THE MEDFORD DAILY TRIBUNE, MEuFOKD. ORECON, MONDAY, OCTOMF.R IB, 100!).
I The
(Continued.)
.. ..SYNOPSIS
CHAPTER I Jack Billiard, a
wealthy New York clubman, hears a
mysterious voice singing in the night
under his window.
II He inserts an advertisement in
a personal ccolumn to find the singer.
He receives a reply.
CHAPTER V.
THE 1IASK.
OININ" tir Elks?" asked the boy
d
when Millard was well undet
way once more.
"Xo: It's a seauce. Thev are
going to call up my fate round a table."
"Cgh! Aw, go-wan: Dey don't
call up no ghosts wit' French cider and
hot boids." The boy relapsed Into si
lence. r By and by the carriage stopped.
-!'t)is is wnere we alights, me lold!"
the 'Boy Jeered. "An" no lookin. mind."
Hillard found the carriage steps and
I ided safely. He stood for a mo
ment, listening. They were in a quiet
part of the city; no elevated or surface
cars were near. He was assured that
.the location was exclusive. Garrets
are not to be found In quiet places.
"Look out fer th' steps," said the
boy, again taking Hillard by the hand.
- "nil you be careful of that basket."
""""I ain't lettin' It drop any."
Winding steps, thought the blind
folded man. He could recollect none.
It seemed to him that they stood the'e
' five minutes before the door opened.
When It did. the boy passed In the
basket and resolutely pushed Hillard
Into the haO. The door closed gently,
and theadventure wa3 begun. Whith
er would it lead him?
"Take off the bandage the signor
may now," said a voice in broken En
lish.
"Thanks!" He tore the handkerchief
from his eyes and blinked. The hall
was so dimly lighted that he could
see nothing distinctly.
"The signor's coat and hat."
He passed over these articles, shook
the wrinkles from hi trousers, smooth-
ed his chin and stood at attention. The
maid eyed him with abundant approv-j
She waa masHcdl
al, then knocked timidly on the door
leading to the drawing room.
"AvantI!" called a soft voice.
Hillard gathered In his courage,
unonml the door and stenned Inside.
On a fllvnn near a lamp sat a woman
In black. Only a patch of white throat
could be seen, for ber shoulders were
not bare and her arms only to the el -
bows. Her back was turned squarely.
But shot a. bead! He caught bl?
- v
mm i
Lure
of the
Mask
By
HAROLD
MAC GRATH
Copyright. 1908. by lh
Merrill Co.
Bobbs-
breath. It glowed like a copper beech
In the sunshine.
"Madam?" he faltered. He spoke
English and not very firmly.
The woman turned. Hillard took a
step backward and blundered against
a pedestal.
She was masked!
Masked! Only her uouth and chin
were visible, nnd several little pieces
of court plaster effectually disguised
these. There was a mystery. He to
come blindfolded nnd she to wear a
mask extraordinary !
"Aud this." she said Ironically, "Is
the gentleman who leaned out of -tho
window."
He brought all his faculties together;
for he kuew he would need them In
this encounter. "Supposing I had
fallen out of It well, it could not
have mattered. I should . uot have
been more at your feet than 1 nm
now." This was very good, consid
ering how dry his tongue was.
Hillard reached a chair successful
ly enough, but he never could rec
ollect how. He sat down as s bashful
man sits down in a crowded ballrcom,
with his knees drawn in tightly and
his feet at sympathetic ahgles.
Fresently she laughed with malice.
"You are not comfortable in that
chair."
"That Is trpe, and yet it Is soft aud
roomy. 1 am uneasy. Perhaps you
recall to my subconsciousness a period
tu my former existence on earth, or. If
you will, one of my ancestors."
"1 fail to understand."
"Well, a Hillard 200 years ago had
his head cut off by an ax. His execu
tioner wore a mask."
"A mistake. Your ancestor should
have been hanged."
"And I along with him, you would
Imply?"
"Are you not Irish? 1 have known
Irishmen of the name of Hillard."
