Part 38 (2/2)

And, so I held her, for a moment; then, bent and kissed her And that kiss is on my lips this instant, and will be until they numb in death

XV

HER WORD AND HER CERTIFICATE

If anylived a bachelor to early middle life, has then found his ideal, and has been, unexpectedly and undeservedly, favored with her love, and then, within two hours thereafter and in her very presence, has been claimed by another woman as her husband--thatof my state ofto describe it

I ad to determine how to meet the Spencer woman's attack And I had reached no satisfactory decision when I went down to breakfast

The for over the Governorshi+p of Dornlitz was fixed for noon I would be occupied the remainder of the afternoon at headquarters; and then, in the evening, I was to give a dinner to the ranking et so the need of clear-headed counsel, I dispatched Bernheim to the American Embassy with a request that Courtney join me immediately I had just finished my meal when he was announced, and we repaired to my private cabinet

The top paper on my desk was the report of the Secret Police upon ”The occupants of the third box on the right,” which I had ordered the previous evening I carried it to Courtney and we read it together It was long and detailed and covered all the movements of the trio since their entry into Dornlitz

In effect it was: That the elderly couple were only chance acquaintances of the younger wo met her on the train en route from Paris; that they had reached the Capital the previous day and had registered at the Hotel Metzen as ”Mr and Mrs Ja andhad re, had then dined in the public dining rooone to the Opera; that no callers had been received by any of them, so far as known by the hotel's officials; that, after the Opera, they had been driven directly to the hotel and had gone into the Hanging Garden and had taken a table; that, presently, the one known as Mrs Dalberg had intruded upon certain personages of high rank, ere at a near-by table; that, after a rather prolonged discussion, she had been escorted back to her companions, the Bacons (who had, meanwhile, reh personages; that the lady in question and the Bacons, very shortly thereafter, retired to their apartments At six A M--when the report was dated--they were still in their respective apart the report on the desk

”damn that woman!” I exclaiarette case cah, my dear boy,” he said ”Go into the next roo else to cut loose with,” I replied ”I used up everything, last night”

”Good,” said he ”If the pressure is off, you are in shape to think”

I shook my head ”No, I'”

He picked up the Police report ”I',” he said

”The devil you are!” I exclaimed

He nodded ”The first proble herself your wife There are only two istry utterly eliminates one of them”

”You mean it is not blackmail,” I said

”Exactly”

”And the other e”

”Oh, no,” I said; ”that woe”

”Very good,” said Courtney ”Then, the motive is not hers and we must look elsewhere for it”