Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-25

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time without that"
"But there won't be any publicity" he
assured her Publicity, for the mo-
ment, would be fatal. I will see my
friend, the prefet de police, this evening
and ask what he thinks had best be
DONE Meanwhile, young lady, you
have done me an infinite service. and
lie Bon Dieu only knows what serious
trouble your stubborn disbelief In my
judgment as a jeWeler may have saved
mel"
1t was on the tip OF Alacias tongue
to mention the fact that Armand had
rendezvous with the prefet that
evening, but on second thoughts she
stead, offered the string of pearls to
NJ. Piron, who had arisen to depart.
Don't say I'm avaricious!" she said
smilingly. Here are your pearls, M.
Piron, and mind you look after them
properly this time
You're not under the faintest legal
obligation to return them" he remind
ed her. smiling back
Don't be absurd" she laughed,
pressing the necklace into his hands.
"Of course, you'll take them. And
That I protect Armand in every
way" he finished for her. you don't
have to ask it. My dear, I am not
blind. and believe me. you cannot love
him much than I dol"
A few hours later Alacia was a trifle
surprised at finding the door of her
home opened for her almost before
she reached the top step. Jean, the
maitre d'hotel. a big, kindly Breton,
who was intensely human under his
elaborate buffers clothing. looked at
her in peculiar way as he closed the
door behind her.
mademoiselle in the petit salon!" he
said. He Is most anxious to see
mademoiselle Immediately upon her re-
turn" Alacia's heart flew to her
mouth Armand, of course, Had
| something gone wrong? Then she
noticed her mothers maid and her own
! femme de chambre under the stair
way. They, too, were grinnning, and
one of them nodded brightly and
pointed to the reception room.
"AlleZ vite, mademoiselle!" her own
| maid called out with that friendly
familiarity which in French servants
is somehow not in the least impertinent.
''M'sieur waits you! Receive him i'm
mediately we beg of you!" Puzzled
and little annoyed at this odd request,
Alacia nevertheless crossed obediently
| to the door and entered, expecting she
appeared to be empty, but in another
instant she saw that it was not.
| From big chair by the open fire
there arose the most beautiful French
poodle she had ever seen. Black as coal.
his coat cut into a beWildering pattern
of rosettes and bracelets, he stretched
himself comfortably. looked at her out
of the bright pinpoints which were his
eyes, and then. picking up an envelope
which lay on the floor at his feet, car
ried it over to her and stood wagging
his deliberately coiffured tail and wait
| ing for her to speak Alacia spoke
| promptly.
You darling" she cried, dropping
onto her knees before him. You
beauty. you dear! Is that letter for
velope which was addressed in her
name, and, fawning playfully, gave
couple of friendly, short barks as if
trying to tell her something Alacia
opened the note and read
am Max" Piron had written.
please love me, and will try to make
up to you for the loss of your necklace!"
Alacia flung her arms around the
dog, but at the sound of laughter, turn
ed to find the doorway crowded with
the servants who were enchanted at
the joke they had played on her.
CONNIE IL est beau, n'est-ce-pas,
mademoiselle?" her maid demanded
The original three had been augmented
by the sympathetic cook, the scullery
maid and the second footman, all in
terested and admiring. Then, at the
distant ringing of the front door bell
Jean vanished from the group and
went to answer it. Almost Immediately
his voice was raised in sudden protest
| Then came a scream which sent
chill Of silence over the laughing group
in the petit salon; a scream which was
repeated again and again with blood
curdling ferocity.
You shan't stop mel woman's
voice shrilled incredibly high and
piercing. Il tell you I've got to see
her"
| Ito Be Contin,ledl