Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-07-28
THE VILLA ROSE
"A Thrilling Detective Story by A. E. w. MASON

that Of the man who loved her. At
times she came near. to an extreme ir-
with Helene vauquier. . Her
lover was in her thoughts. AS she
put it herself:
Il wanted always to look my best,
and-always to be very good"
Good in the essentials of life, that
Is to be understood. She had lived
in a lax world. She was not particu-
larly troubled by the charactep OF her
associates; she was untouched by
them; she liked her Ming at the bac-
carat-tables. These were details, and
did not distress her. Love had not
turned her into a Puritan. But GER
tain ~recollections plagued her soul.
The visit to the restaurant at Mont
martre. for instance, and the seances,
OF these, indeed, she thought to have
carat rooms, the beauty OF the town
and the neighborhood to distract
Mile. Dauvray. Celia kept her
thoughts away from. seances. There
was no seance as yet held in the Villa
Rose. And there would have been
none but for Helena Vauquier.
One evening. however, as Harry
Wethermill walked down from the
Cercle to the Villa des Fleurs. a wom-
ans voice spoke to him from behind.
"Monsuier!"
He turned and saw Nine. Dauv-
rays maid. He stopped under a
street lamp. and said:
well. what can I do for you ?"
&The woman hesitated.
ST hope monsieur will pardon me-"
she said humbly. "I am committing
a great. imp%ertinence. But I think
monsieur is not very kind to Mile.
Celie."
Wethermin stared at her.
What on earth do you mean?" he
asked angrily.
Helene yauquier looked him quiet
ly In the face.
A Charge Re6uted.
1T is plain, monsieur, that Mile.
Celie, loves monsieur. Monsieur has
led her on to love him. But 1t is also
plain to a I'M with quick eyes
that monsieur himself cares no more
for m~ademoiselle than for the but
ton on his coat. It is. not very kind
to spoil the happiness of a young and
pretty girl, monsieur
Nothing could have been more RI
spectful than the manner In which
these words were uttered. wether-
mill was taken in by il. He protested
earnestly, fearing lest the maid should
become an enemy.
Helene. it sis not true that I am
I not carr for her?"
Helene yauquier shrugged her
shoulders The question needed no
answer.
why should I seek her 90 often
tf II did not cara 4
And to this question Helene Van
quter smiled quiet. slow. conf
dental smile.
What does monsieur want of Nine,
D~Auvray8" she asked. And the cues.
ton was her answer.
Wethermill stood silent. Then he
nid abruptly:
Nothing. Of course; nothing" Ana
he walked away.
But the smile remained on Helene
Vauquier.s face. What did they All
want Of Nine. Dauvray? She knew
very well. It was what She hersel1
wanted-wtth other things. II wa
money-always money. Wethermil
was not the airst to seek the rood
graces OF Nine. Dauyrays fhrouxhSiael
pretty companion. Helene Vauquiex
went home.
E 6u6 WA0 NOT 0pDCOnGSNIS0 WITH n4I
conversation. Wethermill had paused
long enough before he denfed the
suggestion Of her words She ap.
preached him q few days later 4 sec.
sond time and more openly. She wal
shopping in the Rue du Casino when
he passed her.
He stopped Of his own accord and
spoke TO her. Helene yauquier KEEP,
- grave and respectful face. But
there WAS 9 pulse OF joy a her heart
He was coming to her hand.
Monsieur, she aid. syou do moi
20 the right way. And again her
strange smile Illuminated her face!
Mile. Celfe sets a guard about Nine.
.Dauyray. She viii not give TO people
the opportunity 70 nnd madame sen-
erousas
eohs said wethermiIi slowly, 81
tfat sof And he turned and walked
by Helene yauquiers dde
Never speak OF Nine DAuvray'i
wealth. monsieur II ron would keen
the favor Of Mile. Celie. H1e q young
but ahe knows her world
have not spoken of money e
her. replied Wethermtli; ana Their
he burst out laughing. tsBut WhJ
|should y0u think sthat LII. OF ri
men-want money2~ he asked.
a 6anEntn Proposed.
And Helene aneygrod HIN aSaiE
esdgmntdcal1y.