The evening world. Newspaper, March 12, 1914, Page 19

" AQoprrisht, 1013, ty Dodd, Mead & Co.) Smart, 0 yong New York noratist, inbe: we frim ab uncle who ion always a he castle ta locked, Saye the keys are hot, Senast tial woman look d and supnorediy. i «her. tells u i tor She. ‘who. Macried Count ‘he Count maltreated her a " a awanied the Count f paby daughter, “Wtoxemary. Tie Medationd tne Bhs and Teme achat siclter im the cane, Actanick being fests. Moon aftersanl (att ‘he castle, masquoradi it jast, boruw money of fim, 1 Countess orcape by he hints it may be @ ~ » CHAPTER XI. ’ . (Continued) 1Am Forced Into Being a Hero. fy UT I'll come to see you in 1 New York, Jf you'll let | me,” I cried, trying to re- t = pair the damage [ had done. “I was jesting when I spoke of jail.” *Her brow was puckered in thought. “Gt has just occurred to me, my dear friend, that even if I do get safely away you will be left here to faco the consequences. When it becomes known that you sheltered me, the authorities may make it extremely uncomfortable for you.” *“Pm not worrying about that.” “Just the same, it is something to worry about,” she said, seriously. “Now, here is what I have had in mind for a long, long time. Why don't you come with me when I leave? That will be the safest plan,” “You are not in earnest?” “Assuredly, The plan is something like this: I am to be taken by slow stages, overland, to a small Medi- terranean port. One of a half dozen American yachts now cruising the Sea will be ready to pick me up. Doesn't it seem simple?" “It seems simple enough,” sald I. “But there are a lot of ‘ifs’ between here and the little port you hope to reach. It will not be an casy matter te manage the succgesful flight of a party as large as yours will be.” “Ob,” she cried, “I shall be quite QJone, except for Rosemary and Blake and Mr. Bangs.” “But your mother? You can't leave here” ® “You will have to smuggle her out O@ the castle @ day or two in advance, Tg 1s all thought out, Mr. Smart.” Bangs was a shrewd little English- man: J stayed late with them, discussing plans. He had strongly advised against any attempt on Mrs. Titus's bart to enter her daughter's hiding- place, but had been overruled. I con- ceived the notion too that he was a very strong-minded man. What then must have been tho strength of Mrs. Titus'’s resolution to overcome the objections he put in her way? le too thought it all out, Everybody seems to have thought everything out with a single excep- uon—myself. His plan was not a bad one, Mrs. Titus and her sons Were to enter the castle under cover of night, and I was to meet them in 4m automobile at a town fifteen kilo- meters away, where they would leave the train while their watchers§were asleep, and bring them overlahd to Schloss Rothhoefen, They would be accompanied by a single lady's maid aed no luggage. A chartered motor boat would meet us up the river a few, miles, and—well, it looked very simpie! All that was required of me was a willingness to address her as “Mother” and her sons as “brothers” in- ease there were any questions wake This whos Tuesday, They were coming on Thursday, and the train reached the station mentioned at half-past 12 at night. So you will wee it was a jolly arrangement. eLater when I was alone with the Gountess | said on impulse: “] h you were Aline Titus.” “& “You may at least be sure that I shall not remain the Countess Tarn- Mr. Smart,” she said, with ling expression in her My heart sank. “But I remember hearing you say not so very long ago that you would never marry again,” T railed, he regarded me rather oddly for & moment, “I am very, very glad that you are such a steady, sensible, practical’man. A vapid, iinpression- able youth, during this scason of propinquity, might have been so fool- ish as to fall.in love with me, and that would have been too bad. t mink I ed at her, ‘“Then— going to marry some then, you a ore?" "She waited a moment, looking straight into my eyes. "Yes," she mid, and a delicate pink stole into wer cheek, “I am going to marry some one, tered something about con- setae a lucky dog, but It was It very hazy to me, fs “Don't congratulate him yet, ofled, the flush deepening. “Im wo very, very great disappointment ti We ‘a never-ending nuisance.” ete will--will be all Then L resorted I've spent a lot ‘0 make another fident im aure Hai right,” T floundered Te acsety: “You # af time trying to— \ w of you, and