Show THE HE BLUE B LUE CIRCLE by Ef elizabeth estabeth jordan a by br TIM the century co service chapter C VI 11 tea for I 1 three it seemed to renshaw that he be bad been waiting in peacock alley since the beginning ot of time in reality be had been there less than halt an hour when he heard his big name uttered in a cool tone that was becoming familiar I 1 to life his ears why theres mr renshaw and he appears to be aslee asleep pl I 1 he sprang to his feet snatching off his hat as ho he did so BO verity campbell and madame had stopped before him for a moment the wave of humiliation that rolled over him hut abut out any appreciation of their expressions pres or their manner they must be half frantic they must despise him beyond words as a blundering one ass incapable even of carrying out the simplest instructions well nothing they or anyone else thought of him could be worse than what he be thought of himself no he said confusedly 1 I asleep I 1 was trying to he ele brolie broke off and turned directly to madame im wretched about this thing he be said with ao an actual break in his voice what ran can I 1 bayl say I 1 the eyes of both women were on him as he spoke and now with time for clearing senses he realized that neither pair held the expression he be had looked for the eyes of verity revealed her customary indifference very slightly tinged with criticism those of the other woman cold at trot first were softening into pity as they took in the young mans haggard aspect nothing more monsieur I 1 am distressed that you yon have suffered over my affairs she was smiling as she spoke and the smile prepared him for her next words everything Is how Is it said in english quito quite nil all right Ren shaws eyes sent her a flash that reminded both women of a sudden blaze from a lighthouse with the lifting of a fog it was an exhibition of hidden possibilities that startled them under it ft the older womans comans expression warmed still more und find the tones of 0 tier lier throaty voice took on a quality they had never held for him before you have been unhappy slie she sald said 1 I am so sorry dorryl I 1 she took a stop step nearer to him as she spoke under an impulse to put a comforting hand on his arm but aly glance had dropped find and her half balf raised hand blind dropped too we also have been anxious she ahe went on gently but that lint Is the case Is stile safe in the vaults of the trust company I 1 myself have just left it there and this tinie time her fier smile extended now to her brilliant eyes mr atkins and I 1 have both opened it to be sure it held what we thought her hearer was in a state of stop stupefaction shot through with indescribable relief but I 1 dont understand lie stammered we ourselves do hot understand I 1 can tell you only what lias has happened when mr air atkins telephoned we were riding hurt hart came for us it IL he be car I 1 was she stopped as if almost overcome by the memory of what that moment had been 1 I was in despair she went on quickly 1 brushed fru I rushed shed to my room to change for the train and there on my tied bed was my leather ense and in it quite safe when I 1 unlocked it was wa I 1 hart find put there then you mean you had bad two cases you gave me the wrong onea one lie he was trying to follow her but something seemed wrong with his big mind she shook her head no and that Is what we do not comprehend I 1 lind had one case only the original ease case made for me in she stopped in europe she ended abruptly some ono one else has made another case exactly like it we can understand why this was done but why tile the original case and its contents were returned t to 0 me after the lie trouble and expense of duplicating it that monsieur we cannot follow at all Hens w at last took in the two points that were important then your property la Is safe find and I 1 delivered the case you gave me he asko slowly we think so for mr air atkins told us it was not for one moment out of your hands it must have been changed clion ged in my room before I 1 brought it to you though I 1 had for it a strong chest with a combination lock renshaw shot his glance over the heads of the passing pageant and frowned the block black leather case and its contents were safe ills courage clung to the lifeline life line of that knowledg knowle df when he got back to taano ker he would take up and try to work out the tangle of the freakish and unprofitable exchange so now madame Hiron lef added comfortably we will all have a cup cop of tea my affairs have bave caused you a bad hour monsieur I 1 deeply regret abil ut let us u try to forget it if she was already leading the way into the palm room as she spoke leav ing tho young man no choice save to follow her chedid be did so inwardly fuming ile he had bad no ho wish to drink tea with miss campbell to watch her brilliant eyes look past him to study anew the slightly superior line of her perfect upper lip lp in the palm room however quite unconsciously and partly from sheer force of old time habit he quietly put pat the others in tile lie position of being his guests verity limited her participation in the social function to the aloof drinking of a cup of tea she was oddly impressed by the naturalness with which renshaw Rens liaw had bad put her and madame into the position of his guests the ibe sudden revelation of force in this man she had bad halt half con despised as a weakling the impression of strength faded when the three re entered reentered the famous corridor you will drive back with us monsieur renshaw Rene bawl r madame made the suggestion taking for granted veritas Ver itys approval of the invitation renshaw Rens liaw hesitated ills bis self conscious ness had again settled over him like a tight fitting garment trimmed with indecision 11 1 II I I 1 hardly know he stammered yes I 1 suppose I 1 might as well it if you have room for me and it if you have time to stop at the static for ny my bag lie he was looking at verity now and for once she met hla his glance there was a new element in her own it was perhaps less cordiality than the absence of her usual indifference whatever it was it was human so too was her reply of course we ganve room she said carelessly we come came in the limousine ile he followed them in silence to that luxurious vehicle hart and a strange chauffeur stood together beside it lost to their surroundings in the charm of a confidential conversation As the little party reached him haat straightened and saluted he turned at once to verity 1 I beg pardon miss lie said deferentially but would you mind if this flits man henry rickett he la Is drives you home tonight I 1 know its unusual but I 1 got bad news in town of a personal per nature lie he interrupted himself to explain an I 1 got to be here till tomorrow if you can get along without me why 1 I suppose so hart verity hesitated glancing uncertainly from her chauffeur to the proposed substitute does he know the way desm Yes tn an he knows the alie car too very well she bhe sold indifferently