The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-14

pleO WIN perfect DFceuIuS. acI Adlu
F, lily had been one Of the oldest ant
most-respected as well as one of tn
wealthiest in Manhattan. But tina
comfortable fortune which might hav'
been hers had been dissipated by he
paternal extravaganza; Fanny hal
been penniless when she marraet
young Adair for his money! s0rdfE
motive whose meanness had beer
atoneC by her candor in owning to Il
as by it's Ill success. For Adair hat
lost everything in Wall street and had
taken his life during the ensuing fl
Of despair.
Since that time Fanny had lived
upon the increment Of her arts and
charms.
1t was quite natural that steady.
paced matroEs like Mrs. Wrenn should
disapprove ardently Of Fanny Adair.
Patria, however, liked the girl; and
recently finding her temporarily ma
rooned in a shabby boarding house in
town for lack Of funds or invitation
to any country house, had promptly
taken Fanny under her wing, provid-
ing her with accommodations as lux
urious as her own in the hotel and i'm
pulsively promising her month at
"Shadow Lawn" when the time came
for Patria to return.
Could she have seen Fanny at that
moment, Patria would have been less
charitably disposed, would have grant
ed that more cogent reasons existed
for repeating Of her hasty invitation
than the fear of Mrs. Wrenn's dis
pleasure.
1t was noon precisely when Mrs.
Adair alighted from town-car as ir-
reproachably turned out as her engag-
ing self, and with furtive chances right
and left, approached the entrance to
a faultlessly quiet residence in So
Der side street of the Murray Hill
quarter.
Her ring was answered by sleek
little Inan-servant with close-cropped
hair as black as eyes that resembled
jet beads set aslant in saffron mask.
Indubitably he recognized the caller.
Bowling with a Difference that was
somehow subtly ins0lent, he admitted
Fanny.
Upon a mat in the middle Of the
room a Japanese gentleman Of high
rank sat clothed In the rich simple
ity of the robes appertaining unto his
nobility.
He was a man of middle-age, yet
younger than his years. The habit of
authority was his, tempered with the
most suave urbanity.
my dear Mrs. Adair-"
He bowed over her hand so low his
lips seemed to brush it.
She began to speak in agitated &C
cents: Baron Huroki-"
He deprecated her emotion with
slight gesture.
"You have come to tell me some
thing l very much wish to know
eh?"
Her hands worked together in her
lap. Il have come to say, I wish to
be released from our agreement"
A second small gesture dissented.
Her voice failed. She stared ut him
with pitiful eyes.
1T is impossible, my dear Mrs.
Adair." His tones were as bland as
oil, his intention as firm as adamant.
He smiled intimately up at her. "Why
distress yOurself?'
II don't like what you make me do;:'
she faltered. "Patria-she Is too good
to me, too kind and sweet. I can't get
my own consent to continue spying on
her!"
"You do not need 1t, dear Mrs. Adair.
You have mine."
"Baron Huroki-"
"Please- please do not make me
remind you Of certain unpleasant mat
tiers which must inevitably become
public should you fail to carry out my
Instructions with respect to the amia-
bic Miss Charming. 1t is my wish that
you continue to be her friend; you
must become her bosom friend, her
closest confidant; when that Is accom-
plished, shall secure through you GER
tain information essential to my-oh
happiness; and then I shall permit
you to 60 free Of all obligations to me.
Meantime-must remind you, your
are well paid?'
She was silenced. And while she
sat twisting futile fingers together
and striving to contrive some way out
OF those tolls in which she was so
hopelessly enmeshed, q servant en-
tered, bowed, and announced Senior
Juan de Lima. At sight Of Mrs. Adair
ne addressed her with the informally
Of an intimate acquaintance:
"Ah-h, Sonora Adair! OF all women
the one I am most anxious to see
And where, Fanny, dear, were you
last night, when I see Mees Patria
with Montmartre?"
"T-last night? Patria at Montmar-
tre!"
The eyes Of the baron narrowed.
but yes-I tell you. am at Mont
martre at two thees morning, with a
friend. And suddenly I see Mees
there, dancing in costume, q