The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 15, 1904, Page 4

THE SAN FRANCISCO SUNDRY CALL. to see that the Ameriean was not lost sight of—wherever he might go after failing at Breslau. In such haste was Laura Metcalf to withdraw her indorsement of Delaval that they were soon at ¢he door of the Von Lindberg mansion—an old six- teenth-century building flush with the street, and nestling against the more imposing structure in which the impe- rial visitore were to be lodged on the merrow. Fortescue followed to the irawing-room, where Lady Metcalf and r hostess were sitting, but on his beginring to pay his respects to the with ‘whom he was already Laura's impetuosity cut I fisd that 1 have done the most dreadful thing, dear Baropess,” she ried. You mustn't on any &ccount ow that American to stay in your ouse on the strength of Captain Du- browski's name, or the captain will be in an awful pickle. It is quite on the cards that the man is an 1mpostor, or something worse, and I ought never to have suaded you to take him in.” The Baroness- faded lady with lymphatic blue eves and a nervous af- that was almest 8t. Vitus' rted up in much trepidation. t he has already arrived!” she ex- aimed. “He is now upstairs, attend- ing to his luggage, which has just come the station on a handeart. He brought two great portmanteaus, ind must mean to stay a month.” He won't stay a single hour,” said ss Metcalf with decision. *“Forgive Baroness, but I brought this on you, and 1 am going to get you out of Will you kindly ring at once and send for Colonel Delaval.” I reckon you've no call to do that, Delaval stands right —at your service,” said a voice at the door, and amid gasps from the two elder ladies, Laura turned to face the subject ¢f her une ortescue did he heid himself in readiness. There was an igly grin on the man's face whi¢h he 1 not like. The American looked as If expected trouble and was prepared et it with bravado and perhaps It was the grin of a savage Gog threatened with the stick by a stranger But Laura was too intent on her pur- o heed his looks. She meant to rid of hi lly if she could; if as she mentally told herself, “he 1st have the other thing.” She began sweetly enough: “Oh, how you do, Colonel Delaval. You are a d of Captain Boris Dubrowski, are not? ris and T are like brothers,” was ply, uttered with no relaxation of revious manner. ‘Well, then,” proceeded Laura, “you are probably aware that he is to marry Mademoiselle Vassill. She is my dear est friend, and naturally I take a great nterest in her future husband. I have been told by an experienced person—a person of the greatest experience in the orld” (Delava! here transferred his to Fortescue, with a touch of in- ¥), “that he will get into trouble ou stay here on the strength of his juaintance. Of course, it's only silly ssian twaddle, but there's no getting away frem it. It's horrid to have to ask you—epecially a friend of his, you know—but couldn't you relleve us of vour—of our anxieties, I mean? There's the Goldne Gans, or they might take you in at the Nord.” scue, watching closely, had no- ticed a change come over Delaval's counterance as he understood what wag required of him. The smile re- m ed, but the danger signal had dis- appeared, leaving only an amused tol- erance for girlish ignorance. The young attache was puzzled by this ob- vious scoundrel’s freedcm from annoy- ance at an enforced change of pro- gramme. Pray, don’t say another word; 1 wouldn't discommode ladies to double my dollars,” the American replied. “If the Baroness will kindly have & cab called, I guess I'll ciear in a brace of shakes. I den't think a tall heap of your reasons for asking me to quit, but that don’t count. I am sorry to have intruded, and I bid you all good-day.” How's that for tact? Shan't I make an Al embassadress?” cried . Laura, turning to the others when the door had closed on him. But only her mother heard her, for Fortescue was speaking in a low tone to the Baroness, who had just rung for a servant. ‘Two portmanteaus, I think you said? Thank vou. It may be as well to verify their departure,” was his comment, wholly incomprehansible to the Baroness, on her reply to his ques- tion. And he stationed himself at a window, whence a few minutes later he watched the American superintending the bestowal of hie two portmanteaus in the cab which had been summoned. At the same time he caught a glimpse * Inspector Melton, driving slowly by A a second cab which quickened its pace in pursuit as the first, bearing De- laval, drove away. “Good! He will be well lpoked after, but it will be only fair to'Volborth to post him on what has happened,” said Fortescue to himself, as he turned“to make himself agreeable to the ladfes. But as soon as he conveniently could he took his leave and retraced his steps to the hotel. Volborth, however, had not returned, and he sat down to walit, after ascertaining that “Herr Winckel"” had engaged a room and was expected back to dinner. Miss. Colonel move a violence. CHAPTER VL “LEFT LUGGAGE.” The Imperial Russian visitors were due to arrive at Breslau at 9 o'clock on the following morning, and in order to be up betimes and enjoy the advantage which