The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-07-09

thoughtfully at the pale amber wine
bubbling up from the stem.
From certain point of View"
answered, Il entirely agree with
you. Yet you must remember that
the host has always the advantage"
I'm the present case" the Baron
said with a smile, that amounts to
nothing, for you practically gave
me my answer before we sat down
TO dinner. II am able 10 induce
you TO change your mind--well, so
much the better. II not-well. l
can have nothing to complain Of"
81 am glad" | answered. that
you appreciate our position. With
regard to the present custody of
the child, which | take 1t Is what
you want to discuss with us, our
minds are practically made UP. My
friend and have both agreed that
we will continue the charge of her
until she is claimed by someone
who is in position to do so openly
someone, in short, who has a
legal right"
The Baron nodded gravely.
IAN excellent decision" he said.
mo one could possibly quarrel with
IL. Yet IL is a privilege to be able
to tell you some facts which may
perhaps affect your point OF view.
| can explain to you why this open
claim is not made"
1--WE are here" I answered, ito
listen to whatever you may have to
say"
We-Allan and I-rwere dining
with the Baron at Claridge's. An
appointment, which he had begged
us to make, had been changed into
a dinner invitation at his earnest
request There was a likelihood,
he told us, of his being summoned
abroad at any moment, and he was
particularly anxious not to leave
the hotel pending the arrival OF a
cablegram. So far his demeanor
had been courtesy and considera.
uon Itself, but under the mans
geniality and almost excessive bon.
homie both Allan and myself were
conscious or certain nervous i'm.
patience, only partially concealed,
Whatever proposal he might have
TO make to us, our acceptance OF Il
was without doubt a matter OF
great importance to him. The more
we realized this, the more We won.
dered.
II only wish" he said with EN-.
phasis, that It was within my
power to lay the cards upon the
table before you, to tell you the
whole truth. do not think, then,
that you would hesitate for single
second. But that cannot do. The
honor OF great house, Mr.. Great.
son. is involved in this matter, into
which you have been so strangely
drawn. must leave blanks in my
story which you must fill in for
yourselves, you and Mr.. Madame.
There are things which l may not
dare not-tell you. II | could, you
would wonder no longer that those
who desire to take over the charge
OF the child wish to do so without
publicity. without any appeal to the
courts"
The Archduchess.' l remarked,
gave me some hint as to the ma
ture of these difficulties"
The Baron emptied his glass and
called for another bottle OF wine.
Then he looked carefully around
him. a quite unnecessary precau-
tion, for our table was in a remote
corner of the room and there were
very few dining.
1T is no longer" he said. "a
matter of surmise with us as to
who the child you call Isobel de
, Sorrens really Is. She is of the
House OF Waldenburg. She carries
her descent written in her face, a
hallmark, no one could deny. Upon
the Archduchess and others OF her
great family must rest always the
shadow OF grave stigma so long as
the child remains In the hands of
strangers, an alien from her own
country. The Archduchess wishes
at once, and quietly, to assume the
charge of her. She is conscious of
your services she feels that you
have probably saved the child from
a late which 1t is not easy to con.
template calmly. She authorizes
me, therefore. to treat with you in
the most generous fashion"
THAT is a phrase" remarked.
which l do not altogether under.
stand"
Later" the Baron said, with a
meaning look, 81 will make myself
clear. In the meantime, let me
recommend this souffle. Mr..
Madame, you are drinking nothing.
Would you prefer your wine a
shade colder?"
Not for me-" Allan declared. ."
prefer champagne at its natural
temperature; the wine is far too
good TO have its favor frozen out
OF 1t. Apropos of what you were
saying, Baron, there is one question
which / should like to ask YOU.
Why was Major Delahaye sent TO
St Argueil for Isobel, and what
was he supposed to do with her?"
do not think that the Baron
liked the question. He hesitated
Tor gpV9Fll