Evening star., 1925-07-29
The WRATH TO COME
One of the Best Mystery Stories Ever Written
BY E. Phillips Oppenheinf.
Copyright, by Little. Brown & Coz


NO" he answered eagerly, you
can rest for two or three hours. Let
me call for you, say at II o'clock"
She considered the matter for q
moment. Then she nodded.
We'll, you can come and see me
at II O'Clock, anyway" she agreed
You're a very nice boy. and l didn't
really mean to be angry with you.
You remember our bargain?"
Rather" he answered rapturously.
She looked over her shoulder. Grant
had descended from the bridge and
was coming down the deck. For once
the young man was quick to under
stand
Il sha'n't say a word about it, Of
course" he assured her.
She laughed back at him.
81 see there are hopes for you,
afte all" she declared.
CHAPTER XI.
Grant walked into the Carlton at
1915 o'clock that evening. the exact
hour mentioned by Cleo in the note
which the commissionaire at the
Sporting Club had given TO him. He
left his coat and hat in the Coatroorn.
made his way inside the restaurant,
which was as yet sparsely occupied,
and, ignoring the efforts of the maitre
strolled across to where Cleo was
seated alone. She welcomed him with
bare uplifting of the eyebrows, the
sparsest possible smile
You permit me?" he asked. with
his hand on the back OF her chair
Certainly" she assented. sit down
If you wish. but l have changed my
mind. l have nothing 10 say TO you
He summoned d waiter and ordered
some wine.
THAT seems unfortunate" he re
marked. May ! have the pleasure of
providing you with your accustomed
beverage?"
You can order some tea for me-
she said shortly, and as many cigar
cites as you like. But alas, you will
be wasting your kindness. I have
nothing 10 say 10 you"
Perhaps" he suggested. II should
not be considered unreasonable if I
were to ask why this change? I am
here at your invitation"
1T is permitted always 10 a woman
TO change her mind" she reminded
him. II believe you're one of those
with whom frankness is best. / have
changed mine because Itash-'
Sometimes called sammy" he muir
INJURED
me-"
''AlI up with the little lady from the
Cafe de Paris?" Grant queried
He has finished with her she con-
fided. 1T was nothing but a passing
fancy, ministered TO by her lies
wish, instead of talking nonsense to
you, / had killed her
But, my dear lady. consider how
different everything would have BEEN
Grant pointed out. Things having
happened as they have. behold our
selves seated-friends. / trust-iu this
very pleasing place of entertainment,
alive and well, and with perfectly ro-
bust futures. If you had killed that
rather impossible young lady where
would you be now? In that uncorn-
fortable-looking ediflce which these
wise people of Monte Carlo keep alb
solutely out of sight. awaiting your
trial and not in the least sure what
was going to happen to YOU
II am satisfied, if you are she said
shortly
''Of course, as a patriotic American"
he went on, there are drawbacks to-
the situation. You were going to ex-
plain TO me. if remember rightly. ex-
actly how to save my country from
her impending doom, and you were
also going to reveal to me various ne
farious schemes directed against her
'Imagina tom she declared Moth
ing that l said was true. 1t was just
spite"
We'll. I don't know that it much
matters" he observed, slipping his
wine. Il didn't believe il, anyhow
why didn't you believe it?" she de-
manded.
Because he told her, Il have had
some conversation with Count Itash.
I have come to the conclusion that
that young man is not a fool. Under
those circumstances l do not see how
he could possibly have confided impor-
tant political secrets to you. Nor can
conceive any sane reason for his
having put them upon paper in such
fashion that you could have stolen
them. Therefore. the existence of any
means by which you could have read
the riddles of Itashs brain does not
seem to me possible
so to put 1t in plain words" she
suggested
Il think that you were romancing."
She looked at him half mockingly,
half in admiration.
Really" she confessed, "I find you,
for quite an ordinary person, unusu-
ally quick of perception"
And to be equally honest" he re-
joined, Il find you only attractive in
aSmuch as you are entirely removed
from the commonplace. You are not
good looking enough to be a danseuse
here. I am not sure that you dance
well enough. You just have qualities
that go to the ordinary mans head.
And therefore shall we have one dance
before 1 make my disappointed way
back to the hotel?'
Again there was the beginning of
that smile. which she seemed never to
finish. They moved away to the
music. When the dance was finished
they found their way to two easy
chairs in a far corner of the bar. She
looked at him somberly. The smile
was no nearer breaking into fruition
upon her lips.
IF were not in love with Sammy
she acknowledged, II think that /
should rather like you
"A pity about that subjunctive," he
sighed. II am not at all sure that he
deserves you"
IF man really deserved a wom-
an" she said, ''ft is perfectly certain
that the woman would not care for
him. That always happens"
1T sounds platitudinal for YOU" he
commented.
"Poohr' she scoffed I'VE all have
TO be reminded of the things we know
best. L am, as you have suggested,
plain, dull, altogether ordinary. Yet
1 have gifts. Sammy at one time
loved me desperately. If he ceases to
love me and puts another in my place,
/ shall destroy him. AT present his
passion has returned He has been
very sweet to me for many hours, and
so, Monsieur lAmericain, let us say
goodbye. He does not like you, and
it would do me no good to have him
come here and find us together"
Grant rose to his feet and bent low
over her fingers