so I'm o \d you quite ga ad's Mir, few" words are sufficient to caver the expedition in quest of the legendary treasures of the long dead Baronos. Mr. Bangs ompanied us, Britton garried a lant and the three Schmicks went along as guides, We found nothing but cobwebs. «"Conrad,” aaid I, as we emerged from the last of the underground @iambers, “tell me the truth: was there ever such a thing as buried tweasure in this abominable hole?” + “Yes, mein herr,” he replied, with @ apologetic grin; “but I think it mee discovered three years ago by ‘fount’ Hohendah! and Count Tar~ we stared: at hina. ‘Ss was at the time they went away and bad months, Mr. Smart.” t the Countess. She appeared to be as much surprised as I, “They searched for a month,” ex- Plained the old man, guiltily. “They found something in the walls of the second tier, I cannot aay w! it was, but they were very, very happy, my lady.” He now addressed her, “It did not return for three weeks, If you remember the ti if “Remember it cried bitterly, “Too well, Conrad.” She turned to me, “Wo had been married less than o smiled rather grimly. “Count Tarnoway appears to have e great run of luck in those days,” oe « © « 6 @ A few nights later Mra, Titus and her sons arrived. In @ pouring rain 1 went to the station for them, waited an interminable time, and—missed I got back to t! they had gone to bed. CHAPTER Xl. 1 Indulge in Plain Language. EXT day I met the new- comers. N At half past one o'clock I Was received by Mrs, Titus in my own study. The Countess came down from her eerie abode to officiate at the ceremontous function—if it may be so styled—and I was agreeably surprised to find my new guest in a most amiable frame of mind, True, ehe looked me over with what seemed to me an unnec- essarily and perfectly frank stare of curiosity, but, on sober reflection, I did not hold it against he: As for her two sons, they made no cffort to disguise their amazement. The elder of the two young men, Colingraft Titus, who being in the business with his father in New York was permitted to travel most of the time so that he couldn’t interfere with it, was taller than I, and an ex- tremely handsome chap to boot. He Was twenty-six. The younger, ber jr., was nineteen, short and slight of build, with the merrie: ever seen, I didn’t in the the’ grin he bestowed upon me—and preserved with stanch fidelity throughout the whole interview—but I resented the supercilious, lordly scorn of his elder brother. Jasper, I learned, was enduring a Protracted leave of absence from Yale; the hiatus between bis fresh- man and sophomore years already covered a period of sixteen months, and he had @ tutor who appreciated the buttery side of his crust. Mrs. Titus, after thanking me warmly—and I think sincerely—for all that I had done for Aline, apologized in @ perfunctory sort of way for hav- ing kept me out of my bed all night, and hoped that I wouldn't éatcls cold hed: or have an attack of rheumatism. I soon awoke to the fact that she was in the habit of cent tention, The usually volat! became subdued and repressed in her presence; the big son and the little one were respectfully quiescent; I con- fons to a certain em! nt my- self. She was a handsome woman with a young figure, a good complexion, clear eyes, wavy brown hair, and a rich, low voice perfectly modulated. No doubt she was nearing fifty, but thir- ty-five would have been your guess, provided you were a bachelor, A bachelor learns something about women every day of his life, but not #o much that he cannot be surprised the day after. I endeavored to set her mind at rest by politely reminding her that I couldn't have slept in the bed any way, having been out all night, and she smilingly assured me that it was q a relief to find a literary a who wasn't forever saying flat, stupid things. I took them over the castle—that is, @ part of the castle, Mrs. Titus wouldn't climb st: She confessed to banting, but drew the line at any- thing more exhausting. I fear I w: too palpably relieved when she de- clined to go higher than the second story. “It isn't necessary, Mr. Smart, anid, sweetly, “to go into the history of the wretched Rothhoefer Cook's interpreter might do. You see, I know the castle quite well— and I have had all the late news from my daughter.” “Of course!” I 1d. “Stupid of je not to remember that you are ascended from"—— “Mother isn’t half as stuck up about it as you might