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Show SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 6, 1921. " .. S'll! - v:tV,U if J? U THEOGDEN : II J . Ft J 1 I M if II 8 A ) r n 1 R--$- IhJ 0 i President." "Oh, do they!" MUs Wren ob served with the air of one who possesses superior knowledge. "There are a good ma&y people in. the world, Mr. David, who talk of things they know nothing about." 'Quite true." David acquiesced, "but over in the States, where 1 have been until Just lately, they get jpretty accurato Information about theso things, ann there's an impression there that Ilarley Packe. means to not only recognize the republic, but that he has actually invited Metzger to pay him a visit.1 "So that's what they're saying, is it!" Miss Wren murmured. "That and more." ' Miss Wren sipped her wlno appreciatively. "Weil, you can take it from ma ister?" She smiled In gratified fashion. "I was Mr. Packe's secretary long before he became a Cabinet Minister," she said. "I was with him at the Ministry of News before he even entered Parliament." "In short, you have risen together. Packe is a wonderfully clever fellow. It seems to me that since the Prime Minister's illness he has become practically responsible for the government of the country." Miss Clara Wren basked in a sense of reflected glory, mitigated by some Blight shadow of personal sadness. "They all say that he'll be Prime d j . eleven o'clock train homes. More than ever Darid desired to live and remain free, and all the racked hls time he brains to find some from means of acquiesced entirely in the banishment of. the royal family and the setting up of a republic. They say that he has even arranged to re ceive a vislt from Metzger, the new David told her. ' "George and I are old friends, and when I bjing anyone here he Is anxious to serve me well. Now, he has really gone andwe can talk. Tell me about yourself and your work. Do you know that you are the first woman I have ever heard of who has tecome private secretary to a Cabinet Min- Copyright, 1921, International Feature service. CHAPTER I. AVID, confronted with aQ unexpected crisis, faced hu miliatlon, the failure of all his plans, perhaps death, and realized ir. those few seconds the bitterness of all three. Nevertheless tie made a careful choice from the little dishes of hors d'oeuvres spread upon the luncheon table, studied the wine list with acquiesced interest, without a shiver in his companion's desire for something' white, sparkling and sweet, and commenced (his luncheon without taking any further notice of the two figures etlll standing a few feet inside the entrance to the little restaurant, inin specting the room as thoughThe search of a desirable table, e,nd of all things for David seemed very close at hand indeed. Subconsciously he found himself regretting the. fact that the June sun was shining o softly and that he had caught that waft of perfume from the, violet seller's basket, at the .corner of the street. He was an emotional person, and his pulses had responded to this new call towards intenser living. Then, too, there were many things unfinished; a great many years of his life be was only twenty-sevestill un lived. "Monsieur desire?" George, ,the proprietor, of. the restaurant, had approached the foremost of the two newcomers with bland and welcoming smile the dark, shock-haireforeigner,, whose or age profession no man might guess, but whom 'David ha.d recognized quickly enough as the most dangerous of his, eternal enemies. "With him, his companion for the nonce, was a representative in plain clothes of the powers that rule at Scotland Yard af burly, awkward-lookinman of youthful middle age, with giant muscles and shoulders against which his coat J seemed to strain. "A table for two against the wall, tif possible," was the prompt reply. friend and I have business to 'My discuss. That one would suit us ' very well," towards table the George glanced Indicated, which was next to David's, and affected to study a list which he held in his hand. ' David's shapely fingers were drumming idly on the tablecloth as he whispered some fragment of flattery in his companion's very will- ing ear. George seemed to catch well-simulate- I O - .. j T 9 II , STANDARD-EXAMINEI- ; her lips, a curious and rather "I have 9" ' you dctirca to ," ho V announced. - ? . order the bill now. If yxra drat mind. I have a buty afternoon." A few mlnutea later David pasaed hi enemy, who looked at hlra without a Clcker cf recognition, made hla adleux to madam and madame husband and tha boring waiter, and atepped into tha ranlit street. He had still th air of & man In a dream a ha stood upon the pavement. Ha glanced behind him. Over the top of the lace, curtain be could e hi countryman