Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-06

now.
Experience and artifice had en-
ameled her face with that hardness
which a man carries better than
woman.
She gave me a smile. but her eye
brows assembled and Caroline turned
mploringly to FliQue.
This is my charming friend, Mile.
Brent" he beamed May I beg a
room for her and place at your
tablet"
Eyes. indeed" the woman answered.
II must have been out when you ar
rived"
did I not meet her MYSELF" Flique
interposed neatly Mile. Brent is OF
the illustrious Brents of whom mon
sieur your husband has spoken. Mon
sieur called in those famous ones.
Morrison and Hunt. and to assist them
who is more competent than mademol-
Selle, the last of her line?"
wondered what Parados would say
when he came out of his library.
Il didn't know my husband had sent
for you, Miss Brent
"Ah. that husband of yours" Flique
chuckled "He is the original, yes.
Monsieur met mademoiselle in san
Francisco"
Caroline's embarrassment was pitt
able. 1t must have touched Mrs.
Parados.
I'VE are glad to have you with us,
anyhow" she said.
You are very kind. Mrs. Parados."
she said. II hadn't expected to stay
but M Flioue insisted
m. Flique has way with him. MRS.
Parados remarked dryly.
A light football drew our eyes up
the handsome staircase. Celia was de-
scending slowly, lovely in a scanty
dinner gown. Mrs. Parados' hands were
clinched. The hatred in her eyes as
she looked up at Celia shocked me.
Celia was smiling.
who is this golden one?" the So
prano voice of Anatole Flique sudoeniy
he took Celia's hand and led her 10
Caroline. Il present my little friend,
Mile. Brent. This golden one is our
Celia Ferris, mademoiselle. You Will be
friends. yes? 1t cannot be otherwise.
We were all laughing now, even Mrs.
Parados, and 1 began to appreciate
the peculiar genius of Anatole Flique.
M. Flioue is a dear and he says
nothing so nicely that we love to listen,
Celia said lightly
Caroline laughed. ''You are more
than kind. YOU and Mrs Parados.
know / shall love San Lucas"
ITS enchanting" Celia drawled.
my little friend has the misfortune
to be without the dinner gown" Filque
interposed irrelevantly. There Is
little georgette the color of mademol-
selle,s eyes in your wardrobe
"Oh. surely" Celia interrupted. Come
along, Miss Brent. We've just nVe
minutes"
Celia linked her arm in Caroline's
and they flew up the handsome STAIR.
T7lsrt,o bea med
You're too much of a diplomat for
this house. M Flique," Mrs. Paraoos
said in a brittle voice. You shoulo
have come 10 years ago."
''It desolates me that you are right,
madame" Flique replied gravely. 10,
day is madsme's birthday ne salo
gently. land the twentieth-um-ah
niversary of her wedding, yes Nay
felicitate madame?" Flique inquired.
She stared at Flique and then, WIN
a sob, fed up the stairs.
'.Une femme curieuse," Flique NUT
tered. Come, my friend, M. lie pro-
fesseur is in the sun ROOM.
M. lie professeur, whom we found
reading a newspaper, was sienoer,
elderly man with brown eyes and thick
lensed glasses, neat gray beard ana
slightly nervous manner Flique 1ntro-
duced him as Herbert Johns, the Gus
todian of the fort. ;,
"Mr. Parados spoke of your coming"
Prof. Johns said agreeably, but L ex-
pected an older man."
ct would be Morrison. the senior
partner, of whom he spoke" ] pointed
out, tired of repeating the explanation.
Morrison was Ill"
Flique excused himself with the re-
mark that he had "a composition 10
prepare" and took himself of to the
other end of the sun room.
II am intensely interested in that old
fort of yours" laughed, dropping into
a chair"
"Mine?" he murmured, lifting his
eyebrows. at wish it were"
An underlying bitterness penetrated
the delicate surface usefulness of his
expression.
"Of course, it is Mr.. Parados' prop
erty," fastened to say, but you have
lived in it and taken care OF 1t long
enough to justify you in speaking of 1t
as your own"
so it would seem after 20 years" he