The Washington times., 1931-09-09
CHAPTER XIV

CHAPTER AAlV
Jennie looked magnificent In
a Russian court costume of the
time of Catherine the Great.
The ropes of CarStairs emeralds
were looped about her neck be-
meath the heavy pearls and fell
to her waist. There were emer-
aids in her ears, and she wore
q small tiara of emeralds and
diamonds. There were great
square stones on wrists and
hands, green as spring. clear as
water, uniquely beautiful. IL
had taken no tactful appeal on
Fanchon'S part to make her
wear them. She always wore
the emeraldS at the Van Suy.
dams ball, at the opening OF
the opera and on one or two
other occasions. Fanchon could
not drag her eyes from the
Jewels, although she had seen
them before. The first time
Mrs. Carstairs had shown them
to her, "They must CO." she
said, Ito Collins wife, but I've
left you other jewelry, dear :"
A Gorgeous Scene
The dinner table glittered
with crystal, with silver and
gold plate and flatware; it had
been built about square space
holding a mirror lake banked
with orchids. There was
wine and excellent food ...
and superb service and
around that table. thought
Tony, with the feeling Of an
Alexander, were millions OF dol
lars in jewelry alone. However.
the emeralds would keep him
and Fanchon for the rest OF
their lives. There was a place.
in Paris. and another in Rotter'
dam, where, broken from their
settings, they could be disposed
of. He knew of these places.
He had not served one term in
a reformatory for nothing; nor
had he confined his activities
to the service of drug rings and
gang wars alone.
tt was quite late when they
went, in what practically
amounted to a fleet of cars. to
the Van Suydams. AS it hap
pened, Fanchon - drove with
Collin. The other Romeo had
been unable to make other
ARRANGEMENTS but bided his
time in silence, following
Collins small French town car
as it pulled away from the
curb before his did, with his
dark and secretive eyes.
And Collin had made his
own arrangements. He and
Fanchon were alone in the car
save for an impassive driver
divided from them by glass and
steel.
Through the Park
II had to get you to my
SELF" he said, "and We aren't
going directly to the Van Suy.
dams. We are driving around
the Park first. I wanted to
tell you how beautiful you are
.. it would take me many
years to tell you that, Evelyn,
but must content myself with
a few brief minutes. I am
not" he added. with forced
lightness, "the only one who
thinks so. Just as am not
the only-Romeo."
She said. trying to keep the
conversation from dangerous
ground: .
1T was an amusing coinci-
dence, CeSare'S coming as he
did. the costumes are alike,
even in coloring. I suppose
they came from the same
coStumerS."
Collin turned his mask in his
hands. The high collar, the
dark velvet became him very
we'll. She had never, she
thought, seen him as hand
She thought. L love you.
And you will never know. And
tonight is the end. OF every
thing.
Something like little moan
escaped her. He turned quickly,
he asked in anxiety:
Evelyn, what is it? You
are not yourself"
I'm all right" she answered,
and then seeing a chance to
establish her plan, Tony's plan,
she added. . ct have, perhaps, a
slight headache"
Not Herself
Collin continued, unheeding:
you have not been yourself
since this CeSare Gill turned
UP, out of the blue. Who is
this man. Evelyn? What is he
to you? What hold has he over
you?"