| Show ka cr wy nay S youna ia sy irv W 0 i s J 10 co amme aw 0 71 SYNOPSIS holton Is 1 from hi a and la in the navy at ahk ati outset of th e Z ish war and to laport rUnt ant secret crt irvlie duty CHAPTER 11 II the girl and the th welter walter at seven la in immaculate eve alog ding attire holte set et out from hta his club and allied forth to the willard after studying tl als menu lovingly and baring having deviled devised IL dinner suitable ul table to the palate of one who had followed fallowed the lure of in vienna parl parts and london he turned from the card and lighting a cigarette and sipping a cock tall he fazed gazed about the room mom at one table he flaw saw the french am bassinor baia bas ador sIdor and a company of hie big gallic frind friends near by young pembroke of the british embassy emba aay waa was dining a girl holton had met mel to ht his left jett sat at a dark skinned ki nned aleek sleek appearing man with eloie cropped vandyke beard board he had ben been pointed out to holton in paria paris ai an a man who ho had plan plans of G german or forta forts at kiel for aale sale the young yang officer wondered what hat he waa was doing here bore Alto altogether gither the atmosphere atmo apher holton decided waa was juit just aa as it hould should be juat just all a the capital of a country should act when the government aland stands OD on the brink of international war holton had bad juit just dispatched dia patched hia his fint first when hie his attention log baj w attract ed by a musical little lauch to a table about twenty feet away from him A girl lightly slightly above the medium height ath alender slander remittent lent figure iraa was strand binding with her back to urn blim talking to her bar euort a well built man of any odd with iron tran gray hair heir and be beard ard and the dark features tea turea of the latin bhe she waa was a beauty holton cann W ear sour of femininity though he was wa admitted that without hesitation her hair v waa not the coal black hair heir of her race but autv a shining ahl ning golden deep brown which lay upon her head in thick waving convolutions her yea eyes wen were blue gray set of off by tony dark lasted aad ane brow brows which ran with delf delicate cato archee arches to the fas straight finely anely modeled does her hpe lips wen were colored by nature jure lure coral corel aad and her bar teeth fleshed ti abe he spoke its aboard father for yoa to mind I 1 can wait hen here aa well aa as anywhere aay where elst el although I 1 hant proud not to occupy OMPY myself ay if by dining the father h rugged well be he wid sad at lagath it to Is quite necessary ceary ne ranee ran ma I 1 shant be gone IPA long loes but it yoa you kind ill take yoa lack back to the houi bow jr f not at all not nota all ae a awn U tel ifa its w bright aad and latar SAIng here hors aad ana i retura aoa anyway aay way no go 20 oa on father and rud ill 11 eat sato ahe smiled radiantly to slowly namon retarn returns Z her cheeka cheeks had gushed with animation and the parity purity of her colo coloring ling aa as well wall aa as th the whiteness of her akin skin P CI 0 holton tightened his grip an the I 1 walter arm that if it her father were or cuban or something om ething latin the girl irl un questionably waa was thet the nalter ten gAter ot of an anzio saxon mother with a gesture that amounted al L wont to care lerne she be had bad tomed tossed a arm act womb hand bag an 00 the table and now an she he lanced glanced over the card tt it was quite concealed from her view holton returned to hi his oysters cot not however ho neglecting occasional gliates at the radiant creature who ho had bea been left I aft as he inwardly Inward lv phrased it high and dry by bp her father 1 I should think he be murmured that hed be afraid would teal steal her 11 ll by george georget id like to you know which thought thriller ts lit him out at of it 11 all II proportion to the bount of good enie sense it contained contain edIt it was aa at abort about this point that 1101 Il olione tons case gaze fell upon the waiter attending the young woman lie ile waa was one of those interesting per sons OBI to be seen occasionally la to great arant ur ant who ho seam to be b abort their calling there was a IL hidden something Bom ething passing phases 0 of facial ex oz pre pres silon slon a certain movement of the shoulders and a above bove all ft a firm footed tooted but light tread all of which peeked to holton to indicate a man misplaced he ile felt certain of this a moment later when the girl again lifted the menu and the waiter topped stepped to the corner orner of the table upon which the gold told bag lay jay with a quick snakelike anak elike movement hie big hand band shot out and seized the bag then hardly lifting nil his finger from the table be he napped his hi wrist upward and the bag flew flow under the lapel of his jacket which bad had been held open to receive it by the other hand another instant and he wae was la in front of the girl receiving her bar order with the utmost eang sang frold holton wasted no time in thought quickly springing up he approached the young womans table and nodding to her a