their windows gave them of viewing the spectacle the Baroness von Lindberg and her guests retired early. Truth to say, the three women spent rather a dull evening, for Lady Met- calf, who was a stickler for the pro- prieties, was not overpleased with the part played by her headstrong daugh- ter in deallng with the supposed Amer-* jean millionaire. It savored a little too much of free-and-easiness to suit old- fashioned nctions, And the Barone though too fond of Laura, whom she had known from childhood, to be of- fended, had received an unpleasant shock to her nerves. The culprit herself, conscious of hav- ing “done her best to get Ilma’s young man out of the scrave,” entered her bedroom with a cheery smile at the prospect of seeing her beautiful Rus- slan friend, if only fer a few minutes, on the morrow. Her health and tem- per were too sound to let her trouble about Lady Metcalf's frigid looks, and having no nerves to speak of herseif ghe had failed to notice the shaken cendition of her hostess. She was a ittle disappointed that her lover had not looked In to coffee, as he had half promised, but even on that score her mental balance was proof against irri- tation. “Mother is a little starchy to-night, but she'll be all right by morning. And as fof Spencer, I suppese he's worrying round with some of those German po- tentates. He will get on—that youth --if he sticks to business so tight.” Having thus summed up the deficien- cies of the evening, Laura dismissed them from her mind, and, exchanging her dinner dress for a dressing-gown, sat down for half an hour cver a novei before getting into bed. The name of that author, so far as these records are concerned, has not been preserved, but he would be a proud man did he know that he was the direct cause of this particular “dear reader” getting her chance as a very practical sort of hercine. So absorbing was the book that the half hour was multiplied by four be- fore Laura put it down—to find that it was past twelve, and also that she was singularly wakeful. Whether it was that the exciting Incidents in the novel had fired her imagination, or that some hidden power was leading this plain- epoken, open-hearted English girl into the thick of as dangerous a plot as was ever hatched in Europe, the effect was the same. She fell to thinking—collo- quially, as was her habit—of the Yank whom she had chucked out,” and from thinking she got to wondering whether he might not really have been “up to no good.” “He didn’t look like a nice man, yet he took his gruel very kindly,” she mused. “It almost seemed as Iif he didn't mind going a bit. Can it have been because he had done the trick, whatever it wae, already, and was glad of the reason for getting away? Per- haps 1 saved him from having to hatch up an excuse of his cwn.” And then she recalled the unwonted gravity of Fortescue's manner toward her when he suggested the possible re- sults of allowing Delaval to remain at the Von Lindberg mansion. * ‘Leaving aside the question of out- rages,’ were the words with which Spencer began his homily,” she said to herself. “That's diplumatic for meaning that an outrage was just what he expected, for my coming embassa- dor simply reeks of caution. Let me see; the Yank was alone in his bed- room for over half an hour. I think T'll have a private Guy Faux inspection before I go to bed.” Quietly cpening the door, she stepped out into the pasage and stood Iistening. Not a sound was to be heard, and be- yond the range of the wax candle which she had taken from her dressing- table everything was in darkness. The house was an oblong block, with no intricate windings, and she knew just where to find the rocm that had been allotted to the American—at the end of the passage farthest from her own. With Laura Metealf to decide was to act, and half a minute later she stood in the center of Colonel Delaval's de- serted apartment, holding her candle high over her head. After the first glance round, which revealed ncthing but ancient furniture, faded hangings, and a huge canopied bed, Laura nearly laughed aloud at the thought that she really did not know what she had expected to find. The room had evidently been tidied up since its brief occupation. This was an oper- ation which the temporary guest would certainly have foreseen, and however sinister his designs, he would ‘hardly have left what Laura thought of as “gunpowder and things"” strewn about to be swept up by the impending house- maid. It did not appear that he had left so much as a hairbrush. The wall adjoining the Tsar's lodgings was sol- idly, intact, and obviously no attempt had been made to burrow through the gloomy fireplace in the middle of it. Having come so far, Laura was not the girl to go back without a thorough search, and it was not till she had woked under the bed, opened a worm- eaten clothes press, and tried all the drawers that she stcod taking a last look round preparatory to departure. And then, suddenly, in the stiliness of the night, an unexplained sound fell up- on her ears. Bomewhere close at hand a clock was ticking faintly, yet in the room no timepiece of any kind was visible. The absence of a clock she had al- ready noticed, but