The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1924-10-02


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"Are you charged to deliver a reply
to this messenger" he demanded.
Certainly not" Gerald answered.
81 have not the privilege of visiting at
the villa" 2t@
81 should think not" the other
growled. 81 wondered only whether
YOU had been told to take a message
to the back door,
'You are very impertinent fellow"
Gerald told him calmly. ''You appear
to have come from country where
manners have ceased to exist" .as
The man laughed brutally.
"One puts off manners when one
deals with spies and meddlers," he de-
clared. sect on about your business"
He walked back and took his place
at the table.
Gerald left the rooms few minutes
later and strolled out into the square.
He was in some doubt as to what he
ought to do. Pauline had absolutely
forbidden him to communicate with
her In any shape or form, yet he had
a conviction that Zubin's exploits in
the casino should be made known to
her. He strolled across to the es-
tablishment of Madame Lenore. Ma
dame greeted him with a peculiarly
knowing smile. He drew her on one
side.
Madame" he said, "yOu make
gowns for MademOiselle de Poniere."
The smile disappeared from ma
danes lips. Her face became inpas-
sive.
'Tt is true, Milford" she admitted.
"What of it,"
"Just this. You are doubtless In
frequent communication with her? l
have some slight acquaintance with
mademoiselle but I am not permitted
to communicate with her. It is Inn
portant that she should know that the
Russian, Zubin, is gambling in the
casino and losing heavily"
"a big MANI" madame asked quick
ly, almost giant"
"That is he" Gerald assented.
Madame turned toward the tele-
phone.
"Demand the villa violette," she
told the operator. 'Say that ! wish
to speak to Mademoiselle de Poniere
without delay"
Gerald turned away.
-
Madame de Poniere dismissed the
servants with q little wave OF the
hand and looked thoughtfully for a
few moments into the fire of pine
logs which had been kindled In the
crate.
Pauline" she said, "zubin is al
ready four days late"
Pauline made no immediate reply.
Her aunt pointed to an escritoire
which stood in corner of the room.
"These people," she continued, be
come abusive. Even Lenore has sent
an account. You dispatched the tele-
gram?"
81 dispatched the telegram" Paul
inc assented, shut 1t was needless.
Zubin is here"
"Here in Monte Carlo?" Madame de
Poniere demanded quickly.
ST have heard So" Pauline replied.
"My information is very scanty, but
understand that he had sent You
letter last night"
The pallor Of the older woman's
face seemed suddenly deepened. Her
eyes glittered ominously.
"Jean spoke of note that had been
brought and taken away" she NUT
tered. "Tell me at once what you
know, Pauline"
81 have no definite information"
Pauline reiterated, "but understand
that he has been seen at the casino"
Madame de Poniere sat like wom-
an who has received shock. The
shadow of fear was upon her face.
"You do not know Zubin," she
groaned. IF he once smells the at
mosphere of that place, it is like q
deadly drug to him. And he loses
He always loses"
She leaned over and struck bell
which stood upon table.
"The car in quarter of an hour, "
she ordered. Pauline, get ready. We
must seek Zubin. If he has begun to
gamble. he will go on to the end"
They drove first to the casino,
where they explored only the Cercle
Prive. From there they went to the
Sporting club, where there was still
no sign Of him. Madame de Poniere
became more hopeful.
"He is perhaps resting IL his hotel
she said, preparing to visit u.s.
"He would never come without
sending word beforehand" Pauline re-
| minded her. s
They sat side by side on one OF the
settees, two rather lonely and dis
heartened women face to face with
tragedy. Pauline saw Gerald in the
distance and determined upon bold
step. "a "
"Aunt," she said, "there is young
man standing by the easy chair there
whose father lives at the adjoining
villa to ours. He has once or twice
offered me some small courtesies. ht
is alone and ! am sure he would %