aa to an old acquaintance he placed hia his hand lightly upon the wait ers ees arm I 1 walt wait a moment said holton pleasantly the girl la in the meantime had been staring at the young officer in w wide do eyed wonderment what what doe does this mean she he asked finally anally your bag ad sald holton quietly waa was on this table was it bott not the girl leaned forward with a gasp why why ye yes she he aid said why iti gone she looked dp up at holton with startled eyes ite ICs gone fons she re eted her bar voles beginning to rise holton smiled reassuringly and nod ded N please mease dont be alarmed he aid said it it Is all right he turned to the waiter thie this man evidently regarded your bag as a among the debria debris to be cleared from the table rather stupid of course but then it he were nol not stupid he be a waiter you know what do you mean girl irta exclaimed the this man flum flushing bing 1 l holton laughed and tightened ha grip on an the waiter am cott come come he mid said take that bag out of your youit coat and gut it oa on the table or III make a estead eagle of you give me my bag said the girl her eyes flashing fleshing without a word the waiter reached hie his hand inside his jacket and bringing forth the missing article laid tt it oa on the table there he said mid 1 I thought someone 0 had left it and I 1 was going golds to take it to the desk 0 rate rats commented holton do you wish hia him arrested he be added glancing at the garl I 1 the young woman thought ft a moment and then than shook her bead head no thank you I 1 thin think amov not she he aid said 1 I should hate to appear ao 10 prot u ce clinge Inge and after all no harm has been done it may bebe be he was sincere in removing the bag holton regarded her bar sharply and aw saw that she really ball believed eved in the joans guilt but was averse to carrying the matter further all right he said rel releasing leIng his hl grip upon is the galtere wal tere arm now then you go to and attend to your duties and be rare you dont put any poison to in this young ladyjo food M the waiter turned away with aa an evil cowl scowl and holton bowed and was wan about to go to nis ila table when the girl smiled at him radiantly 1 I have not thanked bouye you yet for your kindness she sall ald oh ob it was wan nothing at all responded holton I 1 but pilat it was she insisted that very dear 0 ma and besides it contains things I 1 should hate bate to loil loi L I 1 am sorry soft that my father Is to not here her to thank you and yet in another way I 1 am glad he would scold m me e tor for being awfully careless she waa was speaking in perfect english with just the faintest latest a accent perhaps so granted holton then be took the bit in ir hl his teeth tooth amy my tame la Is appleton he aid sald im whorten WH a lieutenant in the army I 1 andi ahe ati a ti asu la las tva tu ofa I 1 think it 1 at wast I 1 remember belog seeing you at one of the white home ho use reception receptions I 1 remember baring having een seen you lied it holton olton but I 1 wa wan bryng to recall the place piece I 1 think we were introduced la toe tossa ho he aused I 1 oh come como mr A applelate Apple P tate P appleton 1 corrected holton thank you mr appleton let as us bare have done don a with bruns about the bush you hev hare 0 rendered ored ae me a great favor tonight and that 1 Is quite sufficient but eu do not ratu ember me and so please do not try to make me think you do all right aid said holten holton wl 1 wont woul dut but ut you will not think me pro a after lut m eril I 1 c if it I 1 ald said I 1 hould should like to hem 1 I bould should like to have you know me she he cald said imply simply the unexpected ed nature of thia this remark quite the young officer and for a second no words came to bla big bengue thank you your he ald said lamely alt t t U r iba she regarded him in lulling smiling silence but im afraid she he aid said then th enthat I 1 that your knowledge Wll be limited to this t 11 I 1 evening I 1 wish really wish it would be otherwise she sighed it would be r SO ill no lu to be like other girl girls but father and I 1 are birda birds of passage here one day there the next I 1 shall abaft be so 0 o glad to be home once ones more worn hornet holton looked at her bar inquiringly quirin gly yee yes my WT home li Is near santiago we are outside Cu abitan oh ohl holton flushed gushed for some reacon reason or other 1 goodby good by mr appleton he ald laid 1 I 11 grateful gra total to you Y I 1 am thankful you have been very good but now you must go to really may I 1 not call calif asked holton 1 I recognize the informality of our meet me st ing and I 1 do not wish you to think me forward but I 1 really 1 I thank you mr appleton ahe she aid said but no these things cannot be there waa was a note not of finality in her bar yoke votes and a trace of pathos both of which holton caught of coune course bliss la JA toasa I 1 hall de do aa you may ay but I 1 am orry sorry he ile pud and will you please PIOUS bemons ber her this if you ever need used assistance in it any way and I 1 am within reach roub will you call upon me 1 I thank you she he replied you are moat most kind