"They were in disguise. But I bave
a generous strain of Irish blood in me;
otherwise 1 shouldn't have had the
courage to follow up un adventure like
this."
"Thanks. The'compllincnt Is rather
ambiguous.'
"My compliments cannot possibly be
more ambiguous than your appearance.
Surely there will be an hour for un
masking." "It has already begun, Mr. Hillard."
So I am the one who Is to be un
maske,n well. I have only the mask
I nature gave to me. 1 wish she had
been more liberal. But I shall see
what can be done with it."
He took note of her teetli and felt a
sudden tinge of regret. One may lis-
' guise the face and hair, but the teeth
i are always the same. Two lower teetli
on the riht side appeared to be gone:
the others were Drm and glistening :
white, it was a pity, for a woman's
teeth are as much her glory as ber
balr. ,
Silence. The ruddy light on ber balr
fascinated him.
"What is it?" she demanded.
"Your hair." with a simplicity which
silenced her. "You have the most
beautiful balr 1 have ever seen."
"Thank you. And yet, for all you
know. It may be a One wig."
"If It is I shall never be sure of
anything again. Am I in prosaic New
York? Have you not by some carpet
magic transported me to old Europe?
If a dozen conspirators came In in
I cowls to render me the oath 1 should
not be at all surprised."
"There is no magic, only a mask."
"And there Is no way of seeing be
hind that?"
"None absolutely none. I am told
that you are a gentleman, so I am
confident that you will not stoop to
use force."
"Only the force of eloquence, If ever
I may lay claim to that again."
"You are beginning well, for I tell
you, Mr. Illllard. I shall expect but
the most brilliant wit from you to
night As for me, I shall only Inter
1 nnlnto neenKfonnllv. Now. befrin."
i am noi useu iu uougiug wimuui
. the pole."
"Sou must learn. Dance!"
1 "Vpon wbat-nothlng? And how
ball.I know that my dancing pleases
j ' .... . .
I . ogres, to tell rou. 1 iteat. this
mask tonight becausu 1 um taking a
surreptitious leaf out of my book of
cares."
"You are, theu, seeking a diversion"
"Nothing more or loss. IHi not flat
ter yourself that thoro Is anything per
sonal or romuutlc ou my side. 1 sm
bored."
"1 am wholly tu your bands." be said,
"and they are very beautiful bauds."
"Is there a uy thing mora beautiful
than a cut's paw when the cluws oro
bidden? Never Judge a woman by hor
hands." Ne vorllioluss sbo burled ber
bunds in the depths of a down pillow.
Sho bud forgotlvu bur rlutts. She slip
ped thutu off aud niuuuged to hide
them.
"I promise to ru member. Your let
ters" be begnu dltlldeutly. Where the
deuce wus his tongue? Wus be to be
tongued tied ull the evetilug before this
Columbine, who, with the aid of ber
mask, wus covertly lutighlng at bis
awkwardness;
"My letters? A womuu often writes
what she will uot say and says what
she will uot write. Did you not ask
I'.ie to disillusion you?"
"Yes, but softly, softly. I begin to
believe one thlug you brought me hero
to tench me a lesson. Qentlemon should
never use the personal column."
"Nor should ladles read H. I am not
saving any mercy for myself!" with
laughter.
"Shall I begin with my past?"
"Something less horrifying, if you
please!"
"I object to the word nice," be said.
"I should have preferred milksop!
Ilndn't you better try some new kind
of torture?"
This time her Inughter was relaxed
and Joyful. And somehow Hillard felt
more at ease. He was Krouin;: accus
tomed to the mask. He stretched Ills
legs nnd fingered Ills nether Hp.
"Have you not somewhere an In
visible cloak?"
"I had one that nlglit. which nature
lent me." she answered readily. "1
was so Invisible to you that I heard
the policeman call out your name. 1
thnnk you for insisting Hint I was not
a chorus lady."
Here was a revelation which ac
counted for ninny things "I haven't
been very fortunate so far In this ad
vcuture." "That Is rank Ingratitude. I am of
the opinion that fortune has highly
favored you."
