The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-07-14


| hit him very hardw T
"No," agreed Fell, gravely. "Unfor-
| tunately, no. Lucie, I've discovered a
most important fact. Joseph Maillard
did not own any stock In the Bayou
Oil company at the time your land
was sold them by him, and he had no
interest at all in the real estate con-
Germ that bought your st. Landry
swamp lands and made fortune off
them. We have really blamed him
most unjustly. do not believe that
he has profited in the least from you.
His investments in the companies con-
cerned were made afterward, and I
am certain he sold the lands inno-
Gently"
Lucie drew deep breath.
II am glad you have said this" she
returned simply. "It's been hard for
me to 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 really 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
Nf,;uorS Sc doI;haroto1u by,,d o,o
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"
Eyes, mean Bob. That he has
profited by your loss I am not vet IN
position to say; but suspect it.
When 1 have finished with the
Masquer, shall take up his trail"
joachim Fell rose. "Now I 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"
"rll come tomorrow night gladly,
Uncle joachim"
Sand 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 l can't
like. I'm sorry that you're trying to
regenerate him, in a way"
Fell shrugged lightly. "All life is
an effort. little one! Well, goodby."
joachim 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 she appeared, and then
she made no apologies whatever for
the delay.
Not that Gramont minded waiting;
he deemed it privilege to linger in
this housed He loved to study the
place. so reflective of it's owner. He
loved the white Colonial mantel that
surrounded the fireplace, perpetually
alight, with it's cleaning sheen of old
brasses, and the glittering fire-set to
one side. The very air of the place,
the atmosphere that it breathed, was
sweet to him.
The Napoleon bed 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-
fore the oriental rug market was
flooded with machine-made SIENNA
knots-about everything here had an
air of comfort, of long use, Of restful-
ness. 1t was not the sort of place
built up, raw item by raw item, by
the color-frenzled 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 are charming as ever, Shining
One! And in years to come you will
be still more charming. That is the
beauty of having name taken direct
from the classics and bestowed as
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, mademoiselle, to grow
weary of such beautyw
"Not of the name, but of your exc
gesis upon It. Why should l not be
displeased? Last night you were pos
itively rude, and now you decry my
taste! Did you leave all your man.
ners in France, NJ. lie primer"
III IVA, aek anvhndv m the in III