she verified it by an- other tour round the furniture, and then stood still again to listen. There was no doubt about it—somewhere within a few feet of her clockwork was in motion. In that deathly stillness the regular tick-tack was distinctly audi- ble, though in the day time, with the traffic rolling outside, it would have ssed unnoticed. So dull and muffled the sound that it was only- by changing her position several times that she was at all able to locate its direction, and when she did fix the spot where she heard it loudest there was nothing to account for it, If there could be such a thing as the ghost of a clock she would have imagined that there was one ticking spectrally on the mantelpiece over the great cavernous fireplace. And then a flash of eplightenment came to her, The clock was up the chimney! For the first time In her life her knees trembled a- little—not at the quick suggestion of an infernal machine but at the sudden importance her mid- night excursion had reaily assumed. The feeling did not deter her from prompt action. In a moment she was kneeling before the grate and peering up the chimney by the light of her can- dle at a portmanteau, a size smaller than those which Deiaval had taken away, jammed about three feet up. Louder and clearer now she could hear the ticking—undoubtedly from the in- terior of the portmanteau, Laura's first instinct on rising was to alarm the house and leave the respon- sibility of subsequent action with the Jaroness von Lindberg, whose plain courge it would be'to send for the police and have the cminous obstruction re- moved frem the chimndy before the Tsar's arrival next door. This duty the pulice would be sure to supplement by diligent inquiries after the Baron- esg's late guest,~and Laura at once grasped the terrible significance which her discovery wou'd have for Iima Vas- sili. In self-pfgtection, if not for the sake of truth aRfl justice, the Baroness weuld have to say that Delaval gained access to the house as a professed friend of Boris' Dubrowski. “That will never do,” she thought. “I must get the thing down myself rather than that. Perhaps I could take out the works and smuggle it away— after making it harmiess.” She sank down on her knees again and thrust her hand up the chimney, but though she could just touch the end of the portmanteau her arm was not long enough to get a grip on the thong- handle at the lower end. Once more she rose, this time nearly in despair. At the same time the cathedral clock led off the concert of chimes from Breslau's many churches announcing the hour of 1. In eight hours the Tsar and Tsarina would be refreshing themselves after their long journey on the other side of the wall. “I will not have, the police called. but 1 must have help,” she told herself. “It's a case for bribery and corruption, but whom can I find to corrupt at this time of night? I cannot fetch Spencer to help me. His career in the public service would be ruined if he were mixed up in this. Besides, the thing might go off.” She walked abstractedly to the win- dow, and drawing aside the curtain looked down into the silent street. The roadway was quite deserted, and the only pedestrian in sight on the pave- ment wag one of the guardians of the peace whom she wished to avoid..Stay, though! Surely! There was a man lea ing against the pedestal of the nearest of the gas clusters in front of the Stad- thaus, and he was watching the Von Lindberg mansion. Even as she looked he turned his head a little, and the rays from one of the lamps falling full on his face she recognized him at once as “Herr Winckel,” Spencer Fortescue’s German friend. pe “What on earth can he be doing there?” she murmured. “He must be using the lamp post as a stepping- stone to his hotel after dining too freely, 1 fear. But no! He is sober enough; he has seen me, and is looking up at the window. If only I felt sure that he was to be trusted.” She drew back a little, remembering that her candle made her as visible to the man below ag he was to her. Then with a quick impulse she went forward again and beckoned, pointing to the front door, and trying to indicate that she was coming down. Her gesture was acknowledged with a nod, and as she disappeared from the window she saw the midnight lounger quit his post of vantage. Two minutes later, after a struggle—as silent as she could make it —with the Baroness' bolts and bars, Laura was facing “Herr Winckel” on the doorstep. “If you are real friends with Mr. For- tescue I want your help,” she whis- pered. “It's nothing to do with him, but I'm engaged to him, you know, and if you do me a good turn you do him one, en?"” “To serve Mr. Fordescue will only lees bleasure be than tc serve his brom- ised wife,” replied Volborth. “Come In, then, and sten softly,” she whispered, closing the door, and lead- ing him into the dining-room, where she inspected him critically by the light of her candle. “I think you are strong enough,” she said, “but how about yocur pluck? I hope you are very brave.” “You try me and see. Germans is not gowards,” replied Volborth, tapping his chest. There was something quietly assured in the tone which, desuite his elderly make-up and fantastic