Evening star., 1922-05-14

Next morning I met Mrs. Eve alone
| In the Establishment Thermal listen
ing to the band. Dick was not well
enough to como out till later. she told
i me. Therefore. We walked back to
their hotel, and on the way. made
an apparently chance remark regard
ing tho young doctor.
"Your husband tells me that you
met DR.. Vaughan Fisher again at Has-
rogate. Did you ever meet friend
| of his called Ronny?"
NO. I think not" was her reply.
I'VE know a good many Of his friends,
but l don't recollect any one Of that
name. What was his surname?''
IT don't know" I was forced to ad-
NIT. Then I went on: I'D 50 much
like to meet Vaughan Fisher again.
Do you happen to know where let
ter will find him?"
AT his. club" she said, and gave
me his club address. ''Dick wrote
there some time ago, however, but he
has had no reply. I expect he's abroad
somewhere" she said.
About her manner there was moth
ing suspicious. l watched her coun-
tenance when mentioned him, but 1t
did NOT change.
An incident however, occurred
three days later which sorely puzzled
me-
1 had strolled into the >gay.Casino
after dinner, and was passing through
the prettily illuminated gardens when
suddenly 1. saw a figure. in front of
me that instantly recognized.
= 1t was, Vaughan Fisher. He was
|.alone. Why was he there in Luchon
II not to meet Mrs. Eve?
In second drew back, and then
followed him In the crowd OF evening
promenaders who were listening to
the fine orchestra. He was dressed In
a navy serge suit and wore brown
Homberg hat and light gloves, as
dandified as ever. 1t was evident from
his actions that he had no sus'
! picion that he was being followed. for
he made tour OF the gardens. peer
ing into the faces Of the prettiest
women, whether they were accom-
panied or not. and lazily enjoying his
eternal cigarette. Should be fortu-
nate enough to see him keep an ap-
pointment with Joan Eve? For nearly
an hour watched. He was idling
there for some reason. and what 1t
was I could easily guess.
ITE grow impatient at last, for he
AAgIanced at his watch and then sud
denly left tho Casino and. hurried
along to the Hotel des Thermes.
was gratihed that at least L knew
his temporary abode. But I took
seat on the terrasse of little cafe
near by, and watched for him to come
, out again. This he did In about ten
minutes, but, to my surprise. saw
that the concierge had his bags.
A cab was called, and In 1t the doc
tor, wearing an overcoat. drove to the
station. followed quickly in another
cab, and. still unrecognized by him,
saw him purchase q second-class
ticket for Paris. and he loft by the
night express hve minutes later.
why? What had happened? Was
there q breach between Mrs. Eve and
himself?. He certainly had waited In
| vain. e..
went direct and called upon the
Ewes. 1t was then only 10 O'Clock. and
Dick was always slad il called in.
found his wife reading to him.
well" I said. 1--WE Just been for a
walk. The night is beautiful. The
snow on the mountains looks beau
tiful in the moonlight
..Yes." said Ewes wife. IT thought
Of going out this evening. but Dick
hasn't been feeling quite the thing
today. So I stayed in"
would have given much to know
| il that were the truth.
Her entire Innocence was most pug
cling. 1 wondered whether, after all.
my suspicious were cruel and un-
founded. But. after all. Vaughan
Fisher was young and good-looking,
and Joan Eve was more than ordinar-
lily pretty. watched her as. sitting
near tho invalid, she glanced at him
from time to time in sympathy and
Affection:
! No. Perhaps the good-looking
young doctor had followed her to
Luchon and endeavored to get her to
keep a rendezvous, and had gone back
to Paris in disgust because she was
deaf to his entreaties.
The days passed pleasantly In that
little Pyrenean mountain town. One
day I drove out with them in a car
to the beautiful Lac dor, a deep lake
OF ereenish water in an extinct crater
high up. the mountains, with rocky
banks and wonderful waterfall de-
scending In three leaps. Two weeks
went by, and with Dick better we
went on number Of small excursions
up, tho mountain roads, The local
doctor attending Richard Eve de-
ciared that he was making an amaz-
inRly rapid recovery, and when at last
left Luchon, they were moving a
week later to Mentone- for the autumn.
L, heard. from Eve two or three
times on my return to London. He
had quite recovered, and had gone to
Naples, where he had branch office
Of his shipping firm. -
One day received at my club note
from. Mrs. Eve, pressing mo to
spend the week end with them at Bin
thorpe Grange. -
DO come" she urged. 'sDick is SO
anxious to see you again. And SO am
l." -
I went. I found that the place was
q beautiful old Elisabethan timbered
mansion, with an extensive park and
q beautiful lake in front-indeed. all
the appointments of the house Of .
wealthy Englishman.
Mrs. Eve was most kind to mo; and
we; motored together several times,