attll aeated gloomily la hi placa. Ml Wren held cp her finger as4 hailed a taxlcah. ' Tleaaa come with begged, turning to her companion. He took hi place by her aid and thy drove off. Mia Wrtn looked at heraelf in the g'.aaa, dabbed a little powder on her note and tamed auddenly to the. man by her aide. "You are very raah," ahe aald reprovingly. "Fancy coming to London with that warrant cut agalnat ttralncd look about her mouth, was evidently conlderisg the situ- ation. "You know that your country means havinir you on an extradi- brought warrant?" the pcraon tion "I know, bat bo aked. how, la God' name, he dedid you know who I manded. Mtst Wren made no reply. From card a her handbig the took man's card ecribbled a line or two on the reverse si2e of it and paitd4 it to a waiter with a whlipered word of Infraction. The arproach ln foreigner, to whom the man de llvered it. read the fw wonli. at flrtt btanklr and then with darkening face. Afterwards he resumed hla icat and !rrd hl liquetir uT thouthtfully, aa thoufh pondf rtg over the aituatlon. Nothing eemed changed, yet the four cor nera of the net fell awy. The shadow of the unueea man whoie d fingers ad allpped thai bolt from behind madame. The t . -- . dlaap-peare- you!" -- stepped policeman away from the door and rejoined his companion. All the tenacnepg aeemed to have patted from the room. MUi Wren helped herself hungrily to a Utile more c the chocolate souffle. "My favorite sweet, she confided. -- Forgive my to come." fca rtrlled. wa i here nothing mora for ne to do la the State. Would you mind telling me exactly what you did -what you wrote to that police agent? I am perfectly certain that the policeman with him. had the warrant ia hi 6he nodded. "I am quite aure of it, too. What I did wa nothing. You wOI hear all about it ia a very faw minutes. All the tine, you are very raah. I am quit ture that you wlLl ret into trouble acne day when I am not around to protect you." he "You to protect nit laughed. She tlgbed. 0 -Like all nta," ahe continued, "who have. lived an adventurou life, you peralat la ignoring tha fact that women count. You are o ludlcrouily final, loo, la your Judgment cf tbtra. I believe that from the first moment welcomed you into my office you hava taken me for a tool. "You - are right," he admitted. I had plain-cloth- n ' ' ' " jf1' " ., , ' 1 , ' v. '?&.' d "'-- ' ' " ' " -- r', " ' 'o ' ' ' . ," 1 A pokC t - ' " ' "y , J Y , . , 1 i , , yi g X the rhythm X ' . - v , t. A- 1 - v - ? ! . - N ' I V f. "You might hare had to tw tot that very dearly" aha U4 K i . n verely. -- movements, and, though his. eyes were still fixed upon the list, his r cheeks , grew as; pale IBs his "Own enowy tablecloths. "That table, monsieur," he stammered, "is engaged a gentleman who lunches every Wednesday." The newcomer was in no Pay?" V -- Jj "la kind." He turned uneaally tn hi plac and looked at thla urprtatng young lady. What a fool h had beta to - Ah If ever think of her a tha fiuffy liltl nonentity ahe had to evidently to em. Her little demure waya, her coquetriai, her anlet vanities had fallen away from her In thete minute cf revelation. She de-alr- f ; fl'i . a young wemaa" iUfncIenUy ahrewd and courage-o-u. and he no longer wondered at her unique potlUoa- "la it permitted," be a iked, -glancing out cf the window, for ma to inquire where yoa are taking .' - ' ' , - - , ' way-disturbe- With a little shrug of the shoulders and the most casual of glances towards David, !he followed the maitre d'hotel to a distant table in the window, and, taking" the menu from his han,- - ordered with some care an elaborate luncheon.) "You speak French, dear Miss wren?" David whispered to his good-humore- d ', til . i , . - f will know the type. 1 . .1 Come, my friend, that will not do. 1 You are hiding the best peaches. Give i . 1 ' ' i -- w"n . ' err.' . J . - ... "4 ., " I. Hi- - making a pig cf nytclf. Toa can order cot fro and ameke aa aoon aa . that they're wrong, then," she. de- clared, David was interested but .Incredulous. "One Journal even went further than that," he confided, dropping . his voice a little. "I read in a ,New York paper, that it was owing to Mr. 