The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-09-20
CHAPTER XIII
ATademoiselle the Detective

Mademoiselle the Detective
In London, about noon Of that day.
Wertheimer deciphered a code mess
sge:
Dear old bean: Please advise pre-
lecture de police without revealing
your source of information, uniden-
titled man murdered on express
stopped yesterday Hotel Terminus,
Lyons, under name of Comte de Lorg-
mes. During entire evening before en-
f7wmTng he was Swallowed by two
Apaches, one of whom, passing as
Albert Dupont, booked in same car
rage with Lorgnes, but detrained
Laroche six-fifteen. IAN admirably
succinct sketch Of the physical Dupont
is here deleted.) AS stranger in Paris
I crave passionateIy to review night
life Of great city but am naturally
timid about going about alone after
dark. Only society of beautiful, &C
complished, well-informed and agree
able lady can put me at ease. Can
you recommend one such to me by
telegraph? Persume you have heard
your old friend Duchemin is sus-
pected Of looting Jewels of Madame
de Montalais, Chateau de Montalais,
near AIillau. He counts on your dis
erection to preserve secret Of his in
nocence pending further advices. Paul
Martin here stopping Hotel Chatham.
Toodle-oo.
IN. L."
A telegram from London addressed
to NJ. Paul Martin, Hotel Chatham,
Paris, was delivered late in the after
noon:
Prefecture tipped off. Many
thanks Fully appreciate you can
not trust yourself alone in the dark.
Therefore cheerfuny deIegating preser-
walton your virtue while in Paris to
Mile. Althenais Reneaux, maiden lady
mature charms whom I beg you will
respect as you would my sister. Wish
ing you enjoyable intellectual eve
ming W.
It NEEDED receipt OF a petit bleu
while he was dressing for dinner, to
cure Lanyard of an attack of pre-
monitory shivers brought on by rec
objection Of the awful truth that one
is never really safe in trifing with an
EngIishman's sense OF humor.
Dear Monsieur Martin: It is too
sweet Of you to remember your prom
ise to ask me to dine the first time
YOU came to Paris. Since you leave
1t to me, shall we say the Ritz, at
100? In case your memory for faces
is poor-it has been a long time since
We met, hasn't It'll shall be wearing
the conventional fast black with my
very best ingenue expression; and my
feather fan will be fane-colored.
Always to you
"ALTHENAIS RENEAUX."
Now that sounded more like
NfademoiselIe Athenais ReneauX
lived up in most gratifying fashion to
the tone of her note.
She swept spiritedly into the
lounge Of the Ritz. tall. fair girl,
very good-looking indeed and brilliant
" costumed. and placed Monsieur Pau
Martin in one glance, on the instance
OF his calculated start Of recognition.
Paul. she cried in lifting accents.
I'm so glad. It's been simply ages
And looking so we'll, 1 don't
believe you've changed a bit"
And you, Athenais. always ex-
ouisite, but today Truly one
has never seen you looking better"
'F-lattery," she commented. But
love it!'
Meanwhile her gaze reviewed the
lounge in one swift. searching glance,
and returned to Lanyard with :. droop
Of the lashes, signifed there vas no
one present Hkley to prove danger
Gus.
"Flsttery2 To you? But impossi-
bier
He delighted her. and she showed
it openly But her lips said only:
Have I kept you waiting a fright
fully long time. poor bcy?"
Let your appetite accuse you,
Athenais"
But I am starving
Then, as I take it. nothing on
earth can prevent our going in TO
dinner"
Lanyard had already consulted with
the maitre d'hOteI over the menu and
the reservation as the two settled
down at table on the side of the
room.
Monsieur received a telegram this
afternoon?"
Yes, mademoiselle. And your"
1T is here-since am. May I see
yours?"
With a gay gesture she handed over
her telegram from London and took
his in exchange.
The ordinary cipher of the British
Secret Service was as readily inteili-
gible TO both as if the messages had
been couched in open French or Eng
lish.
The girl was laughing as she re
turned Lanyard's telegram and re
ceived her own.
Mature charms'9' she pouted.
" Enjoyable intellectual evenings Oh,
how depressing, And are you going
TO obey that injunction to treat me
as somebody's sister,"
Never in my life.'
Il like that better. And" she in
quired demurely. may one ask what
are monsieur's commando"
First, you will continue to firt
with me as at present-outrage ously."
Even when you make it so diff
cult?"
And then. if I discover an inter
est in people may chance to see,
you will be good enough TO tell me
who they are and-other details con-
corning their ways of life"
Perhaps 1 know them. 1t might
save time if you would give me their
names
lie Comte de Lorgnes?"
MademoiseIle Reneaux looked blank