The Washington times., 1935-12-28

tidget. suppose you know By
now that the Prince wants tc
marry you. Any other girl but
you would be tickled to death al
the very idea Of being a Prin
cess!"
Trying to sound casual, Vernon
said: Il met two charming elder
ly ladies who are coming In for
tea today"
You'd no earthly business to
ask them when you knew the
Prince is comingl" her mother
snapped.
Jake Tyson walked in to the
drawing room. Like Vernon, he
was nervous and upset.
Promptly at s o'clock, the door
bell rang, and Arlene, in smart
uniform, went to answer 1t. Not
only Prince Karinoff, but the
lady known as Mertina de Bray,
entered the drawing room and
greeted the TySons effusively.
English tea How delicious
Your love for it proves your Eng.
lish bloodl Doesn't 1t, dear
Sadie2" gushed Mertina. THAT
divine scent!" She looked at Yer.
non archly. "1'll wager these arC
1van'S roses!"
They are indeed" smirked
Sadie. The Prince is a real
gentleman, III say-even though
my careless child did lose his
beautiful necklace!"
1T is q great mystery" said
the Prince in his meticulous, in.
gratiating voice, looking directly
at Vernon, i am deeply con.
cerned about the loSs-not for
myself-but because-oh, I can.
not hide my feelings any longer,
Mrs. Tyson-Mr. TySon-I love
your beautiful daughter had
wished to give 1t to her as a wed
ding present."
Cant you say anything, child?
Don't you realize the Prince has
Just done you a great honor?'
snapped her mother.
He has done me no honor at
all. He has done me a great dis
honor"
"What?" simultaneously ex
claimed both Mertina de Bray
and Mrs. Tyson.
He has done me a great dis
honor in suggesting bigamy to
me-" said Vernon clearly. The
Prince Is already married
Mother!"
Bluffing Through
The Prince leaped from his
chair. You are crazy, mademoi
Selle! You are quite mad You
do not know what you are say
ing!"
HE is married, Mother-let
him deny it as he may! There
Is his wife-who calls herself Mrs
de Bray-that is not her name al
all-nor is he Prince Karinoff-
their name is Metchaeva, Mother
Mertina bounced up. There's
not word Of truth in it! Why
it's perfectly insulting"
Vernon said slowly and clearly;
You can both deny it as you will
but I have proof of what I say
You are Marie and Serge Met
chaeva. You have been married
for several years, and your doing:
are we'll known on the Continent
Of Europe"
Its a lie! A scandalouS lie!
III sue you! Oh, after all I've done
for you. introducing you in society
and looking out for your interests
this Is shocking!" walled Mer
tina.
Before you do that" Vernon
replied. holding her ground. her
fathers arm about her, "the police
If say so-win be called in to
identify you"
The Prince exclaimed: "Mer
tina, we will go. These people are
not for US. They are infinitely
below u.s."
Vernon played her trump card.
my detective is waiting just out
side the door of this apartment.
If you attempt to leave without
my permission, at a word from
me he will arrest you both"
At that, the Prince turned on
her. his lips rolling back from his
teeth for all the world like a
animal. "You-!" he
snarled, another word from you
and will brand you everywhere
as the loose woman that you are
you who have passed the entire
night alone with me in my apart
mentW
"You drugged me-deliberately
drugged my coffee in the Gypsy
Pavilion" Vernon declared. "you
did it to steal the diamonds and
substitute the false cnes-it was
a vile plot-but I will force you
to return them to Drouet's i'm
mediately! Stop crying, Mother!
I've proof of everything I sayl"
"Where?" asked Mrs. de Bray
sarcastically, her hand on the
Princes arm, and her face like a
demons.
Right here in this bag, for one.
Look at this passport with your
two photographs on it and your
real signatures under them!"
The Prince approached her, and
like q cat with one swipe of its
paw, made a sudden predatory
pounce. But Vernon was too quick
for him.
"Oh no. you don't-although
even If you did get 1t, it wouldn't
do you any good, for I have a