Show 1 1 f JJr I Copyright m The Th Hon Algernon Knox strolled f fro from tt bia hia uncles uncle B in Grosvenor square qu e to Piccadilly and aid entered his hia cI club b in a very cry ba bad temper He sum sum- th n e one of his hs friends friend to join him at atthe the emall luncheon table which he had selected lect d with a gesture which wa mt was a al aI almost most mott peremptory Hello BeHo Algy his bis friend fric i remarked U 88 ho bo seated himself U t wron wrong I perce perceive percee e a B cloud doud upon your r o seraphic countenance h The he Honorable Algernon Aigernon laid do down n the menu which h ho he had been study studying in p. p V Everything f nl is wrong he declared firmly Look Look at me Hi Ri friend obeyed him bint literally An expression of gentle i sympathy over over- road oad his features Do Dol J or do I not look Jook like a a. fool th the Honorable Algernon Knox demand demand- ed I His vis-a-vis vis sighed Without going go go- ing eo so far as to make a definite state state- ment Algy AIgy ho DO said I would yet yet foci inclined to swear upon my oath that oath that you are not s such ch a R. fool BH as you OU look Jook Algernon Aigernon Knox rose deliberately to hi his hie feet and walked to a mirror at the tho farthest end of the room he stood for a moment as though his object ob ob- ob- ob jed were to rearrange his bis ti tie Ho Honas was n wasu u a iii Youn man of not not not- uncommon type type type- tall inclined to be pale with rather large blue eyes and a Q forehead which w certainly did recede a little an effect which bich was perhaps heightened by bv his carefully brushed hair His fc features turcs might have ha been called caned pleasant but but they might also aha have e been called calle l vapid There was nothing about him bim which do do- noted intellectuality Ity He returned to fi seat al I Sammy bo ho announced I am of bf it about sick it His friend who ho was hun hungry t and whoso WhOle mouth was iu full nodded sym sym- pathetically I 1 Every ono one of ii my asinine rela rela- 18 Knox Rno continued ti cs Algernon 4 S to fo have o his knife into m inc me I I have been been down dowD as aa you rOIl know into l Stafford Staffordshire hirt Tried to net get into parlia parlia- mont Not an earthly change chance U Had Had to read a ne newspaper one day inthe in iD I I the train Sammy Foroe Forde confessed read you rou weren't exactly a hit there II f H Nature II Al Algernon Knox insisted firmly never uc or meant mo me to stand up upi ti t i a and d a address a lot of yokels ai ana But what knocked me was s tho the newspapers on tho other side aide instead Instead in stead of attacking JO my sn politics all tho the time made fun of me They ridiculed my lily speeches although I never nover said aid a word ord that tho the hadn't written out for mt me Then when I came camo back my mj venerated uncle goes for me Ive I've just had bad it out with him hiru In our younger days day hn ho said pompou pompously l tho the fool of tho the family amil entered the tho church Now Now- wo we cant can't oven o get gc him into V VOh var- var jar jar- Oh that was m Ht nasty I I his frioud admitted ad ad- d shaking hi his head I 1 have bac made up my mind Algernon Alger non Knox d declared grimly to treat my family for family for tho present ent at an any rate coolly I T will wm take no moro more advice from any of them Sammy ammy Fords ly lv Quito ri right ht to take a firm stand tand Algy gy he be agreed but what about your allowance Isn't nt that in your uncles uncle's hands until you YOUl are 25 5 II It is Algernon Knox asserted assorted Furthermore the tho silly old ass d declared Jared his intention u this morning of reducing it br by half Then what will you do Sammy Forde asked i If we should ba happen Jn to moot meet this evening e Algernon AIg Knox replied Imay I Imay may tell you ou I F am ant going a a. little way into tho the country and I I am ara going oin to think Sammy whistled softly U Milan grillroom for supper I suppose I I am not sure oure Algernon n Knox nox an an- s ered II Some of these habits babit of ours hc become almost a t tyranny Tann I ma may go fo to Imano q His friend stared at him blankly II By By J Jove 00 Algy ho he remarked II you YOU are are arc in iii earnest Now New leaf leat altogether ch oh You Yo u wait was the significant re reo pl ply m Half Hall an hour later in his small one one- seated motorcar nr shaped like a torpedo gray ra and close hung hun to the tho ground Algernon Knox sped off into the tho coun coun- tr try D D D-d D d hard luck on any any- anyone one ho bo muttered more than once to to have all silly pr shoved down ones one's throat because one happens to have havo an uncle who who's s 's an earl carl nn and a cabinet cabinet cab cab- inet met minister and a father who led the tho House Hous of Lords I r hate politics politic any any- way tb The of his hie reflections were obscured l by an incident for which he was scarcely to blame It was on all his homeward way when ho he was wu stilt still about thirty five miles from frota London and the light w was s beginning to fall that be he crashed into a n motorcar emerging from froman an avenue on on the tho side siao of the road His next recollection was of coming corn corn- ing int to himself in a most