The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-09-16
CHAPTER VIII
Speaking Of Love


ofders-take experimental strolls.
Theswound in his side still hurt
IKE the very deuce at every Ill
considered movement; and this
constant reminder OF outlaws and
Violence prompted Duchemin to
urge Eve de Montalais to place her
Jewels in safe-keeplng.
Eve de Montalals laughed the
charming, low-keyed laugh of a
happily diverted woman.
y surrender at discretion; l
will do as you wish. will leave
Louise to take care Of madame ma
mere for a few days while I Jour-
neg to Paris
:Alone2t
But naturally"
You, a womanl travel alone 10
Paris with a treasure OF Jewels?
Ah, mol Iwould rather steal the
Jewels myself, convey them to
Paris put them In safe keeping,
and send you the receipt"
Whatla lot Of trouble monsieur
would save me. II he would only
be so kind as, to, do as he threat
ems.
And how amusing II he were
arrested en- route" Duchemin sup
plemented with a wry smile.
= am quite confident of your
ability to elude the police, mon
sieur."
Madame is too flattering; one
IS sure she is too wise to put SO
great q temptation Ia the way OF
any man
Listen, my friend" Eve do
Montalais ficked away her cIgaret
and sat forward, elbows on knees,
hands laced, her level gaze hold
ing his. at is true, our acquain-
lance Is. barely three weeks old;
but the mask you hold between
Yourself and the world, lest It pry
into what does not concern 1t, has
been lowered when you have talk
ed with me; and have had eyes
toisee what was revealed"
eAh, madame!"
THE nature O. man Of
honor monsieur. simple O. heart
and generous, as faithful as he "a
brave
Eye had spoken impulsively,
with warmth Of feeling unrealized
until too late. Now slow color
mantled her cheeks. But her eyes
remained steadfast, candid, un-
ashamed. 1t was Duchemin who
dropped his gaze. abashed.
With a troubled smile he said:
would give much to be worthy
ofwhat you think Of me, madame.
And / would be a poor thing In
deed II l failed to try to live up to
your3faith."
you will not fall" she replied.
What you are, you were before
my faith was, and will be after
ward, when"
She did not finish, but OF a sud.
den irecollected herself, lounged
back In her chair, and laughed
quietly, with humorous appeal to
dis sympathy.
so, that is settled: I am not t.
be permitted to take my jewels to
Paris alone. What then, monsieur"
u would suggest you write your
bankers said Duchemin seriously,
"and request them to send you two
trusted men-to guard you on the
way.
but why? You have been so per.
sistent about this matter. monsieur.
Ever since that night when those
curious people stopped here in the
rain Can It be that you suspect
them OF evil designs upon my trink.
etc21
Duchemin shrugged. "Yho knows,
madame, what they were?"
They were clever people, far
more clever than poor provincIals
Ike us.G She took a moment for
thought. But l am puzzled by
their harping on the subject off,
think they called him the Lone
Wolf, Now why should they do
that2n
Duehemin was constrained. to
take refuge in another shrug. who
knows? he iterated "If they were
as clever as we assume. doubtless
they were clever enough to have a
motive even for that"
He really existed, this Lone
Nolf?n
'.Assuredly, madame. For years
he was the nightmare and the
scourge OF people OF wealth in every
capital of Europe"
why did they call him the Lone
Wolf, do you know"
7 believe some imaginative
Partisan journalist fixed that So
briquet on him, in recognition Of
the theory upon which, apparently,
he operated"
And that was-?"
That a criminal, at least a thief,
70 be successful must be absolutely
anonymous and friendless; in which
case nobody can betray him, AS
madame probably understands
ertminals above a certain level OF
Intelligence are seldom caught by
The police except through the
reaehery OF accomplices."
still, in the end"
-0h, no. madame. The Lone Wolf
vas never caught He simply
eeased 70 thieve."
sIwonder why /. :"
Isbelieve because he fell In love