The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-03-27

passod-an asagnatiOn for the NOR
row evening al Marscilles. proposed
boldly enough by Mr Popple, and as
scented 20 by a timorous but eloquent
flash OF the eyes By Louisa After
dinner they took their coffee out on
deck. Their heads were even closer
together, their voices dropped Pco-
pie. as they passed. began 20 smile, Il
was obvious that an affair was In
progress, was surprised. therefore.
10 hear Nit Popple suddenly address
the doctor. who had Joined mo again
for few moments:
Just a moment Doo-
We stopped at once Mr.. Popple
seemed 70 Rise with difficulty 20 his
feet.
Guess / am hek. Doc Just step
around 20 my stateroom with mo Tor
moment"
Mr., Popple, suddenly very pale.
swBycd on his feet and elutehod az
moment 10 SEQ him collapse We all
turned 20 Louisa She shook hor
head. apparently as bowilderod as
tho rest OF us
we had Just finished our coffee"
shc explained. when Mr.. Popple
became silent He spoke Of a pain IN
his head and / thought no seemed
queer. Then be called out 20 the
doctor. That Is all / know about II
BY degrees tho others melted
away, sank into Mr.. Popple's va
cant chair. A. soon as wo wsrc
alone. Mrs Louisa Martin looked az
me coyertly There was naAh OF
triumph in her half-closed eyrs
sol" she murmurrd Il DO not
think that Mr.. Puppla win follow mo
about MRrseilles-
EDO you mean that you have pol
soned HIM" ! Easpcd
She looked At me with n queer ut
Ito smile.
Some" she said. prefer TO shoot
choose tho way Of safety"
Then knew that Michael had told
her everything In that moment. all
that I had over felt Of love for him
turned 20 hate.
We entered tho harbor at Mar
settles lato on tho following morning.
and drifted down on our way 20 the
dock We stood leaning over the
side. waiting prepared 20 land. but
waiting for tho goudarmes nj the
farther end Of the gangway TO give
the word Suddenly | felt thrill
pass thru my whole body Leaning
with his hack TO one OF tho wooden
pIllara was a man with tanned. al
most HwRrthy skin. lean faced, with
a hungry. woltlike drpop OF his thin
llps. He Was shabhlly dressed even
for n laborcr Yet | know Michael.
and nltho no never glanced again In
my direction, ! knew that ho had rec.
oEuized mo. made my way TO whore
Louisa was standing. and I touched
her on tho arm.
Look there" said, directing her
attention cautiously toward tho
lounginE figure
She looked A. him for a moment
without interest. Then suddenly the
change came into her fAen. shs
clutched at my arm.
There II danger" she nutterrd
He has been Obliged TO fee. Alas.
our week at tho villa exists no lon
grrl-
A moment arteryvnrd. there WAS
movement toward tbs gangwRy.
followed the others or the ship. and
waited until magnificent looking
funCtionnry. smelling Of garlic. had
made mystic signs with piece OF
chalk upon my modest trunk. The
porter shouldercd II and turned TO
me for Instructions
"A carriage 10 tho Hotel Spleen
dido" / directed.
] was on the point Of entering II
when / felt touch upon my arm.
fife insists upon seeing YOU" she
whispered In n low tone. Where are
you EoinE7"
To tho Hotel spIcndide, ~ told her
with a sinking heart.
II shall fetch you tonight at 6
o'clock"
why does Michael want to roe
me p asked reluctantly.
One does not ask Michael auss-
lions" she answered with n sheer.
You should have found that out by
| this time"
I | felt an tho an ugly cloud were
looming over this wonderful holiday
Of mine. and spent restless and
unsati factory afternoon. At o'clock
| Louisa came for mo In a small nacres
and we drove slowly and with horri.
bic jolts into ono Of the fouiest sea-
coast slums one could imagine. be-
gan to feel fear.
Where arc we goinR7- ] do
manded.
ITO tho only place where Michael
can hide in safety" Louisa replied.
Even the police OF Mnrseilles would
scarcely dare 10 seek him here"
We stopped al last nj tho end Of
dark and narrow street. place 30
sdpalid and unsavory that ] hest
tated TO leave the vehicle. Louisa,
however. elbowed me out and half
pushed. half.conducted mo along an
entry, with high wall on either
side. a Shiny place with the Bwish OF
waves distinctly audible. At tho ex-
treme end she pushed open door on
the ieft-hRnd side. We found our
selves in cafe Of the poorest class
with aanded floors and iron table. A
woman, fat and with hidsous face
stood behind the bar.
Louisa went straight 10 the WON.
mn and whispered in her ear. The
woman. who had at least three or
four chlng nodded ponderously and
smiled. showing row Of yellow. dis
colored teeth. She glanced cautiously
around the place, as tho to make sure
that no stranger was amongst her
clientele. Then. with a fat, bcrlnged
finger, she beckoned us behind tho
counter and led us down some steps,
along n pnssnge. into somber and
fenrEome-looking apartment tnwdrlly
furnished, with cracked gilt mirror
! upon the mnntel-piece walls reelt-
! inp With Jnrun and anrne ,yguI,t t,i,.t