Image provided by: Hood River County Library District; Hood River, OR
About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 1909)
THE HOOD RIVER NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1909 7 The Lure of the Mask By HAROLD MAC GRATH Cepyrijht. 1)08. by lb tojibs Merrill Co. (CONTINUED rKQM LAST WEKIU CHAPTER IX. A TAXOLEO tKCIN. ANFORD knew how to order a dinner, and so by tbt time that A Merrlhew bad emptied bit sec ond glass of Burgundy and hi first of champagne be wit in the bate of golden confidence. He would find Kitty, and when be found her be would find her heart as well. "Say, Jack." anld Sandford. "what did you mean by that fool cable any bow?" Hlllard hud been patiently waiting for au opening of this sort. "And what did you mean by boaxlng me?" "Hoaxing you?" "That's the word. I was in your bouse that night. I was there as sure ly as I am here tonight." "Nell, am I crazy or Is It Jack?" "Sometimes," said Mrs. San ford, "when you put the chauffeur In the tonneau I'm Inclined to think that It Is you." Hlllard looked straight Into the plac Id gray eyes of bis hostess. Very slow ly one of the white lids drooped. His heart bounded. "Hut really," continued Sandford se riously, "unless you bribed the- care taker you could not possibly have en tered the house. You have leen dream ing." "Very, well, then. It begins to look as If I had." It was apparent to Hll lard that Sandford was not in his wife's confidence in all things. He also saw the wisdom of dropping the subject while at t lie tiilile. They took coffee and lliucur in the glass inclosed balcony. Hlllard found quiet nook not far from the lift. He saw that Mrs. Sandford's chair was placed so that she could get a good view of the superb night. He sat down himself, sipped his liqueur med itatively, drank his coffee and as she nodded llirhtrd a cigarette. "Well?" she said, smiling into bis brown eyes, she was rather fond of Hlllurd. n gentleman always and one of excellent taste. There was never any wearisome Innuendo In his wit nor suggestion in bis stories. "You delllierately winked at nie," be began. . "I deliberately did." "Sandford Is In the dark. I inspect ed as much." "Regarding the wink?" "Regarding the mysterious woman who occupied your house by your ex press authority and who rode the hunter In the park." "Was there ever n more beautiful picture?" sweeping tier hands toward the city. "The beauty of It will lust several hours yet. Who and what was she?" '1 wish I could llnd you a wife. You would make a good husband." "Thank you. I am even willing, with your assistance, to prove it. Who was she. and how came she In your house?" 'She wished that favor aud that her presence In New York should not be known. Now descrlhe to me exactly what linpiiened. I i tn worrying about the plate and the sliver." He laughed. "And you will meet me halfway?" "I promise to tell you all I dare." "There Is a mystery?" "Yes. So begin with your side of it." Ue wus a capital story teller. He re counted the adventure In all Its color the voice under his window, the per sonals In the paper, the interchange of letters, the extraordinary dinner, the musk In the envelope. She followed hltn with breathless Interest. ('harming, charming:" She clapped her bands. "And how well you tell It! You have told It Just as It happened." "Just as It happened;" confounded for n moment. "Kindly. 1 have hnd a letter-two, In fad. You did not see her face?" A FULL STOCKING At Christmas Time Is a Good Thing. But full hod during the root of the year Is better. You can fill your hsad with useful knowledge of the world's urront history by subscribing for this newspaper and reading it regularly. "Qnly the chin and mouth. But If I ever meet her again I shall know her by her teeth." "Heavens! And how?" "Two lower ones are gone. Other wise they would be beautiful." "l'oor man! You have budded your house upon the Hands. Her teeth are perfect. She has fooled you." "Rut I suw with these two eyes!" "There Is a preparation which the atrical people use a kiud of gutn. She mentioned the trick. Isn't she clever?" "Yet I Hint 1 1 know her hair." dogged ly. She put her hands swiftly to ber head. "Now, you have known me for lie nrtiuiital tin