Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-05-11

~ IL -kAR - -" 49,
and Immediately becomes interested. The
girl is accompanied by an Older woman
whom Markham decides is an adveturess
Markham meets his old friend, Teddy
Knowles, and later they see the two women
OF the train in company with Moultry, who
was known to Markham as a crook. They
become acquainted and Markham has q
short conversation with the girl, Lucy Teth-
erdon, and finds that she has known Mrs.
Dennar, her companion, only a year.
And now the story
".
He saw her next in the lounge Of the
hotel that night, but she was in COM
pany with Notify and Mrs. Dennar, so
that he could do no more than bow and
pass on. So 1t happened the next day
and the next, but on each day there was
a greeting and a few words were spoken.
Once or twice during the daytime Mark
ham met the party in the town, and on
some of these occasions Lucy was alone
with Moltry. She seemed to be entirely
happy, given up to her companions and
he delights of her first visit to the
south of France. That it was her first
visit he now knew, because she had told
him SO. She had told him little more
than hat. Always, If he tried to engage
her in talk, one or other OF her two
guardians would intervene. There was a
quick exchange of glances, as If danger
were signaled by one to the other
(which exchange Markham never failed
to observer. and Lucy was taken from
him.
Teddy had found out more about Lucy
than Markham had been able to do.
THE Hopkinsons," he said to his
friend, 1.-THE Hops-as, what people!
When Pop Hop yawns and his teeth
rattle. / could swoon. My dear boyl Why
did / invite them? l know. I know. It's
my good nature. That's what it is. My
good nature, and I pay for it every time.
They know the child who's with that
precious pair. They know all about her.
They live near her"
do they know the woman?" ques-
toned Markham.
mo; out I can tell you something
about her. She calls herself Mrs. Dennar,
out it's my belief-however, she's well
enough known farther down the coast.
A gambler, my boy. And she's not
gambling. Anything strange about that?"
Teddy's plump pink face shot up toward
his friend SO that he looked like a
robin. Markham smiled. though he also
frowned.
Not in the circumstances" he said
dryly. She's in training"
'As you say" agreed Teddy. 1.-The
child's Just of age. Her people are dead.
She's mistress of a quarter of a million.
And her only relation is a half witted
old aunt who's been diddled somehow by
Madame Dennar. You see the whole
thing, eh?"
II see Mrs. Dennar getting fifty
thousand for her painsl" groaned Mark
ham, feeling suddenly sick. An icy hand
clutched his heart. MY Godl'
Anything we can do?" asked Teddy.
"Kidnap her, what?"
Markham started.
TITS q notion" he said. Then his
face clouded. 1--WE don't know her." he
said, slowly. They do. She likes them
"Tell her what they are" suggested
Teddy. "Unmask them"
Listen, Teddy said Markham, sober
ly enough. did you ever try to persuade
a man or a woman to believe something
he or she didn't want to believe? Shed
go to them, in a rage. They'd deny 1t,
They might even accuse us. Who's to de-
fend us? And they'd hurry up. They'd
get very rapid If they thought there was
danger"
MIMI groaned Teddy. 81 see. But,
my dear chap, we can't let her drown
eh, what? Here, come and have a Mar
tini-this is too much for me. I'm all
Of a dither.'
II will not have q Martini" said
AfAsh 1851 4 ALA 6oAAib w Sof JOR w tAiN
Hopkinsons. I want to think of some
thing. I'll see you later"
And with that he left Teddy standing
helplessly upon the jetty, and did no
turn round again. BY this omission he
failed to observe hat Teddy, in the
midst of his gloom, suddenly struck his
two hands together, as at an inspiration
and walked briskly on board the Scor-
pion.
Three days passed. The situation APP
parently was unchanged. Markham was
in despair. He saw Lucy for odd mo-
ments, but she was never allowed to be
alone. Always one of her guardians
was with her. Then one day, when
he was tired of wandering about, Mark
ham went back dispiritedly to the hotel
The day was fine and the lounge wa
empty. He threw himself down in @
chair, picked up O o p Of the Riviera
newspaper, and tried to read it in vain
From his chair he could see the glass
screens which concealed both the en-
trance doors to the lounge, and he could
not be seen from the doors. 1t was @
fortunate accident, for after he had beer
there for perhaps ten minutes or 9
quarter OF an hour Markham caught 9
faint sound. He saw Lucy come quickly
into the room. She was alone; and as
she entered she thoughtfully, almost
shyly, looked about the room, as If tt
choose q table at which she might sill
to write a letter. Never had she seemed
more beautiful. A slightly heightened
color, the unconscious grace of her timic
movements, and the quick smile with
which she greeted him were all delicious
The smile was more than that. 1t filled
Markham with excitement. He rose tx
his feet and went to her side.
you're alone" he said, rather breath.
lessly. She turned her gaze fully upor
him in surprise. 1--WE never seen you
alone before, I've wanted so much to dC
So" he Numbered on. And yet
Numbered? Lucy did not look as though
he had Numbered.
Was there something you wanted IL
talk aboutP she asked, frankly.
Shall we. sit DOWN." suggested
Tn going to write a letter. But-yes
We'll sit down"
They were near each other, at th,
side of the lounge, sitting In a coupl,
OF wicker chairs which-Markham notec
were quite hidden from the observa,
ton OF any person at either Of the two
doors opening into the lounge. Wher
they were seated Markham spoke a
once.
What ! want to say to you is a yer,
stupid and crude thing, n I want vol
not to tell anybody-anybody at all
that Nv said it. And it's this. If at an,
time you should be alarmed or in neec
Of help or friendship, I'm at your service
That's all. I hope you won't think m,
ridiculous"
She had flushed.