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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 1916)
TIIE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, OCTOBER 29. 1916. 3 i JL ) Dramatized and produced by the Vltagraph Company from the popular novel of the same name by C. N. and A. M. Williamson. Everything: you read here today you can see this week at leading: motion-picture theaters In vivid motion pictures, with Earle Will iams as Christopher Race, Miss Lillian Tucker as' Eloise Dauv- ray. chapter in. THE MASKED BALL "CHRISTOPHER drew up Scarlet U Runner before the door of the new Athenaeum restaurant just as the tall porter In dark green and gold lace was giving his services to a lady who was alighting from the motor In front of him. Her face was so striking that for a few seconds he forgot that he was stiffly and mechanically holding tip a letter designed for delivery to the magnificent porter for a luncheon guest. It was not only her beauty which Christopher found arresting. "That girl can't be more than 24, If she's that: yet the whole history of the world seems looking out of her eyes anyhow; all the art and music and drama of the world." was the curious thought that tumbled into his Miss Van Bouten a patent yea8t hc,r. oead. ess, was as renowned for her beauty as Two men standing In the doorway for her millions. She and a carefully seemed equally Interested In the girl, selected aunt had taken - and restored One of the men, an elderly major, friend a fine old abbey of Henry VH's day, of his rich uncle, he knew slightly. The conveniently near London. A year ago other, who was young,' exceedingly the young heiress had been presented, well dressed, and so good-looking as to and captured society; also she had cap be almost picturesque, had pale olive tured. or was on the point of capturing, features which seemed vaguely fa- the Marquis of Arrowdale. Now she miliar to Christopher. "Yes, sir; you called me, I think, etr?" It was the voice of the green and gold porter. He had handed the lady out of the motorcar: the motorcar was gliding away; the Major was shaking hands with the picturesque young man. Oh er yes," Christopher answered the giant briskly. He thought that he would not be sorry to escape a broad- side from the retired officer. "I want to leave this letter for Lord Arrow- dale. He's to lunch here, I believe, and will be Inquiring for a letter." "Very good, sir," said the porter, and took the envelope. But he was not quick enough to save Christopher from the Major, who came forward and said all the things that Christopher had known he would say given the chance, The young man answered civilly 'and even explained without petulance his mention of Lor. Arrowdale's name, which the elderly gossip had caught. "No, I don't know him; never met him in my life. A friend wanted him to try my car. Promised to leave a note here making an appointment." As he talked on, from the tall of his beauty: 1 said to myseir. (Don t blusn; "Tou did forget that part." Chris eye he watched the progress of the 1 mean the car.) 'Now, if only we topher laughed, too. "And Miss Dau lady. She had been met In the door- had " motor like that to do our trick." vray" he could not resist bringing her way by the picturesque young man, "Just then came along Major Nor- in "is she to be a highway woman?" and they were speaking together now burn- I" words he told me your "She's to be an abbess." Fitzgerald with a kind of suDDressed eagerness. ar's history. Your audacity and orlg- answered for the girl, without giving if tt h.d -not seemed too ridiculously conceited to fancy such a thing. Chris- topher would have had the Idea that he was the subject of their conversation. "Well. ta. ta. Next time I write old Jamey I'll tell him hi3 nephew's look- to St. Ronan's Mount for the ball In said he gaily, "we suddenly throw off ing prosperous," said the Major, and your ripping motor car. We don't our monkish robes and appear as sidled off without a backward glance, mean to stay late; in fact, we can masked, top-booted, belted highway As he did so. before Christopher could promise that you'll be back in town be- men from the Wild West of America, guide Scarlet Runner away, the pic- fore most of the guests have stopped We shall be bristling with bowle turesque young man had left the girl dancing. Now, what do you say, when, knives and big revolvers (not really standing in the door and hurried for- In addition to 'short hours,' you'll be loaded, of course), and while two of us In for a. snlendld nA Ventura uat tha you, perhaps, and one other guard t ,.