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12 dwelling, she said : " You can't come up, you know; it is much too late. And there isn't any need. I will let Jenny go to you as early as you like in the morning, if you give me your address, or you can come yourself to-morrow." "Ah, don't he hard on me!" he pleaded. I mustn't lose a night. Send her down to me, if I can't go up." "Go on; the poor girls asleep, she answered. "Where's the use in carrying on like a loony.' Can't you take it coolly?" In the end he had to go without seeing Jenny, having left his card on the understanding that she should be with him not later than ten in the morn ing, and that Miss L Estrange should keep his ad dress an inviolable secret. The moment he was gone from her. Ermyn L Es trange darted up the stairs, as if to catch something, and, on entering her flat, tripi>ed into her bed-room, turned on the light, threw off her cloak, and put on the necklace In-fore her mirror. It was a tine affair, and no mistake, all lights and colors playing bo peep in the stones. She made a curtsy to her im age, inspected herself on every side, stepping this way and that, daintily, like a peacock, keenly enjoy ing' the gift, till the novelty of jx>ssessing it was gone stale. But at no time did she feel any grat itude to the giver, or think of him at all in con nection with it -just the fact of having it occupied her mind, it didn't matter whence. And the mere knowledge that it was so valuable proved it to he a bribe, j>ointed to a weakness in the giver. Some gifts to women, especially splen did ones, produce not only no gratitude, but a cer tain hardness of heart, contempt, and touch of en mity. Perhaps there is a feeling of "I ought to be grateful"; hut being too happy to he grateful, they are bored with a sense of fault, and for this they punish the giver with the opposite of gratitude. At all events, by the time Miss L'Estrange had taken off the string of gems, a memory had grown up within her of David Harcourt, and with it came a mild feeling of partizanship and liking for David as against Strauss. It was a wayward machine, that she-heart under the bodice of Miss Ermyn L'Estrange — wayward without motive, subtle with out thought, treacherous for treachery's sake. As a matter of fact, before waking Jenny, it came into her head to give a friendly tip to David on the ground that he was "not a bad sort," and she ac tually went out of her way to send him a post -card, telling him that she had expected him to call on Jenny that day, and that, if he meant business, he must see her not later than nine-thirty the next morning, or he would be too late. What a web, this, which was being spun round the young adventurer from Wyoming! CHAPTER X. The Marriage Lines DAVID had not gone to interview Jenny the day before in obedience to Miss L'Estrange's first note, because of the sullen humor to which he relapsed after his experiences at three in the morning in the streets t>i London. He resented the visiting of the glimpses of the moon by a young woman who donned rubber overshoes before reenter ing her house, and he said to himself, "The day's work, and skip the violets." Then, the next morning came Miss L'Kstrange's second letter — he "must see Jenny not later than nine-thirty," or he would he "too late." Again this tailed to rouse him. With those lazy, lithe movements of the body which characterized him, lie strolled for sometime about the Sat after his early breakfast, uncertain what to do. Hi' saw, indeed, that some one else must he after the certificates - Strauss — van Hupfeldt if Strauss and van Hup feldt were one; hut still he halted between two opinions, thinking, "Where do 1 come in, any way? " Then again the face which he had seen at the grave rose before him with silent pleadings, a face touching to a man's heart, with dry rose-leaf lij>s which she had a way of wetting quickly, and in her cheeks a die-away touch of the peach, purplish like white violets. And how did he know, the jealous youth, by what hundred reasons her nightly wandering might l>e accounted for' Why did he nourish thai sort of resentment against a girl who was a perfect stranger? Perhaps there was really some jealousy in it! At which thought he laughed aloud, and suddenly darted into action, snatched a hat, and went flying. Hut then it was already past nine. When he reached Miss