Show V. V Road ad d e MADAME DE t Fleeing SYNOPSIS Fleeing from a 1 brutal stepfather an unhappy leZ r hom home and nd a a. proposed husband t I she detests young I French girl stands In a country road on the verge of desperation Halted by an exploded tire Ure two young Englishmen Lord Gerald t 1 Dombey and Christopher Bent are attracted by the tho girls girl's distracted dis dle- Ill appearance She begs bels I them to take her away from her hert t misery In a So spirit of adventure i they do BO so 80 conveying her to toMonte toMonte toMonte Monte Carlo and leaving her with friends Myrtile speaks English her mother having b been en an educated educated educated edu edu- woman Gerald sees a 0 aC C beautiful young oung woman In the tho It gambling rooms and Is fascinated fasci fasci- noted but can only learn that 1 she Is called Paulino Pauline do g and Is le with her aunt He Is s unable un unable unable un- un able to secure an Introduction Christopher and Gerald decide shall not go back to her herI I t home Lad Lady Mary Geralds Gerald's sister sis sis- ter In do love with Christopher Chris Chrls- dl disapproves of ot the young oung mens men's guardianship of Lord Dombey Dombe makes the ac acquaintance acquaintance act ac- ac t of Pauline He Is of puzzled by the air of mystery and condescension surrounding her Myrtile falls In love lovo with Gerald Chris would marr marry Geraid Gerald Gerald Ger Ger- ald aid Is Interested In Pauline A mysterious Russian Zubin wins I E a large sum at the gambling tables Gerald learns ho he knows the De but can get no Information from him Chris makes little progress In his courtship of ot Myrtile IrUle who Is completely completely com corn Infatuated with Gerald whose Interest Is all In Pauline Paulino Gerald tells Pauline Paulino of Zubin's gambling She asks him to find the Russian and bring him to her herand herand herand and her aunt Gerald finds Zubin Zu Zu- bin The Russian has lost every every- thing CHAPTER IX Continued IX-Continued Continued 10 10 Monsieur Gerald reI remarked remarked re re- I marked with an Inclination of his bead head toward the man who was was the center enter of Interest The attendant turned around with an expressive little nod Yesterday he broke the bank he whispered Today he can do nothing right He Is losing then The mans man's grimace was significant Gerald watched his own stake swept I away and crossed to a place behind the Russians Russian's chair In one of ot the Intervals In in- he leaned over oer and touched I him on the shoulder The man took no notice Gerald whispered In his ear Madame de awaits you atthe at atthe atthe the villa ma her her- Zubin for a moment remained perfectly per teeny still When at last he turned around his face was ghastly With his bis strong arm ami he pushed back some someone someone someone one who Intervened Who are you 1 he demanded I am nm merely a messenger Gerald replied I 1 know no more than that G I was n asked ed to give gl you that word If I I saw you at the casino r The Russian rose slowly to his feet k left one of ot the plaques to guard his place pInel thrust a great pile of notes Into his pocket and led Gerald Into a cor cor- corner ner I You have been sp spying Ing on me It ItIs ItIs Itis Is through you that madame knows I Iam Iam am nm In Monte Carlo On the contrary Gerald reminded him you yourself wrote a note to her herand herand herand and dispatched It by messenger from Ci ros rosf f This note was brou brought ht back bac back back- madame was out the man declared It was an accursed accident that One gathers that you ou have ha not been fortunate today Gerald remarked reo remarked re re- o marked after a brief silence That Is my own affair was tas the grim reply What liat I desire to know knowIs Is how you von on became lon wIth 01 n these e ladies to such an extent that they should appoint you as their mes mes- Fenger I 1 do not recognize your right to ask me questions Gerald asserted but as a u matter of ot fact my knowledge knowledge knowl knowl- edge of them theta Is of the thc slightest t. t Actually Actually Ac Ac- I do not know them at all I happened to have a few minutes' minutes conversation con con- with Mademoiselle lIe de Po Po- and ond A f mentioned your winnings You will remember that I saw n a letter from you to madame last lust night Monsieur Zubin sat for a moment deep In thought Are you yon charged charge to deliver jell n a reply to this message he lie demanded Certainly not G Gerald answered I have ha no the privilege ge of visiting at atthe atthe atthe the villa I 1 should think not the other growled gro I wondered only o whether you ou hn had been told to take n a ines mesag ng j to the back beck door You are a very ery impertinent nt fellow Gerald told him calmly You Yon appear to have corne come from a countr country where manners manner have ceased to exist The man mun lau laughed hed brutally One puts