charmingly furnished sitting room with tho tim strang strang- cst looking woman be he had over ocr seen in hi lifo bending bCD lin over tho the easy casy chair in wh which h he bo was as reclining You You are arc better she sho asked anxious ly Ir speaking slowly and with ith a distinctly distinct distinct- 13 ly foreign n accent Ho lie sat up and looked around him in ina a a. dazed fashion You ran into my mT motorcar she explained My Mv man admits admit that hat ho he was on the wro wrong side ide Please d do not worry Sit here quietly for a a. little time timo If It you would Like liko to let Jet your jour friends know there in is the telephone Awfully good stood of you jou ho he said I I dont don't think 1 Im I'm m hurt a at all II I I do not think that you ou are II she agreed c Perhaps do Perhaps do you think that in in half an hour you ou would be well wall enough h to go JO Your ear car is uninjured II It was not Dot anI only her words but a strange sort of anxiety traces of which ho lie seemed to see sec in her face which puzzled him Ho He looked at her moro more closel closely Sho She was intensely pale with o eyes oyes es which at first had e seemed black hut but which now ho he saw to bo ho blue Her Hor eyelashes were very cry loup long her bor eyebrows eye brows black and silk silky s Her hair was arranged in an unusual manner At first no he had bad thou thought ht her too thin Now as she sho bent over the easy eaf chair a lit little lit tlc tie ho he found her fi figure re perfection But her face faco puzzled him It was vas like a painting ho he had seen somewhere t Say I Sa tho the word he ho beg begged ed and Ill I'll go o. o Queer Quor thing how m my head buzzes g Could I have a branay brandy and soda do you rou think t JIShe JI She pointed to a 11 table You see leo I had neaps beeps of things brought in Y I 1 will mix mir one ODe for you He watched her at her task Her fin fingers er were wore slim and white but to tolis his lis mind and aDd overloaded overload ed with riD rings As sho handed him the tumbler r ho he suddenly chan changed ed his mind about her as many Man others in tho the world had dono done before him She was beau beau- ti ul Her lips even oven if they thov were thin were scarlet and shapely shapel Yet et he be knew know that hat she Abc was no ordinary woman oman She was as either very cruel or or- or She Sho caught him lira looking at her and smiled He decided de do- that she was not cruel at all an and rose to his feet You would like liko to telephone she asked pointing to the instrument Ho shook his head May ay I ask your you name he be su suggested ested Sho She hesitated Tell me yours first she suggested Knox Knox AI Knox Algernon Algernon ernon By the thebe bye e he added suddenly do you think that I look like a tool She was a a. little startled Then she laughed at him When she laughed she was charming Why do you ask meso mo me moso moso so foolish a a. question t If Its It s 's like this he explained sitting sitting sit sit- tin ting up My uncles uncle's got Jot some somo clever sons and ho he he's hes s 5 awfully proud of th them m bill bar bar army and parliament you TOU know all all doit doing well J Ive I've v jus t tried rl d to f g get into nto parliament and tailed failed They saidI said I couldn't nt speak and that I la lacked in in- telie ce e. e When I T tried for tho the diplomatic diplo matic service it was about the same They told me appearance was against me Seems to me theres there's nothing you vou youcan youcan can do in thiM this world unless you youve you've e got ot what they call a thoughtful face and eyes ell She Sho laughed heartily If only onh- you had brains she remarked remarked re reo re- re marked you r you could certainly make your four fortune as a diplomatist Those beautiful eyes oyes of yours and that gently inquiring expression expression- Then you vou do think I look a fool ho he 10 interrupted To be bo candid sho she declared you do not look as though h you were over over- burdened with ith brains brain You look Jook as thou though bough h you vou could ride and nd shoot and make J love e to theatrical youn young ladies ladles liko iko a B great r at many other young youn English 2 gentlemen But ButI But But- I You needn't go JO on he ho interrupted interrupted interrupted inter inter- a again ain this time timo a little huffily BJ B the tho bye bc Ive I've told you my name namo What about yours vours' vours She bad had dra drawn n a little back She raised her hor hands bands suddenly above c her lead head her ner lips parted Her pose seemed I suddenly familiar She glanced at him hint cx expectantly Vera Vcra he exclaimed The Princess Vera Vcra she corrected He made mado her a little bow Madame Mad rad ame ante be he said aid I 1 have worshiped you vou from a a. distance dist for a long time r i of offer r you vou my mv Every en opera opera- goer in London Londo is bour your slave She smiled For a foolish young man she sho murmured If you OU express your yourself elf rather won well Huhl Her fingers had suddenly gripped clipped his arm aria Thore Thoro was the tho sound of a motor horn born jorn in in the avenue Something very cry much like fear blanched her face It is it my uncle Baron Ernstoff Ernstof 1 sho sh exclaimed Ho Ite Ho is bringing a friend do down n