Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-05-15

the inspiration of this adventure must
be just name and little more. For
as Helen's face launched a thousand
ships when the Greeks invaded the
plains of Troy, so did Christophe's
steal of the Leonardo.
He was clerk at the national mint.
He would have been about 10 years
old. He had a surname, of course-but
what? He was Christophe, the man
she loved.
She met him that day at the Deux
Magots after he had finished his lunch
Germaine herself was unable to eat
A brandy only, to steady her nerves.
1t was raining. The sky was growing
more gray. This was exactly the
weather ordered for carrying out her
expedition. The month was August and
peace lay dying.
Germaine's great concern in this
hour of crisis derived from the rumor
that soon-even now-the most valu-
able art works kept in the Louvre
were to be removed to greater safety.
La Belle Lucrece would leave with the
first. Delay might ruin her hopes. She
must hurry.
Having dressed in her most attrac-
tive outfit, her sauciest hat and high
est heels to keep this rendezvous with
her lover, she was a picture to kindle
desire. Excitement, too, would have
rouged her cheeks and brought a reck-
less light to her eyes. The effect was
not lost upon Christophe, and his
words were still treasured by her and
repeated in that house in the Street
of the Winds in Marseilles:
What woman you are! Were it
not for the fact that I must return
to my desk at the mint"
"Tais-toi,' she smiled. This is aft
ernoon!"
But there is tonight"
She shook her head
Tomorrow evening, my pet" she
told him. Tonight I dine with my
uncle's attorney. He has had cable
gram from New York. My uncle is
not expected to live; even now, in fact,
the poor mans dying: and his lawyer
here is making an effort to win my
esteem, since he knows that so soon
shall be an heiresS."
Her fiance nodded Yes, you are
correct in playing UP to this attorney.
Till the money is safe in your name
at the bank. assuredly you must eX-
ercise caution not to antagonize the
fellow How-ah-much does he think
you will get?"
She told him $4,000. 1t was only
four-fifths of her share in the spoils,
the fortune her uncle who lived in
New York" was about to confer on her
by his DEATH" but Christophe would
hardly love her the less when she
showed him a greater amount in cash!
She walked out with him, hugging
his arm, dreading the moment of say
ing goodby. Perhaps-Who could tell
this luncheon hour might be the last
she would ever see him.
Near La Monnaie, overlooking the
Seine, they came to halt in the rain
and embraced She left him then to
hurry home and prepare herself for
the work at hand.
Germaine made up as though for
part to be played on the stage. She
tried to look plain. No lipstick nor
rouge, no high-heeled slippers. Today
she would be just a student of art
who peered at paintings through horn
trimmed glasses, so lacking in any ap-
peal for men that later the guards
would not recall her. The bangs dis
appeared beneath a beret which fitted
tightly across her forehead. Around
her waist she coiled stout rope, tax
ing great care in securing the ends.
To conceal it she wore raglan coat
with no more chic than a pair of old
socks.
About o'clock she emerged from
the Metro and darted to gain the
sheltered arcade protecting the rue de
Rivoli's shops. Directly across stood
the Louvre.
There are several entrances to the
Louvre Germaine went in by the east
ern portal. which faces the church
whose tolling bell signaled the masSa-
ere on st. Bartholomew crimson eve.
Heretofore in her visits to reconnoiter
she had been at pains to avoid this
door. The man, she recalled, who took
her ticket was talking to someone