' THE HOOD RIVER NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8. 1909
E
The Lure of
the Mask
By HAROLD MAC CRATH
Copyrijht, I90S. by tha Babba
Merrill Ca.
(CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK)
CHAPTER VII.
TUB TOSS OF A COIN.
hTILLAItl) mad Inexcusably
i careh-Hit shot. He grounded bU
cue and stood back from tbe
A tablf. Tbat woa the way ev
erything Htt'int'd to go at tennis, at
uuu, at leiK'liiii. at billiards. It waa
all tbe name.
"I suy, Jack. wliut'8 tbe matter wltb
you any bow?" uked Merrlbew, out of
patience.
"It was bad," Hlllanl agreed. 'Ter
baps I aui not taking tbe Interest In
tbe game that I formerly took."
"And when I make a proposition,"
pursued Merrlbew, "to ride to tbe Cat
skills and back, something you would
bare Jumped at a year ago, you shake
your bead. Think of It! ISy George,
you bad a bully time last year! You
swore It was tbe best trip we ever
took on the horses. Where's your spirit
of adventure?"
"I'm sure ) don't know where It Is.
fhall we finish the game?"
"Not If you're going to throw It like
this," dec lured Merrlbew.
"Ten and a string against your half
a string," said Millard, studying the
score. "I'll bet a bottle that I beat
you."
"Done!" said Merrlbew. Being on
bis mettle, he made a clean score of
twenty, five to go. "I can see you pay
ing for that check. Jn k."
But the odds tingled Millard's blood.
He settled down to a brilliant play
and turned sixty-one In beautiful form.
Later tbe two passed upstairs to the
secluded alcove. Merrlbew filled tbe
glusses with the nlr of one who would
like to pass the remainder of bis days
doing the same thing not that be waa
overfoml. but each bottle temporarily
weeded out that crop of Imperishable
debts. To hitii tho world grew roseate
and kindly viewed throueh tbe press
of the sparkling graiw. nnd Invariably
be saw fortune beckoning to tbe card
tables.
"Now, then. Jai k. I've got you where
I want you. Who Is she?'
"On my word. I don't know."
"Then there Is a woman!" cried Mer
rlbew. ' I knew It. Nothing else would
to demoralize voti. Prink a health to
her."
Mlllurd raised bis glass nnd touched
that of bis comrade. Tor tbe peace of
bis mind be determined to tell Merrl
bew the whole adventure.
"To the lady In the fog!" he said.
"Fog?" blankly.
"Well, the lady In the mak."
NURSERY STOCK
For biff, well matured apple tree. standing
from 5 to 7 feet in row. Newtona and Spits, call
or write
S. W. HCPPNCR
Two Milea Weat of Town
Open River Transportation Co
r Sr..... J. N. TEAL
Operated to protect thme living- along the Kiver
O. C. Isan. (ieneral Ag-ent
't;t. 8. Tkikber. Duck Agent
Oregon
Shopj line
amd Union Pacific
TinEi TABLE
Effective Sunday, Sept. I i, trains
will arrive and depart at Hood Kiver,
Oregon, on the following schedule:
west bound
No. 5. Orwm aV Washington Limited 6:50 A. M.
No. . Portland F.xprena 6:00 "
No. 3. Son-Spokane-Portland 6:46
No. 11. Pacific Kprea P. M.
No. T. Portland Special 6:45 "
Train Nix 11 make all atopa between Hood
Rirer and Portland.
Train No. will atop only at Wyeth. Cancada
Locka. Bonneville, Bridal Veil, Troutdale, Fair
view, Columbia Iteach, latourelle anl'.orbctta.
Traina Nik S. No. 6 and No. 7 will make no atopa
between Hood River and Portland.
LAST BOUND
No. 12. Atlantic Eiprcaa 10:2 A. M.
No. . Chicago Special 11:68
No. 6. Oregon A Washington Limited KM P. M.
No. i. Soo-Spokane-Portland .O0
No. 10. Salt Uke Fjpreaa 10:25 "
Na 12 atopa at all atationa eaat of Hood River,
No. 10 atopa at Moaier, Tha Pallea, Ohio. I)ea.
ehutoa. Rufua, Arlington, Umatilla, Hermiaton,
8tanfleld, Echo and other way atationa.
No. ( and No. ft atop only at Tha Dallm, Umatil
la, Pendleton, Gibbon, l.a'Jranda and Baker City.
