The Washington herald., 1921-05-15

arose. went to the door Of the drawing room,
and knocked
Como in." cried . voice.
She opened the door and disclosed Mr..
Rdenour in his shirt sleeves before q table.
scattered cards. three pipes. and a package
Of ciEarets. She glanced about the ample
space Of the small room and thought OF the
1ammed knees throughout the rest Of the car.
How selnsh-' she murmured-
DO you play pinochle7" asked Mr.. Ride
nour. gathering up the cards.
Yea" said Miss Estes. closed the door.
and sat down facing him
He produced . second pack. sorted it out,
shufied. cut for himself and dealt. They
began to play. they kept on playing. they
played for two solid hours. At the end of
that time Miss Estes threw down her hand,
jumbled all the cards on the table. and met
Mr.. Ridenour's mildly inqu;ring Eazs with
the full and beIigerent stare Of her ine eyes.
Do you never stoop to qusstions7" she
inquired In the carefully modulated voice Of
one asking for trouble. She felt her breast
duttering almost TO betrayal with the thou
sand queries she had been putting to herself
during the two hours Of surface calm. What
had happsned to her personality Had she
nsns7 Could nothing startls the mind OF
man7 Was It true that only women are
curious. What did this man think Of herr
DID women, nice women-darn the word
habitually wander into his drawing rooms.
invited or uninvitedf
Mr. Ridsnour laid aside his hot pipe,
picked up cool one and proceeded to I'll Il
Il seldom ask questions aloud be said
finally. a question In an Invitation 10 .
lie, conscious or unconscious. Few Of rs
hays the power to speak the truth, but We
Al tell Il sooner or latsr."
Most people require an hour more TO
catch the taste Of red meat In any casual
phrase. but Miss Estes was an exception.
She had been % thoroughly trained in the
school Of persinage that a speech burdened
with a grain Of genuine thought Immediately
stood out to view by the alchemy OF con-
trast. Her eyes narrowed and studied Mr..
Rdenour with an entirely new interest.
you said something" she murmured. and
you actually said something"
Mr.. Ridenour ruined the cards. his eyes
fallen to impersonaI consideration OF their
telescopins backs.
Has that happened TO you SO seldom7"
he inquired, apparently in a mere effort to
be obliging and ask a question, any question
very seldom" replied Miss Estes, and
t1xyd ce.lt t.<u NV
Have you really no curiosity"
Curiosity" repeated Mr.. Ridenour.
That's a horse Of another color-a piebald!
I have loads Of curiosity. and / generally
satisfy It. You are Miss Hildegarde Estes,
spinster. twentyfour years old. born under
the egts but not quite under the pail Of
Boston; you graduated from society into war
work: did well. Now you're bored and look.
Ing for excitement. As our British pals are
wont to say, you are now inclined to chance
your arm In Mexico"
He raised his eye&. but dropped them
quickly before the astonishment and dismay
displayed In the girls face. Il beg your
pardon" he murmured. That was cheap
Of ne. and the worst Of 1t is can't tell you
how I got the information"
Miss Estes stared at him hxedly, and As a
deep hush rose slowly to his cheeks her eyes
narrowed just a. slowly to a look Of concen-
trated shrewdness surprising in one 20 young.
you have read my record" she stated
finally. a. supplied to the State Department.
the Military Intelligence. and probably to va
rious bureaus Of the Department Of Justice.
That means you are an agent Of sorts"
She measured the color that deepensd In
his cheeks and continued pitilessiy:
You are scarcely q professional: probably
q volunteer recruit to the civilian auxiliary.
You. too. felt the slump: you. too. were bored.
and to save yourself from yourself. and per.
haps too much money. you are also CHANGING
your arm In Mexico"
Rideneur sighed deeply. tossed the cards
ssads. and met Miss Estes triumphant sasa