Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-12-18


him indifferently. 'Thega Is really =
reason why we should not meek n !
place IKE this on equal eerlna. has s.
aunt Is woman with only enc lKsea Z
her head and for the successful devel
0pment OF that idea It h advisable
that we make no acqualntancea what
ever here. There, my Lord DonaDey
have not been kind to your woaae
see more Of you If I could. heeaEse 4
a place like this the escort Of man b
an advantage. AS II Is. I can asaaSs
you that risk good deal IN taktne
these afternoon rides II you knew
how wearisune my life was and how
gra9eful really am to you for these
rev hours OF escape ron would fee
more kindly toward me. see. give
you my hand Let Us be friends
II was the first time durina al their
acquaintance that she had accorded
him the slightest mark OF faver. The
touch OF her fingers thrilled and sur
prfsed him. He held her hand unresisi.
ingly for several moments Then she
drew It quietly but firmly away.
..sKell that Il sesfieda she said
Nov talk to me about other thinga
Ii there no news al she rooms1 Has
no one been breaking the bankT
'sThere was something vas anlns
20 tell you" Gerald replied, with =
sudden flash OF recollection. Z sai
next to q man at dinner last niglat b
ciro's grin. who they say broke the
bank several times during the after
noon. believe they said that be was
Russian. suppose you know al
about him. however"
'I71 she exclaimed. ~Why should ~
because. between the courses ~ ais
dinner. he wrote a letter and sent Il
on by messenger He was AZ the next
table and Il was impossible for me 70
avoid seeing the envelope. II was I'D
dressed 30 Madame de Poniere.~
She looked at him, amazed
ITO my auntY. she repeated a'Fsui
we received no letter from any one
last night. what was this man IlkeY
They said that he was q Russian
and that his name Was zubin. Gerald
replied. sThey also said that he had
won two million francs In the after
noon"
"zubiul" she exclaimed. with little
start. Describe him at once. Il you
please"
@That IA easy" Gerald acquiesced
HE must have been at least six foot |
three or four, and he had tremendous
shoulders He was one OF the must
powerful-loolxing men have ever seen
In my life. He had a sallow complex
Ion, lined face. black eyes and a
mass Of black and gray hair"
She put her hand upon his
stop the car. please." she begged
Turn round as quickly as you emn.
must go home"
Gerald ran on to an adjacent wsd-
enIng Of the road. reversed the car,
and headed back for Monte Carlo.
IF had known that my news was
yolng 20 shorten our drive.~ he grum-
oIed. Il shouldn't have mentioned the
fellow az ALL"
MY friend" she said earnestly.
what you have told me may be Of
immense benefit for me to know"
''You recognize the man. Them"
'He is probably my aunt's steward
The confided. after a moments hesita-
ion. There, you see am telling IA
Iou secrets. Do you know whether Il
le played last nIght7" II
Il was only at the club Gerald re-
HE'D. HE did not come there. Is
here anything ! can dof Would you
Ike me to 90 and look for himT
Eyes you might do that" she said
when you have
ropped me. drive down to the rooms. :
I ron and him there. touch him on
be shoulder. Say that Madame de |.
'oniere awaits him. You will not for I
Ell thia7s
sTn drive there at once" Gerald : !.
rornfsed. !.
de set Pauline down, as usual, at =
he gates Of her villa. She scarcely 8
Tayed TO say goodby. but her smile >
-as more gracious and her manner z
title kinder. II was obvious how 2
YER, that she was disturbed By his .
formation. Gerald. incurIous though e
e was at most times. felt q growing y
Iteresf In his mission.
Arrived AT the rooms. he walked
traight through 10 the ceFcle Prive Il
Isifed each. roulette and trente ei Fl
laramie table. and strolled round the a
lecarat room. Seated next 10 the G.
'oupler. AZ the most remote table. y
ith a little crowd Of people behind Al
3 chair. and with . great pile Of n
,tes before him. sat Monsieur Zubin- =
The Russian was betting In maxi ~
mans. appaFentIy on some system. Il
% with varying success To al ap re-
,araness he had not changed hir -
ethea. baflsed or shaved since the -
emine before. There was sn untldy
owth Of beard upou hts chin.
sodshof strsak 10 his eyes: bis col.
: and tie weFe csumpled; his hair. -
er-fmxufsant At TIE best Of fines.
10 mnksmpf amd aispFdened Gerald e
ssseA .fnmyerHa the attendant seated -