Evening star., 1932-12-31
s. psRff&6z :: j; '!
ERSMEE by NINA WILCOX PUTNAM
by NINA WILCOX PUTNAM

wet nose against the windshield and
barked reprovingly. But Alacia scarcely
noticed him. So this was why Armand
could not come to the telephone! This
was why she had been informed that
"our M Armand Is no longer with u.s."
She could still hear the stammering
explanation of the telephone operator
at Piron's. What outrageous thing had
happened and why was she supposed to
be involved?
It was not until Alacia was crossing
the Place de la Concorde and heading
for the river that she remembered that
not one word of Victorine'S story had
been told to those two in the little salon.
The suddenness Of their assault upon
the stronghold Of her own emotions,
her gripping fear for her lover, had
driven every other thought from her
mind, and she had. after all, done moth
ing to prevent Santini'S driving the
race.
The house on the Quai d'Orsay in
which M. Piron kept a suite of old
fashioned, high-ceilinged rooms on the
second floor, showed no lights as Ala
cia drew up at the curb in front of it.
Only the dim drop-light beneath which
the concierge strained her eyes over a bit
of fine needlework Illuminated the cav
ernous entrance, and the woman looked
up and chirruped directions with the faux
politeneSs of her kind when Alacia
tapped on the window Of her cubicle.
There was an electric lift, one of those
alarming, open bird-cage affairs which
may or may not mount at the pressing
of button, but Alacia chose the stairs,
the dog at her heels, and in another
moment stood breathlessly in front of
the upper door. Rather to her surprise
M 1T.
her.
"Ah, my dear Alacia!" he exclaimed,
offering one hand to her, and one to
the overjoyed Max, who leaped on his
erstwhile master in an ecstasy Of greet
ing. $50 you got my message. Come
in. come in, have been most anxiously
awaiting you!''
He ushered her into large drawing
room Immediately across from the
front door and, following her, turned
on the Light and shut the door behind
him.
"Armand?" she questioned anxiously.
"Is he here?" Piron nodded.
Eyes, he is here" he replied, "but he
doesn't know that I am expecting you
I want to have little talk with you
first, in private"
The room in which they sat was un-
lived in and ugly. Pictures in ornate
frames crowded the walls, a careful
housekeeper had pinned hand-crocheted
antimacassars to the head rest of every
chair, and an old-fashioned velvet
lambrequin disfigured the really fine
marble fireplace. The light came from
an immense central chandelier of cryS-
tai which revealed in pitiless detail the
stiff arrangement of the expensive fur
niture in all its tasteless conglomer-
alton. 1t was room very typical of
the domestic discomfort of a nation
which has no word equivalent to
home" M. Piron drew a chair near
to the small brocaded sofa on which
Alacia had perched tentatively and,
reaching over, patted her reassuringly
on the knee
VOLTA, ma petite!" he said kindly
"You must not be alarmed, eh? Cool
heads go further than hot hearts, as we
say. I suppose your maman has told
you something Of what has happened?"
"Of course!" she replied, "but mon
sieur, don't believe it. Armand q
thief! Why it's incredible!"
Nor do believe it." said he. Never
theless he Is in a very embarrassing
situation. For one thing. he is unable
to say where he has spent good deal
Of his time lately"
piled at once. ut was who thought
it best to keep our engagement secret
for the moment" M. Piron beamed.
LAS I thought" he exclaimed. And
now, my child, perhaps you can tell me
If you have ever seen this?" Reaching
inside his vest pocket he drew out q
string OF pearls with broken clasp.
But they are mine!" Alacia cried.
Il gave them to him for a keepsake.
They were something I had worn, you
see!"
''Eh, ramour, pamour!" murmured M.
Piron. How often love incriminates
ITEMS, young lady, your careless gener-
osity might have led to rather serious
consequences! Why not be little more
economical with love tokens? A lock of
your hair, now; that would not have
been SO expensive and take it you have
worn that for some time too, yes? But
I am greatly relieved and that old cab
bage Of prefet is going to look a good
fool!'
Can I see Armand now?" she asked
He smiled and patted her shoulder.
Down the corridor second door
droite!" he said. II will be with you
Immediately. But not too immediately"
he added to himself.
.(To Be Coutinued9