- ,flnn hut mnv I oeak to e UJXDfained' ChrlstoDher caused a foot on the ,,t.h Md, Another car lurked ready clutcn peaai. Anoiner car iur. u , for Scarlet Runner's place, or must slip in ahead. "What I want is to ask if you will lunch with us," the stranger rushed on, by way of holding the motorist's at tention. "Lunch with you?" echoed Chris topher, astonished. "You mistake me for someone else " "No. no," said the other. "Major Nor- burn has told me everything. You like adventures? You are invited to ar- range one." That caught Christopher, as it was meant to. "Very well, I'm with you," said he. And nerhaDS he thought cf the lady, hoping to be with her as well, "I'll get out of the way here, drive my car to the garage close by, and come back." "Without fail?" "Without fail." Five minutes later Christopher re turned, walking so rapidly round the corner that he took his host and hostess unawares.- They were still standing in the wide doorway of the fashionable new restaurant, and had not expected him back so soon, for they were deep in conversation. It was only as Christopher came close upon them that she looked up and saw him. with a start of anmrlaa. evidently not whollv aereeahle. though he hif- smiled civilly. The start warned her companion, and he turned to welcome v. i . , . . ... his guest with an impulsive air which was rather engaging. Yes, certainly, he was extremely good-looking. Chris topher would barely have guessed it possible for an Englishman to be so picturesque in ordinary frock-coat and silk hat; yet this man was English. "You'll think I'm mad," he said smil ing. "But even that's better than to be commonplace, isn't it?" "Assuredly," said Christopher. "I thought you'd be of that opinion, Mr.. Race." "You know my name?" "From Major Ndrburn. Even the name of your splendid car. It's the same as an introduction. And now I will introduce you to Miss Dauvray. Then 1 11 introduce myself. My name is Ponsonby Fitzgerald; and if some- one else were introducing me, he'd 1"u""" ,-c" uu l"al uon c ao any- thing in the same way as o'.her peo- ple'" Ponsonby Fitzgerald! The young man's handsome face and figure ap- peared upon its own background now. He had written a queer novel, which made a sensation on the strength of its queerness; and out of the novel he had woven a play which owed its success to the same quality. People knew him and talked of him still, though .he had not since written another novel or an- other play. There were things about him in the papers sometimes. He went to country houses, and was said to be entertaining. They went In to luncheon. Sir. Fitz- gerald had engaged a table, which was laid with two covers, but In an Instant It was rearranged for three. "And now for business," exclaimed Fitzgerald, In his lively, enthusiastic way, which made him seem very boyish, though his years might have been 29 or 30. "Miss Dauvray and I have an important Job on for the last day of March or, rather, It will be on for the first of April by the time it's found out; wherein will lie the Joke. And we're going to propose that you shall be the 'Co.' in our part nership." The Southern girl neither assented nor protested, though Fitzgerald, chal lenged her with his great, daring: black eyes. She trifled with a, bunch of violets beside her plate, her lovely face unsmiling. It occurred to Christopher that 8ne nad scarcely spoken at all, yet to him, at least, she dominated the scene. "I'm tft hi ftleenlne r artnr ?' asked Christopher, wishing himself elsewhere, though his Interest was entangled. "On the contrary, you're to be very wide awake. But I'll tell you all about It. Of course you've heard of the Van Bouten ball next week?" Of course Christopher had, and said so. For the past fortnight the papers had rained paragraphs about the Van Bouten ball. It was to be a masked ball, and was planned to rival In mag nificence the historic affair at Devon- chlTe Hniun In ninmnnil -Tllhtlea Toar. and the aunt were giving this ball, at which. It was said, after the unmasking, her engagement to Lord Arrowdale would perhaps be announced. "We have, a scheme for the night of the ball which will " be the sensation of the century, if we can only carry It out, Fitzgerald went on. It falls on the last of March, as I said; so that at midnight we shall have the first of April, or All Fools' Day, you know., But that gives you no hint of our brll- liant Idea though it did give us our inspiration. We had reason to believe up to last night that the plan was in the best working order; but the schemes of mice and men! 