South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-24
THE WOMAN ON THE TERRACE.
Begin Here Today


Begin Here Today
The strange woman in the invalid
chair has been talking angrily with
her companion when
NJ. JONQUELLE. greatest of French
detectives. entered the beautiful
Italian terrace.
The woman introduced her COM
panion as
MARTIN DILLARD, an American
The American greeted the caller
ungraciously.
Jonquelle explained that he had
come TO inquire why the house in
Paris. owned by billiard and to
which the woman had key.
burned to the ground.
Con on With the Story.
CHAPTER II.
The American broke in. His
voice was no longer restrained. II
don't see what you've got to do
with f." he said.
Monsieur Jonquelle did not at once
reply. He looked at his cigaret as
though IL were somehow unsatisfac-
tory; pulled it a moment until the
tip glowed: then he tossed it over
the edge OF the terrace into the
bushes.
Almost Immediately the bushes
parted and two persons came up onto
the terrace. They were footmen in
"a rather conspicuous foreign livery.
They paid no attention to either
Monsieur Jonquelle or the Ameri-
can. They addressed themselves with
apologize diffidence to the woman
in the chair.
They explained that a parrot be-
longing to the Princess Kitzenof,
who occupied the great villa above,
had escaped and was concealed
somewhere in the thick shrubbery OF
madame's garden. Would they be
permitted to search for it? The
woman in the chair moved her head
slowly in assent. Then she dis
missed them with a gesture. They
went down off the terrace and to-
ward the rear of the villa I'm their
search. and the woman in the chair
addressed the American.
You must believe" she said, that
Monsieur Jonquelle is an old &C
quaintance and that this explanation
is not to be denied him. Neither are
you TO be denied it. You came here
for it precisely as he has come
for It.
You have followed me here trail
ing out my flight. as he has followed.
The two OF you arrived nearly on
the moment, and I shall be pleased
TO include the two OF you in my eX-
PLANTATION. You were demanding II
as Monsieur Jonquelle arrived-with
some heat, If I correctly remember"
The American replied in his abrupt
manner:
Il don't understand this thing" he
said. But I do want TO know how
this house happened TO burn while a
was absent. You are the only person
who had a key TO it, and you must
have burned II or YOU would not
have run away and hid yourself
now. what's the story"
The woman had a bit Of delicate
lace in her fingers. She put it up
moment TO her lips. Then she
spoke. addressing her two guests
Her voice was slow. serene. and de-
tached. like one who speaks without
interest. without emotion, and with
out any concern for effect. II was
like a voice from a mechanical ap-
pliance. having Intelligence, but no
viii to feel
81 have been attached 10 Monsieur
billiard" she said. There was n
fortune before US. ar immense. in
credible fortune. The anticipation Of
Il bound me 10 him, and so the burn
ing OF this house must have been an
accident. The lure of q fortune is
the only influence that does not
loosen as one advances into life. in
world where presently every emotion
fails. Therefore Monsieur billiard
had a right TO feel that he could trust
me since my interest in this fortune
was Identical with his own"
She paused and seemed 10 address
Monsieur JonQuelle directly.
You Will be concerned, monsieur,
about the mystery OF this fortune.
Ii was no dream and depended upon
no uncertain hazard OF chance. Mon
sieur billiard IS an artisan artist
with a genius for turning art 10 -
practical use. There have been great
er artists than Monsieur Dillard in
production. but not in methods by
which art can be made 10 serve a
practical purpose. that is 20 say can
be made 10 produce a fortune II IS
the life-work OF Monsieur billiard not
20 produce art. but 10 bring the
artistic skin OF the masters Of art
10 his practical purposes. And. in
this department. he has no superior
in any country. The house in the
Faubourg ST. German was in fact
a storeroom Il was. az the time Of
It's destruction BY FIRE. literally
packed with masterpieces-beautiful
works OF art Of an Incredible value"
She did not move the position OF
her body In the chair But she again
vaguely touched her lips with the
handkerchief in her fingers, a bit OF
flmy lace.
Monsieur" she said there have
been IN the world three men who are