Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-14
iNSTALLNENT III.
Uaksppy Deys fes Marie.

EN- dinner that evening and her break.
II fast the next morning In the servants
dining room proved . puxzling expert
ence TO Marie Gibbs seemed to have
ordained that she should eat alone. for which
Marie was thankful until It became evident
that she was treated strangely. To her
Dssasnnt "Good-evening. Mr.. Gibbs. abe had
received bow and an intensely rese>Sed
sGood-evening, miss" He had deposited his
tray Of viands and had hastened away a. IL
to escape conversation. Then. at breakfast
time. Marie had encountered the cook In the
passageway, and TO her smiling Good.morn.
mt" she received q nurried murmur. fol.
lowed BY hurried retreat into the kitchen.
The cook then looked back at her In pecu.
tar way. then quickly averted her gaze.
There is . strangeness In the kitchen a.
well - in the rest Of the house." Marie said
70 herself. puzzled.
It troubled her. and her experience with
tho man whom Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent sent
her to the station to meet after breakfast
increased her bewilderment. It was all well
enough on the way to the house from the
station-the man chatted pleasantly with
her about tho weather and complimented
her on her skillful management Of tho car
but afterwards. when Marie was ordered
by Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent to wait and take
him to the farm and afterwards to the coun-
try club and bring him back to Kent house,
It was quite different
Marie had decided that the man was a
smoothly spoken person who wished to make
himself pleasant to her. He was Z young
man. well groomed. and he evidently con.
s3dered himself charming, he was so keen
eyed, smiling. and facile tongued. He was
not quite q gentleman. Marie decided, not
friend Of Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent's, but per-
haps Of considerable business Importance to
her, 20 he must be treated with extreme
politeness and definite reserve.
After half an hour in Kent house the man
came out to Marie a. Gmilingiy pleasant ~
before. and his nrst remark was compu.
ment.
you look like pretty Canadian snow
bird, perched on the seat there. Mrs. Dun.
barton-Kent was telling me you came from
Canada. It's splendid thing for . girl to
do, MI . mans position, and do it 20 well
too"
Marie said, Thank you. monsieur." and
swept him down the driveway.
He talked about Canada then, = country
Of which he knew nothing, Marie decided.
and interspersed his remarks with questions:
by what route had she travelled from CAnada7
What train had she taken out Of Buffalo?
q
He talked then about New York. mentioning
various restaurants and streets a. II she
must be acquainted with them. He seemed
to think that she must have met soms gal
Ant man In New York who had shown her
the city.
- pretty girl like you In New York and
no beau?" he said teasingly. I can't be-
nsve that"
II was in New York but few days."
Marie answered calmly. though she was
angry. What right had he to question in
this way? It was natural that Mrs. Dun
harton.Kent should wiah to know all about
her, she was her employer. But for =
strange man to question and be 20 familiar!
Evidently he thought that Ill girls were
silly and easily impressed By smiling looks.
She did not like him.
Then. looking full IN her eyes. he asked
abruptly. "But what Of tho little adventure
you had on the train?"
Marie's heart gave = leap; she was terri
bly, startled. Was 1t possible he was In
search Of that fearful creature On the train7
He scrutinized her confusion. He told
you Kent house was good place to come,
didn't he, little girl?"
Marie was swept by relief. and anger a.
we'll The conceited. impertinent imbecile!
Did he think she was some ignorant serv-
ant girl? The density Of some men was
remarkable! They may be keen and sensible
In conversation with men, but with girls
they had no judgment whatever, II the girls
looked llttle and pretty. they considered
them a brainless!
Marie famed at him. I do not mako
friends with strange men, monsieur. nor do
/ speak with persons on trains! I have no
use whatever for the kind Of man who thinks
by smiles and talk to make an impression
on me! am in the employ Of Mrs. Dun
barton Kent and will drive you where she
has ordered me, but you will kindly restrain
yourself from questions which would make
me seem a silly fool
The man looked as il he had suddenly
encountered a hornets nest vastly taken
aback, then driven into a lively retreat.
II beg your pardon. 1t never occurred
to me to be impertinent" he apologized
hastily. you see, you have no idea how
charming and unusual you look. I was
Interested in you the moment I saw you.
and what Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent told M
about you interested me still more. 30 1
seemed to be impertinent when / hadn't the
least intention Of being So"
Perhaps that is co." Marie returned Sc
verely. but think rather that you formed
. wrong impression Of ma 1t i necessary