think, Mr. Smart,” interrupted Jasper jr. glibly. “She prefers to let people think her ancestors were Dutch instead of merely German. Dutch ancestors are the proper thing in Jew York.” “Jappie,” said his mother severely, “how often must I caution you not to speak of New York as Jew York? Some day you will say it to a Jew. One can't be too careful. Heaven alone knows when one ia in the pres- ence of a Jew in thene days.” “Oh, I'm_ not Hebrat said 1 quickly. “My ancestors were Dutch. ‘They came over with the original skin grafters,” She looked puzzied for a moment. The Countess laughed. Then Jasper saw the point. Colingraft was the jaxt to see It, and then it was too late for him to smile. We had tea in the loggia, and I dined with the family in the Count- eas's apartment at 8 o'clock that night. IT think Mrs, Titus wasrather favorably impressed when she_be- held ine in my own raiment, Brit- ton had smoothed out my evening clothes, until they almost shone, and T managed to carry myself with un- usual buoyancy. Everything went very well that evening. ‘e were all in fine humor and the dinner was an excellent one. J perpetrated but one unhappy blun- der, I asked Mra, Titus if she knew the -Riley-Werkheimers and the Rockworths in New York. “Visually,” phe sald succinctly, and mace haste te change the subject. ‘The Countess looked amused, and Colingratt said about it one mere than tt we Gi S] Geo Bane MCUTCHEON ¥, GOOOHDOQGODOGOOPOOS: © rescue with a very amusing and ex- Qggerated account of my experience with the Hiley-Werkheimers and Rocksworths. Jasper was enthu- Biastic. Something told me that I ‘Was going to like him. M: al troubles began the next gown and slippers, banged on my bedroom door, and wanted to know why the devil he couldn't have hot water for his bath. He was too full- blooded, and all that sort of thing, he said, to take a cold plunge. More- » he wasn't used to taking his tub in a tincup. (That was his sarcastic fay of referring to my portable, and bathtub.) I asked him why he didn’t ring for Britton, and he said he did but Britton was assisting Jas- in a wild chase for a bat which got into the lad’s room during the night. “Thank your lucky stars it didn't get into Mother's room,” he sai suriily. I silently thanked them. He made such a row about his tub that I had to give him the pail of hot water Britton had placed in my Reeroom, Preparatory to my own At breakfast Jasper complained about the bats. He couldn't for the life of him see why I didn’t have screens in the windows. Later on Mrs. Titus, who had coffee and toast in her room, joined us in the loggia and announced that the coffee was stone cold. Moreover, she did not like the guest chamber into which she had been moved by order of the Countess. It was too huge for a bed-chamber, and the tron win- dow shutters creaked all night long. “But don't you love the view you have of the Danube?” I queried, rath- er mournfully. “I don't sit in the window all night, Mr. Smart," she said tartly. I at once insisted on her resuming possession of my hedroom, and promptly had all my things moved in- to the one she had occupied during the night. WI the Countess heard of this arrangement she was most in- ignant. She got me off in @ corner and cruelly informed me that I hadn't the vestige of a backbone. She must have said som to her mother, too, for whi ning came around I had to move back into my own room, Mra. Titus sweetly assur- ing me that under no consideration would she consent to impose upon my good nature and hospitality to such an extent, etc., etc. During the day, at odd times, Col- ingraft made lofty suggestions in re- gard to what could be dono with the Place to make {t more or less inhabi- table, and Jasper—who, by the Yy, T was beginning to fear I should not like after all—said he'd just like to have a whack at the thing himself. First thing he'd do would be to turn some of those old, unused rooms into squash and racquet courts, and he'd also put in a swimming pool and a hot water plant. ‘ Late in the afternoon I stole far up into the eastern tower to visit my adorable friend Rosemary. We played house together on the nursery floor and oon got over my feeling of depression. But even in play I was made to reniize that I was not the master of the house. She ruled me with the utmost despotism, but I didn’t mind. She permitted me to sip honey from that cunning place In her little neck and managed to call me Unko, My heart grew warm and noft again under the spell of her. The Countess watched us at play from her seat by the window. She was strangely still and pensive, [ had the feeling that she was watch- ing me all the time, and that there was a shadow of anx in lovely eyes. She smiled at onr pranks, and yet there was something sad in the smile. I was young again with Rosemary, and full of glee. She took me out of myself. f forgot the three Tituses and with them many of my woes, Here was a cure for the blues; this gay little kiddie of the unspeakable ‘Tarno $ T lay awake for hours that night, but when I finally went to sleep—and *! heaven knows [ needed it!