with him bim You wish me to po coP 09 ho ht suggested Do you OU mind iho beg od My Mv uncle is ie yer very about my mr being on OH the stage tag Ho lie visits hero only oc oc- oc H He lie would dislike very crY much mucho to o bo he seen here Tell mo mc what hat von you would lik like ilce mo mc to do and I will do IO it I ho he prom bed Th There r was wall a loud at ut th tho front loor bell hell Her Hor fingers r ti tightened upon his attn arm Her Hor B agitation was lins If Wait here plea please p. p she b beeped Wait here bere until you yon hear lear t 1 us all hithe hi in he tho next room Then the tim house homo by jy the front door doer Yon Von will nih find your our car c r rin in the stable yard ard Aril Aol farewell fare fare- well 11 t Hit Tt i is permitted then never to return re- re turn urn be he n k 1 n a ruefully Sh shook book her hr hear head U I I do She She- not receive re ree ret re- re cei t e e visitors I sir Fir sirl Sho bt bo flashed a far farewell glance at him from froDl the door Then sho ho pa passed ed nut out into the hall haiL The young man steadied himself for a moment acain t a lJ of or Ho was still fueling feeling a little hittie lit hit tie tIc shaken and giddy ld lT He heard beard a deep Oi voice welcoming Vera Yera a a. fa few words in a language an which was straD strange C to him hini and then some ome reference apparently ap tip- to a Mr Smith who seemed also alFo to tobe be present Then suddenly ho received td i what was Ia certainly one OD of f tho the greatest surprises he ho had bad ad c ever r hind had in his life Mr fr Smith spoke and ani lii hi his i oi voice was tho the voice oi o of toe this carl of Tamworth cabinet minister who hI anion many other social and d religious religious re reo re- re io s distinctions enjoyed cd also the tho privilege of heing the tho uncle unde and guar guardian ua dma dian of tho the Honorable Algernon f n He was was was' for fora a moment e ed And I w.- w. J w J I IJ J 1 o- o I t t 4 4 p vJ I ls l's J t c t i j. j I j 1 t t J v 1 I 4 t. t i p. p it p k I j r L It W was wa the alluring Vera who smiled l upon him V then only a few feet away the telephone tele telo- phone bell bc began an to ring ring- Almost t unconsciously he took off the r receiver er He lie hall had tlc scarcely raised it to his bis car however however how ever before tho the door dOOl was hastily pushes pushed op ii n and Vera Vcra entered She reached his sido side with what seemed to tobe tobe be 6 a single movement mo Sho SIte snatched the tho ho receiver from his hand What do you OU mean T she sho demanded her How Hop dare i J JKnox eyes Hashing flashing you rou Knox f felt lt the back of his head He was still atm a little dizz dizzy Im awfully sorry ho said if I Ive I've 0 dono done wron wrong Th The beastly thing was as ringing and I 1 wa was just going to answer it Jt as though b I were a servant ant say 68 say Id I'd fetch you YOUl and that sort of thing S1 She c looked at him fixedly and her face race relaxed She smiled smiled ito ho seemed scorned so 50 like Jike a frightened bo boy Close the door she directed I I 1 was wal an idiot Ho He obeyed promptly It was quite quito impossible to avoid of overhearing her ner con After tho the first sentence she sho spoke in French but although his ac ac- accomplishments were few indeed French ha lad had always ahva's been ono one of tho the necessities of his existence Ab Ah esl to a At Dover Do yes then 4 b Yes les I understand You arc are areat at Dover fo No jou u must not ot come i Jt it is 15 impossible Tonight Tonight To To- night Dear friend bo how could I It If I Sho She wa was wai silent iJ Dt for a moment But But dear dar sho ho said aid II this this is not Paris Pans s. s Whom could rould I a ask k f Whom in in- deed Iced could i I trust to perform such a service ice There Thero is no no one one one- She broko broke off in the middle of her sentence Her eyes were fixed upon ho the young younA man who was endeavoring to o appear un unconscious Sho looked at him lim fi fixedly her lips parted her eyes ejes bright right C Compared with ith the men whom she hall had in her mind he ho represented the thet t typical ical nincompoop Perhaps after all l heaven hail haG been kind iud to her herl Supposing I T can cau she I went nent on supposing it were possible how possible how coula could you yon reach Paris I t 1 es 1 Ah hl Sho nodded several times Once more she looked at Knox as thou though h fascinated ed by bv something in his re expression ion V Very cr well she said aid at last I I will do III my best Yes r I under under- stand Not Kot ot the tho Lord Warden the Geor Georgo tho the Third High street Yen Yen- wen n If it can bo be e done it shall be bc I V She bc replaced in tin receiver Then she sho turned to 11 1 Knox ox II Do Do you ou understand Fr French 1 she be asked Ho iTo sighed Jolly little ho replied Queer r thing T r not never or to he be an any good at languages at school chool and they're no use uso afterward no n. n Ono One never speaks als anything but English abroad She Sho laughed soft softly Then she ebe stood for a a moment Ji listening She monio mo mod d nio tb tho room and ln II lell J J Op n the th door the thi other side of the be hall hail came caine tho the sound of f a piano I I have hae sont nt them into |