The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1927-12-29
CHAPTER CONTINUED

CHAPTER CONTINUED
In his avarice and imagination the
Comte was picturing how doubly mag
nificent she would be if his money
was sent out to bring in the Injuries
her beauty deserved. AS his eyes
travelled back to Manon's lap he saw
that she was having difficulty in
keeping her small pet kitten in its
basket.
"Ah, an interesting situation"
thought the Comte. Neither the
charming mistress nor her pet relish
confinement-an the Convent will be
just as narrow for the young lady as
the basket is for the kitten
| wonder-l"
And it was just at this moment
that Manon's kitten gave leap for
freedom and landed on Comte De Ra-
voir's lap.
The Comte Strengthened up and
grasped the little animal in his long
nervous fingers, as if determined to
keep in his power, at least for mo-
ment, something that belonged to
Manon. With more intimacy than the
occasion demanded the Comte smiled
straight into her eyes and said, 81
am afraid your pet does not want to
be hidden away, and she is right when
it means that she would be out of
your hands and sight
ooh, Fiji does not mind" replied
Manon with timid little smile. not
in the least understanding the Comte's
hidden meaning.
However, her brother heard and
slowly opened his lazy eyes to take
in the little scene. AS he noted the
wealthy mans interest in his sister,
Lescauts bored manner faded away. A
half finished yawn was forgotten. The
seat no longer felt uncomfortable.
Wriggling to an upright position he
watched without appearing to do so.
Permit me to help you with your
troublesome CHARGE" offered the
Comte, as he returned the kitten to
Manon's lap. But the little feline was
not pleased at being handled by a
stranger and arching up her back she
curled up her little pink lip at the
Comte-as if to say, Glands Off"
Eff, dear, that is not one bit po-
lite" admonished Manon, looking up
alphabetically at the Comte; but her
smile faded away when she saw some
thing in his face that she did not like
something that made her drop her
gaze and devote all her attention to
restoring the kitten to its basket.
No one had ever looked at Manon
like that before. 1t seemed as though
the man had turned his eyes almost
inside out-they bulged, stared, blink
ed and watered. 1t was a hideous sight
and Manon suddenly decided that
there was something about this mar
that filled her with terror-and she
could not look at him again. But there
he was holding the basket on her lap
his hands pressing unnecessarily
against her, waiting for the pet to be
locked away. She looked appealingly
at her brother, but if he saw her dis.
tress he gave no sign; he only smiled
and nodded his head in approval. Man
on was seized with a desire to strike
the mans hands away from her; YET
her brother was not annoyed, so she
decided it would be foolish and rude
as the Comte seemed to be only offer
ing help.
Hastily, and at the same time gent
ly, she forced her kitten into the bas
ket then lifted it quickly from hel
knees so there would no longer be an.
necessity for the Comte to keep hi
hands there. However, before sh,
could place the basket on the floo1
the Comte had greedily touched he.
hands under pretense of helping fas
ten the lid on the basket
Quickly Manon turned away with
out again looking at the wealth.
banker. Nervously resting her chin il
her hand she gazed out of the dill
gence window toward the Convent t,
which she was going. A great flocl
Of light colored pigeons were circlins
around and through the highest bel
fry towers, and as their wings flash
ed like silver in the sunshine, Manor
decided that it would not be so bad
after all, to leave-men-and liv.
within the peaceful confines of tn
Convent walls.
The Comte De Ravoir, pleased witt
the pleasant little encounter, settle,
back with his book again-but not t
read; instead of seeing the printe,
page he thought, "No printed stor.
could furnish half the zest that thi
young girl might give me, if sh
could be made to-she is not the kin
who would voluntarily go-romanc
ing"
All this time Andre Lescaut wa
awakening to the new and unlooke
for possibilities in his sisters uncor
scious power to attract men. Unles
there was some immediate advar
tage in being polite, he was extreme