Evening star., 1932-12-28

EVlQently LQe carrying OF anonymous
messages was no novelty to the woman.
for she accepted the commission with
out comment Then at this point 2
door at the back Of the hall opened to
emit flood of pale light, and sil-
houetted against It stood the figure Of 4
woman with snow-white hair. Her tall,
thin figure was slightly bowed. and
from her elaborate coiffure cloud Of
white lace descended like mist She
leaned heavily on an ebony cane. with
which she tapped gently on the noor to
attract attention. Her voice came colo cox
and clear across the echoing hall. Un-
questionably. thought Alacia, this must
be Armand's mother.
"Marthe, / have r,lng three timesi'
she cried Send that person at the
door about her affairs and attend to
your duties at once" Then the woman
turned slowly back into her room.
Coming, your ma jesty!" the woman
with the knitted shawl shouted in her
haste as she pushed Alacia out into the
night. Pardon. mademoiselle!" she
whispered. apologetically. Her royal
highness is very deaf, and did not hear
you call But II you have news OF her
son, perhaps tomorrow, will be able 10
get you an audience!"
The door was closed firmly upon the
pitiful little comedy within that gaunt
house. ,and Alacia, perforce. climbed
into her car and turned back toward
Paris, more worried and puzzled than
when she had set out
Meantime, while Alacia had been In
the very act OF trying TO soothe the girl
Victorine into a state Of conference,
Mrs. Savers and Santini had been seri-
ously occupied in choosing the most
elaborate and expensive luncheon they
could think up between them.
The grill room garden at the Ritz
was packed to capacity and on every
hand we're notables OF one sort or an
other, including an American duchess
with An unpronounceable foreign name,
a we'll known actor. momentarily the
idol Of Paris; royalty from small
Balkan house and an ancient but still
active female star Of musical comedy
whose chief claim to fame lay IN pair
Of imperishably beautiful legs. Scat
tered among these was the usual crowd
of rich tourists, many OF them rather
shamefacedly displaying hats and gowns
which the great Partisan authorities
had assured them against their better
judgment we're ravishing. Kate Sayers
was in her clement. and overlooked the
crowd with pleas ant feeling OF superb
/ OIIll, III hAiS NSAAN-NhSSo ~
her perfectly cut clothes. and knowing
that her hat was probably the envy OF
all feminine baholders. With the air
of an establishe aristocrat she criti-
cNed the newcomers with justice and
precision. and Santini, with his ur-
failing applause, was an inspiring audi
ence. Kate Sayers purred with con-
tent, recapturtng for the f1rst time IN
several days the feeling Of lost youth
regained As usual, Santini tactfully
arose a few moments before the lunch
con check was presented. He MADE
little formal bow and smiled.
Perhaps l had better get the car"
he suggested, 80 as not to keep you
waiting at the door" ,,
"oh. dol" said she. smiling. TIL
ioin YOU directly" II was little
comedy they had played hundred
times Almost as soon as Santini DIS
appeared down the crowded terrasse the
keen-eyed captain Of walters laid the
knew this little comedy and acted his
part to perfection. Kate scribbled her
name below the staggering total, added
a hundred franc note and allowed her
! self to be bowed to the door. noddins
1 to a few acquaintances on the way. At
i the hotel door the racing Europa, which
was scheduled to start for the Riviera
! that night. was purring softly, Santirl
| at the wheel. And as they slid away
into the traffic Mrs. Sayers let out a
sigh
that this is the last day we shall have
together for two whole weeks
I Why don't YOU come down and see
me race?" he suggested. But Kate
Savers shook her head and shuddered.
I couldn't bear to watch it," she
replied Il should be sick with terror.
But I'll be thinking Of you every
minute"
And l." said he. tenderly, shall be
1 thinking Of how / am doing 1t all BE-
cause Of you!' Then he added casual
", as if the thought had just occurred
4 to him. Where do you want to 60
now2 All. Piron's, of course, to see the
1 rubies!" Mrs Sayers assented, but alb
sently. Her mind was not, for the mo-
ment, concerned with her jewels.
You'll come back Immediately after
! the race, won't you?" she asked. He
shot a quick glance at her profile, but
! the sentimental expression on her face
was reassuring. Still. If she did not
expect him back to Paris for a while
the fact would help his plans ma
| terially.
1 NO, not at once" he replied. TO
! tell the truth. was going TO ask per-
mission to run the car into Italy for
visit. I have an uncle in Genoa who
can do lot for me. some day"
why. 60 by all means" she said
graciously although obviously disap-
| pointed You know I never try to
stop you doing anything which would
help your future" -
Santini grinned to himself as hs
made the turn through the rue Danou
and. emerging into the rue de la Paix.
drew up in front of Piron's.
Hop out, sweet LADY, he said. I
will park and be with you in little
moment But don't you dare look at
those designs until I arrive. I want to
share every minute Of your pleasure"
| Like many other shops on the famous
street, Piron's occupied part Of build
ing which had once been a palace OF
sorts. Accessible through low ARCH
way was the tagged courtyard in
which pre-revolutionary mobiles had
mounted their horses and where court
ladies had descended from sedan
| chairs. Now it prosaically served the
cars Of employees, the delivery wagons
Of the commercial tenants and. on oc-
casion. provided parking space ior
clients who drove themselves. Santini
noted with satisfaction that the space
directly behind the Establishment
Piron was vacant and parking the car
I close to the jewelers. back entrance. he
1 descended. flicked ct the top Of the
tool box with his toe TO make sure 1t
was unlocked and walked briskly
around to the front door. where Mrs.
Sayers was dutifully awaiting him.
| A moment later the back door OF
Piron's opened and Ramon Cabereo
walked out. apparently to enjoy q
smoke in the late sunshine which stiM
found its way over the gable roofs OF
the surrounding buildings. Rafnon's
hands were In the pockets Of his beau-
tifully creased trousers and from his
| lips dangled the inevitable grcen-tipped
cigarette which was the final touch
of chic to fastidious ensemble. And,
with the wholly natural interest of any
normal young man. he at once begen
an admiring inspection Of the Europa.