New Britain Herald Newspaper, January 29, 1929, Page 11

——" = = —— ] —_— — THIS HAS HAPPENED Ashtoreth and Hollis Hart are newlyweds, honeymooning in Paris. Ashtoreth is rarely beautiful, and Hollls is extraordinarily rich. He calls her “Orchid” because she re- minds him of that lovely flower. But happiness secms, somehow, to have eluded them. nographer in Hart's employ. She is vears younger than he, and he idol- izeg her youth and beauty. In Paris she meets an old sweet- heart, Monty English, who has gone io France to sell radios for his rm. Monty is young and Monty is handsome. But he is distressingly poer, and Ashtoreth gapldn’t see him at all. He treats her rather coldly, but t is apparent that he is still in love with her. Hollls devotes himself to tennis and the collection of antiqui- tes, Both pursuits bore Ashtoreth to tears. When he is not at the courts, or browsing about in old shops, he ! makes tender love to his little bride. And that also bores her. Annoys might be a better word. She has discovered that be has two front teeth that come out on little swiv- | els, gnd that spells the end of ro-| manee. She invites Monty to have dinner with them and contrives to see him on several occasions, though Monty tries to discourage it. On their last day in Paris she has luncheon with Monty at Jack's. Ha tells her frankly that he doesn’t want to see her again. NOW GO ON WJTH THE STORY CHAPTER XLVI “ollts must have eoncluded his sc'wag some time that afternoon, ~41s= when Ashtoreth returned at r o'cleck from luncheon their wis deserted. 3 looked on her dressing ta- for the customary note. If Hollls as much as wandered down + 19 the bar, he was sure to leave a message. Weighted with a crys- tal bottle, or an onyx jar. Or stuck, maybe, in the corner of her mirror. . . . "Beloved, you. Beeking lquid Return in 10 minutes. Will you fearfully. Your adoring hus- band.” . . . Silly little notes, fuil of crazy protestations. She would find them on her pillow mornings, it he went out before she awoke. .« . “Angel, you vour cheeks. I go to choose flow- ers for your breakfast tray.” She had given Mogg the after. | noon. Probably Hollis had en-| trusted a message to her, and the | stupld creature had forgotten to, leave word. She lifted things on her dressing table, poking about. £he looked under her pillow, and on Hollis’ chauffeur. . . . Maybe Y}~ was cross because she lunched | with Monty. But he told her to. He Wad been perfectly ,leas it about it. Wall, if he was angry. he eould stay angry. The {dea! She opened her bag. Petit “THE BLACK PIGEON” As they gathered around the murdered man, an eerie sound came from the window. Satan, the black pigeon, was trying to get in the room. : - Before their | marriage Ashtoreth has been a ste- | I adore | refreshment. | miss | look like a ma- | donna with your eyelashes kissing | — S - ————3 | there, because —_—— P — — Y — sa& —— point, with an old gold clasp, ~et with emeralds. It was stuffed with francs. She would walk along rue Sainte Honore, out to the Tauborg, and look in the windows of all those adorable little shops. They were sure to be full of entrancing things. 8he'd get a quilted bed jacket for Maizie. And some of that gleaming Russian jewelry for Sadie. Sadie would adore those ankle bangles, and the long, drip- py ear rings. If she didn't have enough money, she could have them sent collect to the hotel. Hollis wouldn't mind. But it would serve him right, if he did. Her last afteracon in Paris! Ani he'd gone off, without a word. ‘When she returned, back. And Hollis had leaving word that he had been layed. It was seven o'clock. “I'll wait half an hour,” she decided, “and it he isn't in then, I'll have dinner by myself.” She would go to Maxim's, be- cause she enjoyed watching French girls. They fascinated her. Hollis didn't like to take her he said she stared Mogg was telephoned, de- outrageously, At half past seven, Ashtoreth put on dark clothes, and a small felt hat. She had heard that wo- men were not admitted alone. But that of course was nonsense. American girls go everywhere. With well bred nonchalance, they crash the gilded gates of the lest and the worst places in Paris. “I'll stroll right in,” she d»>- cided. “They won’t dare say any- thing.” Bo she took a taxi, and was de- posited at Maxim's, along with a few American tourists, and two dubjously attractive ladies, who arrived simuitaneousty, She fol- lowed on the heels of the touri leaving the cocottes (for they were) standing on the walk, waiting an auspicious ment to ask some man to them in She sat at a small table near the door, where she could best see sin in action. It wasn't as ex citing @s she expected. The ladiés of the boulevards, sitting in groups, ordered drinks, and chat- ted together, quite like women anywhere. The American tour- ists looked at them shyly, and made comments behind their hands. There was not a woman ther who lnoked “fast,” in the Ameri- tan sense. Ashtoreth wondered if any of them were war widows, and it they had children, no- 8he ordered a filet of sole with wine sauce and was waiting for it when she was conscious of someone standing at her elbow. “Ashtoreth! What, in the name of all that's holy, are you doing here?” = = take | S = e It was Monty. “Oh, hello, Monty." elaborately casual. 