Evening Star Newspaper, September 15, 1935, Page 107

Magazine Secrion neatly laid out on a shining table and picked up the topmost journal and a vellow envelope. and brought them across the room to me “The telegram must have been for warded by the hotel or vour Buffalo office.”” she said. *I thought I'd let vou eat first. 1 always feel there is something upsetung about a tele gram.” I <sened 1t with a murmured apology. When 1'd read it, 1 let out such a yell that my aunt and uncle sprang to their feet. for once startled out of their reserve, crowding around me anxiously “Christophine, what is it?"’ Ixmily cried distressediy “Here!' 1 saiwd, handing the tele- gram to her. “Read it, please! | can’t tiust my eyes!” Aunt Emily unleashed the nose glasses from their moorings on her meagre bosom and, adjusting them, read slowly aloud: PLACE YOUR BETS ON MARCIA TOWE™ FOR THE BIG RACE STOP [ GOT HER GENTLED AND SHE LIKES IT STOP FOR THE LOVE OF PETE GET THE PAPERS TO STOP SQUAWKING AND KEEP BUCKING REPORTERS OFF OUR RANGE UNTII THE HONEYMOON IS OVER ITS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS YOU ADVISED MY KIDNAPPING HER THANKS JACK “What,”" began my aunt looking at me severely over the top of her glass- es, “what an extraordinary message! Aunt Have you been betting on horses,’ Christophine?”” “And am I to understand,”” the professor added, “that vou actually advised this kidnapping ™’ “I'mafraid I did,” I admitted, “*but at the time neither I nor the person |1 gave the advice to had any idea of what we'd started' Let’s see if there 1s anvthing in the newspaper.” There was. The headlines pro- claimed the good news about Marcia n no uncertain terms. and the mean- g of the Japanese servant's reply to my wire hecame clear. Jack had been “completely gone” because he'd car- ried Marcia away into the wilderness of his vast ranch and kept her there until she was willing to have him send sixty miles on horseback for a minister to marry them. They hadn’t had any radio or newspaper in camp, and Jack hadn't known of the search for her until he sent for the parson It was after | had gone to bed and lav between the lavender-scented sheets that 1 began to realize what this sudden change in the situation meant to me. Of course | was terribly ¢lad that Marcia and Jack were mar- ried. 1 knew that Jack was undoubt- 2dly one of the happiest men in the world, and that the two of them would in all likelihood fight away contentedly tor the rest of their lives But their marnage also meant that I'd made a tremendous sacrifice for nothing. I had driven the only man | had ever loved, or ever could love, away from me on Marcia's account, And now he was gone, and she hadn’t really wanted him after all. It was hard to swallow without choking a little, but the long trip and the sud- den let-down brought by the even- ing’s news had been exhausting, and almost as soon as | had decided that 1 would not be able to sleep a wink all night, I found it was late morning and that a flood of spring sunshine was pouring into my room 1 would barely have time to make my appointment at Althea Inc., I dis- covered, and, jumping out of bed, made a toilet which would have aroused envy in the most expert ot quick dressing school-boys. On my way into the city, I began to realize that 1 had not mapped out any program for my interview. But by now I did not much care what the result of it would be. I'd lost my joh, and I might not get it back because, although the threat ol scandal was over, there still remained my un- deniable failure at Pittshurgh, which would be hard to explain away. Also, I had that wretched pendant in my purse, having dislodged it the night before with the intention of showing it to my aunt, and worst of all I had lost Mario. I was in a far from cheer- ful mood as I crossed the Charles River on the.Harvard Bridge and. turning off Massachusetts Avenue at Washington, headed into that amaz- THIS WEEK Christophine Discovers America Conziinued from preceding page ing mixture of cedately old and start- lingly new which is business Boston The feeling of home-coming in- creased as | drove along | had cut a wide swath through these, our United States. but here 1 was, at the cradie of a considerable portion of that great civilization which had been unfolding