Evening star., 1925-08-21

country seemed impregnable. Even
where he had been listened TO most
kindly he felt that he was receiving
the indulgence accorded to a crank.
Arrived in the sitting room of his
hotel, he took up his pile OF letters
and sorted them through. One by
one he passed them by. He had com.
menced his task with a sinking heart.
He finished it with a curious admix-
ture of feeling. There vas no letter
from Gertrude. He rang up the
Ambassa deurs. They had received no
news of any projected visit from the
princess. He felt himself face TO
face with a new situation. The
problems with which he had expected
to be confronted seemed to have melt
ed away. Yet to him there was some
thing ominous and disconcerting in
this state of negation, something
which seemed like the corollary of
his own threatened failure in the
larger enterprise which he had en-
braced He was not an abnormally
temperamental person, but a fit Of
black depression suddenly swept over
him. The thought Of Susan. her
sweet, girlish charm, her ingenious
appeal. tugged at his heart strings
with swift and passionate little bursts
of memory. He cursed himself for
the hesitation which had kept him
that last night at the Villa, when
they had stood alone upon the bal
cony, and the chance had been his.
from taking her into his arms. That
one kiss which he had crayed from
her would have clad him in the
armor of q gigantic selfshness
towards every other claim or appeal.
She had been right. The difference
between their ages was trifing mat
ter, something to be reckoned with
if she had been a simpering school
girl of her years. but for Susan-with
her understanding, her insight, her
delightful woma anliness-a thing not
worthy of consideration. What vas
she thinking of him now, he won
dered. There had been a certain
in the press. but the
story of Gertrude's flight had blazed
along the Riviera, the more ardently
believed in because of the mystery
it. Lord Yeovil's letters,
kindly still and even friendly, be-
trayed signs of 1t. There was no men
tion of Susan or any message from
her, certain restraint in dealing in
any way with personal topics. Grant
moved restlessly to the window. AL
though 1t was his own city, the lone
illness of a stranger in New York
seemed to have enveloped him in a
cloud of deepening depression. The
magnitude, the somber magnificence
of 1t all, the towering buildings, the
height from which he looked down
at the streets like Illuminated belts,
the tangle of distant lights upon the
river. the dull roar of ever-proceeding
traffic, seemed almost terrifying. A
city honeycombed with people, NOV
ing on at the hand OF destiny; a con-
temptation for the philosopher, an in
vitation towards lunacy to the lonely
individual. Grant momentarily lost
his courage. He seemed cut off from
his friends, the destroyer of his own
The sight of q familiar
face, the sound of a CHEEKY voice at
that moment, would have been a Joy
TO him. He answered almost eagerly
the knocking at his door. A man
entered, a man with the two things
for which he had felt himself crav-
ing-a smile and "a cheerful face
but the last person in the world from
whom he was expecting to receive a
visit.
Blum" he exclaimed.
The newcomer laughed cheerfully
as he deposited his silk hat and
Malacca cane upon the table and
withdrew his evening gloves.
We'll. we'll" he said, II thought
we might meet over here. I'm not
offering to shake hands, although I'd
he very glad to. I've come for a
chat, though, land when | chat !
like TO be comfortab BILE. May / have
an eaSy-chair, a whisky and White
Rock, and a cigar? / have just left
the opera, and l am little exhausted
with the wonder of it. Your new
prima donna is marvellous"
Grant rang for the waiter.
What on earth have you come to
see me about, Blunn?" he asked.
MY dear fellow, what a question:"
the other replied, looking round the
room and finally selecting his chair.
Enemies always visit one another.
1t lends spice to combat. Now the
one of us with the keener brain will
leave this interview the gamer. Which
of us will it be, / wonder? A most
interesting speculation. By the by.
might | suggest a little ice with the
whisky and White Rock?"
Grant gave the order. He was in
the frame of mind to welcome the
presence even of Mr.. Blum.
After your magnificent banquet in
Monte Carlo my last evening there"
he observed, II think that you are
making very slight demands upon my
hospitality"
II shall make larger ones upon
your patience, perhaps" Blum de-
cIared. You're not looking well, Mr..
Slattery. This rushing around from
one big city to another, these alarmist
conclaves in Washington, do not
agree with you so well as the sun
shine of the Riviera"
You seem pretty we'll informed as
TO my movements.
Naturally We do not keep large
and expensive secret service going
here for nothing. 7 could give you
a most faithful record of your move
ments on every day since your ar
rival, starting with your visit to your
friend Stoneham of the New York,
your luncheon at the club and your
subsequent visit to the Hotel deS Am
basSadeurs and winding up with the
telephone message which called you
to Washington"
"Wonderfulr' Grant murmured. af-
fecting unconcern, but In reality a
little staggered. Here's your whisky
and White Rock" be added, as the
waiter entered. ''Will you help your.
self?"
Mr.. Blum prepared his highball
with care, lit his cigar and leaned
back in his chair.
81 am thankful" he confessed, that
prohibition in this country was before
my time. 1t did some good, they tell
me- Swept away the saloons and kept
the alcoholic strength of spirits down.
On the whole, however. 1t must have
been very uncomfortable"
THE statute was modified almost
out of existence before I took an
interest in such things" Grant re-
marked.
Blum was silent for q moment or
two. He had completely the air Of
a man stepped in the atmosphere of