The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-01-05
CHAPTER xil-continued.

Ethel consented to the arrangement.
She was immensely relieved that the
quickwitted Journalist so readily &C.
repted her alias.
Good. good" their delighted host
exclaimed. Sweet consomme, Ell =?
Boiled chicken, an artichoke, bit of
salad, and some coffee-real American
coffee, without chicory, eh, m'sieuT
He was already edging toward the
door that led kitchenward, to begin
his preparations for meal that should
forever perpetuate his inn in the men,
Dries of his two guests.
Great! Sounds immenser' Mr.
Brown rejoined with enthusiasm.
Yes, m'sieu-immense, That Is
your good American word. I
shall serve such a dinner as the Lion
dor never has seen before.' And
Henri disappeared In high spirits.
After the depressing dizziness of the
past weeks il was indeed exhilarating
to minister to two appreciative pa
irons.
BY the time Christophe had van
tshed Ethel Willoughby had quite re-
covered her self-p0ssession. And when
Charlie Brown turned to her with a
look of inquiry upon his face she was
ready to meet his scrutiny with stout
heart.
"YOu seem surp yised-and quite nat
uralIy." she said, "at hearing that man
call me Madame de Lorde.7
well that afternoon l knew you
az Miss Willoughby," he replied.
But was then Madame de Lorde,"
Ethel explained glibly. you see, Mr..
Brown, I'd been married secretly"
"SecretiyT
There were reasons-good rea-
sons she reioined. II could not ex-
plain what they were then; nor can
now"
"Sureiy-surelyr' he acauiesced, for
he had not the slightest desire to pry
into her private affairs. But what
on earth are you doing In this dead
and-nllve spotT" And then, in the next
breath, ne exclaimed, as q sudden in
spiration came to him, "Oh, by George.
How duIs of me! You're honeymoon
ing, Of c3urser'
Not elactlyr' Ethel replied, just a
bit lame;y, perhaps. my husband
isn't here-just now. He had some
business in Brussels, but came on
ahead"
She had, indeed, left Streetman in
the Belgian capital "Shall you be
staying longT' she asked Mr.. Brown.
mo! I'm off in the morning." he
informed her.
The information relieved her vastly.
She had not relished the thought of
having to confess to the American that
Monsieur de Lorde was no other than
his crstwhtle acquaintance Of the tea
party-Henry Streetman. But as a
spy in his majesty's service, Ethel took
as easily to subterfuge as a duck to
water, She surprised herself often by
tue readiness with which plausible
tales sprang to her lips.
"Oh! Then you won't be able to
meet Monsieur de Lorde," she said
with note of regret. II don't expect
h7l till tomorrow
Charlie Brown aiprmured his regret
at that circumstance.
But what are you doing here7'
Ethel asked him then. perhaps you've
a secret in your past tool" she added
gayly.
But Mr. Brown could lay claim tt
no such romantic excuse.
'Oh. came over looking for war
he explained.
"And you haven't found itT'
Nothing like 1t at ALI" he replied
THE day after | saw you l got. &
straight tip 20 beat 1t for Belgium.
bought yon one-and-a-half cylinder
1896 bicycle. and I've pedaled away fol
fiaree days, till feel all legs and back
Ny right name, this minute, Is George
W. AcheweIlT And Charlie Brown
sat down by the table upon which Ma
flame dc I1rde was resting Der Trim
elbow.