Owingsville outlook., 1922-11-09

mas, ".. rHr. ract. Jose. t!Hi''ard
didft own any stock In "a sou
oil 'pany at the ;lme land
VIZ them by him. and .Ld "a"
/ IL, .,-. at all in the real eS = con
ccrn that bought your St %. I..r7
swamp lands and made fortune off
them. We have really blamed him
most uniustly. do not believe that
he has profitcd IN the least from you.
His investments in the cOmpanic n
ceTned were made Iftcrward. ..r I
am certain hr sold ihe lan'. 'glO-
Gently"
Iucie drew Il deep breath.
81 am glad you have said this" she
returned simply. IT'S been hard for
me tn think that Uncle Joseph had
taken advantage of me; think that
he honestly likes me. as far as he
permits himself to like anyone"
He'd not loan You money on IT,"
said Fell. Friendship isn't tangible
security with him."
"Well. who real, did profit by my
loss? Anyone?"
Fell's pale gray eyes twinkled. then
cleared in their usually wide inno-
cence
"My dear Lucie, is there one person
( in this world to whose faults Joseph
MaiIard is deliberately blind - one
person to whom he would refuse moth
ing, in whom he would pardon every
thing. of whom he would never believe
any evil report?"
"YOu mean" Lucie drew a quick
breath-"BOb?"
"Yes, mean Bob. That he has
profited by your loss | am not yet In
position TO say; hut I suspect IT,
When have finished with the
Masquer, | shall take up his trail"
Jachin Fell rose. "Now | must be
off. my dear. "Will you dine with us
tomorrow evening, Lucie? My mother
commanded me to bring you as soon
as possible"
"Oh, your mOther," exclaimed the
girl. contritely. II was so absorbed
in the Masquer that forgot to ask
after her. How is she?"
"Quite as usual. thank you"
"Tll come tomorrow night gladly.
Uncle Jachin."
"And we'll take look at the Pro-
teus ball afterward. if you like. I'll
send Ben Chacherre for you with the
car. If you're not afraid of him"
I'm not exactly afraid of him."
Lucie responded. soberly, but there
Is something about him that I can't
like. I'm sorry that you're trying to
regenerate him, in way"
Fell shrugged lightly. "All life is
an effort. little one! Well. goodby."
Jachin Fell left the house at three
forty. Twenty minutes later the bell
rang again. Lucie sent one of the
servants to admit Henry Gramont !;
she kept him waiting full fifteen
minutes before che appeared, and then
she made no apologies whatever for
the delay.
Not that Gramont minded waiting; /;
he deemed II n privile''e to linger in
this house! He loved to study the
place, so reflective of Its owner. He
loved the white Colonial mantel that
surrounded the fir Nre. perpetually
alight, with its glei n5c sheen of old
brasses. and the glrterlng fire-set to
one side. Tic very arr of the place,
the atmosphere that it breathed. was
sweet tn hiri
y The. .Nar esr he'd that filled the
bow window. with its pillows and soft
coverings; the inlaid walnut cabinet
made by Sheraton. with its quantity
curved glasses that reflected the old
time curios within; the tilt tables, the
rosewood chairs. the rugs. bought be-
forr :he oriental rug market was
hooded with machine-made Sienna
sHotS-,bout everything here had an
az Df comfort, of long use, of restful-
ness. II was not the sort of place
built up. raw item by raw item, by
the cOlor-frenzied hands of decorators
1t was the sort of place that decOra-
tors strive desperately to initiate and
cannot.
When she made her appearance.
Gramont bent over her hand and ad-
dressed her in French.
"You ale charming as ever, Shining
One! And In years 20 come you will
be still more charming. That is the
beauty of having a name taken direct
from the classics and bestowed as a
good fairy's gift"
''Thank you. monsieur but you
have translated my name at least
twenty times. and am weary of hear
ing it," responded Lucie. laughingly.
"POor taste, nademoiselle, to grow
weary of such beautyr'
"NOt Of the name, but of your exc
gesis upon 1t. Why should I not be
displeased? Last night you were pos
itively rude. and now you decry my
taste! Did you leave all your man,