diifiifure In oil IU color. years. What Is the color of my hair?'' "Why, it Is blond." "Nothing of the kind. It is auburn. If you cannot tell mine, how will you tell hers?" "I shall probably run after every red headed woman In Europe till I find her." humorously. "Our ears never deceive half so often as our eyes." "Her face is not scarred, la it?" "Scarred."' Indignantly. "She is as ltcuutiful as a Raphael, us lovely as a Rouguereau. If I were a man I should gladly journey round the world for the sight of her." "I am willing, even anxious." "I should fall in love with her." "I believe I have." "Come, Mr. Hlllard. I am Just fool ing. You are too sensible a man to fall in love with a shadowa mask. One doer ci fall in love that way." "She Is .. arricd?" 'Certainly 1 have not said so." He flicked the ash from his ciga rette. "Have you those letters?" "One of them I'll show you." "Why not the other?" "It would be wasting time. It mere ly relates to your adventure. She sailed the day after you dined with her." "That accounts for the shutters. The police and the caretaker were bribed." "I gasped they were." 'If I wero a vain man, and you know I am not. I might ask you If she Fisike well of me In this letter. Un derstand I am not Inquiring." Rut you put the question as adroit ly as a woman. We are sure of vanity always. Yes, she spoke of you. She found you to be an agreeable gentle man. Rut," with gentle malice, "she did not sav that she wished she bad met you years ago under more favor able circumstances." Come, give me the death stroke and have done with it. Tell me what you dare, and I'll be content with It." She opened ber handkerchief purse and delved among the various articles therein. "I expected that you would le asking questions, so I am prepared. I did not tell my husband for that very reason. He would have Insisted upon knowing everything. Here, read this. It Is only a glimpse." He searched eagerly for the signa ture. 'Don't bother," she said. "The name Is only a nickname we gave ber at school." "School? Do you mean to tell me hat you went to school with her? Where?" In Pennsylvania first, then In Milan. Read." O Cnra Mia If only you knew how orry I am to mini you! Why must you rail at once? Why not come to my beau- Iful Venice? 1 have so much to say that cannot be written. You ask about tho d- enture. four goes my little dream of greatness. It a blank failure. The ofhclats put unheard of obstacle In our path. The contracts were utterly disre garded. In the flmt place, we had not purchased our costumes and scenery In Italy. "Costumes and scenery?" nillnrd sought the signature again. The base of oil the trouble was a clerk In the consulate at Naples. He wrote us hat there would be no duties on costumes and scenery Alas, the manager and his backer are on the way to. America, sad der and wiser oien! We surrendered our return tickets to the chorus and sent hem home. The rest of us are stranded Is not tnat the word? here In Venice, waiting for money from home. If I were alone. It would be highly amusing, but hese poor people with me! There Is only one way I can help tnem, out mat never: You rocoMert that my personal Income la quarterly, and It will he two months be fore I slinll have funds. There are per sons moving heaven and earth to find me. Mv companions haven't the least Idea who I am. So here we all are. wandering about the I'lnua San Marco, calling at ook a every day In hopes of money. I am staying with my maid In the Campo Santa Mnrln Formosa, near our beloved Santa llarhara. I have guaranteed the credit of my companions, and they believe that Venetians are generous people. Gen erous! Perhaps you will wonder how I dared appear on the stage In Italy. A black wlk' nnd a theatrical makeup mesa were snlllclent. A duke sent me an Invl- atlon to take supper with him, as If I were a ballerina! I sent one of the Amer ican chorus girls, a little minx for mis chief She ate his supper and then ran awav. I understand that he was furious. (inly a few months more. Nell, and then ninv come and go as I please Come to Venice. CATKICCIOSA. Hlllard did not stir. Another laby rinth to this mystery! Ca price losa Kitty Kllllgrew's unknown prima don na, aud all he hud