8it won't you? I'm all alone.” “So 1 noticed. What's the idea?" “My husband had an engage- ment,” she lied glibly. “And he just parked me here for a while. | He's coming back later. We'lt | have dinner together. Hollis can't be here for an hour.” He drew out a chair, and let her order for him, supplementing | her suzgestions with a bottle of champagne. “You shouldn't ! without champagne, ashamed of you!" They toasted each other gaily. “Here's to the maiden of bash. ful fifteen; Here's to the widow of fifty; Here's to tha flaunting, extrav- agant queen, And here's to the that's thrifty! Let the toast pass; Drink to the lass; “¥1l warrant she'll prove an ex- cuse for the glass. . . . You're the fiaunting extravagant queen, Ash.” “That's all right,” she reterted. “I'm married to the king." Monty grew serious. “He is a prince, you know, Ash. T don't believe you half appreciate him.” “Oh, “There t; Two down, big ever eat sole Ash. I'm housewife ves, T do,”” she protested. just one little thing, Mon- little things, I ehoull say.” . . . She leaned toward him, |and the sparkling champ.igne made her eyes dance. She laughed | softly. TIrresistibly. “False teeth!" | she giggled. “Two of them. On {swivels. He takes them out nights.” | Monty regarded her severely. “I wouldn't tell anyone !you,” she assured him. “Well, that's nice of you, sure. Listen to my words of wis- dom, young woman. If your hus. {hand had a toupee and a wooden (leg and a glass eye, he'd still be aces with me, And you'd be a darn lucky girl, at that.” “Well, it's not very romantic,” she demurred, thinking of the teeth. She believed that was why Hollis was always up first in the | morning. Probably he kept them in |a glass in the bathroom. | At 10 o'clock she pretended to look about for Hollis, and watched the door, as though expecting him. “What are you doing tonight, Montg 2" "Going to bed,” he told her. | “Went out on a bender last night, tand I'm not feeling so hot.” hen suppose you take home,” she proposed. “We leave a message here for I'm tired myselt.” but T'm me can Holly. She was beginning to be a little nervous. Hollis had surely returned, and was probably frightened to death. Well, it would serve him right. Just the mame, she had bet- ter be going. He was crasy about her, really. It would not de to frighten him too much. But Hollls was not they aprived. “Come up,” she invited Monty. “It's perfectly respectable. We have & drawing room.’ thanks. I'll be toddling along. See you in Boston some time.” He declined shortly. “No *“Oh, please come, Monty, . . . Listen, I'll tell you something. 1t wasn't true that I was expecting Holly at Maxim's. I don't know where he is. I went there alone, because he didn't come home to dinner. He went out this after- noon, while I was lunching with you. He didn’t leave any mes- sage or anything. And I haven't seen him since.” Monty whistled. “Was he sore because you met me?" “Oh, no, No, that wasp't it. We haven't quarreled. In fact, ¥ think he probably left a note for me when he went out, but Mogg was cleaning, and she's the most thorough thing you ever saw. Sweeps everything up, just like a whirlwind. Holly's poor note must have gone the way of all tissue. I've no doubt he's tried to reach me a dozen times by tele- yhone, but you know yourself how these French people are about get- ting messages. 