'One of our best mice suddenly failed us Influenza or something obvious. The wheels wouldn't go round without him llt- terally; because he's a motorist. I was upset; but I reflected, 'When in doubt always consult an American girl,' so I called Miss Dauvray into consultation, "No chaperon,' I said; and, having the courage of her convictions, she con- sentea to a lunca at the ultra-respect able Athenaeum. While I waited for her I saw yoy and your car. 'What a Inality captivated my Imagination on the instant. I felt you were the man tor us. If we could secure you. "We want you to take us Miss Dauvray, myself and several friends OTt of thing to appeal to you?" "'s rather odd." said Christopher, "but my errand here this morning was to leave a note from Lord Arrowdale. making an appointment for a talk iprpoi about motoring a party of his friends to St. Ronan's for the ball." Miss Dauvray looked up suddenly, and was nobly beautiful with the ivory curve of her cheeks stained a deep rose-color. Still she did not speak. Christopher was glad -vhen she looked up. It gave him his first real chance to see what her eyes were like. Ni 11 was not necessary for a woman 'with such eyes to say much with her lips. Still, what did the eyes say? Something, very expressively, very ard- ently but what? Was she pleased to hear that there was a chance of his being engaged to take another party to the ball? Why did she flush when he mentioned an appointment with corner of the cornfield. Lord Arrowdale? "Aye. nearly so," answered Evildays. Christopher noticed now that she was The two witches, Evildays and Black looking tired. Her eyes were gentle night, were preparing for their mis- and sad, and oddly wistful, as she iurneu Lnem io 11 13 in support 01 ner one word. It was as if she appealed to him. But did she want him to consent or re- fu"e? He felt suddenly a passionate desire to understand her. The way to do so was to see more of her. He would see more of ' her. "In that case,' he Ba,d' '-I am at your orders " "It,s settled you're one of us claimed Fitzgerald. "Yes," said Christopher. "Then you shall hear the whola thln' WeI1 as you've heard all about the ball. VOU know that Millv van Bou- ten or her aunt, who poses as hostess - - - has offered the Scrope blue diamond as a prize for the greatest sensation of the evening." "Meaning the handsomest costume?" "Not exactly that, for it can even be won by a party. Indeed, I think it will be won by my party. What she means is to give the diamond to the person or group of persons whose appearance and manner of entrance creates the greatest sensation." "Naturally, everybody wants to get that diamond, which Milly van Bouten bought at Christie's on purpose to offer in this way. Myself, I rather think she hopes Arrowdale may get it, as it would nl.niiA him aiA ti.m . Vi o .& chance of lta coming back to her in the end though I know for a fact that he hasn-t proposed yet, in spite of all the talk. For my part, I want to get it. I discovered that Miss Dauvray. had also set her heart on annexing it. This sug- gested our putting our heads together, Milly got the diamond at a bargain, and the day after she was offered three times what she paid by the American millionaire, Jim Scrope-Saunders, who fancies himself to be an offshoot of the real Scropes. She wouldn't sell it; what wu 12.000 sounds to Millv-? -r !. something to us; and if we get the prize as' we shall our Idea, is to sell to Scrope-Saunders and divide among our assistants the biggest portion for our- selves, as is only fair, since we're the originators of the idea. There'll beTive in it. Including j oui1X now, and two an ' - ' 1 5' HI , -- i if. I - -Vs;v . v: Ut I X ' v, 1S ' 1 k i 11"; I i i i tuft . I Lll : . ' ' f -' ' f- ', ' ". . . JLtf gb.x.TITI fnn m, wi n., , , , f? Ift Bk W 'W ' ' i men who are friends of mine. What ever happens, you're sure of adventure, and whatever you like to charge for your car and your services. If we get the diamond, your share will be BOO pounds. How does that strike your' "As most generous too generous for me to accept," said Christopher. "We'll force you to accept. But never mind that part now. I told you that a friend with a motor had failed us. A motor is necessary because, when we've made our sensation, we must be able to dash away, as up-to-date highwaymen should. But. oh. cerhaDS I forirot to mention that we're to be highwaymen?" And he laughed out boyishly her time to speak. "We're all to be monks at first, we four men. At the right moment we're to throw off our cowls, but she's to remain an abbess. "Then, when we've made our effect," " exus. me otner two win noia up the crowd and make 'em hand over their valuables in the most realistic manner. -lUEt about midnight." "By Jove!" said Christopher, looking blank. 