English, won the girl's confidence, and she proceeded to take him at his word. It is doubtful if in all’ the great police agent's experi- ence he ever heard a communication that so astonished him. The revelation itself, though he was on the lookout for something of the kind, was sufficiently startling, but it was the manner in which it was made that nearly took his breath away. If this self-possessed G 5 | | | [ | young lady in the pretty pink dressing- gown had asked him to heip her down- stairs with a box of millinery she could not have shown less excitement. “There is an infernal machine in the chimney against the Stadthaus wall, and I can’t get it down,” she began. “If you will come up—you must take care not to wake anybody—perhaps yeu will be more successful. Your arms are longer than mine.” . “Ach! then yourself have tried?” said Voiborth, nearly forgetting his German-English in admiration. “How know you the machine to be infernal?” “Well, peonle don't shove portman- teaus with clocks in them up chimneys for ncthing—when there's a big-wig’ like the Tsar putting up on the other side,” said Laura, “I have seen and touched it, 1 tell you. “But this is an affair of the police. Why'you not them call?" ““Yes, you have a right to ask, but it's wasting a lot of time,” sighed Laura. “Becauge it must be kept dark, Herr Winckel,” she went on emphaticatly. “Russians are perfect beasts—all except one, possibly twoe—and for the sake of those two | want to prevent any nasty aneaks of Russian spies from poking thefr noses into the business. The man who put the portmanteau there got into the house by using the name of an oifi- cer who Is engaged to my dearest friend. Why, you heard me telling Spencer this afternoon. There would be the dickens to pay for Boris Du- browski If the Russian autnorities fer- reted it all out.” “‘Ach, yes, and I am to help you place cn the ferrets a muzzle,” sald Volborth with a’grim smile curling the corners of his mouth. “Lead on, Miss Metcalf. 1 come with you,” No more words passed between them till they stood before the fireplace in Delaval’'s room, when Volborth teok the candle from her and waited. “Well, why don't you go on?” said Lawra. “Don’t tell me you're going to funk, there's a dear soul.” ® “Yes, 1 vunk, as you call him, for yeu,” replied Volborth, wondering if all English girls were cast in this- mold. *You to the end of the house must go— var away. There may be accident.” For the first time Laura showed ex- citement, and it took the form of righteous indignation, “That's all tom- my!" she said, relapsing into her best emctional slang. ‘Do you think I've brought a nice old gentleman like you into a job of this kind to let you stand the racket by yourself? You may want a hand. Besides, if that thing bursts T expect it will be as bad at one end of the house as the other.” She had raised her voice a little, 'or it is probable that Volborth would have protested further. ~But for his own very different reasons he was as anx- jous as she was to remove the portman. teau secretly, and he feared that an argument with a lady of such spirit might arouse some light sleeper. Turn- ing away, he imperceptibly crossed himself and tackled his ‘task. For five minutes little else was to be seen of him but his back and legs and his left hand holding the candle. Laura remained by the bed, watching him, At last his body was very still, but af- ter a while it began to sway, then to sink downward, and one shoulder re- appeared. At this moment she heard him say— . “Take the candle. Itis caming down. I want both hands. She flew to his assistance, and gin- gerly and inch by inch he steered the heavy package down i{nto the grate. To 1ift it thence on to the hearth rug was comparatively easy. Neither® of the strangely assorted pair spoke a word, for each knew how much depended on the next few seconds. Volborth pro- duced a bufich of master-keys, and, the lock being of common make, he raised the lid at the third attempt, showing the interlor to be divided into a large and a small compartment. In the lat- ter the “works” of an American clock were ticking merrily in connection with a percussion attachment; the larger cothpartment was closely packed with squares of an opaque substance. Stilf in silence, Vilborth, after a keen scrutiny, placed his thumb under the percussion hammer, and with his other hand violently wrenched the mechan- ism out of gear, with the result that the hammer fel limp and harmless on his thumb. The spring-power being thus rendered useless, he removed the clockwork and shut down the lid, ris- ing immediately to face Laura with a smile of triumph. Now that the strain was over there were tears in her eyes. “Herr Winckel, I should like to kiss you,” she sald simiply, thereby occa- sioning Volborth one of the few re- morseful pangs he had ever feit. He hated to think that the effect of his “agsistance” would really be to thwart the very object which had prompted his fearless comrade in that deadly peril to call him to her aid. For, the moment he had heard from Fortescue, with whom he had dined, of Delaval's will- ing departure, he had suspected that some crime had been prepared which would renew his