Evening star., 1932-12-31
INSTALLMENT Xxx.


wv after her futile and dis
Y appointing trip to the cha
teau on the Versailles road,
the first thing she heard was Mrs.
Sayers and Santini actively engaged
in dispute over the merits OF new
sort of cocktail. Uuder the circum-
stances the girls first impulse was to
creep upstairs unnoticed. But on
second consideration she realized that
the story which Victorine had told her
earlier in the afternoon might have a
very efficacious effect when properly
retailed, and if Santini was to be stop
ped from going. to Monte Carlo, now
was the time for action. Victorine's
accusations might be discredited or over
ruled, but at least Alacia would have
made an effort with the only weapon
at hand And with this in mind, she
flung open the paneled door and en-
tered the room.
"Alacia!" cried her mother. You
look a perfect fright, my dear child!
Put some powder on your nose and
have a glance at your hair! Where
on earth have you been?"
I've been looking for Armand de
Pas" said Alacia, tlifle taken aback
by her reception. "But he seems to
have vanished from the face Of the
edIlU. hG lllSllbiOll Va tA4O SOGAAS AAAe.AA -
name Kate Sayers and Santini ex-
changed a significant glance, but for
a moment neither spoke. Then the
older woman set down her cocktail
glass trifle nervously.
"Alacia, I'm afraid I've got some
rather unpleasant news for you,' SAID
she.
"Mother!" cried the girl "I knew
1t, 1 sensed it! Tell me quickly-oh,
nv God, he isn't dead?"
mo" said Kate. But it's quite bad
enough. He's arrested"
What for? Is it political?"
Nothing Of the Sort" said her
mother. Your princely pretender mas
turned out common thief. AS mat
ter of fact you are supposed to know
more about the case than I do. and
since YOU seem to be SO much on the
inside of his affairs, you might try ana
find out what he's done with my ru-
bies"
Mother, have you gone mad, or have
70" Alacia demanded. Il haven't the
least idea of what you are talking
about"
Santini, with nice sort Of distress, ex-
planned what had happened, watching
her closely as he did so. The depth OF
her feeling for Armand came as sur
prise to him, for he had catalogueo
their acquaintance as mere Irritation.
But as his recital proceeded he could
not fail to guess that her interest was
based on deeper emotion, and he
realized that this fact introduced
new element into his own plans. II
Alacia was in love with the prince, she
would move heaven and earth to clear
him, and there was no doubt that she
would be a powerful enemy. The idea
was not pleasant, but Santini consoled
himself with the thought that once
across the Italian border she might
indulge a fancy for detective work
without causing him any loss of sleep.
1T was a beastly affair" he con-
think. But it certainly looks bad for
De Pas, as he's notoriously short OF
money" Alacia thought of the pow
erty-stricken house she had just left,
but sh ook her head vigorously.
"I don't believe for one moment that
he's thief she said. Then she ad-
dressed her mother. why do you say
that know something about this?" she
added.
well, because M. Piron wants to see
you!'' her mother retorted. He wants
you sent to the Quai d'Orsay. It's all
very mysterious, I'm sure. Really Alacla,
you owe it to me to take me into your
confidence more" Kate Sayers con-
tinued enormously. Here you go and
pick up strange man and see what
comes Of it! His being prince proves
nothing. Every gigolo is a prince or a
duke If one was to believe him! Good
heavens, should have thought you'd
lived over here long enough to know
better!" But Alacia ignored the latter
part of her mothers TRADE. She was
already pulling on her old beret and
slipping into her coat The dog Max
had risen anxiously to his feet and
began circling around her.
did NJ Piron want me to come at
any special hour?" Alacia demanded.
"He said Z o'clock" her mother in
formed her. But Alacia, feel some
how, that you ought not to CO."
However, Alacia was gone before the
sentence was complete. the dog follow
ing her unheeded. With roar which
shattered the discreet quiet of the
neighborhood, Alacia's car came to life
and she shot into the Avenue Du Bois
n such haste that the dog bumped his