off ocr manners when one deals deal with spies and und meddlers he declared declared de de- Get Gt on about your our business He Re walked baik bak and took his place at nt the table tuble Gerald left the rooms a n few minutes later Inter and strolled out Into the square He Be was in some doubt as us to what he ought to do Pauline had hall absolutely forbidden him t to communicate with her in any ony shape or form yet ret he had hada a conviction that Z Zubin's bins exploits In Inthe Inthe inthe the casino should be made known t to her He strolled across across to the esI esa es- es f I a 4 of Madame Lenore Madame Madame Madame Ma Ma- dame greeted him liin with a peculiarly knowing smile H He drew Y her on one tide Ikle e. e I Madam he be said you make town roc lot Mademoiselle de re By Oppenheim Copyright by Little Brown Bro A Co I The smile disappeared from madame's madame's ma- ma dames dame's lips Ups Her lier face became sive sire It is true milord she admitted What of It Just thIs tills You are doubtless Infrequent in infrequent infrequent frequent communication with her I have hac some slight acquaintance with mademoiselle but I am not permitted to communicate with her It Is Important important Im im- im that she should know that the Russian Zubin is gambling In th the casino and losin losing heavily A IA bI big man madame asked quickly quick quick- I ly almost n a giant That is 15 he hc Ger Gerald ld assented M Madame dame turned toward the thc telephone tele tele- phone Dem Demand nd the Villa VIolette she told the operator Say that I wish to speak to Mademoiselle 11 de without delay Gerald turned away Madame de le dismissed the servants with a n little wave of ot the hand and looked thoughtfully for a afew afew afew few moments Into the fire of pine logs which had been kindled In the grate grete Pauline she said Zubin is al already already al- al ready rendy four d days rs late Pauline made no Immediate reply Her ITer aunt pointed to an nn escritoire which stood in a corner of ot the room These people she continued become become become be come abusive Even Lenore has s sent nt an account You dispatched the telegram telegram tele tele- gram I dispatched the telegram Pauline Pauline Paul Paul- ine assented but it was needless Lubin Is here Here In Monte Carlo Madame de demanded quickly I have ha heard so so Pauline replied II My I Information is Isery very ery scanty but butI I understand that he had sent you a n aletter aletter letter last night The pallor of the older womans woman's face tace seemed suddenly deepened Her eyes glittered ominously Jean spoke of a note that had been brought and taken away away she muttered mut mut- Tell me at once what you know Pauline I have ha no definite Information Pauline reiterated but I understand that he has been seen at the casino Madame me de e sat like a n Woman woman woman wom wom- an who has received recel a shock The shadow of fear was upon her face tace You do not know Zubin she groaned If he once smells the at- at 1 1 i I Ii c i w i 1 A t e ff A 1 1 y rr M a a Ly The Note t Was War Brought Back Back Back- Madame Was Out Out the Man Declared De De- of that place t Is Jlko Ilko a deadly drug dlUg to him And he lost lost's luss s 1 He always ays loses loses' She leaned over O and struck a hell bell tt stood upon a table Tile The car In a n quarter of an hour she ordered Pauline get ready We Ve must ee sect seel l Zubin If he he heH H hn has he begun un to gamble be lie will go on to the tile enl J Th They drove e first t to the ca casino rno where they explored only the Cede Ceicle Irive From there thre the they went to rhe the Sporting club where there was waR Mill still no sign of him Madame de re became more ho ef lie Is re resting renting In his hotel horel she uld said plc preparing to visit us He lie would never come without tending sending word woid beforehand Paulina reminded reminded re re- minded her They sat side b by side on one of the settees two t rather lonely and dis- dis dI d women face to face with ea Pauline saw Gerald In the distance and determined upon a bold step Aunt she said there Is a n young man standing h by the easy chair there whose hose father lives at ut the adjoining villa 1110 to ours He has once or twice offered me come ome om small courtesies lIeIs lIeis lie lieIs Is alone lone and und I am urn sure he would be glad glud to be he useful Let me rue send semI nun aim to the casino Show him him to Madame de demanded Pauline pointed him hint out Her lIer aunt sighed One breaks n a cherished tradition she said but It mu must t be done Clone I leave the matter In your our hands G Gerald ant and Christopher strolling I round the room came pre presently to within a n few fret feet of r them Gerald bit bit- I I terly thou though h he resented It it wa was p passing pose pass SIng S ing on after one swift glance at Paul Paul- Ine She leaned leuned over however