L'Estrange's flat, for some time no one answered his ring, and then the door opened hut a little way to let out a voice which said: 4 What is it? 1 am not dressed. She's gone. I told you you'd he too late." " Is she gone?" said David blankly, eager enough now to see her. "Look here! Why should I be bothered with the l>t of you at this ungodly hour of the morning?" cried the tickle L'Estrange. "I can't help your troubles. Can't you see when anybody is in bed?" "Hut why did you let her go before I came?" asked David. "You are cool! Am I your mother?" "I wish you were for this once." "Nice mother and son we little two would make. Wouldn't We? " "That's not the point. I'm afraid you are getting cold. You ought to have contrived to keep the girl till I came, though it is my own fault. Hut can't SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR AUGUST V l*»o anything be done now* Where has she gone? To Strauss, of course." " With the certificates? " '" 1 suppose so 1 know nothing about it, and care less. I did try to keep her hack a hit for your sake; hut she was "pretty keen to he gone to him when once she had his address, the underhanded little wretch!" '• But stop — how long is it since she has gone' "Not three minutes. It's just possible that you might catch her up. if you look alive." • How can that he? I shouldn't know her. I have never seen her. We may have passed each other in the street." " Listen. She is a small, slim girl with nearly white hair and little Chinese eyes. She has on a blue serge skirt with my old astrakhan holero and a sailor hat. Now, you can't miss her." " But which way? Where does Strauss live? " "I promised not to tell, and I'm always as good as my word." cried the reliahle Miss Ermyn L'Estrange; 'hut between you and me, it's not a thousand miles from Piceadillv Circus, and that is where Jenny will get down oft her hus; so if you take a cab.' "Excellent! Good-by! See you again! said David. David was gone, in a heat of action. He took no cab. however, hut took to his heels, so that he might he able to spy at the occupants within and on the top of each hus on the line of route, by running a little faster than the vehicles. At this hour London was already out of doors, going shopping, going to office and works. It was a bright morning, like the beginning of spring. People turned their heads to look at the man who ran faster than the horses, and pried into the buses. Victoria, Whitehall, Charing Cross, he passed — still he could see no one just like Jenny. He began to lose hope, find ing, moreover, that running in London was not like running in Wyoming, or even like his run from Bucks. Here the air seemed to lack body and wine. It did not repay the lungs' effort, nor give back all that was expended; so that in going up the steep of Lower Regent-st. he began to breathe short. "She Turned Fun ny, and Couldn't Catch Her Breath." Nevertheless, t<> reward him, there, n<>t fax from the Circus, he saw sitting patient in a bus corner the sailor-hat, the bolero, the Chinese eyes, and reddish-white hair <>f Jenny. The moment she stepped <>ut, two men sprang forward to address her David and van Hupfeldt 's valet. Van Hupfeldt b'ved near Ibe lower portion of Hanover Square, the way to which being rather shut in and odd t«> one who does not know it, his restlessness hail become unbearable when fenny was a little late, so he had described her to Ills valet, a whipper-snapper named Neil tor van Hupfeldt had several tunes seen Jenny with Miss L'Estrange — and had sent Neil to Piccadilly Circus, where he knew that Jenny would alight, in order to conduct her to his rooms. However, as Neil moved quickly forward, David was before him. and the valet thought to himself: "Hello, this seems to he a case of two's company and three's none." David was saying to Jenny: "You are Miss L hstrange's servant?" " I am." answered Jenny. 'She sent me after you. I must speak with you urgently. Come with roe." Now, in Jenny's heat! were visions of nothing less than wealth wealth which she was eager to handle that very hour. She said therefore to David: "I don't know who you are. f r.- in 't g o am-i. They stood together on th- pavement*? 11 * 5 ' all unknown to David, behind them listenS, ' " There's no saying • No," insisted David*- V going to see Mr. Strauss, aren't you? \Y e n t : here instead of Mr Strauss in this matter 1 *- ** But this ambiguous remarl; tiledof itsV Neil, whose master had told ' n that int^'-"' he was not van Hupfeldt ' Strauss with the i*.rt words, '• B<- • - your partot*? 