kid I 1 mall remember what you hare hays aid said hait holton drew a card case cae from hie his pocket when I 1 told you my name waa was appleton he ald said 1 I acted upon impulse Im but Inton intended ded no insult bly real rest name data 0 and MY address addres sare are contained here bore and he placed a card la in front of her hot the girl glanced at the bit of apte board and then started she looked up at holton with a frightened ex oz prom irelon pr elon don lieutenant Llou tenant holton ahe she ald said why I 1 thought she paused too you thought prompted holton 1 I 1 I 1 thought ow paused pauw again then her bar expression changed and ahe she maled 44 at wis 1 I thought you ald said your name waa was appleton ai As I 1 I 1 did tell you that aid said holton it xu sas an Im aad and no harm ham wae was intended now you have nay my res real name the girl hook her bar head lowly slowly you must not do that again what glye the wrong name 1 I never hall and holton spoke pok fervently no 70 the right name she fixed glad him with her serious eye appleton Is a very fine line name she he aid said it sound juat just ae as well aa 98 your own hoi 1101 ton tee too I 1 think it bai has a more attractive sound Bound to a spaniard when you ay say appleton why then th enthen then it to better 0 so o sometimes now mr appleton again I 1 thank you I 1 remember all you have done and all you have aid said and now you curt must go the officer bowed a trifle tiffey tiff ly for her manner had bad undergone under cono something of a 4 chance change he US with withdrew to hie big own table and wan went through hl bin coune courses in a perfunctory manner hi hie mind wae was wholly upon that beautiful firl girl and the strange nature of their in ter terr lew view holton wae was engaged in thought miss la waiter ae an though to make up for hie his misconduct mie conduct proved a most excellent servitor he seemed in fact to take especial ee pride in attending atten dinc to the errice service with all tho kill skill at hi his command with the remit result that the girl girt who was in large decree degree an epicure rewarded 1 aitu a plea pleas ant mile smile her father joined her at coffee coffa and it was then while waiting for or an order that thil this trance strange waiter penciled the following telegram upon a pad which he carried la in hie his pocket holton at willard scorpion evidently not going to key west failed with girt but all working well tali this went to key yest west the waiter returned to the th dining room and spent all bla his spare time standing within ear ahot shot of the table at whick misa 1 la IA and her father were seated the two were guests at the hotel just before they aroito the father said something om ething aich brought the waiter rigid he ile listened for the reply and then with broad emle he hurried to the serving table for finger bowls aa as demanded by a fussy gentleman at s table in froot front of him aa an tor for holton olton II be he was smoking a long cigar and gating thoughtfully at the calling cel ling trying to determine where he be bad had seen the th face of that waiter before 0 0 0 0 0 when holton entered the ballroom of the willard the orchestra from behind its shelter of palma palms waa was ending sending forth the stirring notes of sousas dousas star stars and aud stripes whose popularity was then at the apex and the floor was tiled lifted with whirling couples A few minutes late all other thoughts flashed fished from his hi mind as the girl be he had met in the restaurant passed in at the door on the arm of her father she ebe was smiling animatedly ard was at one once surrounded by a group of young men mainly foreigners all clamoring for one or more dances by george georgel ejaculated holton under ills his breath im for that young lady without any doubt at all twice he started to more move toward he ber r only to be anticipated by some equally ardent young gallant and it wan not until the music of a waits waltz had 4 k trying to determine whore he had seen the face before ceased and her partner had begun to cast hie his eye eyes about the room for the woman whole whose name appeared next on hie his card that holton law saw hi his opportunity stepping Step pinc quickly across the floor he confronted her bar with a bow bw seeing which the partner bowed in turn and disappeared mr apple mr Hol holton toul I 1 she he ex oz claimed what a not an unpleasant one I 1 hope smiled holton la in reply of course not be she answered alao las ing her card la 14 the officer offices outstretch ed ad had ha d thank you holton glanced quick ly down the kit list of names 1 I iee see the twelfth thirteenth and fourteenth dancea dances are not taken mar I 1 have them all I 1 she arched her eyebrows eye browe but smiled as a it certainly all said the young man emphatically and arid aa as many more aa an 0 you ou can e pare she rosar deJ hin r lia stiflingly whit what P quee pelsor you are holton wa was about to reply when a marj mars in diplomatic uniform approached pro ached bowed sti tidy fily and t tire tro ro we orl away she looked back at holtha over her bar boulder shoulder alilee I 1 she called TO BE CONTINUED |