'Ilarley Packe's influence that the authorities over here in London had agreed to grant the eitrffdi-- " tion warrant for the Crown Prince If ever he should come to this ried?" "He lost his wife five years ago. "Does he go into society ?" Scarcely at all. He has no time." "There is no doubt," he sighed, "that very soon you will be private ecretary to a. Prime Minister. Then," I suppose, you wiil be too proud to speak to anyone." "Not to those I like," she answered.' "I'm not that sort. I never forget my friends." "Will you always remember me?" he whispered. "That depends upon how you be-- ' have," she replied primly. "So f ar , vou've been most gentlemanly ' and nice." His fingers touched hers under the tablecloth. If was an intimacy-- ' to which she yielded with some re-:- v. ; 'serve. v. "Well," he continued, after a moment's pause, "it is a situation which will assuredly arrive.' I do not know anyother living English statesman of Harley Packe's abil-- " itycertalnly not in foreign affairs. There is just, a, trifling weakness, ' to my mind, though, in his policV with regard to certain mhlor Eu-ropean affairs." for she instance?" "As, inquired. "Well, the Balkan kingdoms," he went on, after a moment's hesitation. "There is Balkanland Itself, for Instance. lie seems to have , . j -- , , -.- .'-- ..'.; " - j . -- " , vv ' y his present very imminent danger. Madame leaned over towards him from her little boxlike seclu- - country." the contrary," Miss Wren , "On affirmed, with the complacent air Bioq, whence fio overlooked every of one who speaks with authority, table in the fuom, made out the "Mr. Harley Packe la very angry bills with unfailing accuracy and about that warrant. If Metzger la to this country, it isn't in whispered the wants cf her favorite coming the least on a friendly visit. It is i clients to her son or husband. She, to clear himself from a very grave too, spoke in French. suspicion of having signed a num- ; "There is trouble, monsieur?" "Bad!" ho assented. ber of false statements with refer .ence to the exploits-othe Cown "The little door behind me," she Prince. Oh, dear," she went on. dropping her voice, ls Bighed, ."there I am talking away open. Beyond all is clear, and about things I'd no right to menthere is generally a taxi In the tion! To a comparative stranger, street" too! Please don't think that I alThere is Just-thchance," he ways chatter like this, Mr. David." muttered.-.- . "It is you who have the He reassured ; her a little abcourage, madame" sently. After all, it had been such ; A gesture no" more. Madame an easy victory. The one piece of. continued her calculations. Every information he had set himself out y bll was neatly made out In front to gain was his. And so success! of her. ' Upstairs her husband And so --a few yards away exile, ' shivered for his llcenee, hU prohta. probable death! Nevertheless he his freedom. Tha sexes are sornv tlmea so mlaplaced. . . . And played the game. They ate and then the end seemed to come, very drank, talked; of the latest revue, even planned a visit to the theatre, , naturally, very completely. A with the modest but firm proviso clock outside struck tho half hour that Miss Wren must catch the after two. There wa3 the rattle of C) 1921. lntcraUonl Fraturv Srnrlcf, lac. - f , 1 " , at alto-iethe- ir" a bolt in the door behind madame. She glanced at David meaningly, Escape that way despaliinglj. had been foreseen and dealt wilh Opposite, the foreigner; with an ilr of authority, had risen to hla feet. d There was a queer smile of triumph upon his Hps. His companion was covering the doorway.. Tho net wa being drawn In. Ml "How Wrea Queer!," pfcgled, "I feel' aa though something wero going1 to happen. 'Something is," David mattered. And" yet." Miss Wren continued, with a most oniating chacga in her tooe. "If I aay that it shall not, it ahall not." long-delaye- D vi CHAPTER II. AVID, a few seconda ago, had felt outside the capacity for any furllTcr c notion. Tho astonishing metamorrhosfi la his and the however, companion, of her pronouncement Btrangene! him. He f tared at her a!3aic-d blankly. A new MIm Wren, with an unaccustomed finance about ' of having paaaed Into aozne a econd-nrworld, where the men and woman were puppet and the happening were Cashed upon a screen. Only a few moment ago he had been smiling at the eaae with which he had twister round hla finger thia complacent young .lady. Now her, beheld a different person aeated by hla. aide and, calmly finishing her lunch, utterly oblivious of the fact that she had intervened between him and t?ag- rdr. And orJalle sat hla enemy. biting his naUi. furious yet Im potent, whispering aomellmes to " the man by hi aide, glancing con- Unually at the card which lay before, hlra. Madame, relieved from the strain, waa talking gaily to one of her, favorite custom era. George, ho teemed to have become, ivire by rome myiterloui inilghi that the danger waa past, waa moving around the room.araln. all amllea and bowl. It TOrange d'Or of an hour ago, th ahadow of tragedy msrept awy. "And by his aide, contentedly eating chocolate mjtiffle. a little demure, a little Clrtatiou. eat the goddess out cf the machine who had worked the change. "It la a queer world." David f aid at Us;. nd you. Mlif Wren, are cne cf th! r.;cMit astcaUhlcg peopla I have met In Fhe UuKhed