THE HOOD RIVER NEWS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1910 . , S The Lure of the Mask By HAROLD MACCRATH Cepyrihl, DOS. lk Beeae Merrill Ce. (CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK) CHAPTER XIV. o'mai.lt iuooxsti. IN a bedroom In one of the cheap little pensioner which ahoulder one another alone the RWa degll Scblabonl sat three men. Ail three were smoking execrable tobacco. The castaways of the American Comic Opera troupe were on the anxious seat. "O'Mally, what's your opinion of La BlgnorlnaT" said Worth. "What about her?" "What do you think of hert She's not one of us; she belongs to another class, and the stage is only an Inci dent" "Well, I don't know what to think. I'ts pumped Kllligrew, but she seems to be in the dark with the rest of us. Tbattrlng and the careless way she offered It as security convince me tnat she doesn't belong. But what a YolceP "She Is without exception one of the most beautiful women I ever saw or care to see," rejoined Worth. Smith and O'Mally exchanged a swift, comprehensive look. Worth roue to go to Cook's office for possible letters, but abruptly returned to announce that the two ladles had returned from Monte Carlo. The actors proceeded to the parlor and greeted the prima donna and Kitty. "We lost," explained the latter. "I waa very foolish," said the erst while prima donna. "I might have known that when one is unlucky one may become still more unlucky. But X did so wish to win. I wanted to bring back enough gold to send you all to America." "But what was to become of you 7" asked Worth. The question was not expected. "Oh. Italy la my home. I tball And a way somehow. I'ut me out of your thoughts entirely. But I am sorry to bring you this bitter disappointment, for It must be bitter." "There Is one thing I wish to under stand thoroughly." put In Worth slow ly. "You have guaranteed our credit at this hotel. By what nieausT Worth held her eye with courage. "With my word," she answered. "I know something of these foreign hotel managers. Words must be back ed by values." Worth's eye was still steady and unwavering. "If, aa I be lieve, you guaranteed our credit with Jewels we must know." "Is it from a sen a misguided sense of chivalry?" she asked, her lps suggesting a smile. 'You are evading us," went on Worth, "You innlst, then?" coldly. "Positively insist. If you do not tell ns we shall be forced to take our chances elsewhere," Worth pressed a button. A servant appesred. "The manager at once." La Slgnorlna dropped her veil and sat stiffly in her chair. Kitty moved uneasily. The manager appeared. He bowed. "Madame here," began Worth, indi cating La Slgnorlna, "has guaranteed our credit at your hotel." "Yes. Is not everything satisfac tory?" asked the manager eagerly. "What security did madame ad vance ?" "Security?" The manager looked at La Slgnorlna, but she rendered him pot the least assistance. "I have given my word to madame not to tell." "Then three gentlemen shall leave. Make out our bill at puce!'' The manager appealed to the lady. 'You are foolish men," spoke La Slgnorlna. "If the manager wishes to tell you be may do so," The roannger brought forth a fat wallet and opened It. Out of this he took flat object wrapped In tissue paper. Very tenderly he unfolded It. The treasure was a diamond pendant, worth at least $1,000. "I was to keep tula simply till madame chose to reclaim It. Nothing has been advanced against It." A new thought came Into the manager's mind, and he turned slightly pale. "If It Is not madame's" "It is mine," said La Slgnorlna. She was very angry, but ber sense of Jus tice admitted that Worth waa perfect ly right. "Once more I ask you not to make me miserable by 'forcing this trinket back upon me. Will you do me the honor to wait till tomorrow morning?" The three men exchanged looks. "Till tomorrow morning, then," said Worth. The maunger was glad t cape. L Slgnorlna raised her veil. From her girdle bag she took a letter. "This letter is from a friend I have always known.. Has any one of you ever heard of the Prlnrlpessa dl Monte Blanca?" Iter audience leaned forward atten tively as she read the letter: My tear-I wae very Rlad Indeed to hear from you, ami I aliall be only too hnppy to offer you the temporary anelat anca you dealre. You will recollect that I