1 assure you, Monty, there's nothing wrong. Only I'm just a little nervous. And T would appreciate it it you'd stay with me.” Monty considered his hat (it was one of those light gray ones—al- most white) and flecked an im. aginary speck from its spotless rim. He ‘was plainly embarrassed. “Gosh, Ash! TI'd rather nct go up to your rooms. Don't you see how it 18? Let's sit down here in the lobby.” Ashtoreth's color rose hotly. “You're the most provincial creature,” she told him angrily. “No, I shan’t sit in any old lobby. Go ahead, it you want. Go home, and say your prayers, and ask God to keep you a good, circumspect little boy. Go on" She flounced off. Then turned on her heel with another little ad. monition. * “Go to the manded tersely. He stood there until she had steppe? iInto the lift, and was whisked away. The lift, he no- ticed, was like a golden cage. And the thought flashed through his mind that Ashtoreth was a captive girl in a golden cage. Monty was not imaginative, nor particularly sentimental. He shrugged, and pulling his smart hat over his eyes. stopped a taxi and returned to his pension. there when devil!” she com- Some time after midnight, he was startled by a patter of small stones on his window. He woke in- stantly. With a sort of clairvoyant sense, h'e knew that Ashtoreth -vas Insignificant as the incident appeared at the time, it was nevertheless the most important clew to the murder of Harry Borden. For the black pigeon gave the police a new angle to work on. If you are looking for a good old-fashioned thrill, by all means read “The Black Pigeon,” Anne Austin’s great mystery serial. Follow every installment. See if you can work out the solution to this baffling mystery. It starts Wednesday, January 30, ln NEW BRITAIN HERALD in the garden, throw pebbl rouse him. 8o sure was his convic- tion, that he did not pause to look. tut alipped into his dressing gown and hurried down stairs As he stepped through the wicket into the garden, she came toward him. She was wearing & long dark wrap, and pumps Wwith rhinestone heels. She looked frightened and dis- tressed, and came to him with outstretched hands. “You'll catch cold,” he told her coolly, quite as though he wcre vsed to visits from beautiful girls| who eame at midnight, to throw pebbles at his' window. “Go up- stairs, and I will call Madame.” “It's about Holly!” she cried. “He hasn’t come home yet. Monty took her arm sternly. “Go in the house.” “Don’t be cross!” she and caught his wrist begged, with her hand. “I woke up, and when Hol- | lis wasn't there, I was so fright- ened. 1 didn't wait to dress. 1 didn't think, Monty. I only threw on a wrap, and came straight to you.” He led her down the little flagged walk and into the house. “Wait in my room,” manded. “I'll be there, as soon as I can rouse Madame.” | thing. | street, and the sound of a car with | horrid clattering he com. | | They heard her She stumbled up the dark stairs. There was a feeble moon, shining whitely and the room was full of shadows. Dark, hateful shadows. And a great ugly wardrobe. She bumped her knee on the thing, and tripped, falling against the bed. It wag Boft and warm, and smelled faintly of tobacco. 8he sat on the edge and waited. Her heart was pounding wildly. In a moment rying a candle, with his hand. How handsome he looks, thought Ashtoreth. But she was trembling too violently to say any- There were voices on the Monty came car- which he shaded engine running madly. shook Then a the little house. “That's the sort of knocker we have!” whispered Monty. “Maybe It will wake Madame. T couldn't.” It must have been an iron knocker, at the very lcast. It shook the bricks, and beams of wood. And flakes of mortar came tumbling down from the walls. “It would rouse the dcad,” shuddered Ashtoreth. Then they heard Madama Dreathing loudly, in the next room. plant heavy feet on the floor, and they heard the T bed creak. 8he struck a match | 3 and lighted her candle. And, e complaining, descended the stairs. Avoid French Taxes Monty went to the door, and.| Paria Jan. 39 opening it, listened to the conm- !lhylu at the head versation in the hall below. After | every person whe a moment, he turned quietly to in France. The Ashtoreth. been asked to abol “It's your husband,” Wary U. 8. T (TO BE CONTINUED) What does Hollis say? And Ash- | {torcth? Tragedy seems in for Hoilis' “Orchid.” [ for prosperity, land at Antwerp, |New Mexican Tax Law |Hamburg and English and Jtalas . | po because the ob, Threatens Oil Fields | Ix. ~ b S Mexico City, Jan. 29 P —E) Uni--; versal said today tl.at complete paralyzation of oil fields in the state | of Vera Cruz had been threatened I'by oil interes in protest against a | state law. The law became effective | | January 17. | The law imposes a new local tax | of 15 per cent on royalties to land Jsvlr(acc owners, on deals transferring | | rights, on option contracts entered iimo before January 17, and on amounts due for transfers of explor- ation and exploitation rights, The newspaper said oil interests (had decided to oppose the law by al legal means and to resort to com- plete stoppage if necessary, NSRRI O How to Avele INFLUENZA W\ N\ N N\ \ W AN Q\\\ Now you can own a radio and enjoy all the music of the air. 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