'Ha. ha! If you don't -.understand. FEATURES FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE Halloween 'Witches H AST thou not a bag full yet. Evil- days?". Impatiently asked the old witch with the long hooked nose and the skeleton arms, from her perch on top the tumble-down fence at tne chievous Haloween night. And they naa met in tne corner ox me oia corn- field to gather seeds from a pumpkin. and, as they sailed along overhead, to drop them down the necks of tnoe unfortunate people who happened to be passing underneath. It was dark, but the moon was not yet up and they were in a hurry to get an early start. "Ah! 'Tis they!" cried Blacknight suddenly and Joyously. "Methinks they fly well tonight, eh, sister?" And she pointed with her evil wand at a num- ber of black creatures which could be nl.ll flvlo- .k.. ti.. f.o..,,. o.w. . . j . o w ..... v. -.. .... j were bats and. as everyone knows. when broomsticks are not available witches always ride through the air on the backs of bats. "So!" echoed Evildays. delightedly. " "Tis far, indeed, they shall carry us tonight and 'tis well they fly well and strong. Come, sister, we have much, .work ahead of us; let us be off!" Accordingly, each of them jumped upon the back of a bat and were borne away, the other bats following to be used as fresh mounts when the ones already carrying them should become tired. To narrate all the evil deeds those two witches performed that night, to tell of the thousand and one mis chievous pranks they played would be to fill a book with many, many pages; so, let us speak of just a few. First of all. as they neared the out skirts of the town toward which they were flying, they came upon an old farmer in a rickety, ramshackle wagon driving a lean white horse. His wagon was loaded with pumpkins. The witch es, invisible to the human eye. swooped down upon him. Suddenly the poor old white horse rose up on his hind legs, snorted in terror, kicked up his heels and ran aa fast as hls decreP1t old iegB couId carry him. And at the same .??? fSw iTa-tv J hi" neck clutched at the Presently' they came to the residen- tial section of the town, where the streets were but dimly lighted. A group prepared as you are, how much less will they? It will be the great April fool trick of the world." "For you. But won't It spoil Miss van Bouten'a ball'" "Make a guess as to what wa mean , ... ZrhlZZ perrra TZ supper, and unmasking, reople will be in the most awful quandary By that tlm th,v wn.,-t i, V.v-v. been the victims of a grand joke, or whether they've been robbed of their little all; but they'll go In to sup- per, except the poor detectives, who'll be scurrying around like mice for news of the mysterious motor. Then after midnight will appear a great dish a pie with a wonderful cover. It will be set down by a servant (he'll be in our pay; fot Miss van Bouteus. by the bye) on the principal table, with k requ':et for Miss van Bouten to cut It; she will do so;' and in that pie will be all the stolen Jewels, with our vislt'ng c?rds on top, ar.d a tort of round robin dated All Fo-ls" day and claiming the prize for ourselves. Tour name needn't be there unless you like, as you don't know Miss van Bouten and aren't one of her invited guests; but you'll get your share, all the same. Everyone will vote us the prize or be voted -"'. a adventure for you. n'est-ce pas?" "It's a regular bcy-and-glrl adven- ture nothing grown-up about It." said Christopher, surprised and amused at the childishness of the "great game." "That's the charm," retorted Fitzger- and Their Pranks of small boys were trying to tie a bag of flour across the sidewalk at Just the proper height so that the head of a passerby would strike it and cause the flour to spill all over him. Tommy Jones was putting the last knot In the cord when Evildays gave the bag a quick poke with her wand and lo and behold Tommy Jones re- ceived the contents of the bag right in nis zace. v men, no qouol, servea Tommy Jones Just right. But Tommy didn't think so. A little farther on the witches espied an open window and flew In. The room was darkened -but was filled with children who were having a Hal- loween party. A large' washtub, tilled