Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-12-25


permits me to present you. Lord Dom
hey Madame de Poniere"
Gerald, taken BY surprise. bore the
shock well He bowed low and MUIR
INJURED q few polite words.
Il am afraid you win think that
we are very mercenary" Pauline con.
tinued, @but we are going 20 ask .
gavorn
IT is granted" Gerald assured her
swiftly.
There Is a Russian gentleman IN
Monte Carlo named zu6in.
Il know him By sight" Gerald de-
clared "Besldes-s
'aThen the rest Is easy" Pauline IN.
terrupted. with a warning look. ~OuF
request IL that you search the casino
for him. and, II be Is there that y0u
bring him TO u&."
Gerald bowed.
Mademolselle." he promised, If
he Is there, / win bring him to you
within q quarter OF an hour
Gerald, on entering the casino.
made his way az once 10 the table II
the farther end. The seat which had
been occupied by zubin. however. was
vacant, though the table itself waa
crowded. He was on the point of
continuing his search In one OF the
other rooms, when he suddenly saw
the man OF whom ne was In search
seated on one OF the sofas against tina
wall. He made hIs way thither vt
once.
~sir.- he said, Il have brought
you message from Madame De
Poniere."
The Russian lifted his head. and
for moment Gerald was afraid that
he bad had a stroke. His eyes were
horribly red, the flesh about his cheek
bones seemed TO have become drawn
tight. and his cheeks to display new
hollowE His hands were trembling.
All his turbulence Of manner had de.
parted.
.From Madame de PoaIerefm be re-
peated. "Where is sheYs
"she Is waiting now In the Sporting
club" Gerald replied Il viii take Won
to. her II you viii accompany me
The Russian Fese 70 his feet ana sne
two men left the place. Many Of the
bystanders gazed after them, and Ger
aid heard something Of their whIaparn.
'i'm afraid you've been having
rather bad time. be remarked.
His companion took no notice. He
walked, indeed. like . man IN q night.
mare Not only was he unshaven,
but his clothes were creased and
tumbled. He was altogether q g.
sheveIed-Iooking object
Might ] suggest" Gerald said. as
they descended the steps Of the ca
sino. that you VISIT your hotel and
freshen up lIttle before you come to
the ciubT"
Zubln seemed suddenly to step down
from another world. He looked va
cantIy ut Gerald for moment. at his
smoothly brushed hair. his welI-cut
dinner coat. his fauItless linen. Then.
with little start he glanced at him
self and shrugged his shoulders pom
derousiy.
-You are right, monsieur Come
this way"
He crossed the street with great
strides and entered the Hotel de Paris
he turned once more to Gerald as
be entered the ut.
"A quarter OF an hour, monsieur
he said. Il give you my word that
viii not keep xou longer than twenty
minutes"
Il win be waiting here.~ Gerald
promised /
After the departure OF the lift. Ger
I'D made his way by means Of the I
private passage TO the Sporting club.
de poniere and her niece 4
we're seated whare ne had left them. Z
he elder lady sipplng some coffee. G
Pauline looking around her with q
anguld air OF haIf-amused interest }
Save FOR the fact tEiat Madame de r
'oniere's lips tiehtened q little as she r
aw Gerald alone, there was not the d
Iightest indication in their manner
" expression that they were con- (
ronted IN any way with an excep-
IonaI situation. Il
Il have found our friend, be an c
bounced. "fHe 10 making some 81 Il
erations to his toilet am meeting a
i'm IN few minutes and shall bring Il
i'm here a
-was he playinsr Pauline en- b
uirpgi. 81
..Not wa.en / arrived was shs eau 4.
ag..s..s...s. ss...s.~n .sss-.s h.v 1,