The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-22
destination. Chi va piano. W
lontano,' as we say"

destination. Chi va piano, W
lontano,' as we say"
For just an instant his eyes met
mine with a look Of such indie
scribable drollery that I was near
to suffocation.
The conte remarks, my child,
that who goes gently, goes far.
may add also that who goes fast,
goes far"
For me there was an extraordt:
nary menace in these words. Ut
tered in a dreamy yet significant
voice between sips Of our favofits
Chartreuse.
We'll, ! guess that's what some
folks would call cryptic" drawled
Miss Grandslam. MY daddy says
the cutest things"
+ American tags came no less
curiously from her lips than from
his. One felt that in the privacy
OF their rooms they spoke the
English Of educated Edinburgh. a
tongue vertically charming. But
they knew California. Was there
any place they did not know? By
profession a railway engineer. Mr..
Grandslam claimed to have trav-
eled in all the habitable parts OF
the universe. Now, addressing
himself to me, he began sor1e-
what aimless discourse on China;
but after q few moments leaned
towards Teggie and asked quit
zically:
"Conte di Novelle astoria. have
you ever had put to you that
amusing question about the un-
known mandarin in China"
There was something behind
this! Ask yourself whether was
startled.
mo? You tell him, my dear"
Again that smile. enhancing.
feeting.
IT'S too bad OF daddy to put
that silly old poser now" For
moment she hesitated. playing
with the pearls that were barely
visible against her soft white
neck, with the violets peeping
from her corsase; then her hands
fell. loosely clasped,' on to the
table. Misty white draperies
flowed back from the bare. white
arms. Whiteness - whiteness-
where had her rosiness fed? Van
ished with her smile. 81
In voice strangely cold she
said. watching Teggie: This is
the question which my father
terms the crux OF modern moral
ity: II. by pressing button you
could cause the. death of an uu-
known mandarin In China. and 30
become possessed Of an enormous
fortune, would you press the but
TOM"
I interposed to give my young
friend time: Does the moral crnx
hang, mademoiselle. on the truth
fulness of ones answer"
This Is for me. mon Prince"
Teggie said in gentle rebuke.
"Signorina. this Is not a light
matter. The poor mandarin might
be a man of wit, the father OF .
family; one is faced then at tho
same moment with the possibility
Of destroying an intellect and ere
ating a widow and orphans. Be-
sides, to kill a human being solely
in order to confiscate his property
seems to me an unwArrantable
liberty.
ut Is not even as II one knew
the man. Ishould think II . most
unlawful practice for private indi-
viduals: and. IL it were to spread.
what would become Of our dis
tinction from governments? Nat
urally, where a government sees
property 1t has a right to kill the
owners. whether acquainted with
them or not: but for us-no!"
Miss Grandslam laughed with
unaffected heartiness. and led the
way to the lounge, where 4 stir
was going on that find at any
time vexs:ious, but OF a particular
annoyance in my own hotels.
What was Sayon about! His
business it was calmly and imper-
ceptibly to dispense excitement.
Now he was In the very heart OF
a group Of persons discussing with
eagerness the evening papers. l
would have drawn Teggie aside;
bit he was pressing his was
towards Ssvon, He rushed back,
his face alight..
Per Bacco! Have you heard
the news. milo principe! The hsh
has slipped from the caEe-pa'-
don-the net. He is free once
more"
Who is free?" demanded Miss
Queenie ?. Grandslan, Mr.. Grand
slam. and the Prince de BlA1ue
in unison.
1T Is shocking. but II is also
amusing" replied the Conte al
NovelIe astoria. Who Is free. my
friends? Why. the Man Behind
the Tinted Glasses"