The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-05-22

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who had once or twice spoken to me
on the voyage. but who seemed to
spend most of his time seeking for
mer business associates. His name
was Frank Popple.
""Say, are you acquainted with the
lady in the corner?" he asked curl
ously.
I shook my head 81 have never
seen her before" 1 assured him.
rs that so?" he replied incredulous-
ly. Didn't you notice her looking
kind of fierce.
Il thought she had probably mis-.
taken me for some one else I said.
received a further shock about
an hour later, when l found the same
woman ensconsed in a corner of the
tender which was 10 take us back to
the steamer. She scowled at me sui
| lenIy when we came on board; and
acting entirely or impulse, I walked
straight across to her.
Have I offended you in any way?"
1 inquired. 1T seems to me that we
are strangers"
She looked al me steadfastly. Her
face. which normally must have been
soft and pretty, had become hard and
cold
You are Janet Stanfeld are you
not?" she asked.
THAT Is certainly my name" I ad.
mitted. more puzzled than ever.
She looked at me In doubling 81
lence. Il have seen your picture"
she said gloomily.
"Where?"
I'm New York. He carried It with
him
She turned deliberately away, as
though determined not to enter into
any further conversation. l found
her unsociability to some extent
relief but when I stepped on board
again, my blessed peace Of mind was
gone I relapsed into my former
frame of mind and endeavored TO keep
away from every one. Mr.. POpple,
however. refused to accept my plain
hints. He dragged his chair over to
my corner on deck.
Mrs Louisa X. Martin-that ladys
name" he informed me. she comes
from way out West. beyond NIilwau-
kee. She is getting out at Marseilles."
Il had forgotten all about her
replied mendaciously.
I'D give her a wide berth il I
were you" he advised. Travelling
about as much as I do, I've got kind
of used to taking stock of peoples
expressions, and the way she looked
at you was real mean"
I declined to continue the CONVEX
sation and announced my intention
Of going to bed. AS I entered the
mushroom on the way to my cabin,
there was a curious cessation of con-
versation. Mrs Louisa X. Martin,
who was seated in an easy-chair. very
becomingly dressed in black. with a
long rope of pearls around her neck.
looked at me with steady insolence. !
walked straight up to her chair.
knew that she had been saying things
about me. and I was furious.
Are you meeting my husband at
Marseilles. Mrs. Martini" I asked
her.
was sorry for the question direct
" the words had left my lips-sorry
for her too. in a way. She turned
deathly pale. and if looks could have
killed, 7 should have been dead
woman. She made no answer at all.
! waited for a moment and then
passed on to my stateroom.
It must have been about 10 o'clock
that night when I heard a soft
tapping at my door. 7 guessed at
once who it was. and I guessed right
". 1t was Mrs. Louisa Martin.
wrapped in a dressing gown and with
SLIPPERS on her feet. She closed the
door carefully, and she put her fingers
to her lips.
we must be careful" she whis-
pered. You were mad to speak OF
/ Michael openly"
"Of my husband?"
/ She laughed contemptuously.
HE married me years before you"
/ she replied, land another before
7 either Of us"
[ turned away from her. that she
/ should not see the hate In my face.
/ Some conviction Of this sort had been
/ growing upon me Of late
When two women love the same
man." Louisa Martin continued
/ they should forget everything when
he is in danger. I don't see love in
your face" she went on Then why
are you here?"
| Il see no reason why I should dis.
! cuss that or any other subject with
/ you" I answered. But as A mat.
! ter Of fact I had no idea that Michael
| was in Marseilles"
I thought that she would have
struck me. The fire of unbelief blazed
/ IN her eyes.
What are you doing on this steam
/ er them" she demanded.
Il came for holiday trip" told
/ her.
/ She leaned a little toward me. In
I the unshaded light of the cabin her
face seemed wan, almost aged.
Listen" she said; this is matter
/ Of life or death for Michael. You
/ heard through some Of his being in
/ MarseiIles. Tell me through whom"
Il swear that I had no idea he
was there" 1 repeated
You fool"' she exclaimed. Cant
/ you see that you are probably fol
lowed-that the police are making use
Of YOU
You are in the same position your
/ self" I reminded her.
/ Indeed am not" she assured me
/ earnestly. Il was born in Marseilles.
/ I have travelled there repe atedly. I
/ know every corner and stone Of the