Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-05

at his empty plate and glanced round the
restaurant. The woman in blue had table
near. He saw her face, fair and -browed
the face of child whom womanhood had hurt
hut of constant strength. But he did the
'ther just to hurt" he added.
We'll, you do not like him." Dubois smiled
mo. But I'm not sure I don't like him."
f'sggie said slowly.
The quizzing wrinkles on Dubois big face
de2pened "Ah, my friend! To the doctor,
al men are i'll. To the detective, everything
is mystery But you are on a holiday.
Pity mel go back to my office to make
mystery of simple murder" He pushed back
his chair.
I'm at the Lucullus" said Reggie "You
must dine with me. What about tomorrow"
But with delight-and also with alarm"
Dubois went away chuckling.
Reggie sat for while in the Champs Ely
sees with cigar. But when 1t was done he
went back to the Salon. The queer picture
would not be denied. Some people were look
ing at it. AS they moved away the woman in
blue came by. She saw the picture, gave it
puzzled look a weary little smile Then she
came nearer. Her face was white and her lips
parted She bcnt over her catalog and the
pages ffuttered. She looked again at the pic
ture, bewild red, deeply intent. When she
turned away, her light grace had gone. She
moved slowly and vaguely, as If she could not
see where she went.
Reggie followed hsr. 1t seemed to him that
she was likely to faint. But she made her
way to the outer air. and taxi carried her
away. He wandered on into the Bots. AS he
walked he struggled in vain to classify the
woman She had the clothes, the air of leis-
ured wealth. She had not come to see the
queer picture She took it on her way around
the room, and she was looking at it some mo-
ments before she found anything in it. She
did not know that it was by NJ Artus. When
she turned up his name in the catalog it told
her nothing. She did not 60 on to his other
picture Yet his queer bit of work meant a
mighty lot to her. Why? r ggie felt in
adequate.
The next day Dubois asked if he might
bring another man to dinner, an old friend
HE man had a swaggar and a pair of fierce
mustaches He much impressed to
meet M. Fortune and expected M. Fortune to
be impressed by meeting him. But Reggie
had no notion who M. Beaucourt might b.
And Dubois beamed Reggie made expiora-
tory small talk and it emerged that M Beau
court was painter. Dubois chuckIed Reggie
talked about the Salon and discovered that M.
b aucourt painted fantasies
And M. Fortune found a mystery in the
Salon" Dubois exclaimed 1T is incredible is
1t not? But what would you have? Making
mysteries for the poor policeman-that is his
trade"
Dubois began to expound: ut was that geo.
metric horror by ArtuS-"
Ana, Beaucourt nodded. His Diversions
IN Hell-that is what interests you?"
Yes chiefly. But taking the one with the
other
Aha" said Beaucourt again "You have
the eye, M. Fortune. His 'Diversions,-no 1t Is
not picture, it is a violence of the emotions
But one must confess the thing makes its eff
1ect. 1t appears that he interests YOU this
Artus."
Doesn't he interest anybody in Paris?"
Reggie said.
But yes. He arrives. without doubt. he
arrives. I will tell you. Artus has been a
young man with future this 10 wears He
mas tried almost everything-portrait land
Scape, subject The painting is brilliant.
clever, hooking, hard. Well you conceive
that sort of thing makes enemies. But at last
he begins to be somebody"
Established is hep" asked Reggie
beaucourt shrugged. He makes money The
critics talk Of genius II say he is a clever
1ehow And you-you still interested M
Fortune?"
oh yes. It's that picture with the face.
in Paris?" "
Beaucourt ate a grape do YOU know Won
are the second person who has asked me that
today"
Well, we'll" Reggie murmured
Beaucourt smiled. Permit me- nv friend
do you perhaps know Miss Everard-Miss Alice
Everard?"
mo. Do Xou?" Reggie opened his eyes,
DUBOIS leaned across the table. Miss Alice
EVerard-are you sure that says nothing to
you, my dear Fortune?"
We'll, thought you fellows were nursing
something for me-" said Reggie sadly He
shook his head at Dubois. so this Is it. whatp
You've found lady In the case. Miss Alice
Everard? never heard of her Slight? Fair?