1 I am Strauss " However, this short way explaining tt» • was there on behalt ot Str vas proinntl- J* understood by Jenny, wi \, % i irithfiZ^* the valet, saying. * You :■ M r . Stta™^ 3*3 * "Of course, he isn't." sai vid quickly ~n dare you. sir, addn th:- 1 • Come right will you? Come, no--. L,- - ; , into t&^p: " ho are you .' 1 dor. * ; know you"" the perplexed Jenny. "1 didn't say I wa Mr. S?? .-;ss himself " w Neil " r ~ : 'Yes, you d: : say so." fenny, '"aisdi-i. the truth; for I know Mr iss veryWdrS neither oi you isn't going • : over me, »^ know?" " Don't you see." sugges; i ivid. his witsals work, "that one of us mi: • rue, andasvou-^ aware that he is false — " " • '•What is all this abou demanded W "I have no business with cither of you. jitri me the way to Hanover Sq . ■ please, andle*-! go about my business." That's just why 1 'm hen I low you the «^ * said Neil. " I dun'no why i gentleman takes • upon hisself — " "Best hold your tongue ang man!" grow^ David. "You must be strip: ! to think this V-J girl would go off with you man she sever sn before, especially after detecting you in a dinr. untruth." "As for that, she don't k.. ■. you any rooretha me. seemingly," retorted Neil. 'Mr. Strauss sc. me — " "How is she to kn«>\v thai : M:-s L' Estrange at: me. Didn't 1 know your name, Jenny, and vo™ mistress's name?" "Well, that's right enough," agreed Jennr. '"Then trust t«> me." " But what is it you wai I sir?" "It is about "the papers." whispered David confidentially. "It is all to your good to cors with me first, and hear what I havetosav. Jt» L'Estrange — " "Well, all right; bui you must be qukt," said Jenny, rushing to a decision. David hailed a cab. and he and '■ turstd their backs upon the defeated valet, got in. and drove off. However, Neil. \vh had witnessed van Hupfeldt 's fever of eagerness to see this girl, fol lowed in another cab. David t'.rove to the Tube Station near Oxford Circus— ~hr would accompany him no farther — and whil he talked with Jenny ia a corner there. Neil, lurkin.; among the crowd ci shop-gazers across the street; kept watch. "I propose to you." David to Jenny, "to give the certificates to me, and in doing so, I under stand that you are a poor yirl - "That's just it," answered Jenny, '"and I nnst know lirst how much I am t>> <;et for them— ii i:"i true that 1 have any certificates." "Right enough.* said David; "but the suia motive which I hold oui to y. >;i ;> n<>t what youwJl receive in hard cash, bui that you will do an nn mense amount of good, if you give the papers to c.c. They don't belong t<> this" Mr Strauss; but they do belong to the mother ami sister of a poor wronged lady, a lady whose character they -nil clear." •"Ah, no doubt." agreed Jenny.; with the knowing leer of a T>orn Cockney; "still, .i u'irl has got tokVi after herself, you see, and not mind other people's troubles." " What?" cried David. "Would you ratherdotbe wrong tiling and earn twenty t<>.v.n.is. or do the rigb: thing and earn five pounds? You can't be in earnest saying that." " It isn't a question of five (•ounds, nor yet o£ twenty!" snapped Jenny, offended at themererr.es tion Of such paltry sui - ""it- riestion of hun dredsand of thousands." Hen:. went by tor the "thousands." " Don't think ::. i m going to part with the papers under high fig- ■ .if so be I have any papers.' "Under what 5 " asked David ;::der hundreds, or under thousands?" '"Under thousands." "Now hold on a bit. Ai y< : re that I codd have the papers taken from you ; minute, papers that don't belong t<» you. which li ; impose to sell to some one other than the righ! . .vners?" At this Jenny changed color -<-• was a police man within a few yards, and si) her great ana golden dream dissolving "It remains to be seen it I I r any papers. That's the very question, you »he said. " You might be searched, yon just to clear the iK>int. Yet you needn't i- J "t that: tor I'm disposed to meet you. and reh't going to refuse any reasonable offei with : >üble fromue police to 'follow So I offer you : — ritty goldea sovereigns for the papers, cash do You leave me alone." mutun Jenny sneep ishly. turning her shoulder t.> hini . . _ Well, 1 thougl we were going - friends; ou.