before me during the past few weeks. Boston is one of the important sources from which has emanated those ideals which have grown into magnificent, practical proportions throughout the length and breadth of the land. The town seemed to me to have the quali- ties of a Grand Dame who, despite the elegance and historic importance of her background, has kept abreast of the times and is aware of the future. The city had an indescribable dignity and a calm bheauty which eased my soul, even though 1 was far from happy The building in which the Althea offices were situated stood on Wash- ington near Summer street. With some difficulty, I managed to find a spot to park my car and then, very slowly, for 1 hated to part with thc flowery lady whose name had headed such a nice credit-sheet for me, | went to turn in my last Althea report at her local shrine The rooms were dazzlingly modern. equipped with chromium furniture, uphoistered in turquoise. And in sharp contrast, the reception clerk was a middle-aged woman, very severe- looking and without any make-up on her face. I gave my name. Her expression instantly became even more disapproving. “Wait here a moment,” she commanded, and vanished into the inner offices. I paced back and forth. After what seemed an interminable period, she came hack and sniffed the information that I was to go in. The manager’s office was the one at the end of the corridor, she added, with an air of explaining something that anybody but a fool would know for herselt. 1 opened the door behind the desk and started down a long corridor lined with busy offices and scented with the familiar fragrance which | had carried Falcon Castle Continued from page twelve week. That's nearly seventy dollars in vour money."’ I agreed that the offer did sound a handsome one. ““More than the place is worth, if | may say so!” added Mr. Barnett genially. “Who is this friend of vours. Mr. Barnett?”’ 1 enquired 'l think vou said his name was Fletcher.” “Yes — he’s a stock-broker, and a very wealthy man.” Mr. Barnett carefully lit a cigarette. “‘Look here —- what does your lawver know about Highland properties? Believe me, it's going to be to your advantage to hold up the sale until next year. Suppose we say fifteen guineas a week? That's nearly ninety dollars. My friend Fletcher won’t object.” He lay back in his chair and smiled. *‘Shall we make it a round figure — and call it a hundred? It's big money, Mr. Irvine, big money."” “It's so big, Mr. Barnett,” I said slowly, *“‘that I can hardly believe it. But | promise you I'll give it careful thought.”” And then I looked him straight in the eye. ““Have vou ever heard of anybody called Mr. Paul?” The man in the other chair did not move a muscle. “‘Paul? No, I've never heard of him. Why do you ask?” “Mis¢ Paradene mentioned his name,” | replied cautiously *“You mean this Mr. Paul is after Falcon Castle, too?"" He gave me a quick glance. “Something of the kind might be in the wind,” 1 said guardedly. “I wondered if you knew anything ahout him." “How should 1?”” He gave a shrug. ‘I know nothing about Miss Paradene — or her friends.”” His wide blue eyes were so guileless that I could hardly believe he was lying to me. And vet, had I not followed Lucille Paradene here during the night? Mr. Barnett stroked his chin thoughtfully. ““Since someone else is in the market for Falcon Castle —"' *I didn’t say there was,” I put in hastily. “Anyhow, Mr. Irvine, 1 hope you will give me another chance to come to terms."” I wished him good morning, and made my way back across the hillside in a very puzzled frame of mind. Was it possible that this man knew nothing about the murder of Mr. Paul? Had Lucille Paradene kept the fact from him on her visit during the night? I could hardly credit it, and indeed 1 was inclined to think that both of them knew a great deal more about the murder than I did. Far from my visit to Mr. Barnett having helped to clear matters up, it left me in an even thicker mist of doubt. There was one thing upon which I was now deter- mned-—namely, | woulddoeverything 1 could to bring the police upon the scene at the earliest possible moment. At the end of luncheon. I called Dunstan to the library, and asked him what was the nearest house to us in the opposite direction from Falcon Lodge. ““There’s the Falcon Inn, sir,” he replied. ““It’s a little hotel up at the head of the glen — ahout three miles away.” ‘‘Have they a telephone?’’ 