with water, reposed on the floor in the center of the room; and a number of apples were floating around on the surface of the water. The children, on their knees, were grouped about the tuh Vbobhlnar fur nnnlea" Kama VOU . - o and every other child has played on .Halloween. , Evildays peered at Blacknight and grinned; and. straightway, each of the witches seized a child by his hair and pushed his head down under the water. lkl Tla They!" Cried Blacknight Joyously. aid; and Christopher admitted that per- haps he was right. - In any event, he was committed to the affair now, and he was so eager to flnd out whether the beautiful Miss dauvray were bored with it all. or VataH wltn Kim fn Knr. - l 1 tlio V aft could' 1,01 hBVe baCk " When the great nlght cam. Christo- Pher could have laughed at himself for the boyish excitement which ran through his veins. He was thoroughly the spirit of the adventure as thor- oughly as Fitzgerald. He arrived early at the rendezvous. but not early enough to be the first on the scene. There was a garden with rather a high wall, and as Scarlet R tin ned teufteufed round the corner of the quiet street the gate opened and Fitzgerald looked out from under a dim hanging light. Stopping the car, Christopher saw that there were tws other men with him. both already wear ing motor goggles, which disguised them enough even for an appearance at the masked ball. "We've all been dining here," said Fitzgerald, "and are o impatient to be off we've been ready for the last ten minutes. Mrs. Dauvray, our friend's grandmother, can't bear the emell ot smoke, so we've had a cigarette apiece In the garden, expecting you. I'll call Miss Dauvray. Oh. here she comes now. She must have heard the car." The opening door threw out a stream of light and the cloaked figure of a tali girl appeared, attended by a maid. Miss Dauvray had covered her face with a thick chiffon veil as a protection Bobby Jones went in up to his collar, and Willie Barnes, right next to him, all but fell into the tub. Moreover, each boy said the other had shoved him and, but for the interference of the hostess. there vnnlil hav. h.en m flcrli rlffht ...... .. . The wicked witches, needless to there. state, enjoyed it immensely. After a few more pranks in this nouse ma wucnes sainea mrm nam to the streets. And nresentlv thev came acro88 Bom) ooy, trylnK to tako Bate ofT its hinges. Now, Just why boys ahould consider this a proper way celebratinsr Halloween la Indeed be- yona reason; so. after all. no matter what happens to them while so engaged it is not a thing to cry about. Just as Arthur Brown was lifting the gate Evildays seized his coat. Wrapped It around the gatepost and held it tight while Blacknight pounded so loudly on the front door that the owner, in a towering rage, came running, threw open the door, saw poor Arthur tarn- perlng with his gate grabbed him and "tanned his hide" until Arthur prom- t . - incu ucvtii u c v r i agftiD to yi&jr Buto Halloween prank on anyone. Then but surely we have followed them far enough In their mischievous adventures. Sufficiently far, at any rat. tn .hnnr . .n.rh.n. h... .v, nw .i Brw.o.W . 1 ... J . k V l Oil ....U things which happen on Halloween night everywhere. Of course. much depends upon whether or not you believe in witches. In (he old, old days, people believed in witches, but we are enlightened now, and we know that it is all merely a foolish superstition. Fun for Halloweenere HERE are a few good ways of en tertaining your friends when they meet at your house next Tuesday to celebrate All-Saints' Day. From olden times this last day of October has been associated with superstition and mys ticism. - t We have long since emerged from the belief in witchcraft and ghosts, but we still enjoy playing game that re mind us of the dark and Middle Ages. Begin your party by pairing your guests In this way: Fill a pumpkin rind with nuts, which have been opened, have the meat taken out. some token of fate placed inside, and glued together again with a ribbon attached to each. There must be always two nuts with the same tokens in them, and against wind (there was no dust), but under the hanging lamp at the gate he caught a gleam of eyes that searched for his. Fitzgerald would have helped her into the tonneau of the car. but somehow fill A SliftDCd nast him. AHtT C!h T 1 S tO th fif ;r.