—it was with the soportfic resolution to put my house rigidly in order the very next day. I would be polite about it, but very firm. The Titus family (omitting the Countess and Rose- mary) was to be favored with an ultimatum from which there could |. John Bellamy Smart be no "The deuce you net th Morpheus smooth- guy!" cried 1, with a quick glance at in New femy ing. out the yrriakles 9¢ perplexity me a ia i aki kA CODOTDOOO that be would be master In his owa house. My high resoive fattened itself out @ little after the sound sleep I had, and I make no doubt I should have wavered sadly in my purpose had not a crisis arisen to shape my caur- age for me in a rather emphatic way. Shortly after breakfast Mrs, Titus came downstairs very smartly gowned for tho street. She an- nounced that she was going Into the town for an hour or two and asked me to have one of the Schmicks ferry her across the river. There was a famous antique shop there—memory of other da: wanted to browse a wh and bronzes. I looked at her nized the crisis, but ‘was unable to marshal my power: of resistance. Noting my conster tion, she calmly assi me tl there wouldn't be tue = jd detection, as she was going te be heavily veiled and very cautious, “My dear Mrs, Titus,” I murmured in my dismay, “it ian’t to be con- aidered. I am @ure you won't persist in this when I tell you that Tar- noway'’s agents are sure to see you and”"—— She laughed. “Tarnowsy's agents! ‘Why should they be here?” “They seem to be everywhere,” “[ can assure you there is none within fifty miles of Schloss Roth- hoefen. Our men are in the city. Four of them preceded me. This morning I had Mr. Bangs telephone to the hotel where the chief operative is staying—in the guise of an American tourist, and he does it very cleverly for an Englishman, too—and he as- sures me that there is absolutely no danger, Even Mr. Banga ia satis- fled.” “Tam forced to say that Tam by no means satisfied that it in a aafe or wise thing to do, Mrs, Titus,” 1 said, with more firmness than 1 thought I possessed. She rgived her jcate eyebrows in a most@exasperating, well bred, ad- monitory way. “LT am quite aure, Mr, Smart, that Dillingham is a perfectly trust. worthy detective, and" “But why take the alightest riak?” “It in necessary for me to aee Dil. % lingham, that is the long and short of \ eahe said coldly, “One can't dis- cuss things over a telephone, you know. Mr. Banga understands, And, by the way, Mr. Smart, I have taken the liberty of calling up the central office of the telephone company to ask if they can run an extension wire to my dressing room, I hope you do not mind,” “Not in the least. I should have thought of it myself.” “You have ao much to think of, poor man, And now will you be good enough to hi Hawkes order the man to row me across the”—— “I am very eorry, Mra, Titus,” said I firmly, “but I fear I must declare myself. I cannot permit you to go into the town to-day.” She was thunderstruck. “Are you in earnest?” she cried, after search- ing my face rather intently for a moment.. ‘Unhappily, yea, Will you let me explain" — “The idea!” she exclaimed, as she drew herself to her full height and withered me with a look of surpaas- ing acorn, “Am I to regard myself as a prisoner, Mr, Smart?” "Oh, | beg of you, Mra, Titua"— I began miserably. “Please anawer my question.” Her tone cut me like the lash of a whip. My choler rose, "I do not choose to regard myself an a jailer, My only object in op- posing thi “I hay never known anything 80 absurd ‘Two bright red spots ap- peared in her checks, “Your attt tude 1# most extraordinary, However, I shall go to_the city this morning, Mr. Smart. Pray give me the credit of having sense enough to-—— Ah, Colingraft,” The two sons approached from the breakfaat