1 asked, and he shook his head. I continued, “Do you think it possible that the road has been cleared as far as that point?”’ *“I doubt it, sir,” reply. *“l intend to find out,” I told him firmly. ““If I keep up on the hillside where the snow isn’t too deep, could I reach the Inn on foot?” “lI wouldn't attempt it, sir,” said Dunstan, shaking his head. “There’s a stream to cross. and the bridge will be blocked." In spite of the old man's fears for my safety. I got ready to set out shortly after two o’clock. The back door key was in my pocket, and I told Dunstan that, since I might not be home until late, he was to go off to bed at the usual hour. It was fairly easy going for the first half-mile along the hillside, and then I had to mount to higher ground to find a passage through the snow. Soon I came to the stream Dunstan had mentioned, but I could see no sign of a bridge. However, I managed to cross the water on some stones, and dis- covered that 1 had to climb still higher if I were to make more progress. The scene was extraordinarily lovely, with the afternoon sunshine glittering on the mountains in the south with their dark ridges from which the wind had whipped the snow like vultures pick- ing the flesh from bones. After a brief rest, I went on again, and was round- ing the shoulder of a tiny pine-clad hill when | saw a figure moving above me. I drew to a halt and watched the man as he climbed up towards a little pine wood. He had not caught sight of me, for he did not slacken his stride, and I wondered who he was and where he had come from. Pres- ently he disappeared from my view. He might nave been a hill shepherd looking for stray sheep, I thought, and 1 began to wish I had done something to attract his attention. Putting on a spurt, I rounded the shoulder of the hill, and, coming upon his tracks in the snow, I followed them up to the pine trees. Of a sudden I caught sight of him at the further margin of the wood, and something made me stop short and watch him. I saw that he was certainly not a shepherd. He wore a waterproof coat and a colored scarf, and he had a brown tweed cap. But what made me stare at him in wonder was his attitude. He stood beside a clump of gorse, and through a pair of field- glasses he was intently looking down at Falcon Castle. (To Be Continued Next Week) was Dunstan’s ” up and down the continent. The door at the end was marked “Private,” and I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten to ask the manager’s name. But as it seemed rather silly to go back now and ask, I knocked. A voice called, “Come in!” 1 obeyed, to find myself standing face to face with Mario di Rigoni! “Good morning!’ he said cheer- fully. “It’s a lovely morning, isn't it? I hope you'll agree with me — because 1 hope you are speaking to me.” “Did you know I was coming here?"’ I asked faintly. “I did,” he admitted “How did you find out?"” *I made it my business to find out,” said he. “Won't you sit down?" “I'd better,” said I, “before I fall down. Why didn’t you answer my telegram?”’ “But 1 did,”” he cried. *'l wired you at Buffalo.” Apparently I had missed the wire there, and, unlike Jack’s message, it had not been forwarded. “But surely you could have an- swered me before then,” I objected. “I was in trouble ” “But it's all over now,”” softly. I avoided his eyes. “There is something else,”” 1 said in a low tone. “It's wonderful about Marcia of course and a great relief. But you don’t understand —”’ I broke off abruptly. How, after all, could 1 explain? On impulse I opened my purse and, taking out the ruby pendant, I laid it on the desk before him. “I've had this,”” 1 said chokingly, ‘“‘ever since I left New Orleans, but I didn’t steal it.” There was a long silence while he stared at the jewel. Then he tossed it in the air and then, catching it, threw it into the waste basket. “What on earth are you doing?’’ 