a HUIe affectedly. She wa once more the yoa'sg TToman whom he had found o f aiy a victim. "1 am a very ordinary tm prnscn. the declared. "You can y ; It was not a very happ marriage." ' "two of them. know the build. am ruined! David looked him in the face. Bo a 'master might have gazed at a disobedient and currish hound. David had steely gray eyes and a mouth which could be gentle and humorous, but which just at that moment was like, a, thin strip of whipcord.' His features were lean and shapely, his bearing and man- ners curiously unobtrusive, but dis; was His the' unantinguished. alysable type K)f good look$ whlch eeemed to be linked with some hidden force of character. j i "Go away," he ordered in a low ,t tone. "This affair will doi you no harm. Your nerves are breaking. Go and have a .drink in your back room, or look after your guests up- J V i ' v ea ee David obeyed her bidding, bat he sat for aome mcinenla with the cigarette unlUhted between hla lips. lie was filled with the senae , ei pa-tag- you like." Minister some day," she said. "He deserves, it, too. He has more brains than all the rest of the Cabinet put together.? "I should like to know more,, of confided. "Is he mar-- ' him," David " f Interview with Mr. ahe told him. . . . Tacke," Harley Her nod aeemed to be a pa word la the great block of government office which they had entered. She led the way throe fh a mate of and. David followed her, ch-led with a aenae of the unreality cf It alL Yet thee Incloilng walla oppretaed him. There vti no longer any free air ia hi lusga. He wa ta a hoatlle atmoaphere. cloaed door behind him. and ha loved freedom a ha loved life. Finally they entered a large room where a young man aat writing at a desk. He roae to hi feet an3 bowed. "Mr Packe I waiting for you," he aald almply. Mlia Wren codded, knocked at the tall mahogany door on the other !ie of the room, turned the traa handle, and, with a gertur to David U follow her, paaaed Into a mailer, more Intimate apartmtnt. Here, too. a man aat at a dek. writing. Ha pamed and lifted hla Lead. It wa curtou that to algn of recognition, greeting or direct aJdrei paed between any cf tha three. Mlia Wrea almply indicated her companion. "I have trourht the pertoa you dilred to eee." rke announced. Tho Rlcht Honorable- Harley Packe nodded allghtly. He wa apparently a man who had scarcely yet reached middle are. with Jet- c.ack hair, comrlexlon ci lonc-delay- and presently returned. The result of his mission was written in his scared face. ""There are two," he announced, . - tn-jsl- me those, two." The restaurateur, catching some Inspiration from his patron's manner, protested and finally yielded, replaced the basket of fruit upon the little , counter behind which madame, his wife, sat entrenched, walked, as though casually, towards the door, looked out into the street stairs.", George disappeared as though the . suggestion were a welcome one'. Miss Clara Wren deliberately pouted, a performance which one might Imagine she had been told was becoming to her. "You ask me to come out to you," she complained, lunch, ''and yoir talk French all the time with the proprietor." "I was ordering the sweets," y d She shook her head. "I used to think so at school.tehe admitted doubtfully, "never plnce." George strolled, up a moment or two later, in response to his client' Eummons, with a box of peaches in his hand and a ghastly smile on his. lace. David addressed him la French. "It is the one man." "The good God!", "Make an excuse to goi to the door. See if there are others in the street loitering on the other side of the way, probably. : You ' -- a I (companion. ' r - , "It la permitted." aha replied tn her new manner, "but I. do not think that the knowledge would afford you any particular aatiffao tic a. Take my advlc. Face tl Interview whica I have arranged for you aa calmly aa you face-tat femed like certain d!aater la the Orasge dOr. You are a fatallat, I am ur. Accept what eomea. You may find a aurprta la i tore for you." They drew up at lajt ia front cf a Urge building: la Whitehall. David, who recomlted the locally, lulled a little bitterly. "Am I to all la your room agaia and puraue my lngnuou lea." he aaked. "or are ycu going to cat t me into the Hon' den?" "You are going to have your , r ed - wae good-looking- ' 1 bave- . staccato those of f. ... ''"' , i aim if , whltenei. waim-llk-e r a.TOw trown eye, aatonlih'ngly brlfht. and a alight Mack taouitache, There waa aMkt about h'a c'.oely trimmed. acm-thtn- fmpre-Mlv- g tCne-thlo- g alienee and hit rT.-r.a!';unusual tn the icnbr perfeo- Hon cf hi morning c!cthe, the hrary t!ck It atln tie and tha hlch hIi fell tcEetber. Hla han-dere f et was haplT, hj rpfech y. prl Rw aiow. Ths.nk 7-- tt Wren." he . |