the
newspapers, and the princes servants
have evidently been instructed to give
this account to inquirers."
A CLEAN of interest shone in Johns
face.
"By the bye" he remarked, ''the
prince is Frenchman. He will very
likely expect me to fight with him."
mo hope of that, my belligerent
friend" Sophy declared, with an at
tempt at smile. "The prince knows
that he is in England. He would not
be guilty of such an anachronism. Be
sides, he is person of wonderfully
well-balanced mind. When he is him.
self again, he will realize that what
happened to him is exactly what he
asked for"
John took up his hat and gloves.
He glanced at the clock-it was a lit |
tie past eleven.
81 am ready" he announced. "Let |
me drive you home first"
His motor was waiting at the door, |
and he left Sophy at her rooms. Be
fore she got out, she held his arm for
Il moment.
"John," she said, remember that
Louise is very high-strung and very
sensitive. Be CAREFUL"
"There is only one thing to do OF
to say" he answered. "There is only
one way in which 1 can do it,"
He drove the car down Piccadilly
like man in a dream, steering as
carefully as usual through the traffic,
and glancing every now and then with
unseeing eyes at the streams of peo-
pie upon the pavemenrs. Finally he
came to a standstill before Louise's
house and stopped the engine with de-
liberate care. Then he rang the bell,
Ing room, which seemed to have become I
q perfect bower of pink and white
lilac /
He sat waiting as if in a dream,
unable to decide upon his words, I'M |
able even to sift his thoughts. The
one purpose with which he had come,
the one question he designed to ask
was burning in his brain. The min
utes of her absence seemed tragically
long.
Then at last the door opened and
.ouise entered. She came toward him
with a little welcoming smile upon
her lips. Her manner was gay, al
most affectionate.
"Have you come to take me for a
ride before lunch?" she asked. do
you know, 1 think that I should really
like it! We might lunch at Ranelagh |
on our way home"
The words stuck in his throat. From
where she was, she saw now the writ
rig on his face. She stopped short.
"What is it," she exclaimed.
Ever since 1 knew you" he said
slowly, "there have been odd moments |
wien 1 have lived in torture. During
he last fortnight, those moments have
.,come hours. bast night the end
,nme''
"Are you mad, John?" she demand
I'll.
Perhaps" he replied. "Listen. When
left you last night, I went to the
'lub in Adelphi Terrace. There was
sell-known critic there, comparing you
md Latrobe. On the whole he ia y
-ored you, but he gave Latrobe the u
lrst place in certain parts. Latrobe, u
he said. had had more experience in u
ffe. She had had a dozen lovers y
'ou, only onew III
She WINGED. The glad freshness
4'emed suddenly to fade from her te
ace. Her eyes became strained.
"Wel1?"
81 found Graillot. / cornered him. dt
asked him for the truth about you.
lie put me off with an evasion. I III
anne down here and looked at your In
-indow 1t was three O'Clock In the 70
Forming dared not come in. A very o.
ernon of unrest was in my blood. I Sc
topped at the night club on my way ba
ack. Sophy was there. asked her
lainly TO put me out Of my agony. sa
he was like Graillot. She fenced with
le. And then-the prince Gamer
1.-THE prince was there?" she fall
red.
He came up to the table where att
ophy 81 were sitting. think / cr'