roo! heve they had been enjoying # 10 lock chop. Colin- ft, noting his mother's attire, celerated his speed and was soon be- side us, “Going out, Mother?" he inquired, fiicking the ash from hie cigarctte. “If Mr. Smart will be good enough to withdraw his opposition,” she said Netty. (4 gave me a sharp look. “What's furs. Titup deean't seem to realize the risk runs ta’ “Risk? Do you suppose, Myr, Who ==] The Exploits of a New Yorker Hunted Trouble in Eu Smart, I would jeopardize my daugh- ter's"— “What's up?” repeated Colingraft insistently. “Mr, Smart calmly informa me that Iam not to go into the city.” “f don't see that Mr. Smart has anything to say about it,” said her son coolly, “If he'——~ Ife paused, glaring. looked him squarely in the eye. If he had possessed the acumen of a ollywog he would have seen that my Buten was up. “One moment, Mr. Titus,” I sald, setting my jaw. “I have this to say about it. You are guests in my house, We are jointly interested in the effort to protect the Countess Tarnowsy. L[ consider it to be the height of imprudence for any mem- ber of your family to venture into the city, now or at any time during her sthy in this castle. I happen to know that Tarnowsy is having me watched for some purpose or other. a think he suspects that tho but I greatly fear T am interested in juspects me, You have heard of our recent encounter. He knows my ponition pretty well by this time. Mra. Titus says that the man Dillingham assures her there in no danger. Well, I can only say that Dillingham is a fool, and Tf don't pur- pore having my own safely threat- ened by"—— “Your safety?” exclaimed he. “T - like that! What have you got to be afraid of?” “You seem to forget that I am har- boring @ fugitive from justice,” [sald Titus gasped. “How daro OU" —— “The Countess Tarnowsy is wanted by the authorities for kidnapping, and I think you know the facts quite as well as I do,” I went on harshly. "God knows [ am doing my best to protect her, [am risking more than you seem to appreciate. ie she is found here, my position isn’t likely to be an enviable one, T am not thinking solely of myself, believe me, but after all I contend that I have a right to assert myself In a crisis thar may affect me vitally. I trust you will gee my porition and act accordingly —with consideration, if nothing cise,” Mrs, Titus did not take her eyes off mine while I Kbps opengl p ES ‘an expression of utter amaze th them. No one had ever opposed her before in just this way, T gath- to make ered, She didn’t know wi oft gear you exaggerate the extent of your peril, Mr. Smart,” she said dry- ly. “Of course, I have no desire to put you in jeopardy, but it scems to me"—— “Leaving me out of the case al- together, don’t you think it im a bic unfair to the Countess?” I asked in eat. “She doesn’t want to go ashe cried angrily. at's no way to speak about"— began Colingraft furiounly. . “If you please, Mr. Titus, be good enough to keep your temper. I have no denire to appear harsh and arbitrary, Lut I can nee that it is necessary to speak plainly. There isn't anything in the world I will not do to help you and the Countess in this unfortunate bus!- ness, Mra. Titus, I hope you believe mo when I say as much. IT am hy friend; I want to be yours if you will let me. But T reserve the right to say what shall be and what shall not be done as long as you are under my roof, Just a moment, Mr. Titus! I think we are quite agreed that your sister is to depart from here on the fourteenth of the month. I am to be her eacort, ao to speak, for a con+ aiderable distance, in company with Mr. Bangs. Well, tt must be clearly understood that not one of you ts to show his or her face outside these walls until after that journey is over, ‘That's plain speaking, isn't it? “I ghall go where | please, and I'll xo to the town to-day’ roared Colingraft, getting no further for the reason that his mother, seeing that I was desperately in eurnest, gave vent to a little cry of alarm an: clutched her big son by the shoulder, She begged him to listen to reason! “Reason!” he gasped. “If you—or any of you—-put a foot outside these walls,” 1 declared, y cricky!" fell in fervent admira- tion from the lips of Jasper jr. ¥ @ his beaming, astonished face. He positively was grinning! “Good for you! You're a wonder, Mr. Smart By cricky. And you're dead right. We're darn fools.” faaper!’ gasped Mra. Titus. I crtea, ue prot- Good for you, Jani warmly, and took the fered “Colingratt, please take me to my room,” murmured the mother, "'T— feel faint. Send for Aline. Bangs to come to me at once. T bowed atiffly. “I am sorry ‘Titus, to have been so harsh, sertive”—— She held up both hands, “T never fan so spoken to in all my life, Mr. mart. I shall not forget it to my dying day.” She walked away from me, her pretty head held high and her chin suspiciously aquiver. Colingraft has- tened after her, but not without «iv- ing me a stare in which rage and wonder struggled for the mastery. T ran my hand over my brow. “Geet anid Jasper jr. “You've corked her all right, all right.” He followed me into the study, and I couldn't get rid of him for hours. Later In the forenoon the Countens, with @ queer litt mile on her lips, told me that her mother considered ma the most wonderful, the mont forceful character she had ever en- countered. | brightened up at that Rut Colingraft was not yet through with me. CHAPTER XIII, 1 See to the Bottom of Thinge. KB nought me out just betare H luncheon, 1 was in tho courtyard, listening patient= Div $6 Juaver ire there and suggestions concerning the restoration of the entire facade of the le, and what he'd do if he were in my place, Strange to say, 1 was considerably entertained; he was not at all offensive; on the con- trary, he offered his ideas in a pleas. antly ingenuous way, always supple- menting them with some such aalve as: “Don't you think eo, Mr, Smart?” \ . certainly, rile: marriag or "I'm sure you have thought of it yourself,” or “Ian't that your idea, With great aplomb, per jr. stuck that you bave, ” or “You' lone wonders with Olt his cheat modestly and said: “Ob, putting some very bad ‘wottens the selnt) old man, Me, Colly. But just the sume L my danghter's head,” she Cellinratt t the least doubt in my mind tad notions?" § mui came directly up to th where we were standing. trouble in his eye. “See here, Mr. Smart,” he began austerely, “I've got something to say to you, and I'm not the sort to put it off. I appreciate what you've done for Aline and all that sort of thing, but your manner to-day has been in- tolerable, and wo've got to come to an understanding.” I, eyed him closely, “Tt suppos yowro about to suggest that one or the other of us must—evacuate—get ous ao to apeak,” said L “Don't talk rubbish, You've got my mother bawling her eyes out up- stairs, and wishing she wero dead. You've got to come off this high horse of yours. You've got to apologize to her, and damned quick, at that, Un- derstand?” “Nothing will give me greater joy than to offer her my most abject apology, Mr. Titus, unless it would be her unqualified forgivencss,” “You'll have to withdraw every- thing you said.” “Till withdraw everything except my ultimatum in respect to her putting & foot outside these walls, That still stands.” beg to differ with you.” “You may beg till you're black In the face,” said I coolly, He awallowed hard. Hia face twitched and his hands wero clenched, “You are pretty much of a mucker, Mr. Smart,” he said between his teeth, “I'm sorry my aister has fallen Into your hands, The worst of it ts, she ncemas satisfied with everything you do, Good Lord! What she can see in you ts beyond my comprehen- sion. Protection! Why you couldn't protect her from the assault of a chicken.” ™ you trying to Insult me, Mr, Titus?” “You couldn't resent it if I were. There never was an author with enough moral backbone to"—— “Walt! You are her brother. 1 don't want to have trouble with you. But if you keep on in this strain, Mr. Titus, I shall be compelled to thrash you soundly.” He fairly gasped. “Th—thrash me!” he choked out. Then he advanced, Much to his surprise—and, strange- ly enough, not to my own—I fatlea 0m! to retreat. Instead, I extended my left fet with conat ble abrupt- ness and precision and he landed on his back. I experienced a sensation of unholy joy. Up to that moment I had won- dered whether I could do tt with my left hand, There was though at We n secrecy, “I've atilt wonderingly. all alone, husband an he lov nacity, nett can't get ov pim, grudge payn ho aes reall in be oan Morro have a Britton tol they had I looked at Jusper jr. He wan ‘ALINE T. staring at me in utter bewilderment, | Si-1 may come down to see “Good Lord! You--you've knockea 7°" thle even! * \* him down!” 1 shall skip over the rat \° “E didn’t think 1 could do it,” said teresting events of the net tein. T