The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-04-15
UCK il an element which largely

tiful garden OF the Villa lEiea Hotel
NJ P1lsrmo with the blue Sicilian sea
tapping lazily at my feet.
I had been over to Montenegro on
. little piece OF confidential business
connected with the affairs OF GER
tain lady OF royal birth. and, having
landed at Naples rom Cattaro. had
crossed to Sicily TO visit my old
friend. Hubert Johnson. who Is a
wellknown English merchant in
Palermo. Ny visit was At an end
and I was urgently wanted in Paris
Il had booked berth that night on
the mail steamer back to Naples.
As smoked my "halt-TCscano"-
half OF one OF those long. thin cigars
OF Italy which. cosmopolitan as am
always. delight me- fell to ponder
ing. had urgent business in Brus-
sells connected with cinema play,
ana A. the same time I was wanted
IN Paris: should 20 direct 10 Bel
Eium By way o: Bale, or should I 60
first to Paris by way OF Nodane?
suppose was gazing fiXedly into
space when suddenly 7 heard a voice
With a strong nasal twanz cHclaim
Wal Billy. never. Fancy you
here. my boy"
locked round and saw. 10 my
7meEcment and pleasure my old
American friend. Mr.. Richard l.
Gretton. the great wheat Speculation
of Chica 20. 4 big burly. wrlldressed
rcure in suit OF ducks like myself
md wearing \ Trilhv hat OF white
ten. around which was dark green
hand.
spranK IN and svasped his hand
for Dick Grettnn and I were old and
= cry intimate friends. 4 bachelor
nc divided his time between Chicago
md Europe. Usually hn had a fa'
in s.. James street. London. and
very often rooms in Paris at the
sumo time. He was about forty-are
lut ten years before. by dirt OF
SrecuIatinS. he had made three
quarters OF million pounds. and
row he hal retired from business in
order 10 enjoy himself.
My dear Dick" cried. where
IN the name OF Fate have you sprung
from"
lame question. boy. might ask
YOU" no laughed. ".Tus, drifting
-rrund YOU know. We both drift
around don't We"
II was true. 7 have "drifted
around" Europe AL my life. and he
vas quite as much a cosmopolitan
a. myself.
"Wdl. what's YOUR plans" he
.@sNed. sinking into the long cane
hair beside me. and calling to the
waiter for two cocktails.
I'm OF back tonight-over to
Naples and then to Paris." was my
reply
"Stin NJ the same game. eh?" he
! >h"d. with a sly wink.
Yes. I'm helping the French a
bit admitted.
Coed boy. Your English people
,re slow somehow he said. and
then. lowering his voice: "Say. do
YOU recollcc, how we got the Offer
Of the plans Of the new Zeppelins
and your people at whitehall turned
II down? wouldn't give a thousand
pounds :or them!"
II recollect." said with a sigh. FOR
it was a sore point with me. Rich
ard l.. Gretten OF Chicago had helped
me to approach Count Zeppelfns
Grief engineer. who had, through me
AaI ~ Dr. L.
Plans OF the new Zepps. being built
for a thousand pounds. but the In
tc'liSence Department regretted that
they could not spare so much money
Ard that's why you're helping
France. en-" he asked.
nodded. The fact was that
had endeavored at my own cost and
paying all my own expenses to as
slst Britain, the country In which
vas born. But I had only aroused
the jealousy OF certain high but in
competent officials. and received OF
hcial snubs for my pains. So here
confess that had turned my atten-
ton to the country Of my father
snd was devoting my time to serv'
ing her and keeping her informed o:
the progress OF events In Germany.
After a cigarette strolled with
Dick into the town.
Suddenly my American Friend ex
claimed:
Say. Billy. have you noticed tina
woman alone-over in the corner
Wonder? The woman In black. Will
tho jade beads"
raised my eyes and saw a yer,
handsome. dark-tAlred woman o
about thirty-five at a table. alone
She was eating her risotto and q
the same time reading the Tribuna.
"Darnsd sood-loosln' woman that.
he went on. in admiration. Won
der who she is"
agreed that the lady was uncom
monty handsome. She was Of tina
type OF the smart deml- monde which
We cosmopolitans know 30 well-th,
world-veary, hlase woman who 4:
interested In nothing save her owl
jewels and flnery. And yet. as sh,
put down the paper and raised hel
glass Of golden Orvieto. there was /,
look Of keen intelligence in her eye
which marked her as woman o
character.
Dick Gretton seemed to be "snit
ten" by her good looks and her pleas
jngtng countenance.
"Say. Billy" he exclaimed At last
II think after lunch. II catch hel
alone. I shaH speak to her. On
makes easy acquaintances in no
tells"
About half an hour after lunch
found my easy-going American
friend chatting in the lounge taking
coffee. and chatting with the lady
whom he had so much admired. II,
beckoned me over. and I sat at theii
little table and chatted. l did no
know her name. but fellow-visitor'
ut hotels soon chum together. e.
pecially on the Continent.
She spoke English with a rathe,
,.a co--,.. .NrApf A. ApNf