Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-12-04

OF the man VINO mad uttered 1t. EVERY
nerve In his body was tingling with
the desire for action. The stupor OF
his senses alone kept him motionless.
and strange, incomprehensible clar-
ity of thought. He realized exactly
how things were. This man had not
spoken idly, or as a scandalmonger.
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 Graillot. Then once more his
self-control became in danger. He
seized the Frenchman savagely by the
arm.
"Come this way" he said, leading
him toward the card-room. "Come in
herel l want to speak to you"
He locked the door-a most I'M
heard-of and irregular proceeding.
Graillot felt the coming of the storm.
"Well!" he exclaimed grimly. "Trou-
BILE already, Ell? l see it in your face,
young man. Out with itv'
II was sitting in the smoking room
there, few moments ago." he began,
| jerking his head toward the door.
There were some men talking-de-
cent fellows, not dirty scandal-mOn-
gers. They spoke of Louise Maurel."
Graillot nodded gravely. He knew
| Uoru xpall what xuoo oorntnu
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 piteously, "you know it is not
true, nor likely to be true! Can't
you say sol"
"Stop, my young friend" the
Frenchman interrupted. II know moth
ing 1t is a habit of mine to know
nothing when people make suggestions
of that sort. make no inquiries. I
accept life and people as 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 repetition Of his words. The
81 will not discuss this matter with
you, my friend. / will only ask you
to remember the views of the world in
which we live. Louise Maurel is an
artist, q great artist. If there has
been such an affair as you suggest, be-
tween her and any man, if it were
something which appealed to her af-
fections, 1t is my opinion that she
would not hesitate. You seem to think
it an outrageous thing that the prince
should have been her lover. To be
perfectly frank, do not. l should be
very much more surprised at 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
cadilly toward Hyde Park corner.
He found taxicab and was driven
toward the Milan. He was conscious
Of wild desire to keep away from
his rooms. Every pulse In his body
was tingling. He was fiercely awake,
eager for motion, action, excitement
of any sort. Suddenly he remembered
| the night club to which he had been
introduced by Sophy on the first night
of his arrival in London. The adj
dress, too, was there quite clearly in
his disordered brain. He leaned out
of the cab and repeated it to the driv-
er.
The little place was unexpectedly
crowded when he entered, after hay
ing handed his hat and coat to
vestiaire. A large supper party was
going on at the farther end. and the
dancing space was smaller than usu-
al. The maitre d'hotel was escorting
John to a small table in q distant
corner, which had Just been vacated,
when the latter heard his name sud-
denly called by familiar voice. So
ply, who had been dancing, aban-
doned her partner precipitately and
came hurrying up to John with out
stretched hands.
"Johnw she exclaimed. "You. Of
all people in the world! What do you
mean by coming here alone at this
time of night? Fancy not telling me
Is anything the matter?"
Nothing" he replied. 81 really
don't exactly know why am here.
simply don't want 20 go to bed"
where is the prince?" he asked.
Sophy, struck by something In his
voice, swung around and looked at
/ him. Then she thrust both her arms
| through his, clasped her two hands
together, and led him firmly away. A
glimmering of the truth was begin
ming to dawn upon her.
Tell me where you have been since
you left the reception" she insisted,
when at lest they were seated to-
gether.
"wait till 1 have ordered some
wine" he said
A waiter served them with cham
payne. When Johns glass was filled,
he drained its contents. Sophy
watched him with surprise. She came
little closer to him.
"John," she whispered, you must
| tell me-dO you hear? You must tell
me everything! Did you take Louise
| homer
Eyes"
What happened, then7 You didn't
quarrel with herr"
Nothing at all happened" he as
sured her. "We parted the best of
! friends. 1t wasn't that"
''Then what? Remember that I am
your friend, John, dear. Tell me ev-
erything"
81 will tell you" he assented. st
went TO little club 1 belong to on
the Adelphi Terrace. I sat down in
the smoking room. There was no one
| there / knew. Some men were Talk
| ing. They had been TO the reception