to do was to take the morning train for Venice, and twenty-four hours later he would be prowling through the Campo Santa Murla Formosa. Mrs. Sandford observed birn curi ously, even sadly. Why couldn't hU fancy have been charmed by an every day, sensible girl and not by this whimsical, extraordinary woman who fooled diplomats, flaunted dukes and kept a king ut arm's length as pas time? And yet "Caprlcclosa," be mused aloud. "That Is not her name." "And I shall not tell It you." "But her given name? Just a straw, something to bold on. I'm a drowning man." "It la Hilda." "That It German." "She prefer It to Sonla." "Sonla Hilda. It begins well. May I keep this letter?" "Certainly not. With that cara mla? Give It to me." He did so. "Shall I seek her?" "This Is my advice don't think of ber after tonight. If you ever see or recognize ber, avoid her. It may sound theatrical, but she Is the innocent cause of two deaths. These men sought her openly too." "What has she done?" "She made a great though common mistake." "Political?" "Don't be foolish. I am sorry I let you see the letter. I forgot that she told me ber hiding place." "Her hiding place?" "Mr. Hlllard, she Is as far remoTed from your orbit as Mars' la from Jupi ter's. Forget ber." "My orbit Is not limited. I shall seek her. When I find ber I shall marry her." "I like you too much. Mr. Hlllard, to stand by and see you break your heart against a stone wall." "Don't you see, the deeper the mys tery Is the more powerful the attrac tion becomes?" The door to the lift opened and closed noisily, and Hlllard turned neg ligently. A man sauntered through the room. The moment he came Into the light Hlllard's Interest became lively enough. It was the handsome Italian with the scar. "Who Is that man?" he whispered. "Only a few weeks ago I bumped into him on coming out of the club." Do not attract his attention," she answered. "Who la he?" he repeated. "A Venetian officer and a profligate. I entertained him once, but I learned from him that I had leen ill advised." Hlllard saw that this subject would admit of no further questions. The man with the scar had committed some Inexcusable offense, and Mrs Sandford had crossed him off the list. It was after 10 when Hlllard and his friend took their leave. "We shall leave In the morning for Venice," said Hlllard. "Venice? How about Rome and Florence?" "Which would you prefer, Rome and the antiquities or Venice and Kitty Kllllgrew?" "Kitty in Venice? Are you sure?" "She Is there with La Slgnorlna Ca prlcclosa. Oh, this Is a fine world, aft er all, and I was wrong to speak ill of It this morning." "If Kitty's In Venice I'm an ungrate ful beggar too. Rut I do not see why Kitty's being in Venice excites you." ";? Well, fate writes that Kitty's Two dignified coroMnlcrl roue TtitcJiIy. mysterious prima donna and my lady of the mask are one and the same per son." "No!" The two without further words marched along the middle of the Cor so to tho hotel. The concierge started toward them, but suddenly reconsid ered and retreated to his bandbox of an office. The strangeness of his move ments passed unnoticed by the two men, who continued on through the lobby Into the first corridor. Hlllard Inserted his key In the door of his room and swung It Inward. He paused on the threshold with good cause. Two dignified rarablnleil rose quick ly and approached Hlllard. There was something In the flashing eyes and set Jaws that made him realize that the safest thing for hint to do at that mo ment was to stand perftly still. CHAPTER X. CAJtABIMEHI. ' IGXORI." began Hlllard ly, "before you act wl not do me the honor ,;lii tills Visit?" calm- Ill you to ex- "It U not he!" suld one of the cara bluleri. "It U the muster, aud not the scrvuut. This la Slgnor Hillar, la It not?" he continued, addressing himself to Hlllard. "The slgnor has a servant by the name of Giuvauul?" "Ye.;. And what has be done to war rant this visit?" "It Is a mutter of seven years," an swered the spokesman. "Your serr ant attempted to kill an officer la Rome. I.uigl here, who was tben In terested In the case In Rome, thought he recognized Giovanni In the street today. Inquiries led us here." "At any rate, It looks as though Gio vanni