hazily. three days, Nothing of consequence He sprang to his brother's side, and assisted lum to a sitting posture, tight to the jaw,” shouted Jas. per, with a strange enthusiasm, “Left,” L corrected him, consider once in the stupid, vacant fashion for a moment, and then allowed hin glazed eyes to rest upon me. He sat rather limply, moon, 1 thought. lighted me, “Are you hurt, Colly? cried Jan. per jr. A sickly grin, more of surprise than shame, stole over Colingraft's face, He put his hand to his jaw; then to the back of his head, “Ry Jove he murmured, bad foe | didn’t think he had it in him, Let me get up!” Jasper jr. was discreet. “Better let well enough alone, old’. “I intend to,” said Colingraft as he struggled to his feet, For a moment he faced me, un- about hei her i “I'm sorry, Mr, Titus,” said Tcalm- taining th “You—you are @ wonder!" fell from his lips. “I’m not a coward, Mr, Smart. I've boxed a good deal in my time, but—by Jove, I never had @ jolt like that He turned abruptly and left us, We followed him slowly toward the nteps, At the bottom he stopped and faced me in that effect, than | " y i) bury the hatchet, so will I, 1 take back what T naid to you, not because I'm afraid f you, but because | respe: What say? Will you shake hand pression was from his fw In its place was what inquiring loo! eling on my part,” £ wladly. We shook hands, | slapped me on the rimony and could not ree sly Prema “ie ost distressing, habit I'm getting into, ke A Without rhyme == Author of alwayn been somewhat 10 how you the whack, and I have been to Haten to intermittent lectures on the manly art of self-defenge all por ® mean drop You have made So pleaso don't f im not chap. jood in * ® friend of him. feel that I hold a inst you for what did. The funny part oe all ta Bhe has given all th cutting afoot “outa, e. in you have luncheon with us 7? Would it be toe much we were to hi am if onl: in that walled dyke has been per this ha was afraid you Very ru id Bh two enlighten me ado. are not m y. Te my n * marriages of that out well for ridegroom NING “The shiftier the better," I sald, Jasper could “put it all over me.” It was a rather sickening admiasion, clly private, je our way to my study, Where L mildly suggested refrain from mentioning our little ons unter to Mra. Titua or the Coun. 1 thought Colingraft was espe- ally pleawed with the idea, We sworo that remarded as a Peaceful, harmless grub,” 1 explained, bewildered by feat L had performed, and conaider- ably shaken by tho fear that | was enerating into a positive rufa u will belleve me, I hope, whea I doclore that I was merely acting in self-defense when I" —— Ho actually laughed, mize.” He could not reaiat the ims pulse to blurt out once more: Jove, I didn't think you could do it.” With my left hand, Catching myself up, I hastily changed the subject. A little later on, am Colingraft lett the room, slyly feeling of hia jaw, Jasper jr. whiapered to me exctdedly! “You've got him eating out of your hand, old top.” Things were coming to a Pass, said I to myself when It certainly ta a pi pass when one knocks down the 1 tho brother of the wor and quite without the least suspicion of an inherited pug- “Don't apolo- I had a little note from the Countess: that afternoon, ceremoniously deliv- ered by Helene Marie Louise Antol- T read as follows: You did Coll turn when you laid K. Ho is tiresome! raft a very good im thin morn. interested in \t ora afternoon, frat from him, thes from. Mr. \. Sa ents a mornthe to tell me t aneezod at all and remotest chance now a cold. It seems might. that most. meh rn Trauld, have died from expomure it n pul How good you are tome Pe happened, unless you are willing to important blissful nights of sleep on my part. Also, I had the pleasure of taking the Countess “out walking” in my vourtyard, to colloquialiam: Colingraft gazed about him in a@ aguin ‘neath the slow ot “" al She had not been outside the ' castle walls, literally, five weeks, and the color leaped back into her cheeks with a rush that de- T may mention tn pans- ing that T paid particular attention to her suggestion concernin, lapidated, gone-to- though I had been bored to extinction by Jasper jr. when he undertook to horticulturally, agreed to come forth every day and Aenint me in building the poor thing UP: propping it, #o to apeak. Mrs. Titus, that really engag- made life 90 a: red why T had ever been ap- ive, She was quite wonderful it came to a pinch.’ T to understand a more than for me that theories on matrimony, While she did not actually commit herself, [ had no difficulty in ascer- int of view, le in heaven, and that @ properly arranged divorce is a great deal less terrestial than it is commonly suppored to be. She believed in matrimony as a trial and divorce aa a reward, or something to My opinion seemed to carry con- siderable weight with her. For a day or two after our somewhat sanguin- ary encounter, she was prone to atart even to jump slightly—when I ad- dressed myself to her with uninten- tional directness, that, however. We were discussing Aline's unfor- tunate venture into the state of mat- feeling temporarily august and superior, managed to say the wrong thing and in doing so put inyself in a position from which T Sho soon got over ¢: By George Barr McCutcheon GRAUST AKK,” te, =——— ° “By retty waa tin liged perfectly my di- weed garden, al- kind never any one except “I got what was An eager light crept into his handsome eyes, “By Jove, we ean get in some corking work with the gloves while I'm here, I box quite and I miss it travel- this, What aay to a or #0 every day? have the gloves in one is. I'm horribly ‘T waid. aaaum- id not feel, Put this atrappini 1 was firmly the gloves with skilful boxer? Not 1! resolved to stop while my record wan good, In a acientific clash Sieves he would soon @ miserable duffer I wi “Aad » here, He's as shifty as the d CHERUB DEVIN —= By Sewell Ford — WILt BEGIN NEX T= Gi ¥ & BAS ite: me coldly, . 1a “Bho has developed certais hounced and rather ext: views concerning the mobility ae result of your—ah—argument, I . m very sorry. 1 know me two Se dente uke e I've no doubt there are a great more. She must have 1 wasn’ Questioning the adviea' vating it in the way we erg do.” , ou did not put it dincunsing the p action wi she said quickly, “Granted own marriage was dreadful mistake—it does pot that all international Popetan I would just : unhappily married to a di drygoods merchant, M: ne on eae “But not at the same price, e smiled. “A husband “t shouldn't put it that way,” protested, “A A ecensity, not a I het fo 33 , Aline te very bitter matrimony as viewed from of view. I am sorry to way 1% ate her attitude to your counselling.’ Y I was undér the * “You flatter me. impression ehe took her leone ef Tarnowsy.” ar all of them with game stick? There are good noble men, you'll admit,” other experiment. itoun, isn't it? marry m mot betraying a secret, she has intimated as much secretary as well as to me, I that as soon as this unhappy ts settled, she will be free to the true ward"—- 1 mayed by my garrulous turn. “Toward whom?" « he eas up from the bench on w! eitting In the lo yen, “Tam sure that '— * it hich th hd in which there was a primary perplexity and wonder. It grilled me to discover that did not even so much as tale, into consideration, “You mean since the—et—@tverest” T Inquired. “She has been in sectusion alt the time, Bhe has that in to say, no man for could possibly entertain a— course, you are mistaken in impression, Mr. Smart. There solutely nothing in what you “A former sweetheart, ant her marriage,” 1 suggested, lonsly. sweetheart. " gaid she with marrtage, nding you, Bhe started. jae she never tioned Lord Amberdale to you naked. bs ‘Amberdale?” I repeated, ¥ queer sinking of the heart. Titus, An Englishman?" ore, Ta & vers cownre mannee she more, In a very informed me that his lordship, @ ment attractive and honorable % lishman, had been ome 9 rm! friends at divorce proceedings, of. there was nothing in it friends for been good more, and he was a perfeet he couldn't fool aligbtly. if but acne tee mere fact cf “ountess not spoken of ship ided her experienced with excellent reason for ing that there was something tween them, She abruptly the conversation to a close and Maas. me, saying that sbe was off for Bap | - is beauty nap. 2 Alone, I goon became a prey to tain disquieting thoughts, up, they resolved themselves tat condition of certainty which of but one aspect: the charming tale, An@ the shocking part af it ail dale, An a part a waa that she was in fove with prior to her separation from noway! I felt @ cold start eut all over body as condition forced iteelf upen me, . was the man; he had been the from the beginning. My hey like lead for the reat of the day very curtously, fer @ tender was subject to pain, (To Be Continue) 5 gh