Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-03
CHAPTER vI.-(Continued.,

He found and investigated the lib
yary with considerable curiosity. Aft
er studying the shelves devoted TO
English books. he employed himself
in making a list of more modern lit
erature than any found there. He
began to understand what Noel had
meant and how accurate was the self
analysis in saying he was we'll read
in Spanish and French. and the bril-
liant new literature of Brazil and her
sister republics. Noel had received
his education in h years between
sixteen and thirty; had received it As
a young South American. The study
he presented was interesting. And Ii
was wholesome. if humiliating, to the
man from the North to discover that
here he himself might be called an
ignorant man, since he knew nothing
of a rich and copious literature. was
scarcely aware of its greatest names,
On the sixth day his solitude ended,
Milo Valdez arrived at h villa; in ar
automobile he himself drove, attend.
ed by two servants laden with port
folios, a folding typewriter in its case,
and several suitcases. The private
secretary himself vas slim, sleek and
dehonair: a sallow young diplomat
with a most engaging smile and the
soft black eyes of a young girl. He
III " IAAS lava - upSAA Sk
tering.
a sudden recurrence of abject shy
ness on perceiving the motor car
sweeping up the white driveway
Bruce readily guessed who the arrival
was. He had not forgotten Noel's re-
mark concerning his Woodworking
secretary, and somehow, the aspect OF
the motorist fitted with the laughing
voice of the pianist whom he had
heard from his balcony on his first
night in Noels house. What would
the son of the governor of the state
have to say to the %ex-convict from
the interior. Bruce did not like tc
speculate. Or had Noel concealed the
past of his newly-added member OF
the household? That hardly would
have been possible!
He was standing behind the lons
ebony table central in the library, af'
fecting to examine a sook, when Val.
DEE appeared in the doorway. thanked
by his burdened attendant. The sec
rotary halted at sight of the othel
man, then bowed with punctiliou:
courtesy and advanced with out
stretched hand.
"Ah!" he exclaimed vivaciously
Dom David informed me that
oAASuA lhA q lac" NoAIp0uAOA. wei
come, Senior Bruce, welcome to ;
busy house! II you tighten my la
bors, 1 shall embrace you with all m!
heart. am Milo Valdez, his Excel
lency's secretary. Pardon me on
moment"
He turned to direct the bearer o
the portfolio to a curtained recess il
IN angle of the octagonal room
where he himself went upon one kne,
TO open a safe which stood there
Bruce, who had warmly returned tn,
available word at his command, stoot
watching the proceedings with a dis
proportionate interest, IT was one o
his peculiarities never to look quit
like anyone else, no matter how care
fully he atti-ed himself. He stoot
now, peering through his heavy spec
tacles, his bushy red hair rumplet
over his. forehead by his nervou
fingers while he had awaited tn
habit of that last dreadful year, al
unconsciously quaint figure. Milo Val
DEE, rising alertly, and Diminishing tn
servant by a gesture. say him will
an impulse Of ready compassion war
firing with a desire to laugh. He be
trayed neither emotion. Valdez wa
not quite twenty-four years old. blu
he was a Latin and an embryo diplo
mat. Instead, Lhe offered his .ciga
case to the other man before helpin,
himself, and punctiliously shared
match before speaking.
THE senate is sitting" he observed
Dom David was shut up there all las
night, and has been with the Cover
nor all this morning. IT, he shruree,
expressively, ''.had little breakfast
no luncheon! An hour ago, l. re