poaaeea a villa Just outalda of Florence. mil or o north of Kleaole. Tha villa la furnlalied and kept In repair by an ancient gardener and hla wife. You and your friends are welcome to occupy the Villa Ariadne as Inns you please. Of Course you will find all tha cheats, bu reaus, atdeboard and rloaeta under seal, for I have not been there lnc the death pt rrty father. None of the aeals may be removed tin I occupy the villa legally. iowevr, the aardenar ami Ms wife have tuver and linen and china, and with these you will be able ta get along nicely. LA rBlNCIPBBB A VI MONTH U1ANQA. The question Is, Shall we accept this offer?" She refolded the letter. "This was the plan I hud in mind when we went to Monte Carlo, and a much better plan too." "Of course we shall accept It," said Worth. "But what's the matter with your playing the princess to the neighbors?" suggested O'Mally, bis eyes laughing. "I'll be the concierge, Smith the stew ard and Kitty your maid." "And I?" asked Worth. "Oh, you can be her highness' pri vate secretary and attend to the cor respondence." The laughter which followed this was light hearted and careless. Only La Slgnorlna did not Join the merri ment. She rose with a determined air. "Mr. O'Mally makes a very good sug gestion. ?t will be an adventure worth The manager brought forth a uulUt. recounting. I shall go as the princess. Her highness commands! Will It not be delightful?" Worth looked at O'Mally, who looked at Smith, who looked at Kitty; then all four looked at La Slgnorlna. "Are you not lightening our trials by Joking?" asked Worth dubiously. "Call It madness. If you like. I shall go as the princess." "But the authorities! It will be prison." "I am suiBciently armed for any event. It all depends upon your cour age." "Ob. If you take that tone," said O'Mally, coloring, "why, the thing la done. No one can call me a coward." "I shan't desert you in a strait like this," remarked Worth quietly. "Only I think La Slgnorlna rather cruel to force such a situation upon us when It was entirely unnecessary." "It is agreed, then," continued La Slgnorlna, "that tomorrow we depart for Florence as the Prlnclpessa dl Monte Blanca and suit?" e e e It is in early morning that one should discover the Piazza San Marco. Few travelers, always excepting the Teu tonic pilgrims, are up aud about. The doves are hungry then, aud they alight ou your hands, your arms, your shoul ders and even your bat. In a moment they are fluttering about you like an autumn storm of leaves, subsiding quickly. It was such a picture Merrihew and Ulllard, his guide, came upon the morning following ther arrival. They bad not visited It during the night. They bud, with the usual impatience of men, gone directly to the Campo Santa Maria Formosa for the great re ward. Thoy had watched aud waited till near midnight, but In vain. Suddenly IUllurd stopped. He gave a sharp exclamatlou aud darted to one side to grssp the arm of a neat little woman who was buying corn. It was Bettina. But the maid refused abso lutely to reveal the hiding place of her mistress, La Slgnorlna, aud Kitty. Illllaid offered her a hundred lira note ($20). Bettlua, strongly tempted, Dually re fused the bribe. She threatened to call the carablnlerl, moreover. If lltllard followed her. Hillnrd rejoined Merrihew, discour aged. As tbey pussed out of the quadrangle a man accosted them. It was Giovan ni, with a week's growth of beard on his face, bis shoes out at the toes. "Follow me," he said softly. Ite led them through tortuous streets, over canal after canal, toward the Campo Snn Auge.lo. He came ta stop before a dilapidated tenement The three mounted the dusty, worn stairs of stone to the third landing Giovanni opened a door and bade them enter. Seated by the window which over looked the little canal was a young woniau. Her hands lay passively In her lap, and her head was lowered. "You have found her!" whispered, Hlllard, a great pity swelling hla heart. At thu pound she turned her head. Her face, thin and waxen, was still beautiful, ethereally beautiful, but without color. She was perhaps three and twenty. 