"But the mask-the mask! If you
heard the policeman call my name you
must have henrd him speak of one
Leddy Lightnnger."
"I did, Indeed. And Is It not pos
llblc that I nm that very person?"
Hillard dropped Ills hand toward his
watch. "Why do you hate Itnly?"
Sho sat straight, and what little he
could see of her mouth had hardened.
"There will be no retrospection this
evening, If you please." ber voice
rather metallic
The mystery lifted Its head nga'n.
One does not bate a country without
a strong aud vital reason. Was Gio
vanni partly right, after all? Was
this a kind of trap a play to gain his
interest? Was her singing under his
window purely accidental?
"Will you not sing?" he asked. This
was an inspiration. Music might as
sist in melting her new vserve.
"You recollect then, that 1 possess a
voice?"
"It Is all 1 have to recollect.- Tell
me, wliltlicr Is a!l tU'.t u li-dV
"To the dour and into the log again."
"On my word, I'm half Inclined to
believe you to be an anarchist or a
red or something on that order."
"Put yourself at ease. I am tielther
Leddy Llghtflnger nor a Socialist.
There are no dyuamiio bombs In this
house."
Her severity, ber irony nnd her ap
parent lack of warmth were mere mat
ters of calculation. Her plan was to,
insnlre him with trepidation, to keen
him always at arm's length, for bis
i own safety as well us hers. She knew
something of men. She was secretly
"The long ou tang under my window."
pleased with bis strong face and shape
ly bead. The chin was square, but
not heavy; the mouth humorous, kind
ly aud firm; the nose bridged, and the
brown, eves sleepy, yet. wlth. latent
llrvs, wero really handsome. Sho wus
uot ufruhl to be alone with 111 in, nor
was it really necessary to weur a
musk, lint the romance In her heart
that sho believed to be dead was uot
deud, only waiting tu bo rekindled.
"I will sing!"
"That Is more thuu I dared to hope."
"What shall it be?" sho asked.
"The song you sang under my win
dow." "But that Is for the initio vulco!"
"You sung It very well nevertheless.
1 huvo a uuod memory too." IIu lenned
forward, his urins crossed ou his knees. '
Wus there ever In ull the world such
un Arubluu night?
She Bung, but without Unit buoynut
nolo of the nrst night. One after nu
othcr be called out the populur ulrs of
tho old light operas. She bud them all
on her tongue's end.
Where bud be seen that copy of
Botticelli before? If only thoro was a
llttlo mora light!
"Pardon tue," ho said. "You asked"
Sho repeated her question, wondering
what had drawu his attention.
"I like my grand opera uftcr dlunor.
After dinner I shnll want Verdi, Ber
lioz, Gounod."
"But after dinner 1 may uot euro to
sing." She spoke In German.
Ho was not expecting this tongue.
Besides, his German bud never been a
finished product. For nil that, ho made
a passable reply.
"You spenk as many languages as a
Swiss hotel concierge."
"I wish 1 did. My mother bad ono
Idea In regard to my youth I should
speak four languages and cvontunlly
become a great diplomat My mother
had one of the loveliest voices. It was
a Joy to hear her spenk. now Italian,
now Gernuiii, now French. Wo were
great comrades. It was rare fun to
go with her on an antique hunting ex
pedition. They never fooled her nor j
got the belter cf her In n bargain." j
She liked the way lie spoko of his :
mother. i
"Hut you," he said "you are not i
Italian?" I
She smiled. j
Her fingers stirred over the keys :
again, and Grieg's "I'nplllon" flultered I
softly from flower to tlower. I
(To he continued.)
NOTK'K OP SALE.
