The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-02-07
CHAPTER XII.

ChAP En- Nii-
IL
Seyre House was one OF the few man
0ous In London which boasted BAN
quoting hall as well as picture gal
lery. Although the long table was laid
for forty guests, 1t still seemed with
its shaded lights and Its profusion OF
flowers. like an oaSts Of color In the
middle of the hu1s. somberly hsb:ed
apartment. Some OF the faces Of the
quests were ven-knovn d John
through their paniIshS1 photographs !;
to Others hs bad -een presented BY
the prince upon their arrival He was
seated between q young American star
Of musical comedy and a lady who had
only recently dropped from the 40
dal armament through the medium OF
the divorce court, to return to the the
ster of her earlier fame. Both showed
every desire to convene with him be
tween the Intervals Of eating and
drinking. but were constantly brought
to q pause BY Johns lack Of knowledge
Of current toSkcs. After her third
giass Of champagne, the lady who had
recently been . countess announced
her intAntion Of taking him under her
wing.
-Someone must tell you all about
thinss," she insisted What you need
II q guide and q chapefoa- Wont /
dor
Perfectly. he agreed
sTnif playr protested the young
lady on his left, whose name was Rosie
Lharon- Il spoke to him nrst!"
Jolly bad iuckr Lord Amerton
drnwied from the other side Of the
table. Neither Of you have an earth
~. Hes booked. Saw him out with
her the other evening"
II sha'n't eat any more supper"
Rosie Sharon pouted. pushing away
her plate.
~You ought to have told ~ about
her at once the lady who had been .
countess declared severely.
John preserved his equanimity.
"It u to be presumed" hs murmured,
~that you ladies are both free from
any present attachmentT
.Cot you thereI" Amerton chuckled.
~What about Billyr'
Rosie Sharon dghed
Eve don't come to the princes sup
per parties to remember our ties" she
declared. Let's all 90 on talking nom
sense. please. Even II my heart II
broken. could never resist the princes
pater
Apparently everyone was Of the
same mind. The hum of laughter stead
fly grew. Under shelter Of the fire
OF conversation. the prince leaned to-
III IT. cd fr
previous discussion.
do you know" he began, II am In
eiined to be somewhat disappointed by
your lack of enthusiasm In q certain
directionI''
II have disappointed many men in
my time" she replied. @Do you doubt
my power. now that have promised
to exercise itf~
"Who couldT he replied courteously.
"Yet this young man poses. believe.
as something Of 4 St Anthony. He
uny give you trouble"
He is then. what you call . prigr'
"A most complete and perfect speci-
men, even In this nation of pdgs"
IAN that you tell me-" she sighed.
snakes the enterprise seem easier. 1t
II, nfter all, rather IKE tn0 uoneSS anu
the mouse. isn't itr
The prince made no reply. but upon
his lips there fingered q family incred-
ulous smile. The woman BY his side
leaned back in her place. She had
the air Of accepting the challenge.
After supper" she said, I'VE will
seel"
A single chord OF music In q minor
key foated across the room, soft at
nrst, swelling later into q volume of
sound. then dying away and ceasing
altogether. Every light in the place
was suddenly extinguished. There re-
mained only the shaded lamps over
hanging the pictures.
Not q whisper was heard in the
room. John, looking around him in
astonishment. was conscious only Of
the half-suppressed breathing Of the
men and women who lined the walls, OF
were still standing in little groups at
he end Of .he long hail. Again there
eame the music, this dime merged In
low but insistsat ciamor Of other In
s8umsots. 11A s1ddenly, through