grip on Dubrowski. It LSO N SN SN Painting That Attracted Attention at HopKins i —_— % N the front page of The Sunday Call to-day is reproduced a pic- ture of Miss Ruby Sessions, which, though it was painted from life by Laura Prather of Oakland shortly before Miss Session's sudden and unfortunate death nearly two years ago, wag placed on view in the last spring exhibition of the Hopkins Art Association, just closed, and at- tracted more than passing attention. Miss Sessions, who was the only daughter of the well-known attorney, David R. Sessions, claims adjuster of the Southern Pacific Company, was one of the cleverest and most popular belles of the younger set in California society, an extremely winsome and at- tractive young lady, who had a host of personal and intimate friends in the most exclusive circles, and both herself and her family were making preparations to entertain extensively when she was taken suddenly ill and died quite unexpectedly. 1t was just at the time she was pre- paring for her formal debut that the picture exhibited at Hopkins was made by Miss Prather, and for deli- cacy of treatment and artistic finish was considered one of the prettiest ever made by that talented artist. It is for that reason that the picture is gepro- duced this week in The Sunday Call. was on that account that he had watched the house, intending to gain admission for the purpose of search on the first sign of life ‘n the morning. What had happened under cover of the night was better luck than he could have hoped for, as had he made the dis- covery himself in the light of day it would have been almost impossible to keep it secret. Yet, with Laura Met- calf’'s truthful eyés thanking him, the advantage, which none the less he meant to use ruthlessly, palled on him. “It is not the blace for gombliments,” he said, simulating a Teutonic rude- ness. “Of this box I shall dispose, if you will make light for me the stairs with the gandle.” The - journey to the front door was safely performed, Vclborth carrying the portmanteau. When he had passed in- to the shadows of the deserted street, after assuring her of his discretion, Laura replaced the fastenings and re- turned to her room. In ten minutes she was spund asieep, dreaming of a gorgeous ceremony in which Ilma Vas- sill was led to the altar by an impos- £ibly handscme officer in a uniform of sables and astrakhan. 8he was awakened by the blare of trumpets and the roll of drums, as the Westphalian Hussars, who were to form the escort, rode by on their way to the station. While dressing as quickly as possible, she debated with herself whether she should tell Fortes; cue of the event of the night, and she decided in the affirmative. “It's more than Ikely that Herr Winekel will tell him—on the strict q. t., for I believe the old boy is to be trusted,” she said to herself. “Any- how, I won't have any secrets from Spencer.” And an hour later, when Fortescue called to view the arrival from the Baroness' windows, and gave her an extra pressure of the hand, she guessed that he had heard of her doings al- ready. As a matter of fact, he came straight from breakfasting with Vol- borth, who had now discarded his dis- guise, in order to rejoin the suite at the station, and he had listened to what his friend had to tell him of Laura’s discovery with mingled feelings. Proud and pleased as he was that she had ghown such uncenscious courage, he was annoyed that her devotion should have defeated its own object. All he could hove for was that she would never know it. “You have been talking to Herr ‘Winckel,” Laura said, as soon as they were beyond earshot of the two elder ladles. “I can see it by the way you are looking at me, you undiplomatic person.” “Yes, T know about it, but don’t ex- pect any flattery, for I don’t think you deserve it he said, with a look that belied his words. “After all, dear, your own people have more claim on you than this Russian officer for whom you risked so much.” “Oh, there was no risk; old Winckel is a most handy man,” she replied. “And“You mustn't be jealous of Boris Dubrowski, any more than of the sham millionaire. . By the way, I wonder what has become of that flend. He ought to be punished if it could be done without implicating Ilma's young man.” “I have private sources of informa- tion, you know, and I can tell you that he is out of Breslau,” Fortescue sald. “On leaving here he drove straight to the station, and an English detective, who is believed to be after him for another matter, went by the same train. So he may be laid by the heels eventually.” He did not tell her what he had gathered from Volborth —that the brief conference which the latter had had with the Scotland Yard man had convinced both of them that they were hunting on the same scent after striking It at different points. Further conversation was cut short by a roar of cheering outside, and they hastened to join Lady Metcalf and the Baroness at the window. The stately procession of court equipages, with its brilllant escort, was in sight, but owing to the throngs of spectators it was some minutes before it drew up at the door of the Stadthaus; and for Laura the real interest of the arrival did net