Evening journal., 1922-09-18
CDAPTER VIII
c,>ool,tnO of love

,hemin was abba TO navigate
wheeled chair, bask on the little
balcony outside his bedchambei
windows in the Chauteau de Mon.
talais. and even-strictly against
orders-talte experimental strolls.
- The wound in his side still hurf
like the very deuce at every ill-con-
4sldered movement; and this constant
reminder OF outlaws and violence
prompted Duchemin TO urge Eve de
Montalais to place her jewels In
safekeeping.
Eve de Montalais laughed the
Charming, low-keyed laugh OF a
happily diverted woman.
47-'T surrender at discretion: / viii
do as you wish. / will leave Louise
to take care of madame ma mere
for a few days while journey TO
Paris"
"Alone?"
But naturally"
you, a womanl travel alone to
Paris with a treasure in Jewels2 All,
mol / would rather steal the jewels
myself. convey them to Paris, put
them in safekeeplng. and send you
the receipt"
What a lot of trouble monsieur
would save me. II he would only
be so kind as to do as he threatens"
And how amusing If he were ar
rested en- route" Duchemin supple
,mented with a wry smile.
II am quite confident of your
ability to elude the police mon
sleur."
. Madame is too fiattering; one is
sure she is too wise 70 put so great
"a temptation IN the way of any
man"
Listen, my friend" Eve de Mon
talais fiicked away her cigarette and
sat forward. elbows on knees. hands
laced. her level gaze holding his. 1T
lis true, our acquaintance is barely
three weeks old; but the mask you
hold between yourself and the world,
lest It pry into what does not con-
.cern 1t. has been lowered when you
have talked with me; and I have
had eyes to see what was revealed"
"Ah. nadsmel"
"the nature OF a man OF honor,
monsieur, simple of heart and gen.
erous. as faithful as he is brave"
Eve had spoken impulsively. with
warmth OF feeling unrealized until
too late. Now slow color mantled
her cheeks. But her eyes remained
steadfast, candid, unashamed. II
was Duchemin who dropped his
gaze, abashed.
With a troubled smile he said; II
would give much TO be worthy Of
And ! would be a poor thing indeed
if failed 10 try 10 live up TO your
faith"
You will not fail" she replied.
What you are, you were before my
faith was, and Will be afterward.
when :"
she did not finish. but OF 9 sudden
ireoollected herself, lounged back In
her chair. and laughed quietly, with
humorous appeal TO his sympathy.
so. that is settled; I am not 10
be permitted TO take my Jewels 10
Paris alone. What then. monsieur?"
II would suggest you write your
bankers" said Duchemin seriously
,"and request them TO send you two
trusted men-to guard you on the
way"
But why? You have been so per-
sistent about this matter. monsieur.
Ever since that night when those
curious people stopped here in the
ruin . Can It be that you suspect
'them of evil designs upon my
trinkets?"
Duchemin shrugged. who knows !
madame, what they were?"
They were clever people. far |
more clever than poor provincials
like US" She took a moment for
Thought. But l am puzzled by their
harping on the subject of think
they called him the Lone Wolf. Now
why should they do that?"
Duchemin was constrained TO take
refuge in another shrug. "who
.knows?' he iterated. IF they were
.as clever as we assume. doubtless
they were clever enough to have
motive even for that"
He really existed. this Lone
"Assuredly, madame. For years
he was the nightmare and the
'scourge of people Of wealth in every
capital of Europe"
why did they call him the Lone
Wolf. do you know"
Il believe some imaginative Paris
Jan Journalist fixed that sobriauet on
qhim, in recognition OF the theory
upon which. apparently. he oper-
ated."
And that was-7"
1. THAT criminal. at least a thief,
to be successful must be absolutely |
anonymous and friendless; in which |
case nobody can betray him. As
madame probably understands,
criminals above certain level of /
are seldom caught by |
the police except through the treach-
cry of accomplices-"
Still, in the end-7"
"Oh, no. madame. The Lone Wolf
was never caught He simply ceased
TO thieve."
Il wonder why :"
x believe because he foil In lovel