Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-28
Elisabeth Dejeans

enough: the ache in her had become . tor.
menting pain. She did not know which hurt
her tho most. tho determined way In which
Breek had urged her 10 leave Kent House
or the way In which he had hung his head
when she questioned him, When she thought
that possibly the neglected dog was following
Breck she felt desperate. Breck would think
shc cared nothing for his present.
She thrust through the underground which
made hedgerow Of the fence and ansiously
scanned the field behind colsax Hall. At the
rear OF the house were tall trees and tangie
OF shrubbery. but the iield was fairly open.
patched here and there by weeds. To Maric's
relief. half way between her and colfax Hall.
she saw the spaniel. The little animal was
noSing tho ground and going In the direction
OF colfas Hall
Marie climbed tho fence and started down
the field In pursuit before II occurred 10 her
that tho spaniel was In danger. colfaxs
fierce huge dog would with one snap end tho
life OF anything so tiny and helpless US the
spaniel. 1t was probably the scent OF Col.
fax's dog that the spaniel was nosing And
there was danger to her, too. She and her
little dog were trespassing.
She looked everywhere for the animal. II
had not gone up the road to tho farmhouse
nor down the road into the park. Marie
searched the park for quite radius. Tho
high park wall ended at tho edge OF the park;
then there was a fence which ran along the
road to the farm and up to the high road
Il divided the Kent House property from the
neglected grounds OF Colfax Hail. and finally
II occurred to Marie that the spaniel might
~. m havapA hA
Terror gave speed to Maries pursuit. but
the spaniel was In search Of its own kind.
and. having reached a well worn path, was
running toward tho house. Marie did not
think Of stopping-lt was Breck who had
k1ven her the dog For his sake she would
have faced both Colfax and his masur.
When the spaniel disappeared In the tangle
Of shrubbery she plunged after It. praying
fervently that Colfax and his dog might not
be at home. She tore through the shrubbery
Just In time to sos the spaniel maneuvering
with difficulty the steps Of a side porch. There
was a blanket beneath one Of the windows
on the porch, and the dog hastened to 1t and
nosed 1t eagerly; evidently it was tho resting
place Of the mastin-when the animal was at
home.
For paralyzing instant Marie was certain
Of 1t, for the woman wore a hat with flow.
Ing veil. which hid her hair, and her face
was hidden by Colfa1s bent head. They were
clasped in each others arms. cheek to cheek.
passionate embrace. Marie stood aghast
an instant too long. for Colfax lifted his head
suddenly and the woman turned and looked
revealing not Mrs. Smiths rich hued face.
but tho flaxen fairness Of Bella Dunbarton-
Kent In the instant before Marie fed she
had the queer impression that Mrs. Smith
must have transformed herself into blonde.
bleached lashes and brows and hair, for the
long, strong, graceful lines Of the body were
10 like Mrs. Smiths and yet the woman was
certainly Bella Dunbarton-Kent. Allen Col.
fax was looking at Marie over Bellas shoul-
der, brows raised and lips parted in blank
amazenent, which lowered on the instant
into q look Of rage.
Marie tiptoed up the steps and across the
porch. She seized the spaniel, intent on
getting away as rapidly as possible, and she
did not think about the window, but as she
lifted the dog she glanced in apprehensively.
and what she saw held her fast for brief
space Of dumb astonishment. She looked into
q large and high ceilinzed room, carpeted in
red and furnished In heavy old mahogany.
The evening sun streamed into It. SO she saw
distinctly the two persons in the room. Allen
Colfax, standing and facing tho window,
duO. Will aIulS aOOut ul6 N0CAs 4 woman,
the long lines Of whose body were terrtfy-
ingly familiar to Marte-the woman Of the
train, Mrs. Smith
Marie sprang off the porch and ran into the
shrubbery and straight up the path which
led to the h1ghroad. She heard Colfax on tho
porch; she knew he was running after her:
then she heard him call, Como back here!"
She ran for her very life.
But 1t was impossible to outdistance him.
There was a sule giving on the high road.
and Marie scrambled over 1t. Colfax cleared
1t at bound. He was within few feet Of
her then, and Marie whirled and stood at bay.
I came-only to-get-my dog she
painted. II you touch mel shall scream
I shall scream!" she said wildly. She was
holding the spaniel tightly to her heaving
breast; her eyes. and her voice. and her
cheeks were afre.
Though he came close Colfax did not
touch her. Keep Quieu I'm not going
10 hurt your he commanded. He looked
at the dog; he was hot painting. and scarlet.
A likely story" he said angr1ly.
It is-Quite true. My dog ran away to
your house-and was afraid your dog would
kin her. She ran up on your porch-so I
In your window"
toll me the truth"
II wish to speak only tho truth. I was
there only moment"
What did you seer"
IL saw-the woman who was there
what woman?"
II thought at first it was-some one else
but 1t was not"
Indeed! Who was 1T"
lit was Mademoiselle Bella-Dunbarton.
Kent" -..
You're mistaken" Colfax said more
quietly. It wasn't Bella, but some ono who
ooks good deal like her."
Marie knew she was not mistaken and
that he was not telling the truth. II only
The could get back safely to Kent House
with her dog! She was afraid Of Colfax; he
vas big, reckless looking creature as broad
'houIdered as Breck. but he did not have
8reck's clean look. On that first day when
The had gone to his house by mistake and
le had frightened her, ne was 50 drunk hs
lad been scarcely able to keep his feet. He
lngry. One OF his eyes was blackened-
Marie remembered his fight with Brock
md 1t made him look ugly.
Marie was frightened, but she tried to be
actful. It does not matter to me who the
ady was, monsieur. I am sorry. did not
mean to see into your house. It was acci-
lental. All wish is to take my dog back
low to Kent House, so I say good-by," and
he backed away from him.
- No you dont!" Colfax said roughly,
They call you The Little Detective at
lent House. haven't believed it-you look