thank you miss ill be out on the train by tomorrow noon both women were in the car obviously waiting for renshaw to follow them lie he did so after a perceptible hesitation closing the door and taking a sent seat facing them teem darkness was fallins falling and the limousine made its way slowly through the crowded streets eft stopping at the station tor for Ren shaws bag twice the new chauffeur was the object of winged rebukes from traffic policemen he seemed not to know the traffic rules as well as he knew the car and the road indeed renshaw soon began to suspect that he did not know even these as well as harts encomium would wool lead one to believe several times he hesitated at turns also the gears of the car protested raucously earn time he shifted them badamo talked in her casual charming way with a new and intriguing note of friendliness and renshaw responded he wits was conscious of nn an increased and growing liking for tills this polished product of another land annd lie he even ceased to resent her air of mystery certainly she had been a thoroughbred today in the consideration she had shown him bilm and apparently parent ly she had left her atmosphere of mystery in the safe deposit box with tier her recovered treasure above all he admired the tact wit with 11 which she avoided all allusion to her own affairs or to his A sudden jolt startled him then hen another the car had bad lurched find and recovered itself the first snowfall of the season was beginning and very soon the heavy flakes were coming down so thickly as to cloud vision the new chauffeur was having difficulty jr in keeping to the road suddenly renshaw leaned forward and addressed the girl miss camphell campbell he said crisply tills fellow know how 1 to 0 drive do you mind lf if I get out and t take ake the wheel V I 1 verity looked startled in her absorption it was waa clear that she blie had bad not observed if jolts or the drivers repeated hesitation at crossroads S arent we almost there she asked vaguely looking about her no were not much more than half bait way and its snowing hard and the new man know the road there theirs between here and are some nasty spots taano ker Ren shaws voice vew grew more incisive 1 I really ally think better let me drive daw lie he finished for a few seconds verity was silent when she spoke her words word r t healed the character or of her drive by all means she ho mur aured it if you would feel more comfortable for table renshaw felt the blood rush to his head tho the remark itself he bo accepted as an insult also it reminded him 0 of something lie he had bad forgotten ibis 1118 muscles grew lax under the impulse to sit back and let the ass nt at the wheel ditch them all it if he had to then quietly he topped tapped on the window to stop the car and when the driver obeyed the signal he got out find and raised the young man from bis 1118 sent seat with a single and compelling gesture its go BO thick you cant see he be sold said casually na as he took the wheel 1 I know the road the chauffeur took the seat beside him without protest muttering something about snow in his bis eyes rea show shaw drove in silence tor for ten minutes then stopped abruptly beside a small wooden structure whose one lighted window shone abone mistily through the storm this Is the ardville station he told the substitute A train for new york stops here lo in about halt half an hour say he be muttered peevishly the ideall ideal renshaw spoke pleasantly but his voice had bad hardened im sorry it if you have a date with one of the molds malda but the best thing you can do tonight to s to get back to town you can see the girl later im d d it I 1 will muttered the man what right you got to butt int in its the lady that engaged me true but she has just told me to take your place come now at tho the last two words the man started start eol the tone was new and menacing ill give you exactly one minute to get down and away dont forget this ue he was still holding out the bill and at last tile the man took it oh nil all right he said grumpily if the he way you feel about it IL I 1 wits only bryin try in to help out a pal very creditable of you im sure bum goodnight good night Rens linw started the car but his bis eyes were on the man toddle right into the ulce nice warm station lie ho advised the man drifted languidly toward tho the action door lie ile had bad thrust the bin into tits ills pocket and he seemed annoyed but philosophic shut away from tile drift of the conversation though bough within sound of the life mens voices the lie tv 0 inside the limousine watched the cene hes sending him back to new york verity interpreted with a flush of annoyance that youns young man Is taking a great deal upon himself it I 1 had find realized zed what he meant todo she stopped to give an appreciative mind to the he perfection of Ren shaws driving it was as perfect a thing as harts and this was superlative praise ho he can drive anyway she conceded the limousine stopped with a jerk Rens liaw leaped from his place and hurried around to the buck back of the car opening the door and leaning out to discover what had happened verity caught his words they were a trifle hurried he had pursued for a few feet and had caught something that was vigorously protesting against the capture come now said renshaw tills this Is getting annoying you know youre a lot keener on that maid than I 1 thought you were leggo me responded another breathless but urgent voice the owner of the voice seemed to be getting a violent shaking his words came out in gasps that suggested this by looking through the window at the rear verity now had an excellent moving picture of the scene the chauffeur we thought we left at the station merely ran after the car find and hung on site she reported to madame both received the full benefit of Ren shaws next words im inclined to give you a good thrashing aw come off ill heat beat it the other oilier hopefully suggested all right lets see how fast you yon can beat it down that road the fellow started but his movements were not swift enough to satisfy the exacting observer the latter gave nu an order and made a movement as it to follow him and the man broke into a lope for a minute or two renshaw vr watched ached him till the running form was lost to view then abruptly shutting the car door and ignoring his passengers as absolutely as if they hey were not there he be resumed tits ills place at the wheel and the car swept on through the storm in the driveway leading up to ker verity spoke for the first time in half an hour mr renshaw Rens liaw takes entirely too much upon himself she observed bf bo s tween set teeth but nevertheless never I 1 am becoming interested in this new secretary my dear it grows clear to me as I 1 watch him that ho he Is not what we thought lit at first slow minded and a little dull duil I 1 think she thoughtful thoughtfully ly added you montleur monsieur renshaw Rela shair has somewhere eorge where to in him a good deal of a man TO ble BB |