Under the Andes

A discrepancy had been discovered in my agent's accounts; it was clearly established that he had been specu

recovering it. I placed a friend of mine, a plodder and one of those chaps who are honest o

of his own affairs, he had shown a wisdom and restraint none the less welcome

little n

y defied gossip and smiled with favor on young Driscoll; the new director of the Metropolitan Museum had announced himself a

he favorite topic of di

entire columns with lists of the kings, p

ber of suicides she had caused-corresponding, in some sort, to the notches on the gun of a

n in ten days, and when the box-office opened for the advance sa

ut once in the public dining-room, and on that occasion had nearly caused a riot, whereup

r had I heard him speak of her, until one

subject, from which, by one of the freaks of association,

other nation or school are the two so perfectly joined. In the Turkish dancers there is perfect grace and freedom

Have you seen he

she was kind enough to give me a great deal of her time. She seems to unders

he subject of dancing. I was besieged o

ince Dolansky had shot himself in despair at losing her? Was she

ed so many times and with such insistence that I fin

n was interesting; there could be no doubt of that; but she possessed little at

across in pleasant companionship; she had done me the honor to tell me that she found my conversation amusing; and, after all, she was undenia

e seen her sooner or later, and since all temptations meet us at one time or another, it is best to have it out with them at as

f was more than a little impressed when I entered. I realized then that on the ship nothing ha

g very nearly approaching perfection. I was amazed at the excellent taste displayed in her furniture and its arrangement, for it was cl

e poor lad betrayed himself so frankly! Though I suppose L

eye, which is saying a great deal and is the highest praise possible

ble; I had to own that my first impr

to a question or confirmation of an opinion he stammered and kept his composure with difficulty. Never, I suppose, did woman have clear

I do not wonder at it, for my own pulse was no

gned to Harry to do likewise; but he was c

ratefully, with frank deligh

hat evening. I was seated in the library and

ous feeling, his eyes glowed like the eyes of a

tion to join me with a bottle. "I have a letter

just leav

es

d at my

sun did you find

othing. I say,

indifferenc

ind he

the

have taken a

tually g

d; but there was

y. You know that. You aren't g

don't know wh

plainly, Le Mire is a dangerous woman-none more so in all the worl

en opened his mouth as though to speak, and finally turned, without a word

in the morning," said he, a

sir

ed her

felt but little anxiety. Not that I underrated Le Mire's fascination and power; to confess the truth, my ea

rested in some chemical experiments-I am a dabbler with the tubes-and went out but little. Then-this was on Friday-Harry

will you

ek-perhap

next morning he departed, with three trunks, and with no further word to me save a farewell. No sooner was he gone than I start

not thought of going, but on Monday afternoon Billy Du Mont telephoned me that he had an extra ticket

ed, though I had been an ardent first-nighter for a year or two in my callow youth, I think I

to me. Whether Le Mire could dance or not, she most assuredly was, or had, a good press-agent. We w

rederick Marston, I remember, called her an insolent hussy; but then Mrs. Frederick Marston was n

nd sore. For they had dressed and dined hastily and come all the way down-town to see Le Mire;

-o'clock. He could not understand, he said-the poor fellow was on the point of wringing h

ntention of fulfilling her engagement. No one connected with the theater had seen her since that time, b

Friday, leaving no word as to her destination. They had asked the police, the

frank and unreserved explanation would appease his kind patr

idly as possible, with Billy Du Mont at

was laughing

comes in and turns the town upside down and then leaves i

venue, and a few minutes later were at the club. I took Du Mont to a seclude

friend of mine, and you possess a share of discretion, and

stared at me in ama

rother Harry

s as possible, and I ended, I t

money, and, if necessary, my own into the bargain. But the name of Lamar must remain clean; and I tell

nnecessary details. I didn't need his assistance in the sea

the assertions of busy tongues; and it was the part of my friend to counteract and smother the inevitable gossip. This he p

hough the manager of the theater had gotten no informat

y other possible source of information I disliked to use; but after racking my brain for the better part of the day I decide

nd I were accustomed to arrange our transportation. As I entered the h

Lamar got his tickets from me. Let's see-Thurs

eoccupation I really neglected to listen to h

nve

iday's

Western

me, procured a couple of hastily packed bag