Evening star., 1934-02-28
INSTALLMENT XIV.

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indeed. further off than ever,
when he saw that Mr.. Gedge had
come out Of the house and was hur-
rying in his direction. He went to
meet him. Hello So you're back?
Has Mrs. Gedge arrived?"
A muscular spa n contorted the lit
tie mans face. "Shes arrived!' he
said.
Packy eyed him with some concern.
Mr.. Gedge looked like one who has
passed through the furnace.
"Is something the matter?"
One of the hollowest laughs that
had ever been heard on the terrace
of the Chateau Blissac broke grating
" upon the afternoon stiffness. "Oh.
no. There's nothing the matter.
Nothing whatever. Except that when
Mrs. Gedge was in Paris she saw ST
varieties of photographs of the real
Vicomte de Blissac and she looked
out OF the window just now and saw
you and said, Who's that piece OF
cheese?' and I said, That's the Vi
comte.' and she said, My left foot
it's the vicomte.' And she's sent me
out here to fetch you in and explain.
Outside of that everything's fine"
Packy's brain, to which he had
hoped to grant brief rest, began
whirring again under the fullest pres
sure. You don't mean that?"
what do you think mean?"
"But, my gosh"
"All right" said Mr. Gedge wanly,
'all right. I've said all that"
But what did you tell her?"
''What could tell her? I just said,
WELL darn it, how was I to know? I
said you blew in. claiming to be the
Ncomte, and I naturally thought you
were the vicomte 1t went all right,
but what" said Mr.. Gedge, plying his
handkerchief like a bath towel, lis
the use of that? In about two min
utes she'll start telegraphing to Paris,
asking what's become of the real one.
Or maybe she'll just phone the po-
lice without waiting to telegraph"
Until this moment 1t had seemed
to Packy that his brain was incapa-
bic of further activity. But now 1t
was as If he had changed gears and
suddenly discovered a speed superior
to that which he had always imag-
ined to be third. His drawn brow
suddenly cleared.
'It's all right. I've had an idea"
''It better be a good one"
TT Is. It's pippin."
Packy looked about him cautiously.
Tell me, where does Mrs. Gedge in
sure her jewels. and so on"
The New York. London & Paris.
But where does that get us?"
Packy tapped himself on the chest.
Meet one OF the boys"
What boys?"
zone Of the New York, London Il
Paris boys One of their large staff
Of watchful detectives. I was sent
here to keep an eye on Mrs. Gedge's
jewels"
What"
That's my story, and I'm going to
stick to it. Where do find Mrs.
Gedge?"
"She's in the library"
The library of the Chateau Blissac
was on the ground floor, looking out
on the drive. Awnings hung over its
windows. shutting out the sun and
rendering the interior dinf But 1t
did not render 1t so dim that Packy,
entering, was unable to see Mrs
Gedge, and see her clearly. And at
the spectacle his fortitude wavered a
little. He had expected his hostess to
be slightly ON the formidable side, and
this she unquestionably was He did
not like the expression in her eyes,
nor the ominous tightness Of her lips.
However, he advanced with what con-
hdence he could muster and took q
seat. How do you do, Mrs. Gedge?"
he said
The woman did not even bow She
looked as If she had been hewn from
the living rock.
II have Just been talking to Mr..
oedge."
Again no comment.
HE tells me you are aware that
an not the Vicomte de Bissac."
This time there was a reaction
She had not expected this airy jaunti-
ness. and she started perceptibly
He is a friend of mine. though.
And when I explained to him how
necessary it was that should come to
the chateau, he agreed to let me take
his place. I am :"
YES" said Mrs. Gedge. finding
speech at last. "I should like to hear
your name. Or at least one of your
aliases"
Packy laughed. He hoped it was a
merry laugh, but was not quite sure.
my dear Mrs. Gedge! Are you un-
der the impression that I am Grim
inal?"
"Yes."
Packy smiled this time. Smiling
was easier. Let me explain
You can explain to the police"
"They wouldn't understand me.
can't talk French. Mrs. Gedge, you
insure your jewelry with the London,
Paris d New York.
You seem we'll informed"
eyes. You see. I am in their en-
ployment And they sent me here"
What"
"1 am one of their large staff Of
detectives"
Once more astonishment gave Mrs.
Gedge that faint suggestion of being
human after all. You expect me to
believe that2"
| nope you Will DelleVe II.
! "Well go on"
Her manner was not what in the
strictest sense could be called encour-
aging. but Packy proceeded. "They
sent me here to keep an eye on your
valuables. ST. ROGUE. though you
may not know it. is a great place for
crooks in the season. The place is
stiff with them. My company had
reason to believe that an attempt was
to be made on your jewels -
what reason?"
Packy wished this woman would not
ask him questions. This particular
question seemed to call for q little
quick thinking. and he did some.
There is q criminal in the house."
he said impressively.
Again Mrs. Gedge's eyes closed. This
appeared to be her substitute for
speech. and not a bad one either.
The IRE was, indeed, her eyelids seemed
to say, q criminal In the house.
He hastened to support his state
ment with corroborative detail. "Sen-
ator Opal Is a guest of yours"
Are you trying to suggest that
Senator Opal is criminal?"
IL