The Dolores star., 1924-10-17
The Mystery Road
Gerald laughed scorufuIly.

/ are your he demanded.
Each has her charm" Christophes
replied.
Gerald leaned back Ia his chair and
laughed long and heartily.
"Our little Wild rose" he said, 'is
| like a thousand others-a pretty face,
a fascinating age. cOnndlng manners
| In twenty-four hours she would have
taught you all that she could know
| Of love and life. She is as much
/ yokel intellectually as this girl Is
| mystery. Are there any queens or
royal princesses wandering about the
| world nowadays, Chrisl swear that
| she looks as though she had stepped
| down from throne Thank heavens,
here comes Carruthersr' r.
A young man who had been star
ing in at the doorway recognized Ger
aid and came acros. TO them.
mo, 60. old thing" he conflded,
| leaning down. "They are registered
here as Madame and Mademoiseiie
| de Poniere-aunt and niece. The old
buffer downstairs, however. admitted
| that he believed that TO be an as
| sumed name"
Couldn't you bribe him. or some
| thingT" Gerald asked eagerly.
"Old johnny fairly cornered me-"
Carruthers explained. THE two la
| dies, he told me, had declared their
desire TO remain lncognlto. 1t was
not therefore. the business OF a
gentleman to be inquisltive. Where
/ I ,,V 10
tween my legs. All the same. | don't
believe he has the least Idea who they
| are"
Gerald sighed.
81 shall know her sooner or later"
he muttered. but It's such waste OF
/ precious time"
You won't forget that we promised
to go and see MYRTLE early7" Chris
| topher reminded him.
Gerald stared at his friend.
MYRTLE? Who the devil Why,
the child from the violet farm. OF
course! I'd forgotten all about her"
|
MYRTLE came flying to the door.
| Christopher saw her eyes travel over
his shoulder, he saw the sudden cloud
upon her face. A queer little stab of
pain startled him by It's very polgnancy.
Monsieur Gerald. he Is not with
| your she asked disconsolately.
Christopher shook his head
"He was up late last night" he ex-
planned. u went to his room but he
was fast asleep. l dare say he will
come on presently"
"He promised to be here early"
she said. Has he spoken of me?
Has he said anything about sending
me back?"
Nothing" Christopher assured her
''Do you still feel that you don't want
to 90 back?"
She stood quite still In the middle
| Of the little apartment and looked at
! him. Something about her was al
tered. 1t seemed almost as though she
had passed from girlhood to woman
hood in the night.
81 will not go back" she declared
flercely. ut is not that | mind poverty
or hard work. 1t is Pierre Leschamps.
could not bear him near me. He
SlluIl HtNtl 1plit DIUpTWlSe
shall die. Even you, Monsieur
Christopher, you do not wish me to
die"
Her eyes were swimming with tears.
She leaned little towards him and
Christopher patted her encOuragingly
Her lips were very close to his. fresh
and sweet and qulvering. Christopher.
/
mastering temptation, turned away
hrusquely.
Come outside" he invited. "I will
take you on the terrace. and we will
sit in the sunshine"
She clapped her hands, herself again
almost Immediately.
They wandered down from the fash.
ionahle part of the promenade to the
pebbly beach and along the sands
MYRTLE was never tired of the wonder
Of 1t NIL. Often, however She cast an
anxious look backwards.
you do not think Monsieur Gerald
will be searching for us?" she asked
timdly.
Christopher was conscious Of n curl.
Gus sense of annoyance which he could
not altogether explain. He led the
way up the steps and on to the ter.
race.
1--WE will take seat here" he sug
gested. 1--WE can see the hotel ant
the turning to your lodgings, and yor
can watch for him."
She acquiesced willingly, and 70,
the next half hour she divided her at
tention between the entrance to tn,
hotel and the passers-by. AT the enc
of that time she became a little self
conscious.
''It is not right. Monsieur Chris
topher," she said, that sit here will
you In these clothes and without
hat. People look at us so strangely"
You look very nice" Christopher as
sured her, "and besides. 1t Is no on
eise's business but our own"