Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1924-08-22

Turn round, please" she directed.
I'VE will go the other way. do not
choose to pass through the town."
Gerald obeyed, although her request
only added fuel to the smoderlng fire
Of his resentment He turned away
towards the mountain road and main
tanned a silence which was not with
out its significance. His companion.
after a few minutes, glanced toward
him indifferently. He was leaning
back in his place, his eyes, as usual,
fixed upon the road, his left hand firm
~ grasping the steering wheel The
humorous twitch, however, had gone
from his mouth. There was a distinct
frown upon his forehead.
"You are perhaps weary today7" she
suggested. "You should like 10 shorten
our driver
Gerald turned and looked at her.
81 am not weary" he replied. 81 am
puzzled l hate mysteries"
"The old complaint" she yawned.
"With new reading" he retorted.
II have shown myself ready, as you
must know" he went on, ito study
your rather peculiar whims in every
way, but when 1t comes to meeting
you face to face at the club and recelv-
ing nothing but the stoniest Of stares,
/ must admit that the situation grows
beyond me. ! am nOt-well, l am not
disreputable acquaintance, am II"
She laughed quietly.
mot In the least. You belong to
what they call In England the middle
class arlstocracy, do you not--two or
three centuries old, with damp house
In park and an armful Of undlstin-
gulshed tltles?"
"Are you afraid to present me to
Madame de PonIereY he asked after
a moments pause.
Terrified" she admitted frankly.
Because my quarterlngs are insuf-
hcient2 / might remark that my ia
Their Is the ninth earl and that | am
his only SON."
1T is not that at all" she assured
him indlfferenty "There Is really no
reason why we should not meet in
place like this on equal terms, but my
aunt Is a woman with only one idea In
her head, and for the successful devel-
opment Of that idea It Is advisable
that we make no acquaintances what
ever here There, my Lord Dombey,
have / not been kind to you? / would
see more OF you If l could, because in
a place like this the escort of a man Is
an advantage. AS II Is, / can assure
you that / risk good deal in taking
these afternoon rides. II you knew
how wearlsone my life was and how
grateful / really am TO you for these
few hours Of escape, you would feel
more kindly toward me. See, give
you my hand. Let us be friends"
II was the first time during all their
acquaintance that she had accorded
him the slightest mark Of favor The
touch Of her fingers thrilled and sur
prlsed him. He held her hand unresist-
lngly for several moments. Then she
drew It quietly but firmly away.
"Well that Is settled" she said.
Now talk TO me about other things.
Is there no news at the rooms2 Has
no one been breaking the bank2"
"There was something was going
% tell you" Gegald replied, with
sudden flash Of recollection. Il sat
text TO man at dinner last night in
,iro's grill, who they say broke the
,ank several times during the after
loon. ! believe they said that he was
Russian. / suppose you know all
ibout him, however"
'T?p she exclaimed "Why should II"
because, between the courses Of his
Inner, he wrote letter and sent 1t
If by messenger He was at the next
able and It was impossible for me to
void seeing the envelope. It was adj
ressed 10 Madame de Poniere.'
She looked at him, amazed.
"To nv aunt? she repeated But
re received no letter from any one
lst night. what was this man likeT
oThey said that he was Russian
nd that his name was Zubin," Gerald
eplled. "They also said that he had
on two million francs In the after
oon."
oZubin - she exclaimed, with little
art. eDescribe him at once, If you
lease"
"That is easy" Gerald acquiesced.
lie must have been at least six foot
lree or four, and he had tremendous
loulders. He was one Of the most
men have ever seen
my life. He had sallow complex
N. lined face, black eyes and
ass Of black and gray hair"
She nut her hand upon his
stop the car, please she begged.
rurn round as quickly as you can.
must go home.p
Gerald ran on to an adjacent wild
ling Of the road, reversed the car,
ID headed back for Monte Carlo.
IF 1 had known that my news was
ing to shorten our drive" he grum-
ed. 81 shouldn't have mentioned the
How at ALL"
"Afy friend" she said earnestly,
What YOU have told me may be OF
,mense benefit for me to know"