and touched him on the arm Lord Dombey she said my aunt permits me to present you Lord Dombe Dombey Dom Dom- be bey Madame hey Madame de do Gerald taken by surprise bore the shock well wen He bowed low and murmured murmured murmured mur mur- a few polite words I am nm afraid you will twill think that we are very verr mercenary Pauline continued continued con con- but we are going to ask a favor Ca It Is granted G Gerald assured het net swiftly There Is a n I gentleman in Monte Carlo named ZubIn Lubin I know him by hy sight Gerald de Ge- dared Besides Then the rest Is easy Pauline Interrupted interrupted in- in with a warning look Our request is that you search the casino for him and undo if he Is there that you bring him to us Gerald bowed Mademoiselle he promised if he Is there I will bring him to you within a quarter of an hour Gerald on entering the casino made his way at t once to th the table at nt atthe atthe the farther end The seat which had hadeen been een occupied by Zubin however was vacant though the table Itself was crowded He was on the point of continuing his search In one of the theother theother theother other other rooms when he suddenly saw the man of whom he was In search seated on one of the sofas against the wall wail He made his way thither at once Sir he said I II have brought you rou a message from M Madame a me de The Russian lifted his head hend and find for fora a moment Gerald was afraid that ne lie had nad na had a stroke His eyes ees were horribly red the flesh about t his cheek cheel cheekbones cheekbones bones seemed to have become drawn tight and nd his cheeks to display new hollows His hands were trembling All his truculence of manner had departed de de- parted From Madame de he re re- Where here Is she She Is waiting now In the Sporting club Gerald replied I will take vou you to her if you will accompany me The Russian rose to his feet and the two men left the place Many of the bystanders g gazed zed after them and Gerald Gerald Gerald Ger Ger- ald heard something of ot their whispers Im afraid youve you've been having rather n a bad time he rem remarked His companion took no notice He walked Indeed like a n man in a n night night- mare Not only was he unshaven ven but his clothes were creased find and tumbled He lie was altogether a di- di looking shoveled object Might I sug suggest est Gerald sard sahl as they descended the steps of ot the Casine casino ca ca- sino sine that you ou visit your hotel and freshen up a little before you vou come to the club Zubin seemed suddenly to step down from another world He Ie looked ed vacantly vacantly vacantly va va- va- va cantly at Gerald for a moment at t his smoothly brushed hair his well cut dinner coot coat his faultless linen Then with a little start he glanced at himself himself himself him him- self and anel shrugged his shoulders ponderously pon pon- You ore are right monsieur Come this war way He crossed the street with great strides and nd entered the Hotel de Paris He lie turned once more to Gerald as ns ashe ashe he entered the lift A quarter of an hour monsieur he said I give gI you ou m my word that I 1 will twill not keep you ou longer than twenty minutes I will trill be waiting wafting here Gerald promised After the departure of the lift Gerald Gerald Gerald Ger Ger- ald made his way by hy means of the private passage to the Sporting club Madame de and her nl niece ce e se t 1 h 1 1 h 1 1 1 ft tl th ism C cc u n sere ie ia I a athe 11 the elder lad lady sipping some Pauline looking around her 1 n a nI I languid air of half amused Interest Save Su for the fact that Madame de res re's lips tightened a n little as ns she son paw Gerald alone there was not tJ ho he slightest Indication In th their lr manner mann r or expression lon that they th were con can confronted fronted In any way with an n exceptional exceptional situation I have e found our friend he an an- ed lIe fie Is making makin some al alterations nl al to his toilet I am him In a n few minutes and shall shaH bring him here Was m he playing Pauline en Not when I arrived was the cuu tIon reply Madame de stirred her coffee corre ne negligently o. o Had he lie she asked the air of ot a n anun nun mon ho who hI has been heen losing I fear Gerald admitted that h he rather gave me that impression Pauline smiled up at ut him It lilt Is lr very goo good of you nu to give yourself your self so much trouble she said Maunt M My I aunt and ami I are greatly Indebted tc to you Please do not lose any time tint in bringing Monsieur here Evidently Zubin's gambling has much to do with the fortunes of P Pauline and her aunt How clo closely ely are the two two women In Involved In TO UK HI CONTINUED Only Hope Is in Strength Hope nothing from foreign ll gove t. ments They will trill never he really wW wWI Trig lag to aid you until you have shown I you on are uro strung strong to tv conque Je without thorn |