The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-12-04
CHAPTER XIV. (Continued)

turned to lace her aCcuscr. why
should | make sccnc:' she asked.
i've had nothing to do with Phil
lips since we parted company at
White Horse. I've scarcely spoken
to him, and you know it"
You don't deny there was some
thing between YOU
The woman shrugged non-coln-
mit,ally. her lips parted in faint,
cherries smile. ~ deny nothing. \
admit nothing
Although CourtcauS brain was
logged, he experienced 4 growing
surprise at the sclt-posscssion with
which his wife had taken this blow
which he had aimed as much at her
as at Pierce Phillips; he studied her
intcntly. a minsling Of suspicion, OF
anger, and OF admiration III his I'M
certain gaze He saw for one thing,
that his effort to reach her had
Jailed and that she remained CON-
pietely the mistress Of herself. She
rcclincd ut case in her comfortable
chair, quite u,Stirred by his deris-
ion, his jubilation. He became
aware. also. OF the fact that she pre-
scented All extremely attractive pic
turc. Tor the soft white fur OF the
loose robe she wore exposed an al
Turing glimpse OF snowy throat and
bosom: one wide sleeve had fallen
back. showing a smoothly rounded
arm: her silkcn ankles, lifted to the
COY warmth OF the stove, were
small and trim; her feet were shod
in neat high-hcclcd slippers. The
Count admired neatly shod ladies.
"Iou'rc very smart-looking wo-
man. he cried, with some rcIuc-
,ancc. you're beautiful. Hilda. |
don't blame the young fool for fall
ing. But you arc too old, too
wise
Hilda nodded. you've said it.
Too old and too wise. If Id been
as young and as silly as when l met
you-who knows: He's hand
some boy .... ..
Again the husbands anger blazcd
up.
But I'm not young and silly" his
lie interrupted.
Just the same. YOU played nc a
rotten trick" the Count exploded.
And / don't forget. AS Tor HIM
Ire Sworc savagc.y-'hc II learn that
its not safe to hulnilatc me. to rob
ne OF any woman--wiic or mistress.
You've never told me the hall; I've
uau 10 guess. But IN patient. l
know how TO wait and to use my
eyes and my ears. Then to strike
me! Pcrdilion! I'll follow this
through. never lear
How did you get 4 thousand dol
ar. Henri The wife inquired, curl
eu>l..
S.ourtcau's gaze shifted. What
difference: | won it on turn at
the North Star; it was given to me +:
] found it. Anyhow. | had it. 1t
was a gc1e, night Tor me: yes, a
very good night. had my rcv"lge
and showed MY friends that I'm 4
J.. :: to be rcckoned with"
. In a tone unexpectedly humble
the woman Sald: II had no idea
YOU jared very much what dld Or
bow | carried on. After all, it was
your own fault.
Mine" The Count laughed in
dcriSion and establishment.
Exactly! Ii you had taken the
~ublc to show me that you cared
we'll, things might have been diff
icrcrt. However" The Countess
rose, and with another change OF
voice and manner said: Come
along. Let's do something for your
eye
The Count stared at her in be-
wildcrmcnt. then he turned away.
crying: Bah! | want no help"
At the door lie paused to jeer once
more. Pierce Phillips! A COM
mon thief, dcspicable creature who
robs the very man he had most
deeply injured. I've exposed him
TO the law and to public scorn.
Sleep on that, my dear. Dream on
it, WitlNa. chuckle he traced al,
uncertain course to the stairs.
mounted to his room, and slammed
his door behind him.
He had undrcsscd and flung HIM
self into bed, but he had not yet
fallen asleep when the door re-
opened and his wife entered, bear
ing III her hand a steaming pitcher
OF hot water. This she deposited;
into it she dipped folded towel.
I'm sorry you're disfgured, Hen?
RI" she told him, quietly.
Despite his. surly protests, she
bathcd and soothed his swollen fea-
lures until he dropped asleep, after
which she stole out and down to
her room on the floor below. There,
however. she paused, staring back
up the empty stairway, look OF
deepest loathing upon her face.
Slowly, carefully. she wiped her
hands as if they were unclean; her
lips curled into a nirthless smile;
then she passed into her chamber
and turned the key behind her.
Rock had spoken truly III assur-
ing 'Polcon that Pierce Phillips lot
would be made as easy for him as
possible. That is what happened.
No ono at the Barracks appeared to
take much stock in Courteau's
charge, and even Colonel Cavcndish,
inc CO1llllldHOdnt, tOOk TIC tIOuDIc, 70
send for him early the next morn
ing and to ask for the whole story
in detail. When Pierce had given
it the officer nodded. 1T looks very
much like spite case. / couldn't
imagine your doing such thing,
my boy"
1T is spite case, nothing else"
"Courtcau is a rotter. and your
affair with his wife explains his ami
mostly" -
1T wasn't exactly an affair sir"
Pierce co1ored slightly as he went
on to explain. "You see, l was per.
fectly honest. / didn't know there
was a count, and when I learned
1NSTALMENT FoRrY.rHRrE