had been forewarned of your visit," answered Hlllard. "And may I ask what Is the name of the officer Giovanni attempted to kill?" "It la not necessary that you should know." Hlllard accepted the rebuke with be coming grace. "And now, slguDr," with the utmost courtesy, "permit us to apologize for this Intrusion. We shall wait In the hull, and If we find Giovanni we shall gladly notify you of the event" "Hello! What's this?" exclaimed Hll lard, going to the table wben the of ficers had gone. It was a note ad dressed to him: My Kind Master The carablnlert are after me. But rest easy. I was not bora to rot In a dungeon. I am going north. As for my clothes, send them to Olacamo, the baker, who lives on the road to El Deserta. He wUI understand. May the Holy Mother guard you should wo never meet again! Hlllard passed the note to Merrlhew. "That's too bad. I've taken a great fancy to him. It seems that the peas ant has no chance on this side of the water. His child a painted dancer In Paris and a price on bis own bead! It's hard luck. And the fellow who caused all this trouble goes free." "He always goes free, Dan, here or elsewhere." "Why, we'd have lynched him la America." "That's possible. We are such an Impulsive race." ironically. "Yes, no doubt we'd have lynched him, and these foreigners would have added an other ounce of fact to their belief that we are still barbarians." "I hadn't thought of that," Merrlhew admitted. Merrlhew became Impatient. "Now out with It. Where and how did you learn that Kitty is In Venice?" Hillard told him briefly. "And so they are all In Venice, broke? Ry George, here's our chance everlasting gratitude and all that! We'll ball 'em out and ship 'em home! How Is that for a bright Idea?" "Let me see," said Hlllard practical ly. "There are five of them five hun dred for tickets and doubtless five hun dred more for unpaid hotel bills. It would never do. Dan, unless we wish to go home with them." "Rut I haven't touched my letter of credit yet. I could get along on two thousand." "Not with the brand of cigars you are smoking, 30 cents each." "No; we can't ball them out, but we can ease up their bills till money comes from borne. Not one of them by this time will have a watch. O'Mally will remain sober from dire necessity. Poor Kitty Kllllgrew! All the won derful shops and not a stiver In ber pockets!" Merrlhew paced the floor for some time, his head full of Impossible schemes. He stopped In the middle of the room with an abruptness which portended something. "I have It. Instead of going directly to Venice, we'll change the route and go to Monte Carlo. I'll risk my four hundred, and If I win" "Tben the announcement cards, a house wedding and pictures in the New York pni?rs. Dan, you are im possible. You have gambled enough to know that wben you are careless of results you wiu, but never when you need the cash. Rut it Is Monte Carlo if you say so. Two or three days there will cure you of your beau tiful dream. After all," with a second thought, "It's a good cause, and it might be Just your luck to win. The masquerading lady! Monte Carlo it Is." Merrlhew danced a Jig. Hlllard stepped to the mirror and bowed pro foundly. The Jig ceased. "Madame, permit me, a comparative stranger, to offer you passage money home. We won It at Monte Carlo. It Is yours. Polite enough," mused Hlllard, "but banged If It sounds proper." "To the deuce with propriety!" cried Merrlhew buoyantly. "We'll start to morrow?" From her window Kitty looked down on the Campo, which lay patched with black shadows and moonshine. How still at night was this fairy city In the sea! There were no horses clattering over the stone pavements, no trains, no omnibuses. The stillness which was of peace lay over all things. And some of this hnd entered Kitty's heart. Rut for one thing the hour would have been perfect. Kitty, ordinarily brave and cheerful, was very lonesome and homesick. The dismal failure of It all! She had danced, sung, spoken her hues the very best she knew how, and none bad noticed or encouraged her. It was a bitter cup after all the suc cess at home. If only she could take It philosophically like La Slgnorlna! And there were so many things she could not understand. Why