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

GeIdlQ uTdSBeu Ills lIleHu AulO LII
bureau Of the casino, where they OBJ
r tanned their tickets for the Cercl'
Prive, and afterwards on to the Sport
ing club, the Mecca of Gerald's de
sires for the evening" at any rate
Christopher breathed little more
freely here than In the casino; the
atmosphere was less pernicious, the
crowd by which he was surrounded
! far more attractive. After Gerald had
taken q seat at the baccarat table, he
wandered around for some time, fasci-
mated by this strange, cosmopolitan
gathering, their diversity in class
manners and dress. Presently he
found a seat In the little bar, ordered
whisky and soda and leaned back to
watch the never-ceasing stream of
pleasure-seeking loiterers. Suddenly,
without any warning, his thoughts
played him a queer trick. He was back
on the cool, sunlit hillside, with the
his nostrlls and the girl looking over
the gate She turned her head and
he saw her face-her beautiful eyes,
with their passionate, terrified appeal;
her quivering lips, her child's figure;
the tender appeal Of her, the soul and
sweetness of her innocent youth cling
ing like some fresh, sweet perfume
to her trembling body.
Gerald stood suddenly before him,
his face aflame, his eyes brilliant. His
voice quivered slightly with subdued
excitement.
christopher, you moonstruck old
dodderer," he cried, wake upl l
have seen the most wonderful crea-
ture on earth. won't leave this place
until l find out who she is"
"What, another adventureY Chris
topher exclaimed. you're not think
ing about Myrtile?"
"That child? mol" was the impa-
tient rejoinder. 81 tell you it's some
one here tonight. She's either French
or Russian or Italian-I can't make
up my mind which. She is with an
older woman, who seems to be a sort
Of attendant. Every ones talking
about here but no one seems to know
who she is" await till you see her
Pm not easily led away. I've seen
the most beautiful women in most of
the capitals of the world. / was at
Vienna and Rome before the war,
you know, but l never Don't move, |
Chris. Don't look as though I've been |
talking about them. Here they comet I"
Christopher watched the approach |
of the two women with an interest
casual at first but real enough as
they drew nearer. The younger of the
two walked slightly in advance She
was rather over the medium height,
and her carriage, although she was
not In the least assertive, was full Of
the simple dignity of one who has
been accustomed to command respect.
She was slim, yet the outlines of her
figure were so soft as to become al
most voluptuous. She wore a dress
Of perfectly plain black lace, against
which the skin of her neck and Shout
iers seemed of almost alabaster white
ness. Her only ornament was a long,
double string of pearls of unusual
Size. Her hair, glossy and absolutely
let black, was brushed from her fore
head and around her ears so that
t seemed almost like a sheath. Her
complexion was absolutely pallid, her
fps natural scarlet Her eyes were
# a deep shade of brown. inclined
o be half closed, as though she were
hort-sighted. Her eyelashes were
ong and silky; her eyebrows looked
IS though they had been penciled,
nd yet left a conviction of entire
aturalness. Such details as re-
lained of her toilette were unique
ct simple The woman who followed
er possessed also an air of dlstlnc-
on, but she was middle-aged, with !
ray hair and somewhat unwieldy
cure. She carried herself with an
Ir Of Difference toward her COM t
anion. S
"Wel2 Gerald whispered excited
"She is very beautiful and very I'M
sual," Christopher admitted. 'Haye Il
III no idea who she ISL" D
''If had found any one who knew N
no they were, should have been o.
troduced before now" was the al
unit reply. Freddie Carruthers has
me down to ask the superintendent" W
The two women subsidized on to a ii
UGH. The elder one gave an order
a waiter, the younger one glanced O,
around. n,
II wish Carruthers would come" "
raid muttered impatientIy. II didn't ra
did I, Christ"
no" the latter admitted, 81 can't oe
Y that you did She is very wonder -
and very interesting. It is quite 40
ur day for adventures"
Gerald laughed scornfElly.
You're not comparing our little -
otege from the hills with-with her, se
} your he demanded. NJ
Each has her charm" Christopher OF
HE'D. Col
1erald leaned back In his chair and
ghed long and heartily. W