No. I will only handle paaarngera for Nampa,
Idaho, and pointa eaat thereof.
Paaaengera for local pointa east of Hood River
muat Uke train No. 12 or train No. 10 to pointa at
whiah they atop.
J. M. FRIIDRICY, Agent.
"Fog, mask? Two of tbetur"
"So, only one. Once I met ber In tbe
fog, and then 1 met her In tbe mask."
"I'll drink to ber, but I'm banged If
I dou't believe you're coddling Die,"
aid Merrlbew dlsapiMilutedly. "This
la New York."
"Tbe wbole story. Jack, details and
all; uo half portions."
Mllliiril told tbe yarn simply, omit
ting nothing essential. He even added
tbat for three weeks be had been tbe
author of. the personal Inquiry aa to
tbe whereabouts of one Mine. Augot.
"1 don't know, Dan. but this baa
taken so strong a bold on me that I
han't forget It soon. Imagine It your
self. Oh, but she could slug! I am a
man not to be held lu tbe leash of an
adventure like this, but she held me.
How? By tbe hope tbat one day I
might see ber face with no veil of
mystery to bold ber off at arm's
length."
Merrlbew was greatly excited. He
was for ordering a second bottle, but
Millard stayed hi in.
"By (Jeorge! And you are sure that
It was at the Sand fords' ?"
"I am positive. But there Is a puzzle
tbat I have failed to solve Sundford's
cable and tbe caretaker's declaration.
I know that I wits In that bouse. The
patrolman says tbat be has seen no
light In the house since the family
sailed for Africa. It Is no dream, but
it begins to look as If I were tbe vic
tim of some tine hoax."
"It Is more than a hoax. In my opin
ion. Walt till Sand ford returns and
fi lids bis silver gone."
Hlllard fctarted.
"And his gold plate." continued Mer
rlbew, pleased wltb tbe Idea. "My
boy, that's what It la tbe best dodge
I ever beard of. It will make a good
story for the Sunday papers. You
won't be In it unless she ropes you In
as an accomplic e."
"I'm a romantic ass!" Hlllard sighed.
Leddy Light finger! If this turned out
to be tbe case be would never trust a
human being again.
"Let's take that ride on the horses,"
Merrlbew ursed. "That'll clear your
brain of this sentimental fog."
"No!" Hlllard struck his hands to
gether. 'I've a better Idea than that.
I shall go to Italy, and you shall go
with me."
"Impossible. Why, I'm all but
broke."
"I'll take you as a companion. I'm n
sick man. Dan. I'm likely to Jump
overboard If some one Isn't watching
me every minute."
"I'd liUe to go. Jack. Heaven nnd
earth, but I should! But I can't possi
bly go to Italy with a letter of credit
no more than twenty-five hundred, and
that's all there is In the exchequer at
present."
"Between such friends as we are"
"That racket won't work. I could
not take a moment's peace If I did not
feel Independent."
"But I'm not going to give It to you."
Hlllard protested. "I am going to lend
It to you "
"And could I ever pay you back If I
accepted the loan?" humorously.
"There's Monte Carlo. You might
pull down a tidy sum," said the tempt
er. "That's tho way, yu beggar. Hit
me on tbe soft side." But Merrlbew
was still obdurate.
"Now, listen to reason, Pan. If you
wait for the opportunity to go to Eu
rope you'll wait in vain. You must
make the opportunity. One must have
youth to enjoy Italy thoroughly. The
desire to go becomes less and less as
one prows older. Besides, It completes
every man's education. I'll put tho
A tear ran rnm hi cheek to hit chin.
proposition In n way you can't possibly
get round. You will always have tbat
thousand, so don't worry about that.
You have twenty-five hundred on hand,
you say. With that you can see Italy
like a prince for three months."
'What's the proposition!" Merrlhew
drained the bottle.
"This I'll agree to take not a penny
more than twenty-five hundred my
self. We'll go on equal terms. Why,"
confidently, "besides living like a
prince you'll have four hundred to
throw away at roulette. Boy, you
have never seen Italy; therefore you
do not know what leauty Is. When
we eventually land at Bellaglo, on
Lake Como, and I take your lily white
band In mine nnd lead you up to
tbe terrace of Villa Serbellonl nnd or
der ten, then you will realize that you
have only begun to live-gardens, tow
ering Alps, tbe green Lecco on ono
side nnd the green Como on tho other
and Swl.n champagne at $1.40 the
quart! Kb?