should La Slgnorlna always go veiled? Where did she disappear so mysteriously In the daytime? And those sapphires and rilumcrd and emeralds? Why live here with such a fortune hanging round her neck? "Kitty?" The voice came from the doorwnv. Klttr was startled for a moment, but It was only La Slgnorlna. Kitty furtively wiped her eyes. "I am over here by the window. The moon was su bright I did not light the lamp." La Slgnorlna moved with light step to the window, bent and caught Kit ty's face between ber bunds and turn ed it firmly toward the moon. "You have been crying, cara!" "I am very lonely," said Kitty. "You poor little homeless bird!" La Slgnorlna seized Kitty Impulsively In ber arms. "If I were not" She hesi tated. "If you were not?" "If I were not poor, but rich Instead, I'd take you to one of the fashionable hotels. You are out of place here In thla rambling old ruin." "Not half so much aa you art," Kit ty replied. "I am never out of place. I can llv comfortably In the fields with the peasants, In cities in extravagant ho tels. My mind la alwaya at one height. Where the body Is does not matter much." There was a subtle hauteur in the voice. It subdued Kitty's Inquisitive aesa. "Sometimes," said Kitty, drying the final tear "sometimes I am afraid of you." "And wisely. I am often afraid of myself. I alwaya do the first thing Aat enters my bead, and generally It A good ttrokt tent the gondola up the canal. is the wrong thing. Never mind. The old woman here will trust us for some weeks yet." She leaned from the win dow and called, "Pomp-e-1" From the canal the gondolier an swered. 'Now then!" said the woman to the girl. Kitty threw a heavy shawl over her head and shoulders, while the other wound about ber face the now famil iar dark gray veil, and the two went down into the Campo to the landing. Pompeo threw away bis cigarette and doffed his hat. He offered bis el bow to steady the women as they boarded, aud once they were seated a good stroke' sent the gondola up the canal. Under bridges they passed. They glided by little restaurants where Venetians In olden days talked liberty for themselves and death to the Austriaas, and at length they came out upon the Grand canal where the RIalto curves Its ancient blocks of marble. "There! This is better." "It Is always better wben yo are with me," said Kitty. For years Kitty had fought ber bat tles alone, Independent and resource ful, and yet here she was leaning upon the strong will of this remarkable wo man, and gratefully too. Now, my dear Kitty, we'll Just en joy ourselves tonight, and on our re turn I shall lay a plan before you, and tomorrow you may submit it to the men." I accept it at once without knowing what it Is." "What a beautiful palace!" Kitty cried presently, pointing to a house not far from the house of Petrarch. The moon injured broadly upon It. The gondola posts stood like sleeping senti nels, aud the tide murmured over the steps. Pompeo, seeing Kitty's gesture. swung the gondola diagonally across the canal. No, no, Pompeo!" La Slgnorlna spoke In Italian. "I have told you never to go near that bouse without express orders. Straight ahead." "Who lives there?" asked Kitty. "Nobody," auswered La Slgnorlna, though once It was the palace of a great warrior. How picturesque the gondolas look, with their dancing dou ble lights!" "The old palace interests me more than the gondolas," declared Kitty. But La Slgnorlna was not to be trapped. From the Grand canal they came out Into the great canal of San Marco, the beginning of the lagoon. "La Slgnorlna" begun Kitty. "There! I have warned you twlra The third time 1 shall be angry." "Hilda, then. Rut 1 am afraid when ever I call you that. You do not belong to my world." "And what makes you think that?" There was a smile behind the veil. "I do not know uuless It Is that you are at home everywhere, In the Campo, In the hotels, lu the theater or tie pal ace. Now, I am at home only In the theater, lu places which are unreal and artificial. You are a great actrese, a great singer, and yet. as O'Mally would say, you don't belong." Kitty had forgotten what she had started out to say. La Slfttiorlna laughed. "Pouf! You have been reading too many uovels. To