Evening star., 1934-03-05

not SO DaQ Is LIlcy uliSlt udSC oCcA.
Fortunately, he had his boat as an
alibi. There was no reason why she
should ever know that he had not
been living on the Flying Cloud ever
since his arrival.
His manner, though still not as
sured, became easier.
How fine that you were able to
come over. I hoped you would when
I wrote and told you I was coming
here, But was afraid you might be
tied up at your fathers for weeks.
How was the house party, by the
way?"
quite nice"
Lots of interesting people there?"
"Quite number"
"And how is everybody at home?"
"Quite we'll"
Flows your father?"
"Quite we'll"
"How's your mother?"
"Quite we'll"
"How's your Aunt Gwendolyn?"
This detailed solicitude. instead Of
touching Lady Beatrice Bracken,
seemed to make her rather restless.
Wouldn't it save time" she said,
IF you simply accepted my assurance
that everybody at Worbles Is quite
well?"
Packy recognized the reasonableness
Of the suggestion. well. it's wonderful
your having been able to get over
here" he said, abandoning the
theme. II suppose you had some
difficulty finding me, as wasn't at
any of the hotels. You see, came
over on a boat. You remember my
saying might charter -. or did
tell you in my letter."
mo. In your letter you simply
mentioned that you were leaving for
St. Rogue"
well, I chartered a yawl. She's
lying in the harbor now"
Are you living on board?"
That's right. Yes. Living on
board"
"Oh" said Beatrice. II understood
you were at the chateau passing your
self of as the Vicomte de Blissac."
Once again Packy experienced the
sensation Of having been punched on
the nose. 1t seemed to him, more
over, that his unseen assailant, not
satisfied with this buffet, had also
brought his right up with a swing and
got home on the point Of the jaw.
Through an enveloping mist he heard
Beatrice continue.
II happen to know that the vi
| conte de Blissac is staying at his
mothers chateau with some Ameri-
cans named Gedge. And I met an old
man just now who told me that you
were the Vicomte de Blissac and that
you were engaged to his daughter
Don't you think, perhaps, that you had
better explain?"
| One Of the drawbacks to life Is that
1t contains moments when one Is COM
PEELED to tell the truth. Such q mo-
ment, Packy realized, had arrived
now. There were few things he would
not have preferred to telling the
truth. but it seemed unavoidable.
''In tell you all about that"
II am longing to hear"
THAT old man was Senator Opal"
$50 you are engaged to Miss Opal?"
mo, no. mol He only thinks I am"
From what he told me, you seem
to have given him very good reason
to think So"
Senator Opal wrote a letter"
"A curious coincidence. I have Just
written a letter."
1T was q compromising letter and
Mrs. Gedge got hold Of it and talks
Of giving it to the papers. 50 he
wants to get it back. I happened to
meet his daughter :"
How was that?"
''Well, it's long story. I was cut
ting the old mans hair :"
! Doing what?"
"I can't go into that now. But
while I was cutting his hair 7 met
his daughter, and she told me about
this letter. so naturally I offered to
get it back for her. And this, of
course, gave old Opal the idea that
was Blair Eggleston."
what"
.Packy paused to marshal his
thoughts. He felt he was not making
this as clear as he should.
When say he thought was Blair
Eggleston mean that Jane :"
Janet"
"Her name is Jane. He thought
was the man to whom Miss Opal
was engaged. She's really engaged to
Blair Eggleston."
"E;ee certainly isn't. Mr.. Eggleston
didn't say word to me about it
when met him in London"
Naturally not. You see, It's a
dead secret"
well, 60 on"
well. that's why he thinks we're
engaged"
Beatrice tapped her foot on the car
pet, always q bad sign. up to the
present all have understood Is that
this Senator Opal wrote a letter and
that Miss Opal wishes you to get it
back"
well, that's all there is to it."
mot quite. Isn't it rather a risky
business. stealing this letter from
Mrs. Gedge?"
"You bet It's risky!"
1T might lead to your getting into
serious trouble"
"It certainly might" said Packy
charmed by her solicitude.
; Beatrice's lips frightened.
And yet" she said. in that soft
silky voice which women SO often en-
! ploy and which has never yet done
!, any man any good. you were ap-
parently quite prepared to take the
IAoh 2OI MISo Opd1 Sdkcs n SIl WIG
; means nothing to you.'
, Too late, Packy saw the quagmire
! into which she had led him. "Yes
j but don't you see :"
II think see perfectly. To me
, the inference Is obvious. You are
: evidently infatuated with this girl ]
think you had better take this letter
. and read it. 1t will save a lot Of un-
, necessary talk"
! But you don't understand"
Don't ~"
IT went into this business simply
for the fun of it."
What Is the fun Of it?"
well, mean the spirit oi
adventure :"
THE spirit of absolute idiocy. II
seems to me that you have not only
been making love to this Miss Opal
behind my back. but are also q per-
feet half-wit. And 1t Is quite plain
to me that you are not the man ]
A. f.