River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-02-08
Copyright, 1915, by Lppincott's Magaz ine
Copyright, 1915, by Mcbride, Mast & Co.

fie unsfeadily 1T seems all right
the cocktails We're beginning to speak
now, and his voice was duet-''simply
perfectly all right-all square"
Good" said Mr.. Gianapolis, with his
radiant smile, and the gaze of his left
eye, crossing that of its neighbor, OBJ
served the entrance of stranger into
the bar He drew his stool closer and
lowered his voice.
''Mrs. Leroux,' he continued, "will
be I'm your confidence Mr.. LerouX and
every one discovery one elSe-muSt
not suspect the arrangement"
Certainly quite understand"
"Irs. Leroux will engage you this
afternOon-her husband Is mere
cipher i'll the household-and you will
commence your duties on Monday.
Later in the week, Wednesday or
Thursday, we will meet by appoint
ment and discuss further Details
Where can | see your
Ring up this number-18642 East
and ask for Mr.. King. No, don't write
it down; remember it. | will come to
the telephone and arrange meeting"
Shortly after this, then, the inter
yieS concluded, and later i'll the after
noon Of that day Mr.. Soames presented
himself at Palace mansions
He was received by Mrs. Leroux,
pretty woman with pathetically weak
mouth. She had fair hair not very
abundant, and large eyes, which, since
they exhibited the unusual phenom-
enon III a blond of long dark lashes
(A1r. Soames judged their Dlackness to
be NATURAL, would have been beautiful
had they not been of too light color,
too small in the pupils and utterly eX-
preSSiOnleSS. Indeed, her whole face
lacked color, as did her personality,
and the exquisite tea gown which she
wore conveyed that odd impression of
sloyenliness which is often an indica-
ton of secret vice. She was quite
young and indisputably pretty, but this
malproprete, together with a certain
aimlesSness Of manner, struck an in
congruous note, for essentially she was
of a type which for it's complement
needs vivacity.
Mr.. SOameS, q man of experience,
scented an intrigue and neglectful
husband. Since he was engaged on
the spot without reference to the in
visible Leroux lie was Immediately
confirmed in the latter part Of his sur
mise. He departed well satisfied with
his affairs and with the promise of the
future, over which Mr.. Gianapolis, the
cherubic, radiantly presided.
For close upon month Soames per-
formed the duties imposed upon him in
the household Of Henry Leroux He
was unable to discover despite a care
full course of inquiry from the cook and
the housemaid, that Mrs. Leroux fire.
quently absented herself. But the
servants We're newly engaged, for the
fiat in Palace mansions had only re-
Gently been leased by the Lerouxes. He
gathered that they had formerly lived
much abroad and that their marriage
had taken place in Paris. Mrs, Lee
rouX had been to visit a friend in the
french capital once, he understood.
since the housemaid had been in her
employ
AAC AAAoCIeSS (SdIu the uOuSomalu1
did not care twopence-ha'penn for
her husband; she had married him for
his money and for nothing else. She
had had an earlier love declared the
cook and was pining away to a mere
shadow because of her painful memo
ries. During the last six months (the
period Of the cooks service) Mrs. Lee
rouX had altered out of all recognition.
The cook was of opinion that she drank
secretly.
OF Mr.. Leroux Soames formed the
poorest opinion. He counted him a
spiritless being whose world was
bounded by his bookshelves and whose
wife would be a fool if she did not
avail herself of the liberty which his
neglect invited her to enjoy. Soames
felt himself not a snake in the grass.
but benefactor-a friend In need-a
champion come to the defense of an
unhappy and prosecuted woman.