the molo, Pompeo." At the molo, the great quay of Ven ice, they disembarked. The whilom prima donua dropped 50 centeslml Into tompeo'a palm, aud he bowed t the very gunwale of the boat. "Oracle, nobiilta." "What doea he say?" asked Kitty. "He aaya Thanks, nobility.' If I had given him a peuuy It would bat beeu thanks only. For a lira be wou J have added prliiclessa princess. Tie gondolier will give you any title y U desire if you are willing enough to pay for it." The Piazza Han Marco, or St Mark. Is the mecca of those In search of beau ty. Here they may lay the aacred car pet, kneel and worship. There la noi.e other to compare with this mighty square, with Its enchanting splendor, lu naunting romance. Its brilliant If pathetic history. There were several thousand people In the square tonight mostly traveler. The band waa playing selections fro j Audran's whimsical "La Maacotte ' The tables of the many cafea wet filled, and hundreds walked to and ft t under the bright arcades or stopped t gaze Into the shop windows. The two women saw no vacant ta bles at Florian's, but presently they espied the other derellcU O'Mally, Smith and Worth who managed to find two extra chairs. Through her veil their former prima donna studied them carefully, with a purpose In mind. The only one aba doubted was Worth. Somehow be an noyed her. She could not explain, yet still the sense of annoyance waa alwaya there. "Gentlemen," she said during a lull, "I have a plan to propose to you all." "If It will get us back to old Broad way let us have It at once," said O'Mally. "Well, then, I propose to wait no longer for letters from home. My plan A glorious green emerald Uiy in the palm of her hand. is simple. They say that a gambler al ways wins the first time be plays. I propose that each of you will spare me what money you can. and Kitty and I will go to Monte Carlo and take one plunge at the tables." "Monte Carlo!" O'Mally brought down his fist resoundingly. "That's a good Idea. If you should break the bank tblnk of the advertisement wben you go back to New York." "Be still." said Worth. "Dash it, business Is business, and without publicity there isn't any busi ness." O'Mally was hurt "Mr. O'Mally Is right" said La Slgno rlna. "It would be a good advertise ment. But your combined opinion la what I want." The three men looked at one another thoughtfully, then drew out their wal lets, tbln and worn. They made up a purse of exactly $150, not at all a pro pitious sum. Rut, such as It waa, O'Mally passed It across the table. This utter confidence In ber touched La Slgnorina's heart. She turned aside for a moment aud fumbled with the hidden chain about her neck. She placed her hand on the table and opened It. O'Mally gasped. An emer alda glorious green emerald lay In the palm of ber band. "1 shall give this to you, Mr. O'Mal ly." said the owner, "till I return. It is very dear to roe, bnt that mnst not stand In the way." "Ye gods!" cried O'Mally la dismay. "Put it away. I shouldn't sleep o' nights with that on my person. Keep it. We'll trust you anywhere this aide of Jail. Rut you're a brick, all the same." And that was as near familiar ity as O'Mally ever came. She turned to Smith, but he put out a band In violent protest; tben to Worth, bnt be smiled and shook his bend. She put the ring away. It was her mother's. She never would smile scornfully In secret at these men again. "Thank you." she said quietly, "if I lose your money we will all go to Florence. I have another plan, but that will keep till this one under hand proves a failure." O'Mally tieckoned to a waiter. "Tom!" warned Smith. "You let me alone," replied O'Mally. A quart of Astl won't hurt anybody." Early the next morning she and Kit ty departed for Monte Carlo In quest of fortune. Fortune was there, wait ing, out In a guise wholly unexpected. TO BE CONTINUED New Secretary A new secretary of the Washington State Railway Commission hiia leeii appointed In the person of Francis N. l.imieil of Scuttle. He Is well known In newspaper circle, hiivlnx been coniKvtccI with the Post Intelll gvneer for tl ve years. Ilia latest ser vice was aa Sunday editor. Mr. I. anted Is regarded as particularly well quail lied for hU new post. Jim