"And then," Hlllard added, "tbere'a
Kitty Kllllgrew Pinging ber heart out
to a people who can't understand a)
word she'a hinging."
"I'nn It be done fur twenty-five hun
dred ?"
Merrlbew dewed bis cigar wltb sub
dued fierceness. Me knew very well
that be was destined to go to Europe.
Kitty Kllllgrew, who bud promised to
mall tbe route they were to play and
hadn't:
"It Is written, ."an, that you shall
go with me."
"We'll settle this argument right
here now." Merrlbew drew out a coin.
"Cull It," be cried recklessly.
"Heads!"
The coin flickered In the light, fell
and proved tbat all money la perverse
by rolling under tbe davenport upon
which tbey were sitting. An amusing
bunt followed. Tbey ran their bands
over the floor, turned the rug, pulled
out tbe davenport and looked behind,
burned Innumerable matches and final
ly rang for tbe attendant. Tbe situa
tion was explained, and he procured a
candle. He was ultimately successful.
"Here It is, sir."
"What Is it. head or tall?" asked
Merrlhew weakly.
"Head, sir," said tbe attendant
"Keep It," so Id Merrlhew generous
ly, even sadly. He never got up a
game of chance that be did not get tbe
worst of it. And now, Italy! All that
way from home! "Boy, bring up a bot
tle of '0(S."
"And the lady in the musk?" asked
Merrlhew as they at length stood up.
"I must relegate ber to the fog she
came out of. But It would be a fright
ful thing lf-ir He hesitated to form
the words.
But Merrlhew bad no such scrapie.
"If tbe silver nnd plate were missing
when the Sandfords return?"
"Ob. bosh! It's all some joke, and
I'm tbe butt of It. She was In that
house by tbe same authority she rode
the horse."
"A woman of tbat sort would have
no difficulty in hoodwinking tbe stable
men," declared Merrlbew.
"By tbe way," be continued, "receiv
ed a postal from Kitty this morning
from Gibraltar. Fine trip. Visited the
gun galleries and the antique furniture
shops. Says no sign of prima donna
as yet, but believes her to be on board.
O'Mally's on the water wagon. But
Kitty aggravates me."
"What has she done now, refused
you by marconlgraph?"
'No, but she promised me ber ad
dress."
"Address ber care Cook's, Florence,
Rome, Venice. It's the popular mail
box of Europe, nnd If she has given
them the address they will forward."
"That helps considerably. I'm glad
there's one Cook which can be relied
on."
"In the morning I'll arrange for pas
sage. We'll try the Celtic."
'I'll leave the business end of the
trip to you."
'The first Saturday in March, then.
If we can get book bag. That will be In
less than two weeks."
In tbe lobby of tbe club as they
were about to enter tbe coat room Hll
lard ran Into one of several gentlemen
Issuing.
'Tardon me." be said, stepping aside.
"Non Importa!' said the stranger,
with a graceful wave of the bands.
Hlllard looked quickly into tbe gen
tleman's face. "I am clumsy," he said
In Italian.
Then the other stared at him and j
smiled. For n moment there was a J
brief tableau. In which each took tho
other's measure and noted the color of
the eye. Tbe man was an exceedingly
handsome Italian, for all that a scar
ran from bis cheek to his chin. It was
all over In n moment, and Hlllard and
Merrlbew proceeded to tbe street
"Handsome duffer," was Merrlhew'a
commeut. "But you never can tell a
man by bis looks. Gaze on me, for in
stance."
Go home!" Hillard slapped him
Jovially on the shoulder.
'Home! Ah, yes! But shall I have
home to go to when I get back?
You hae roped me in nicely. My
poor little twenty-five hundred! But
Swiss champagne at $1 40 the quart!
Well, every cloud has Us lining."
As Hlllard never received any an
swer to bis personal, he discontinued
It. Truly, she bad returned to the fog
out of which she bad come. But It
was no less difficult for hlni to take up
the dally affairs again. What mystery
veiled her? Whither bad she gone?
Giovanni was delighted when be
heard the news. He would go, too,
nnd net ns valet to the signor and his
friend till they put out for Rome.
Then, of course, he would be obliged to
eave them. Occasionally Hlllard
would reason with him regarding his
deadly projects. But when a Latin
declares that he has seen through
blood, persuasions, arguments, en
treaties, threats do not prevail. He
comforted himself with the opinion,
however, that Giovanni's hunt would
come to no successful end.
