The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1924-09-18
Chapter VII

/ Gerald ordered the dinner and the
wine Then he started the conversa-
ton with somewhat abrupt question.
! "Chris." he asked. exactly what do
you think of Mademoiselle de Poni-
erer
! II don't know her." christopher re-
minded him.
! "As IL matter of fact, neither do L."
Gerald declared. little bitterly. "She
permitted me to introduce myself down
on the sands below the villa, and she
has been for ride with me in the car
every afternoon since; yet she does
this secretly, and if / meet her with
her aunt I am not allowed to speak to
her or to expect recognition. / am
not permitted to call at the villa, I
don't know where they come from,
don't know even her nationality. I
fatter myself that for my few but
well-spent years I have seen some
thing Of the world and its snares, but
I honestly cannot place these two
women"
| "What is 'mademoiselle's attitude
toward you when you are alone"
Christopher asked.
"Ridiculously reserved" Gerald an
swered. II once touched her fingers
and thought she would have struck
'me Humiliating though IL may be, /
am half inclined to believe that it Is
the motoring alone which attracts her
in the slightest degree, and that rep
resent very little more to her than the
man who is driving the car
Their conversation was momentarily
interrupted by the arrival in the place
OF newcomer. stranger to both the
young men. He was tall and broad
Ishouldered sallow-skinned. with a
mass Of black hair, good features. but
with hard. almost brutal mouth. I'm
Immediately he had been relieved of his
|coat. he made his way to the bar,
|drank two cocktails in rapid success
sion and liz a cigarette. Then he wan
dered 90 the table adjoining the one no
(which the two young men were seated
land. having given his order for dinner,
busted himself making calculations
upon some scraps Of paper which he
tore up as soon as they were filed with
figures. Gerald spoke to the waiter
who served them. with whom he. was
well acquainted.
"A stranger here, Charles?"
The man glanced over his shoulder
and lowered his tone
"A Russian gentleman, Milford" he
sSfo ne xhn L.
Paris-Monsieur ZuDin, he calls him
self. They say that he has been play
Ing very heavily"
Russians who play high are no
great novelty here" Gerald remarked,
under his breath. There are not 50
many Of them with money, nowadays,
though. Chris" he went on, as the
man left them, ''you asked yesterday
what was the matter with me. I'll tell
you. It's this uncertainty about Made
moiselle de Poniere. It's an absolute
torment to me. It's getting on my
nerves"
rs 1t the character and reputation Of
these ladies concerning which you can
not make up your mind, or Ia 1t made
moiselle's lack Of reciprocation to your
overtures which you find distressingY'
For G+d's sake, chuck that legal
tosh!" Gerald begged. Its both 7"
Christopher laughed quietly. There
were people who called Gerald the
most spoilt young man in London,
and his present predicament had its
humorous side. Gerald himself made
a little grimace.
IT'S all very well, Christopher" he
said, "but am a great deal too near
being In earnest over this Pull your
self together and suggest some way OF
getting hold of the truth"
IF the girl herself won't help you"
Christopher replied. how can anyona
alse?"
II suppose you're right" Gerald ~
scented gloomily.
The place had become very crowded
indeed. A small orchestra was play