&d, an instant's hesitation he held out hi. arm as a support for her hand, and she laid her fingers lightly upon It. At the time, with her other hand, hidden under a loose cloak, she thrust some- thing as far as she could up the young man's sleeve. It was a thing that felt large and singularly cold. but. "surprised as he was at the girl's act. Christopher kept his countenance perfectly. By a move ment of hla wrist he held the thing whatever it was well concealed, and prevented it from slipping down. WUh Fitzgerald safely in his seat, and the bonnet as a screen, h'e con trived to slide out of his sleeve a Smith & Wesson revolver. A folded bit of white paper was kept In place on the barrel by means of an innocent little red rubber band. As he slipped the revolver from his hand into a deep pocket of his motor coat, Christopher pulled off and unfolded the paper. On one side a few words were written, which he absorbed lu a second in the eye of Scarlet Runner's blazing lamp. "To use Instead of your unloaded one. In case anything should go wrong." were the Instructions flashed into his mind before he crumpled up the paper into a ball and dropped it into his pocket after the revolver. "In case anything should go wrong. the persons drawing the same will be partners. In addition to the old "bobbing for apples" game there are the following out of which much fun cap. be gotten A horsesnoe is nung In a doorway and each set of partners Is given three ,.,-, T.-h , ., ,r,. . throw the apples, one a. a time, through the shoe. The rtne whn nurceerf. win. the prize. Or, if you do not want to i i i i . xi j w ' m young. Hang a rlna- from the gas fixture and ask ' your guests to try to run a pencil through the ring while walking toward lt The winner will be the next to get married. Nearly all Halloween games have to do with love and marriage. Another game is played by hanging a bag of nuts from a curtain and ask ing a blind-fold person to strike the bag wlth'a cane. When he succeeds, he scatters the nuts, and the others try to gather them up as quickly, as pos sible. The one who picks 'up the most T.-iL-Yh. l.te uunng me year. 111 have the greatest good fortune Ask the boys and girls to sat them selves In a circle on the floor, and then pass, from hand to hand, a ball of different-colored yarns. The first one be gins a whost story, unwinding the yarn a he proceeds, until he comes to a dif- girl in the circle, and that onee must continue the story until she comes to a different color, and so on, until the ball is unwound and the story ended. A large cake with, as many different colored candles on it ad there are guests is passed around, and,- as each one helps herself to a piece, the hostess reads aloud the following probpecies, having prepared these verses before hand: "You who hold the candle green. Will win great fame, that's easily seen." "Good luck will ever follow you. Since you have wisely chosen blue." "He who holds tha candle red. Will e'er by fortune's sweets be fed." "She who holds a candle yellow. Marries soon a Jolly fellow." "Happy, lucky, pretty she, If white candle hers should be." If tha hostess wants to start her party with a vim she will request her guests. to come dressed & ghosts, and have for the first game the task of the guests finding out the others by tlie sense of touch. What could she mean? What could possibly go wrong which would excuse his substituting & loaded revolver for the harmless toy he had In his belt? There was little time to think, as Pon sonby Fitzgerald at his side kept up a. running ffre of chaff, and there would be no chance to ask questions. If Miss Dauvray had hoped for any later op portunity to communicate her secret ideas to him she would have said so In her note. He might take It that tbla was her final word, and he must trust - to luck and his own wit to find tha clew. The young moon had gone to sleep long ago when Scarlet Runner wheeled through the open gates at St. Ronan'a Mount, past the smiling lodgekeeper; and a thin, milky hase veiled the stars. With so much time to spare, they had not traveled fast, and a distant church clock told them, as they spun round the drive, that they had arrived at a quarter after 11. The music of the White Hungarians In the ballroom drowned the thrumming of the motor, and it was as If Scarlet Runner made no sound as she ran under the ballroom windows and turned & corner. "We're here at exactly the right time," said Fitzgerald. "Every soul but ourselves has come and is in the ball room. We shall make our sensation 1 Now, Mr. Race, can you turn your car around, ready to get away on the In stant? That's It. There's our door, you see, through which we have to make our dash when