Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-12-27

that these French actresses get ut
us a little more completely wen than
Louise Maurel. Do you know the rea-
son? I'll tell you. 1t Is because they
live the life. They have a dozen new
emotions in a seas0n. They make a
cult of feeling. They use their brains
to dissect their passions. They cut
their w life into small pieces and
give us the result without conceal
ment. That Is where they score. II
anywhere. This Nine. LatrObe, who
opens over here tomorrow night, Is In
love ut the present moment with Jean
Tourbet. She had an affair with that
Italian poet in the summer, so they
tell me. She was certainly In Madrid
IN October with Bretoldl, the sculp-
tor. These men are all great artists.
Think what she must have learned
from associating with them. Now
Louise Maurel, so far rs we know,
has never had but one affair, the prince
of Seyre, and has been faithful to him
all the time"
1t was out at last! John had heard
it spoken In plain words. The black
demon upon which his hand had lain
so heavily, was alive now, without a
doubt, jeering mt him, hooking Mt him
alive and self-assert!ve in the sober
words Of the elderly, well-bred man
who lounged upon the table.
For n moment or two John was
stunned. A wild impulse assailed him
to leap up aud confront them all. to
choke the lie back down the throat
Of the man who had uttered it. Every
nerve In his body was tingling with
the desire for action. The stupor Of
his senses alone kept him motionless.
and a strange. incomprehenslble clar-
ity of thought. He realized exactly
how things were. This maj had not
spoken idly, or as a scnndalmonger.
He had spoken what he had accepted
as a fact, what other people believed.
John rose to his feet and made his
way toward the door. His face showed
little sign of disturbance. He even
nodded to some men whom he knew
slightly. AS he passed down the stairs,
he met Gralllot. Then once more his
S~elf-control became in danger. He
seized the Frenchman sayagely by the
arm.
Come this way" he said. leading
him toward the card-room. 'Come in
here! l want to speak to YOU"
He locked the door--a most IN
leard-of and irregular proceeding.
GraiIlot felt the coming of the storm.
well" he exclaimed grimly. "Trou-
bic already, eh? | see it in your face,
young man. Out with it,"
Il was sitting in the smoking room
there, a few moments ago" he began,
jerking his head toward the door.
"There We're some men ~talking--de-
cent fellows, not dirty scandal-mon-
gers. They spoke Of Louise Maurel."
Graillot nodded gravely. He knew
very well what was coming,
John felt his throat suddenly dry.
The words he would have spoken
choked him. He banged his fist upon
the table by the side Of which they
were standing.
Look. here, Graillot," he cried. al.
most ~plteously, you know 1t Is not
true, nor likely to be truel Can't
you say so?"
stop, my young friend" the
Frenchman interrupted. II know moth
ing. 1t Is n habit Of mine to know
nothing when people make suggestions
Of that sort. I make no inquiries. I
accept life and people as I find them"
But you don't believe that such a
thing could be possible?"
"Why not" Graillot asked steadily.
John could do no more than num-
BILE o repetition Of his words. The
world was falling away from him.
II will not discuss this matter with
you. my friend. I will only ask you
to remember the views Of the world In
which we live. Louise Maurel Is IN
artist. Il great artist. II there has
been such IN affair rs you suggest, be-
tween her and any man, II 1t were
something which appealed to her af-
fections, 1t Is my opinion that she
would not hesitate. You seem to think
1t an outrageous thing that the prince
should have been her lover. TO be
perfectly frank. I do not. l should be
very much more surprised ut her mar.
riage."
John made his escape somehow. He
remembered opening the door, but he
had no recollection Of reaching the
street. A few minutes later, however
he found himself striding down Pic
cadllly toward Hyde Park corner.
He found a taxicab and was driven
toward the Milan. He was conscious
Of a wild desire to keep away from
his rooms. Every pulse In his bod,
was tlngllng. He vas tiercely awake
eager for motion. action, excitement
, Of any sort. Suddenly he remembered
the night club to which he had beer
!. introduced by Sophy on the FIRST nigh
, Of his arrival In London. The nd
dress, too. was there quite clearly II
> his disordered brain. He leaned GU
. Of the cab and repeated It to the driv
. er. a,#
The little place wal unexpected,
4 crowded when he entered, after hay
Q Ing handed his hat and coat to
4 v~estiaire. A large supper party wa
0 going on at the farther end. and tn
dancing space was smuller than usu
Of. The maitre d'hotel was escortln
John to . small table Ia a distan
E corner. which had Just been vacatet