Louisiana Lou

amounted to about twenty thousand francs when placed with them about the beginning of the war and was in the name of Mademoiselle Solange d'Albret, whose place

s. The personality of Mademoiselle d'Albret was quite unknown to her bankers, as she had appeared to them very seldom and then

, had not disturbed the bankers and had, in fact, been of so little importance 43 that they had failed to notice it at all. When, therefore, a young woman dressed in a nurse's uniform appeared at the bank and rather timidly as

ome thrifty, suspicious Frenchwoman with a small fortune who would give him far more trouble than any millionaire who used his bank, and whose business could and would actually be handled by one of his clerks, whom she might as w

meshes one could make out a face that seemed young and pretty, and a pair of great, dark eyes. Her figure also left nothing to be desired, and she 44 carried herself with grace and easy dignity. Mr.

investment," he began, ingratiatingly. "Anythi

the contrary, the money which you have so faithfully guarded for me during the years of the war is reserved for a purpose which I fear you w

and, even if the account was to be lost, he felt benevolent toward her. Besides, her voice and manner were tho

ork, or a letter of credit-it is all one. They will gladly serve you there as we have ser

pon you, monsieur, and not for an idle formality. It is necessary that I get t

ggested the ta

gave her the correct pronunciation wi

some distance from New York, perhaps a

ge country. From New York to Idaho is as far as from Paris to Constantinople-or ev

id mademoiselle with frankness. "It is necessary, I

though the matter of a passport may be difficult to arr

I seek monsieur's advice. How am

so calmly virginal and pure about the girl as she sat there in her half-sacred costume that instinct conquered cynicism and he refrained. U

ny one in Amer

do not even know who it is that I seek. Furthermore, I am

erefore Mr. Doolittle was not quite so astounded as he might other

lle jests,

im wealthy. His murderer was never brought to justice, and the thing he found was lost again. We are Basques, we d'Albrets, and Basques do not forget an injury, as you may know. I am the last o

s on deposit here?" asked

providing for my education-which included the learning of English that I

aordinary affair, indeed. After twenty years-to find

rst to do it," said th

before one can secure them. Every liner is a troopship, filled with returning soldiers, and the staterooms are crowded with officers and diplomats. Private errands must yield to public neces

ll not tell it. It remains, therefore, that I

helpless Doolittle; "h

to conduct a private assassination. Mr. Doolittle, in a long residence in France, had acquired a Gallic sense of humor, a deep appreciation of the extravagant. It pleased him to speculate on the probable consequences of such a partnership, the ex-légionnaire shepherding the Pyrenean wild cat who was yet an aristocrat, as his eyes plainly told him. He had an idea that the American West was as wild and lawless as it had ever been, and it pleased him to spe

en as he said it again, he knew t

can soldier," he said, at last, while she stared at him thro

e, espouse one of these roistering, cursing fo

oolittle gasped. "

" answered Solange d'Albret icil

diers had finished the 50 job before they could be interfered with. French law had, for once, overlooked the matter, rather than have a mutiny in the army. Doolittle began to doubt the complete humor in his idea, but its dramatic possibilities were enhanced by this revelation. Of course this spitfire would never marry a common soldier, either American or of any other race. He did not doubt that she claimed descent from the Navarrese royal family and the Bourbons, to judge from her name. But then De Launay was certainly not an ordinary soldier. His very extraordinar

rough and common soldier. Surely there are officers, gent

d marry in order to get to America. I have serious business before me, and not such business as I could bring

ntions. Indeed, I believe the only chance you would have to marry him would be by telling him all about them. He is, or was,

olange wonderingly. "Why, he is

or will be, but he has not taken it in good part. He is a reckless adventurer, who has risen from the ranks of the Legion, and yet-I believe that he is a gentleman. He has, I regret to say, taken to-

And is such 52 a thing their idea

ands. The general might agree as a sporting proposition. Married to the general there should be n

eneral," exclaimed Solange in pro

e rest, marriage, in America, is not a serious matter. A decree of divorce can be obtained very easily. If t

expect t

wells. "He might accept pay. But he is as likely to take it on for the chance of adventur

fact that I hesitate to kill any one in cold blood. It causes me to 53 shudder, the thought of it. When I am angry, that is a differ

said Doolittle, "I don't beli

er more. Before he had finished she was satisfied. She rose

at the café of the Pink Kitten, which is in Montmartre. It is there t

ge, gratefully, "I am

as he bowed her out. "The p