The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-09-23

tCcutinucd From Page q
before we're flnished--and put up the
TOP"
) lou don't mean ,ase ON IN the
rainr" Jules rro,ested--yet studious.
y IN no tone Of protest
But naturally 80
How do you get that wayr DO
you want us all 10 get soaked to our
sklass~
Ny dear Julesr' MIR rhmuit re.
turned with winning smile--f
don't give = tupcnny damn q We do. =
With that he went 20 iosn his com.
rsny. while Jules. once the others
hack was turned permitted himself.
fer the sake OF his own respect and
the effect upon the assembled audi.
enee. thu luxury OF a shruE that out
rtsslled words In expression Of hls
personal opinion Of tho madness that
contemplated further travel on such
1>pfght a. this promised 10 be.
Then. like the well trained servant
that he was not. he mcshed gears
xlicntly and swung the car away TO
seek shelter. taking with him tho
sympathy as well as tho wonder Of
the one witness OF this bit OF by
play who had been able 10 under.
stand tho tongue in which u wAs
couehed: and who. knowing too well
what rain In those hills could mean.
was beginning 20 regret that his In.
vitation 20 the chateau had not been
fer another night.
A. fer tho somewhat unusual tone
81 the passage 10 which he had Just
listened. his nlmnie wits could invent
half a dozen plausible explanations.
II was quite possible. indeed when
one judged Mr.. rhinuit by his so
briefly In contrast with the saicty OF
the others u seemed quite plausible.
that he was equally with Jules a
paid employe OF these estensible
ncuvcaux riches. and that the two.
ths chauffeur and the courier tor
whatever Mr.. Phlnult was In hts
subordinate social ratlngl were ac-
custcmsd to amuse themselves by
INDUCING In reciprocal abuse. -
But what Duchemin could by no
means fathorns was the reason why
phinuit should choose. and how he
the face OF such threatening
weather. 70 stop In Nant for an
early dirner--with MILAN only an
hour away and the chances fair
thaS before tho storm broke the
automobile would reach the latter
city with It's superior hotel and
restaurant accommodations.
hut Il was. after all. none Of the
business Of Andre Duehemin.
He lighted another cixaret. ob.erv.
inx the group OF strangers IN Nsnt
with an open snauisltlvcness wholly
Cattle. therefore lnconsplcucus. The
entire clientele Of tho Cato de
rUnlvsrs was doing the same. Mr..
Phinuit's party was the focal point
AZ between 20 and 30 pair OF star.
Ing eyes. and was enduring this
with much cauanimity.
Mr.. Phlnuit was comforting ear
nestly over the menu with madame
IA proprietairie. The others were
ordering apertifs Of q waiter. Thru
the rlatfcr Of tongues that flied
''vesskysodA- uttered by the mon
sieur In tweeds. Then the tall man
consulted the beautiful lady as to
her preferences. and Duehemin
caught the words madame In
comtesse~ spoken In tho rzsping
nasal drawi Of an American
Evidently person Of rich humor.
the speaker. madame Ia comtesss"
was abruptly convuixed with laugh.
ter. the chubby gentleman reared:
Mr.. PhBnuit looked up from tho
carte with an inquiring. receptive
smile: the waiter grinncd broadly.
But the cause Of all this msrri-
ment wore only an expression Of
slightly panied bevildcrment on his
Haat mask Of face
~ that moment arrived the
caleche which Duchemin had com
manGed 20 drive him 20 the chateau;
and with a ride Of two miles before
him and rain imminent. he had no
moro time 10 waste.