we come out, -laden with spoils. The light looks pretty coming through those gold-colored curtains. Now to get out of our motor-coats and into our monk's robes." Ten minutes later a profession of five dark figures was flitting on foot round a short cut to the front door. They were admitted by footmen, and in the oak-lined vestibule a civil gentleman in evening dress asked to see their invi tation cards. "I have one for myself and party of four friends," said Miss Dauvray. lift ing for an Instant, as required, her abbes' veil, and also showing an illu minated square of pastboard. So Fitzgerald had had no' separate invitation! was the thought which slipped into Christopher's mind as they were allowed to pass on without ques tion. Well, what of that? But what of Miss Dauvray's gift, which he wore In his belt now He had had no inspira tion yet. He was no nearer guessing than at first what she had meant him ere ushered into a TVV "arer ''p , ev No".th ,nto. th ballroom, and the hall was empty. lnc" me aoor. saui uzgeraia. ' oniy mai one, ana tne glass 3oor at the far end, through which we when all s ready. McClellan. you must keep this door. I want Race at the other, as he's chauffeur and should be out first to start the car for us. The minute we get In see if there's a key in the lock of your door. McClellan. and If there Is, turn it and pull It out If you can, so that we shall have everybody penned before the fun begins. You all three remember the signal for throw ing off our robes? when I say Pax vobiscum to Miss van Bouten, who'll be Undine, in pale green, with showers of diamonds and pearls as we know for certain, tnanics to Miss Dauvray At the sound of her name the girl stopped on her way to the door as If to answer. But she did not answer. She simply touched Christopher's arm with her arm, as if by accident, and went on. A moment after they were Inside the ballroom in a blaze of light. Chrls- topher'a eyes dazzled by a scene of en chantment. All the fairies of fairy land and'the kings and queens of earth since the world began wove themselves Into Jeweled patterns as they danced. It was the end of a waltz, and the mu sic died as if In reverence for tha monkish band who entered the last guests, with the last note. One monk lingered by the door. Tha other three and the abbess wound throUKh the brilliant crowd towards the gold curtains at the far end of tha room. Christopher went on. answer ing jests that were tossed to him aa fie passed; and he reached the glass door and turned Just in time to see Fitzgerald accost Undine. She. a charming, girlish figure, shook her head and pointed to a Louis XIV, gor geous as a sungod. "Pax vobiscum!" cried the discarded monk, raising aloft bis rosary. And with that there were suddenly four highwaymen masked, belted and slouch-hatted where four reverend friars had stood. Now was Fitzgerald's great chance,, and with all that was in him of dra matic talent he made the most of it. He had but one assistant in the blithe game of holding up the company, for McClellan kept one door and Race tha other; but Jack Sheppard himself could not have cut a braver dash than gay Fitzgerald. The giggling, excited cries of women and the laughter or attempted pro tests of men drowned the music of a new waltz, which stopped almost aa soon as it had begun. Ordered by two tall masked highwaymen to give up their jewels, some people yielded light ly to the humor of the Jest, while oth ers, disliking it, would have slipped from the room had not another masked robber held the door. Here and there ran forward a conscientious man whom Christopher took for a detective, but Undine herself checked their zeal. "Wo must yield to the bold highwayman!" she cried, unlooping from her whlta neck a triple rope of pearls. Then, rec ognizing their hostess' voice (sha bad worn a domino when receiving them), her guests laughed more loudly and followed her example, free from ail lurking fear. Fitzgerald and hla masked follower were reaping a rich harvest, dropping necklaces, dog col lars, bracelets and tiaras into th big leather pouches that hung from their belts. There was no longer any thought of resistance or escape, and from afar off Christopher saw McClellan leave his post at the door, from which he had doubtless taken tha precaution to" re move tha key. In a few minutes now the play would be over and the actors would be running off tha scene. Noth ing had gone wrong, Christopher waa saying to himself, when suddenly the- blood mounted to his bead in a wave .(Concluded on 7.j