The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-11-12

smallpox. don't think you should
be seen talking TO me-"
What are sou driving atfi'
I'm getting up the spiritual mo.
mrnium necessary 90 tell you that
I'm a thief Truly Anyhow, three
choice gentlemen arc 20 sure OF a
that they wtnt TO tho trouble 81 per,
iuring themselves and having me
arrested"
Arrested Yougn
Exactly, And the evidence Is
very strong. ! almost think I must
be guilty"
Are youg'
Pierce shook his head.
"of course you're not. I remsm-
her now something father said al
breakfast, but l paid no attention.
You fought with that good.lookinE
French count, didn't youe'
Thank YOU for reminding me OF
the one cheerful feature connected
with the entire affair. Yes. l raised
my hand TO him In angor-and let II
fall. but Lieutenant Rock spoiled the
whole party"
Tell me everything. please"
Pierce was morn than willing 20
ohlise, and he began his recital az
tho time Of his firs, meeting with
Joe McCaskey on tho beach az Dycs.
While no talked the girl listened with
that peculiar open,eycd mcdltBtive
grIVlty he had noted upon their
former meeting When hC had I'm.
Ehcd she cried. hreuthlcsaiy
why, t's as exciting aa book
DO YOU feel that way, too9'
Pierce inquired euriousy AS II
everything is an adventure used
10. 1 used 10 stand ogts.do o. NJ.
SELF and look on. but now-I'm on
the inside. looking out. suppose rs
the effect OF tho gray beard. tx
perienee comes fast In this country.
TO one thing I've made up my mind.
however; when ! get out OF this
scrape, II ever do, I'm going away
up into the hills where the wind can
blow me clean. stay there"
ITS a perfect shame the girl
said. Indignantly. II shall tell father
10 Fix IL. He fixes everything ! ask
him 10. Hes wonderful, az YOU
probably know
"Inasmueh as | haven't the faint.
est idea, who he is"
why, he's Colonel cavendish, I'm
Josephine Cayendlsh. / thought
everybody knew me"
Pierce could not restrain a start OF
surprise. Very humbly nc inquired.
Now that you understand who I
am and what I'm charged with. DO
you want to-know me. be frIends
with meg"
we pro friends. Miss Cayendish
warmly declared. That's not some,
thing that may happen It has hap.
pened. I'm peculiar about such mat.
ters. l have my own way OF looking
At them. And now that were friends
we're going TO BE- friends ihruou, and
I'm going TO help you. Come along
and meet mother
"i-don't know how far my parole
extends Pierce ventured. doubtfully.
Nonsense. There's only one au.
thority around here. Father think,
he's Il. bu, he isn't. am. You're
my prisoner now. Give mo you,
word you won't try 10 eacape--"
CHAPTER XIV
Pieree's friends we're uniformly
Indignant and without exception
they maintained their faith In NJ.
Innocence; most Of them. in fact.
actually applied themselves 20 the
task OF clearing him Of Courteaus
charge. But OF the latter tho one
who applied herself the mos;
thoughtfully. the most seriously,
was the Countess coufteau.
on the very evening that Colonel
Cavendlsh and his wife were dis.
cussing Pierce Phillips affair. cour.
teau, feeling IN a particularly jubll-
ant mood, decided 10 put the matter
to a test: therefore he surprised his
wife by walking into her room un.
announced
MY dear" he began. ITS high
time wo had a talk.
lndeedg' said she. What aboutY'
The fellow shrugged. II offer
you a reconciliation: that. 10 begin
with. You've had your Lesson. and
I naiter myself that you see me In
new light. The brave can afford
70 be generous. well, I've al.
ways had feeling for you: I've
never been blind to your attrac.
tions. my dear Lately I've even
experienced something OF tho-er--
the old spell. Understand me? IL.
fact. I'm actually taken with
you, Hilda. have the fire or an
impetuous lover"
courteau's eyes CLEANED: there
was an unusual warmth to his
gaze and a yibrancc to his tone. He
curIcd his mustache. nc swcIled his
chest, he laughed lightly but deep.
/ IT, What do you say. CHI? I'm
not altogether displeasing No? You
see something in me TO admire7 I
thrill you? Confess
The wife lowered her eyes You
have some power" she murmured.
Power! Precisely. The Count
nodded and there was a growing
yivacity and sparkle to him. THAT
is my quallty--a power 10 charm, n
power to achieve power to tri.
umph. Well, choose now TO win
you again for myself. II Is my
whim. To reklndle love which
ono has lost is a test Of any mans
power, n'est-ce pas? You arc fond
of me. see 1t. Am 1 not right.
my sweet7"
He laid his soft white hands upon
his wife's shoulders and bent an ar
dent gaze upon her. Hilda faced
him with an odd smile; her chez ks
were white, her ice.blue eyes were
very wide and bright and they held
a curious expression.