The Crimson Patch

round of sight-seeing with her father through the big, busy, manufacturing city in which they were staying, at present so absorbed in its war work and munition making. After that came

34it fell out that she saw nothing, or almost nothing, of the curious couple that had so interested her on the first night. Once, indeed, she did have a brief glimpse of t

l, came a change. Captain Meade announced it

in for a while," he told her. "I must settle down to business n

d, lazily dallying with the grape-fruit. "I'm so tired of bei

little lonely, perhaps, but there's always Mrs. Quale. Don't rush her too much, however. Remembe

ver at the sea-wall in the park. I love it there, and it's just the place to take

to the room, or go down to the dining-ro

etest that Peter Stoger more every time I see him. I feel as if he were s

e realized he was posing as a German spy for your benefit. But suit yourself, Patricia, about luncheon, and don't

denly to the handsome woman whom she now knew as Madame Vanderpoel, who was breakfasting alone a

o be so bold as to ask a very great favor, though I do not even

anything, of course," beg

Mademoiselle de Vos, is quite miserable—a violent nervous headache; she is subject to them frequently, poor little soul! I dread to leave her alone all day in the care only of that stupid chambermaid, yet my business is such that I simply cannot postpo

s long as she cares to have me. Don't worry about her at all. I'm famous as a nur

much easier in mind. I leave almost at once after breakfast. Go in as soon as you like. Ju

ms. "I'll stay around here and visit Virginie de Vos (My! but I'm glad I know her name at last!) every

u didn't have to come in contact with any strangers here. They may be all right—and they may not. These are queer times, and you

ent. "Well, of all things! You don't suspect p

get another attack of 'spies' on the brain, just because I warned you to be ordinarily cautious. It's pr

ask if that lady would find it convenient to accompany her. But the clerk at the desk informed her that Mrs. Quale had gone out for the day, leaving only her maid. Patricia had seen this woman several

sick thing, even if Mrs. Quale isn't there," she told hersel

f-muffled "Come in," was as different as possible from that picture. The room was in great disorder, and bright with the glare of the morning sun. Both of the twin-beds

me at the request 41of your—of Madame Vanderpoel, who said you were

. Suddenly, however, she whirled around. Her eyes were red

of you to come! My head does not ache—at least

nnot be feeling quite well. Madame Vanderpoel said you were

most sullenly. "But you are—you are so kind!" she added,

oom. You see, it's on the street side and you get all the racket from this busy avenue. Beside that, it hasn't been made up yet. Come over and spend the morning in our sitting-room with me. It's

so urgent and convincing, t

he hesitated. "You do no

be for not coming? Just come right along, and we'll have a lovely time. I'm

-darkened sitting-room, however, her hesitancy seemed suddenly to vanish. Patricia insisted that she occ

el was—er—mistaken." And, indeed, she looked the picture of h

to you. So lie down here for a while, and I'll sit by you and do this fancy-work. I supp

the—artistic I love and have studied to do." It was when she grew 44

s, if you don't mind—what nationality are

ned. But she only replied in a voice

er knees by the couch and took bo

murmured. "And did you—were

had taken Malines and Louvain 45and Liège, Madame Vanderpoel (she is my mother's sister-in-law), came to take me away from the school, to take me to England. She told my father it was too dangerous, that he should flee also. But he would not go. He is an old man, and I am the last of his children. He was

ricken girl. For several moments she only smoothed the dark hair in silence, but her touch was evidently soothing,

and taken prisoner by the Germans, we were sure we shouldn't. The suspense was simply frightful. I never want to go through such a thing again as long as I live. Six long months it was, and we had no idea what had happened to him. We almost hoped he was dead, because the things we read of as happening to the prisoners were so unspeakabl

her is—perhaps—worse than dead. He—but still, I feel very close to you. We have both suffered

nie sprang to her feet, her dark eyes gleaming. "Hush! Listen!" she cried. "I heard a strange rustling outside the door. Can

believe. I heard it, too. But let's go and settle down again. I'm sure we're going 48to

ak French at all?" she inquired. "I have studied the English, but I speak it with difficulty. I

it with him ever since I was a little girl. But I haven't had much practice in it lately, and I don'

delicious luncheon to be served for them both in the room, but was thoroughly disgusted to find that her pet aversion, Peter 49Stoger, had been sent up

ided to Virginie. And, rather to her sur

e toward him. I think he is an

me about him! Ugh! I wish now that we'd gone down to the dining-room. We could have sat at

y did not refer again to Virginie's father, and both seemed to avoid 50any reference to war subjects in general. Patricia longed to take the girl mor

e must return to her room and dress for din

not call her aunt, as she is your mothe

the door as she replied. All at once she stopped, tensely rigid. "There it is again!" she whispered. "Do you not hear it?" There was indee

irginie, clinging to P

by a brilliant patch of sunlight from some window out of sight. And blackly on that patch of sunlight, as on a ligh

irginie, clinging to P

e!" answer

istakably the form of Peter Stoge