You will surely fall Into the hands
of the police."
"What God wills comes true. But
by this time they will have forgotten
me."
"But your man might be dead."
"He Is not dead. If he were some
thing would tell me."
"It is a bad business, nnd I wish you
no luck."
Giovanni smiled easily. Wishes sel
dom Interfere with any one.
"I will double your wages," said Hll
lard, "If you will go where I go and
return with me when I come back to
America."
A deprecating movement. "Money?
It Is nothing. I nm rich after my
kind."
"Are you still In the church?"
"I confess reculnrly once a week.
Oh. I nm n good Catholic"
"Take yourself off. I am displeased
with you."
a
It was a drizzling, fofrcy morning
when they drove down to the boat
But the atmospheric effects made no
Impression on tin- volaille Merrlhew.
And be bad tin eye for nil things, from
the baskets of fruU and flowers, mes
sengers ult'j late orders from the
Stores, repeated farewells, to the
squalling habies in the steerage.
At 4 o'clock tbey were on the high
aeas, beading for the Azores. Illllurd
was dreaming, ui.d Merrlhew was stu
diously employed over a booklet on
how to Fpeuk Italian in one duy. Gio
vanni, who had been arranging the
lut'Kat'e, ciin.e up on deck. He had
two packets of letters and telegrams.
One be gave to Merrlhew and tbe
other to bis master.
Hlllard found among bis a bulky en
velope postmarked Naples. Naples!
;
A crumpled Uiuk tllk mask.
He sat up. It had been uddressed to
the house and the address typewritten.
"Look at tills!" he tried.
"Good Lord!" Pan gasped, his feet
coming down to tbe deck.
Hillard was holding up for his In
spection a crumpled black silk mask.
TO BE CONTINUED
"AilvertlHinii lirlnjr nuccess" If
what you advertise lieuru out your
advertisement.
W. J. BAKER
Real Estate
Loans
Insurance
APPLE AND STRAWBERRY
LAND A SPECIALTY
Correspondence Solicited
I L. B. STEVENS & CO. I
A FINE LINE OF
Cigars, tJc6accos, J
Smelters' Supplies J
I Confectionery, Stationery, J
Notions, Etc.
2
Stop in at The Paaatime" J
On the Heiffhta 2
'"a jm
Taft Transfer Co.
Draying. . .
Wood Yard
HAY, PL0UR and PEED
For Sale
Office Phone 29 Residence 232- M
REAL ESTATE!
If you want
Portland City Property
or
Willammette Valley
Lands
you can pet the best on
best terms by writing
or visiting
D. IN. Byerlee
St. John,, Oregon
K.P.SUMNER
t) Lavatories S
n XToilcto
Sinho
h
V
PLUMBING
Sewer and Drill
TILE
Wanted Orchard Land!
C I have buyers for improved and unim
proved Apple Land, 10 to 1G0 acres. C.
What have you to sell? C. Also income
property in Portland to trade for Orchard.
J. F. BATCI IELDER -
Phone 163M
Hood River, Oregon "
To Those Who believe in Patronizing Home Industry
When you lay in your winter
supply of Flour and Feed, ak for
CUPID FLOUR
:A isj D;
HOMEMILLED FEED
If your dealer does not want
... to supply it, come to Us . . .
CUPID IS STILL MADE FROM OLD WHEAT
Hood RiDer ItfiCling Company
DEAN ST SHAW
CeciricaC tvfrurnisfiers
II. R. Banking & Trust Bldg.
HOME PHONE 3 HOOD RIVER, ORE.
BUY YOUR GROCERIES 3
' FROM
5 WOOD & HUGGINS
jj THE SPOT CASH GROCERY
6 The largest stock to select from. Our large trade
N.
5
our store. We make a specialty of fancy
and high grade stock. Give us a call.
S
k
WOOD & HUGGINS
Phone 7
H. H. Bailey W. E. Colby
BAILEY & COLBY
Electric Wiring and Fixtures
a a a Jm
v ; Supplies at Moderate Prices $
'1
I
silt
'MM
Office and Display Room at 117 Statt Strtet
Shop Phone ZZZ-K Rcidcnc Phon 2ci-L
n B B MM
i-uiimiufit Munt
Dressers
Carpets
Art Squares
Linoleums
ALSO BUILDING MATERIAL
S. E. BARTMESS
MimJ Kiver, Oregon
9 1