1 cried. “Getting rid of my family tradi- tions,”” he answered, with a grin. “That piece of trash served its pur- pose. You see, the police are not nearly so dumb as they’'re sometimes given credit for being. They dug up the fact that my so-and-so of an aunt had got rid of three of these priceless jewels in as many years. One in Lon- don and one in Paris. The original i¢ still in Rome and can stay there for all I care!” “Do you actually mean she’s been trading in them?” | gasped. “Pretty good trading, too,”” he snorted, ‘‘considering they cost her only about ten dollars a copy. But the trick helped me a lot.”’ *‘Helped you?" I echoed. He drew his chair closer and spoke very earnestly. “Helped me to see what a nut I've been. Helped to show me where I belong and what a phoney 1 nearly became. Those people may be my blood relations, Chris, but after all I wasn’t born inOmaha, Nebraska, for nothing. Maybe you'll be in- terested to know that I’ve applied for my first papers just to make certain, and that you’re sitting opposite to what will one day be an American citizen.” As I said nothing, he went on after a moment. “As a matter of fact,” he eaid humbly, “I did get your wire quite a while before 1 answered it. You see, Chris, I didn’t want to come around any more until I was to be a citizen and until I had a job. Then the very minute I got both of those little things all set, I sent for you.” I looked at him, startled. He stood up, and his eyes came to life in that wonderful, tender way they had of lighting his whole face when he let the barriers down. “You sent for me?” “When?"’ ““When | fired you,”” he amended. “Who the hell do you think is the manager here, anyhow?”’ “Oh!" I cried hysterically, “so it was you who fired me, was it — and why, may I ask?” “Because I've got another job for you,” he said, coming nearer, you know perfectly well what it is!” “Mario!” 1 breathed. ‘“Oh, my dear, I do. I do, Mario!”’ “Aw, go on!' he smiled, holding out his arms. “Call me Bill!" The End said he, I asked. “and - 'AMERICAN RADIATOR HEATING SYSTEM @ Now, You Can Buy Heating in One Complete Scientifically Installed System and Get All 3 Essentials to Modern Comfort withthe /}/ S AK RADIRTOR g Syiord N()W you can huy heating—just as you bought your automobile— delivered complete, ready for opera- tion, backed by the undivided respon- sibility of American Radiator Com- pany for every component part. You can have the three essentials of mod- ern comfort-—radiator hest, controlled heat distribution and ine pensive do- mestic hot water suppl complete scientific the New American Ra or Heating Systems. Your own heating contractor can make the installation in your present home without down payment with as long as three years to pay at government-approved low rates. Ask your Heating Contractor to tell you how little it costs; or write to- day for booklet. Read These Easy Rules: ' To introdnee New American Radiator ® Heating Systems, we will give away abso lutely rm uuln week until further notice, . w u o p n employees o \nu-rk an I( -nmllu. ia their advertising agents, aml theie families. ca letter of 200 wonds or less on 1 Want An American Radiator stene.”” Nign it with your nanwe and address i 3 Letters will e judged solely on their ® clearness, sincerity and interest, aml the ||:rlu- will he awarded for the most convineing MLer. ‘ Mail your letter o the Contest Editor, ® American u..n.mr ('nmunuv 43 Woest 4uth Street, New York, Y. \uut fetter must be mflv«! hy ws befose ® 12 noon Thursday to be eligible for the same week. fotters received after mu ime ontered for the following we lmly one mm from each home ow 6 of the judges final, In case of a b ll- lhmlulu- prizses will he awarded. All Jetters submitted become the prop- ® erty of American Radiator Company for such use as muy be determined by it, Prize winuers will be announced each Sutday Dight over the WEAF-NBC Red Network at 7:30 pm, EDST Special Gift for Every Contestant! * AMERICAN RADIATOR COMPANY 43 West 40th Street, New York, N. Y. Division of l AMERICAN RARIATCS & STANDARD SANITARY CQRPORATION | rTune in on the Fireside Recital Every Sunday | Might,7:30P.M. E.D.5.7.— WEAF—-NBC Netwerk Good fiction and in- teresting articles keep THIS WEEK in the home long after the date on the cover has been forgotten. This long— and useful —life multi- plies advertising value. Advertising Office: 420 LEXINGTON AVENUE NEW YORK CITY NOW I EAT HOT DOGS Upset Stomach Goes in Jiffy with Bell-ans | ! | BELL-ANS) FOR INDIGESTION l:..a | Mot waer Sure Reliel