begin till the Kaiser, having set down his guests, had driven off, and the carriages conveying the Rus- sian suite came up In quick succession. ‘“‘See, Spencer!” she cried. “There is Ilma In the third carriage with her mother. How pale and tired she looks! "Ah, now she sees us and is smilin And Laura waved her handkerchief in true British fashion, as the beautiful maid-of-honor kissed her hand toward the window. Then the Russian ladles passed out of sight into the building, leaving Laura to speculate as to which of the officers who followéd could be Boris Du- ‘browskl. Spencer did not attempt to aid her, but he made a shrewd guess that Ilma Vassili's flance was the tall young guardsman who descended from one of the rear carriages, accompanied by Volborth in propria persona. The morning was taken up by the inevitable military. spectacle, and it ‘was not till the Tsar and Tsarina had returned fro- seeing the Kaiser march his merry men about at Gan- dau that Ilma was free to join her Bnglish friend in the Von Lindberg mansion. Affectionate as was the greeting on both sides Laura was vaguely disappointed. The Russian girl seemed different, somehow, from the sparkling and interested foreigner whom it had been a delight to Initiate in the mysteries of a London season, and afterward to entertain among the glens of Blairgeldie. There was an air of reserve and repression about her which was quite new, and the last per- son about whom she was disposed to talk was Boris Dubrowski. . “I am dying to see him,” said Laur: enthusiastically. “I have pictured him to myself so many times, but always as the brave true-hearted gentleman you would choose, Iima."” “Yes, I think that Boris is physi- cally brave. That is a quality which is born in most men. They cannot help it any more than dogs can help being brave and'—after a pause— “faithful,” was the strange reply. With characteristic ~ promptness Laura changed the subject, and pres- ently suggested that they should take a walk in the town. So, Ilma assent- ing readily, they explored- the prome- nade on the old city walls, admired the view from the Victory Belvedere, and ecriticized the shops in the Shweldnitzstrasse together, till Iima regained much of her gracious charm under the influence of her compan- ion's Infectious vivacity. By the time they turned homeward Ilma was SO much like her old self that Laura told her of Delaval's attempt to uss Du- browski's name as an introduction, saying, however, nothing about the discovery of the infernal machine. “Spencer thought the Tsar might chop off your captain's head if it leaked out that he was being used as a reference, so I gave the Yankee his marching orders,” she concluded. Ilma’s face showed first alarm, then grateful affection as she heard of the American’s departure at the instance of her friend. But before she could put the feeling into words a tall young officer came slashing round a corner from a side street, nearly run- ning into them. On seeing Ilma he half drew back, then, perceiving that she was accompanted, he raised his hand in salute and essayed a smile. “This is the brave, true-hearted gentleman, Laura,” said Ilma, speak- ing in French, and with a hard ring in her voice. “Let me introduce to you Captain Boris Dubrowski of the Impe- rial Guard. Borls, this is my dear friend Miss Metcalf, of whom I think you have heard. You have to thank her for a great service, about which she was telling me when you came up.” “Indeed! I render a thousand thanks, Miss Metcalf, in advance,” said Boris courteously, adding, as he walked on beside the girls: “Is it per- mitted to inquire in what way I am indebted to you?” Once more Laura related what she had just told Iima, again going no further than Delaval's use of Du- browski's name. She was glad of the chance, for, as she told Fortescue af- terward, she was beginning to sus- pect a “nigger in the fence,” and she was curfous to know whethér the American had any real title to claim acquaintance with the Tsar's aide de camp. “Delaval? Delaval?” he repeated, tapping his forehead. “I never heard the name, and certainly do not know the man. He must have been an im- postor, with some base design. I can- not thank yow sufficiently, Miss Met- calf, for saving me from consequences which might have resulted from no fault of mine.” It was Laura’s turn to be puzzled— at a scornful smile hovering round Il- ma’s classic mouth—but she merely made light of her dealings with the American, and tried to stop the effu- sive thanks which, however, Boris continued to shower upon her. Sud- denly, as they were passing the post- office, he came to a halt, saying that he had to call for a letter, but that if they would excuse him for a minute he would esteem it the highest of honors to escort Miss Metcalf home. Still bent on keeping up appear- ances, Ilma replied that they would wait, and in a little over the time specified he was seen coming out, re- placing In its envelope a letter which he had been reading. But his manner and even his looks had changed en- tirely. (Continued next Sunday.) Mothers Here’s Something === FOR THE Little Ones It is an_ everlasting hose. 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