In
f!eorg
the matter of the estate
e M. Needles, deceased.
of
Notice is hereby given that in pur
suance of an order of the county
court of Jackson county, Oregon, !
made ou the 1-1 1 Ii day of October, j
1000, in the matter of the above
named estate, the undersigned admin- j
istiator of the estate of said deoeas- !
ed will sell at public miction to the
highest bidder for cash, on Monday, '
the 2.-th day of October, 1000, at 10 f
o'clock a. m., in front of what is j
known as tho "Horseshoe Club Sa
loon," situated on Front street in the
city of Medl'ord, the entire stock of;
merchandise contained in snid an-j
loon, consistiiiL' of a large amount of
whisky in barrels, in bottles mid oth
erwise, together with a variety of
other kinds of liquor usually kept by
retail vendors thereof; also including"
two pool tables, both in good ootidi- j
tion, and eaeli completely equipped j
with fixtures; also a stock of tobac- j
cos, cigars, pipes, cigarettes, etc., j
and n full set of decanters, glasses !
nnd tumblers, nnd olhcr articles used 1
in connection with nnd in n snloon
u here liquors arc sold by retail. I'or
: a more definite knowledge ot the kind
and amount of liquors, fixtures, etc.,
to be disposed of lit said sale, inquire j
at the office of C'olvig & Renmcs,
Med ford, Oregon.
Dated October 15th, VMM).
CLARENCE h. REAMF.S,
Administrator of the Estate of George
M. Needles, Deceased.
NOTICE.
Notice is hereby K'von t'ie """
deisigncd will apply to the city coun
cil of the city f Medford, Oregon,
at the meeting thereof on October
10, 1000, for n license to sell Kpirit
ons. vinous and malt liquors in quan
tities less than a gallon, for tho pe
riod of six months, at his place of
business nt Nos. 22 nnd 21 Front
street, North, in snid city.
JOHN HARM NO TON.
Dated October 0, 1000.
TAXIDERMIST AND FURRIER
Send your trophies to mo for mount
ing. Big game heads, fish, birds nnd
mammals mounted true to nature by
improved methods. I do tanning, mnkc
fur ruga, make, remodel nnd clean
fur garments. Express nnd mail or
ders promptly attended to.
C. M. HARRIS.
495 Washington Street, Portland, Or.
Telephone Main 3G00.
Savoy Theatre
TONIGHT
THE STAMPEDE Most thrilling and realistic western picture ever
shown, taken on the "101 ranch."
SPRING HAS COME
iXW' THE ETERNAL ROMANCE
OTHER FEATURES ONE DIME
WANTED
Timber and Coal Lands
ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING CON
TRACTS TAKEN AND ESTIMATES
FURNISHED.
B. H. Harris & Co.
MEDFORD, OREGON
Office in Jackson County Bank Upstairs
When we suggest that you
Toast Your Bread
On Breakfast Table
Ye do not mean that you should cat off
the stove toast
With an Electric Toaster
and have crisp, brown, delicious toast
costs 1; per meal to operate. Ye
have the best toaster on the market for
sale at. $ 1.50. Clean, appetizing, sanitary
ROGUE RIVER ELECTRIC CO.
Successors to Condor Water & Power Co.
APPLES AND PEARS AND ALL KINDS Ob1
FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREES.
YAKIMA VALLEY NURSERY
Largest Commercial Nursery in the Pacific North
west. Not in the combine. Competes with all first
class nurseries.
L. E. HOOVER, Agent
MEDFORD,
State Depositary
Established 1888.
Capital and Surplus $125,000
' Retoarroi 700,000
Advertise in
L fltntl),r
ft KEDrOBD, OHI001T B.
RESOLVED
Tim best resolution for you
to mnka is to como to us for
your next suit, if you wnnt
Homulliing out of tlio ordinary.
Wo do tho best work and charge
tlio lowoNt prices.
W. W. EIFERT
TUB FROOBtlSBIVE TAIXOB
O R E O O X
HIGHEST ATTAINMENT IN
SYSTEMATIC BANKING SERVICE
Tim Jnekson County Hunk. respect
fully solicits your iiecount, subjuet
to your check, with tho Htronyust
(,'iinv.iiitca of safety and officioncy.
Wo offer the highest nt tninment in
systematic blinking service, which
assures the grentost caro in ovory
finnncial transaction, witli th'iH ntfig
ing institution.
W.. I. VAWTEIt, President.
, O. R. IiINPIjEY, Cashier.
the Tribune