The Washington times., 1920-09-12
Continued from Front Page

"You see," she added, where l
come from everyone speaks to
everyone else SO one doesn't get a
chance, does oneY"
Might one inquire the name OF
the sociable placer" he asked with
a laugh.
isn't II unwise to tell strangers
where you come from7" There was
nothing of coqueterie in the ques-
tion-the doubt was genuine.
"Yes. II is" answered Sorran,
feeling that his profession some
times made him behave like cad.
81 oughtn't to have asked. ! apollo
gize."
"Oh, but it's awfully silly to talk
like that" she said. There's no
mystery about 1t. as you would
know II you could see 1t. East
Pennacook, Conn. -
Sorran felt that he was not for
hidden to make mental note OF 1t,
whereupon his attention left II and
became concentrated on that incon-
gruous chain around her neck.
He studied II while she chartered
provincial banalities about New
York. 1t was a chain OF plated
hair, sheathed at regular intervals
by narrow bands of gold and orna-
mented here and there with large,
uncut emeralds. AS he looked at 1t
he realized that In color and tex
ture the hair of the necklace was
the same as her own.
He was about to steer round to
some opening that would give him
an excuse to comment on II, when
he realized that the time had
shortened to nothing at all.
The giant glass doors OF the
Astorbilt swung open and there en-
tered a well-dressed foreigner OF
medium height. He had the gait
and complexion Of the Near-East-
ern. though there was added the
air of a man accustomed to receive
the obeisance of the cities OF the
West. Behind him loomed the burly
form of Inspector Dolan, of Police
Headquarters.
AS Dolan pildDed his charge
through the foyer and came nearer
to Sorran and his fair companion,
the girl picked up the loose end OF
her atrocious necklace and held 1t
pbised between finger and thumb.
She was evidently on the point
of saving something to Sorran
about it, but abruptly her eyes
strayed from himself to the distin-
guished new arrival.
For the second time that evening
Sorran was amazed to see the In
genuous girl from the little Con-
necticut village smile at stranger.
. His gaze flew from her face to
that tf the foreigner. 1t was an
ashy ' 'hite. II ever Sorran had seen
terror on a human face, he saw 1t
then. .-... ......
The foreigner clutched the In
spector's arm, then, with sudden
effort pulled himself together and
regained his composure. AS the
two passed out OF earshot Sorran
turned to his companion.
~Y6u know that man." he said
accusingly.
81 know who he is," she answered
lightly. "Tll tell you II you like.
He is Prince Mpak Of Auratia. and
he has come over here with all the
Jewels
SSH" said Sorran. But you
know him-you smiled at him.
81 know | did" she answered with
something of bewilderment in her
voice. "And l thought he would
come and speak to me. But he
didn't. p
She broke Off as a tall and hand
some man in immaculate evening
dress stood bowing before her.
"Good-evening, Miss Wilding. Are
you still in the mood to undertake
your first jazz"
"Yes, indeed" she replied en-.
Enthusiastically. And then to Sorran
-"Good-night." Sorran returned
her greeting and she walked of
with the other. Before they had
passed out of earshot Sorran heard
her say:
That Prince Mpak never took
the slightest notice Of me when |
smiled at him-Oh, very well, I'll
tell you in the taxi"
For a moment Sorran stood look
ing after them. Then he went to
the office of the manager OF the
hotel.
ruAnrEo M