A Fool and His Money

asure, and finding at the end of my hours of travel the countess's mother sitting in bleak s

ch as the sides of a battleship. But there was a vast satisfaction in knowing that she was there, asleep perhaps, with her brown head pillowed close to the wall but little more than an arm's length from the crimson waistcoat of Ludwig the Red,-for he sat rather low like a Chinese

elve hours before had seemed the embodiment of life in its most resilient form, now appeared as a drab nemesis with wooden legs and a frozen leer. My coffee was bitter, the peaches were like sponges, the bacon and rolls of unif

om the grave. It was the first time I had ever heard him speak so do

it to his lips. Seeing that I was regarding him rather fixedly, he allowed it to remain suspended a little above his hip, quite on a line with the other o

Hawkes, immediately after

orgetting, Mr. Poopendyke is out. He asked me

usiness has

just what one would call in. He is up in the-ahem!-the east wing

Quite so, quite so. I had

I thought

tton will do quite a

or the newspapers. You forget that he goes

said hastily. "The pape

the New York Herald for fear that the delightful mystery might disintegrate, so to speak, before my eyes, or become the commonplace scandal that all the wor

morning, and he seemed a trifle hazy as to the results of the games. Af

upstairs?" I would never have spoken of her as "that woma

ively stunned.

estion, but managed to

e y

r work, sir, and I thought you wouldn't mind if

What

ir. She is ke

dee

quite up to date. I wrote at least three pages about the dinner last night. If I am to believe wh

ed. "What did she have

ys pleased him t

I will say this much, however: I think I wrote you

sh!" s

aid he, with ag

. "She isn't figuring on ha

disquieting reply. "It wasn't an

aid I,

a bit too personal. There are parts of it that I don't believe she'd dare to put into print, although she reeled

pted hastily. "Don't te

eglasses nervously. "It may please you to know t

ibly. "I'm damned if I like bein

opinion from her manner not from her words. She is very particular to mention everything you do for her, and thanks

ely gratifying,

that the divorce itself is absolute. It's only th

evil do you mean by that, sir? What

with the rare, almost superhuman patien

!" was all th

the door luckil

one company are here, si

they to be

in my study. She thought it would be very nice, so I returned with instructions for the men to put in three instruments: one in her room, one in

und, which ceased almost immediately. Our first thought was that the telephone men were drilling a hole through the wall into my study. Then came the sharp rat-a-ta-tat once more. Even as we looked about us in bewilderment,

uldn't by any means have emanated from the

My secretary's eyes were glued to the magic portrait. His fingers, l

Harry!" I c

in a year's trip through all the galleries in the world. She was smiling down upon us from the slightly elevated position, a charming figure in the very

was flushed with excitement and self-consciousness. "W

eaned forward and placed her hands on my shoulders. My hands fo

" she said admiringl

ar me! I am no

the keyboard. "How do

eart. "My God! I don'

peering through after us from my study. To my amazement the room was absolutely bare. Bed, trun

mean?" I cried

ave a telephone," she said serenely. "Max and

to the study. I, for one,

I had the 'phone

'phone!" she objected. "

aid Poopendy

e room, after a perfunctory scramble to put his papers in order, but she broke off in the m

an pecking at the keys. "You must teach me how to run a typewriter, Mr. Poopendyke. I shall be as poor

elieve I've ever seen a more una

s its silver lining

," said she. The bell

He made the shift an

bled the whole alphabet across his n

mart? If Mr. Poopendyk

take his place as

ay be quite sure, Counte

he instant you a

heerfully abdicate,

s she would be as a typist than the excellent young woman who had m

rt," she said, after the cylinder had slipped back with a bang that almost startled her

morrow what you can do

s gown had to be put off till to-morrow, you wouldn't as

monly attractiv

-morrow for the

row is

of a better w

down here for an old-f

not stay for

o one else ever had. By the way, Mr. Smart, I have a bone to pick with you. Have you seen yesterday's papers? Well, in one of them, there is a long account of my-of Mr. Pless's visit to your ca

cried indignantly. "C

is making against the criminally rich Americans. In this particular article you are qu

" I gasped

your power to interest the administ

Countess, you don't believe

"You have said some very

, I shall write to these miserable sheets, denying every word they've printed. And what's more, I'll bring an action for damages agains

queried, with real se

n't des

y word they have printed about me, and I'll send it to all the American correspondents in Europe. We'll cable it ourselves to the United States. I sha'n't rest

ks very warm and rosy. "How can you publicly espouse the cause o

after I have signed the statement. I give him carte blanche. The name has nothing

her hand. "I knew you would do

on Quixote was a happy gentleman, Countess

ed me soundly for refusing admission. One bourgeoise party of fifteen refused to leave the plaza until their return fares on the ferry barge were paid stoutly maintaining that they had come over in good faith and wouldn't leave

said the Countess paling perceptibly whe

into the castle while the gates are locked,

ogre you are, Mr.

taken too lightly. Unquestionably they had got wind of something that aroused suspicion in their minds. I confide

a sly-faced man in overal

y I have a word with you? I have a message from Mr. Pless." I don't

urprise. Then I looked him over so curious

ecret service," he expl

ion as a visitor, to-da

a mysteriou

a subterfuge of this character in order to g

ged his

the scent. Mr. Pless has read what you had to say in the newspapers and he is too grateful, sir, to subject you to unnecessary annoyance at the hands of her agents. Your friendship is sacred to him. He realises that it me

ing?" I broke in, scarcel

would have you to meet him secretly to-night at the Rempf Hotel across the river. It is most important

a feeling of relief so vast that he must have seen the g

eely before him." Turning to Poopendyke, I said: "You have not sent that statement to the newspapers, have you? Well, let it rest for

structions which I was to follow with care if I would do Mr. Pl

arted. When he was safely out of the room, I explained the situation to Poope

easure, attired in a neat walking skirt, with her bonny h

" she cried in disappointment. "You are going to l

unreasonableness was a prize th

on't you see the advantage we gain by fooling

jectedly in a chair near the fireplace. "I believe you are ready to turn against me. You want

n be. Hang it all," I burst out impulsively, "do you suppose for a minute that I want to hand you over t

ion changed swiftly to one of wonder and the most penetrating in

he right thing by me," she said, desc

. "I shall not fail you," said I without the faintest intention to be heroic but immediat

imilar reason, no doubt, held me rooted rather safely to the spot on which I stood. I have a

er a moment, turning toward me again. She was as calm as

ven supply

," she said uneasily. "I know h

ns," said I. "They always come to a bad

hs in an international marriage. You must come-to see me to-night af

, contriving to hide my eage

e to gossip, so we may be as careless as we please about appearances. You will be hungry, too, when you come in. I shall have a ni

the right thing," said I beamingly. "And now, what

A rainy day perhaps. I feel like having all the sunshine I can get to-day. To-night I shall be gloomy an

re I should enjoy a lit

me t

eye. There was a touch of dign

day, Mr.

fathomabl