The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-05-07

why not give warning to Mon
sieur Lutarde?"
THAT has been done. He is naughty
and impetuous. He will brook no
interference with his actions"
Can I meet him?' I suggested.
To-day at the British Embassy"
Guy Ennison replied. I'VE have ar
ranged little luncheon. He does not
know your errand, and he scarcely
even realizes our anxiety"
Our conference broke up soon
afterward. At luncheon found
Philippe Lutarde gracious, charming
and brilliant. He had the clear skin
and bright eyes of a younger man:
his snow-white hair was a veritable
adornment. He was a delightful
companion, and l easily understood the
enthusiastic adherence of his friends
Toward the close of luncheon Ennison
spoke to him quite seriously of the ex-
istence Of some conspiracy against
either his life or his honor. Lutarde
only smiled.
MY friend" he said, 'T much ap-
preciate all your efforts on my behalf;
but behold. am 20 years old! A few
years more or less OF life now are
little. AS 10 my honor. that no enemy
can besmirch. If I were to surround
myself by guards. as you suggest,
place myself in a glass house. should
live an artificial life. I know that
without me things might for a time
be difficult, and relations between our
two countries might suffer In month
or two-however. all that will be
changed-we shall have entered upon
a new era-snd for these few months
I choose to take my risk. I will not
submit to espionage"
Nevertheless for the next three days
/ cast away my name and resorted to
the meaner walks OF my profession.
Swallowed the great French states.
man, from the moment when he rose,
until nightfall There was a young
girl, very beautiful. with great dark
eyes and an appealing face, who
stopped him one night with some pitt
fJ6 story. She was limping, and she
pointed continually to her foot. Lu-
tarde called the ftacre which she in
dicated. She leaned her fingers upon
his arm. l was close enough to see
the pressure of them, to note the
subtlety of her upward glances. He
handed her to the cab. l heard her
pleading words. She was lonely. If
monsieur would drive with her little
way! But Lutarde shook his head
gravely. He paid the taXicab man a
fare which surprised him, lifted his
hat courteously and walked away 1
saw the change in the girls face as
he disappeared That was just one OF
his escapes.
We had a more exciting few min.
utes one night when he insisted upon |
walking home from the Quai d'Orsay. |
saw the four dark. silent figures |
gliding together, two of them in front /
o. him and two behind. and I saw the
waiting motorcar at the corner of
the street. Prudence led me to an
ticipate their action. whatever 1t might
be. When they heard the split Of bull
lets against the wall they took to
their heels and ran. To the gendarme
who came hurryinG up, I had only
to show my badge of authority, and
Lutarde, convinced now that his enc
mics were in earnest. yielded to my
first proposition. was installed IN
his house as major-domo.
We had three or four days of
absolute quietude. Then the moment |
which we had been expecting ar
rived. 1t was about six o'clock in the |
evening. and I was seated in Monsieur
Lutarde's study, copying some letters
al 4 desk and posing as his secretary !
a servant brought in a note, which
the Minister read hastily and passed
to me. 1t was written on British for
eign office notepaper and signed by
a very important parsonage. The gist
of It was contained in these lines:
The bearer can be altogether
trusted. He brings you a verbal mess.
age Of great Importance. You will
further our mutual interests If you
give 1t your most serious consider
alton.
1t was a mere chance which led me
to retire to what Lutarde was pleased
to call my spy-hole. 1t was per
haps as well that I did SO. for to my
amazement It was Janet who was
presently ushered In. Monsieur Lu-
tarde rose to his feet in some sur
prise.
You are the bearer of this letter,
madame?" he queried.
In a sense 1 am not" she replied,
taking the chair to which he pointed
and leaning a little over his desk
1T is my husband who should have
come. He would have waited upon
you and brought the letter and mes
sage to which this note refers. but
he was attacked last night by an old
complaint Of his-sciatica-and he ia
absolutely unable to move. He asked
me to hasten to you. and to beg that
under the circumstances you would
do him the honor to come to the
hotel. He is ashamed to have to ask
you, but the doctor who. is with him
now absolutely forbids him to stand
up. I have here his certificate"
ct will come without delay. ma
dame" Lutarde promised, waving
away the half-sheet of notepaper
which she had rendered.
IT came in taxicab-it ia waiting"