Middletown transcript., 1920-05-22
CHAPTER lII-Continued.

Montani spoke Of the porcelains.
~Oh, to be sure! They don't show to
best advantage in electric light, do
they? But l can have a few Of the
prize pieces taken into the dining
room," said Alice.
Mrs. Farnsworth had excused her
self to finish letter, and from my
chair I could see her head bent over
the big desk in the library. Alice rang
for Antoine, and followed her into
the hall to offer my aid.
"Oh. don't trouble" she said. can
toine can do anything necessary. Yes
thanks; If you will turn on the dining
room lights"
I was gone hardly half minute.
When I reached the drawing-room
door Montani had crossed the room
to the table on which Alice had
dropped the fan and was examining 1t
closely. He faced the door, and the
moment he detected me exclaimed
carelessly: IAN exquisite little bauble
I am always curious as to the source
Of such trifles. was looking for the
makers imprimatur. know a Pari-
sian who Is the leading manufacturer
Of the world. But it Is not his, I
see."
As we stood talking Of other things
he piled the fan carelessly as though
for the pleasure Of the faint scent it
.xhaled. and when Alice called us he
out 1t down carefully where he had
found It.
He really did seem to know some
thing about ceramics and praised, with
lively enthusiasm, the pieces that had
been set out on the table. One piece.
as to whose authenticity my uncle had
entertained serious doubts, Montanl
lnhesitatingly pronounced genuine and
stated very plausible reasons for his
opinion.
On the whole, he was an interesting
fellow. When he had finished his in
spections he fingered for only few
minutes and took his leave. saying
that he was spending the night at an
inn near Stamford.
"Well," said Alice when the whir Of
his machine had died away, what do
you think Of himY'
"A very agreeable gentleman" an
swered. If he doesn't know porce-
lains, he fakes his talk admirably"
"And as to fans" suggested Mrs.
Farnsworth.
had not intended to mention Mon
tani's interest in Alice's fan, and the
remark surprised me.
"Oh, I saw 1t all from the library"
laughed Mrs. Farnsworth. my back
was to the door, but l was facing a
mirror. The moment you and Alice
went into the hall he pounced upon
the fan-pounced is the only word
that describes 1t. He concealed his
interest in it very neatly when you
caught him examining it."
"Fans are harmless things" said
Alice, "and IL there's any story ut
tached to this one I'm not aware Of 1t.
Ny father bought 1t in Paris about
three years ago, and it has never been
out Of my possession except to have
It repaired. There's a Japanese jew
eler who does wonderful things in the
way Of repairing trinkets Of every
kind. I left it with him for q few
days. I can't tell now which panel
was broken, he did his work so
deftly."
I took 1t from her and balanced 1t
In my fingers. It was a beautiful
piece Of workmanship with the sim
plest carvings on the ivory panels.
"He couldn't have seen It anywhere
before tonight" observed Alice mus
ingly. I'm fact, I hadn't used it at all
for year. It was really by mistake
that my maid put It into my trunk
when l went to Japan. I didn't want
to risk breaking it again. SO I've been
carrying 1t in a handbag. "'he last
day we were in Toxic ! think I had it
in our sitting room In the hotel. to
make sure It wasn't jammed into the