The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-01-19
CHAPTER Xxi-Continued.

My own reputation, she muir
INJURED, lis absolutely Of no conse-
Huence, 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
mans reputation-they are expected
Of him. See, have rung the bell for
breakfast. Now l 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.
II should think not" she replied.
att 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.
Ely the bye" he remarked, "the
prince is a Frenchman. He will very
likely expect me to fight with him."
mo hope of that, my belligerent
friend" Sophy declared, with an at
that he is in England. He would not
be guilty Of such an anachronism. Be-
sides, he is q 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
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 saw" he answered. "There is only
one way in which I can do it."
He drove the car down Piccadilly
like a man in a dream, steering as
carefully as usual through the trafflc
and glancing every now and then with
unseeing eyes at the streams OF PEG
ple upon the pavements. Finally ne
came to q standstill before Loufse's
house and stopped the engine with DE
iiberate care. Then he rang the bell
and was shown into her little draw
.ng-room, which seemed to have become
a perfect bower Of pink and white
lilac.
He sat waiting as if In a dream
unable to decide upon his words un
able even to sift his thoughts. Inc
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 traglcali.
long.
Then at last the door opened ant
Louise entered. She came toward NH
with a little welcoming smile upol
her Inns. Her manner was gay, al
most affectionate.
"Haye you come to take me Tor
ride before lunchT she asked. ~
you know, 1 think that | should reail
like it! We might lunch at hanelasI
on our way home"
The words stuck in his throat. frol
where she was, she saw now the VIII
ing on his face. She stopped short.
"What is it?" she exclaimed:
@Eyer since I knew you" ne sal
SLOWLY. "there have been odd moment
when have lived in torture. Durlh
the last fortnight, those moments nav
become hours. Last night Tue Gil
came"
"Are YOU mad, John?" she demand
ed. , who
aperhaps," he replied. listen. VINE
left you last night. l went 70 III
Climb In Adelphi Terrace. There was
well.known critic there, comparing 70
end Latrobe. On the whole ne Ia
vored you, but he gave Latrooe IN
frst place in certain parts. LatroD'
no said. had had more experience
ufe She had had dozen lovers
you. only one!"
She WINGED. The glad FRESHNESS
seemed suddenly to fade from ne
face. Her eyes became strained
"Well?' -
81 found Graillot. I cornered MN
asked him for the truth about yo'
He nut me off with an evasion.
came down here and looked at vot
window. It was three O'Clock IN u
morning. I dared not come In: A vel
demon of unrest was in my Dioou.
stopped at the night club on my wa
back. sophy was there. l asked ~
plainly to put me out Of my agon
She was like Graillot. She fenced VII
ma And then-the prince came!
'The prince was thereT" she Ia
tered. .oh1o wbe,
/ mink