Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-11
CHAPTER xxx.

Virginia awuke from a rest on her
friends sofa that afternoon in the
little flat down at Westminster to
receive a most. unpleasant shock. The
door> had been softly opened and the
one ma in the world whom she least
desired to see-Paul Langrode-en-
tered. He closed the door behind
Oft his gloves and placed them inside
Lit. All lifetime he watched Virginia,
who was s%peechless with apprehen-
sion, with a smile upon his lips.
How did 0 get here" she ex-
claimed at last.
Il exercised a certain amoun of
! ingenuity he confessed. u waited
till the .young lady who is. l believe,
your hostess went across to4the House
Of Commons to her duties. Afterward.
we'll l. Just walked up ~
But l thought you were arrested
she cried.
Something OF that sort has hap
pened," he admitted, but at present
! am put on parole. You will invite
me to. take q chair? Thank you"
He sat down, having carefully Sc
lected a position which commanded
the door. Virginia glanced around
the 0 There was no telephone.
The bell RAM into an empty service
ROOM, and she was on the fourth floor.
With a little shrug Of the shoulders
she accented the inevitable.
Well she invited, please pro-
coed. You nave something to say to
me, suppose"
"A great DEAL" he answered, and
uncommonly little time to say it in
I am thankful to hear that, at any
rate" she said coidly.
In the first, place" he began, you
can keep it there il you like, but you
will certainly not need to use that
little object which l see you conceal
ing in the bosom OF your gown. /
have finished with melodra ma, as
with Baikanland. 1t is my intention
loan citizen M. *
Virginia drew a little breath Of re-
lief. He had so much the air Of a mar
who was speaking the truth.
Now listen he went on. Affairs
in ~balkanland are precarious. ! came
4 over here to make a deal for some oil
land, and to be perfectly frank with
you. II l could have touched the FIVE
million pounds I was asking as de-
poait it was not my intention to re-
turn to B~alkaniAnf at all. Somehow
discovered"
Il did not disclose it, she protest
cd. II have kept my word"
II believe you," he said. There
we're two me out in Balkanland
whom l suspected at the time and
whom l now know were English Sc
cPet service agents. To- cut q long
story short, l am not technically un-
der arrest, but l am pledged to leave
the country within twenty-four- hours.
I am leaving for America tomorrow
/ mnpninp ardLT inko~d ---a-
there"
II should aay that you were very
wise" Virginia declared-"Wha have
you done with my stepfather?
Your st~epfAther." Langrode re-
piled, has not had the nerve OF a
chicken: at the same time, l have
a sort of affection for him. He 10 rel
turning to America with me. I shall
look after him. Your responsibility
with regard to him is at an end.
Why have you come to tell me all
this ?'<she asked.
He stood up, hut made no ATTEMPT
to come near her. In his way he was
a fine looking man. His features were
powerful. his shoulders massive, he
was possessed without doubt, OF per-
sonaMty. AZ he looked toward Viz
ginfa his expression softened, even
his tone lost IT. harsh note.
LISTEN" he sasd, you will have
nothins to nay to me because you
belteys that o love David. II you
do, OF what use 10 1t? The British
government . going to put him on
the throne OF EBAlkanland. The be.,
that can happen to you. therefore, il
that you ntght become his mistress J,
She smiled automatically. lAnxrode
waited for her to speak. As 4 -rs.
manned silent, however, he went an.