'I have brought nq oKl friend to see you," said Giovanni. She stood up. "We are going bark to the ffabtne hills, Enrlchetta and I." The old man nibbed his hands Joyously, "Eh, carlMslme?" "Yes, father," with a faint smile. Giovanni pushed his friends into an other room, closing the door. "I found her," he said in English, the chords In his throut standlug out, "And, luothfr of Christ, how I have suffered! She was duueiug. She bad to sit at tables and drink with the men that or the Seine. When she saw me she gave a great cry and fell. She bus not been like herself, but that will puss away lu time. Now she sits In silence and broods. I went to the Italian ambassador. He heard my story lu full. lie wrote personally to the king. Today I am free. I have bud to walk from Milan almost. I had little money. That letter of credit so you call It la with my cousin In Sorrento." "And the man?" Hlllard could not refrain from putting this question. Giovanni looked down. "The slgnor told me never to speak of that again "So I did." replied Hlllard. "But all Is changed now. "Go back to your hills with your daughter and leave vengeance In the hands of God. Forget this man who has wronged you. Forget." "If he does not cross my path and If she lives. I have suffered too great ly to forgive and forget. I promise not to seek him." The old man went down to the street with them. They were so kind, ne hated the thought of losing them. They waved their bands cheerily and vanished from sight. They never saw Olovannl again, yet his hand was to work out the great epoch in nillard's destiny. TO BE CONTINUED "Advertising tiring success" If what you advertise bears out your advertisement. A. W. ONTHANK NOTARY PUBLIC Dealer in CITY PROPERTY Legal Papers carefuiy drawn. Money loaned on First Mortgages Fire Insurance in best Companies. Surety Bonds of all kinds. Stenography and Typewriting. Business promptly attended to. 806 Oak Stmt Hood River W. J. BAKER Real Estate Loans Insurance APPLE AND STRAWBERRY LAND A SPECIALTY Correspondence Solicited A nnouncement The Real Estate Department of HARTMAN & THOMPSON, Bankers, Chamber of Commerce Building, Portland, Oregon, through their Farm Department, are handling HOOD RIVER ORCHARD LANDS, and have made arrangements with the under signed to manage the HOOD RIVER BRANCH. Owners wishing to sell all or part of their HOOD RIVER holdings, improved or unimproved, will do well to list their properties at an early date. All properties listed with us will not only be placed before the large number of prospective buyers who pass through the thoroughly organized Portland office with its large force of trained salesmen, but will also reach buyers through our Eastern representatives . J. F. BATCHELDER Phone 70 Temporary Office, 215 Cascade Avenue HOOD RIVER, OREGON JOHN COW LEY SHOE SHOP Will sell at cost my entire stock of shoes till all is sold. Rubber Heels a specialty. Oppoaite Poetomce Hood River. Oregon Duffy & Zimmerman frcsb Bread, pics and Cahcs daily 3Foncy and Wedding Carte tlTade to Order Model Bakery Successors to T. H. William L. B. STEVENS & CO. t JOHN 0. ZOLLS & SONS Contractors in Stone, Brick and ' Concrete Work Hood River, Oregon RANDALL & DUKES House Moving and Raising W alio handle all kind, of Heavy Machinery and Smokestacks Phone 137-K Hood River, Oregon STRANAHAN & SLAVENS Contractors and Builders ESTIMATES FURNISHED I'hone 286M Hood River. Oregon A FINE LINE OF I Cigars, Jo6accos, Smcfters' Supplies PnnfoMinnoru Clolinnipu Notions, Etc. Stop in at "The Paaatime" On the Heichta W. O. ALDRED Contractor for Grading, Exca vating and Teaming Both rhonea GET YOUR MILK FROM The Payson Dairy Supply Co. MOUNTAIN GLEN FARM Pure, Wholesome, Healthful, from Cows and Stables that are SANITARY. H. N. PAYSON, City Salesman THOS. CALKINS, Dairyman Phone 281-X DEALS & SHAW (ectricoC tyfrurnisfters H. R. Banking & Trust BIdg. . w (Um II 111 L liMl ! li a ll 111 f HOME PHONE 3 HOOD RIVER, ORE. Taft Transfer Go. Draying. . . Wood Yard HAY, FLOUR and FEED Por Sale Office Thone (9 Reaidenoe 2S2-M CP. SUMNEIM Lavatoric9 5j XToilcto 3 Sinho PLUMBING Sewer HI Drill TILE X. Jo JCjC JSwS. Z.Z OPFfiON B&Sl ij r n-r I taiie and union Pacific TIHE TABLE Effective Sunday, Jan. 16, trains will arrive and depart at Hood River, Oreg-on, on the following schedule: WEST BOUND No. . Fast Mail (no paxeenirer) tM A. M. No. 8. Soo-Spokane-Portland e:46 " No. 11. Portland Local 7:4S " No. 6. Oreiron A Washington Expreae 7:SS " No. 1. Portland LeeeJ 8:40 P. M. No. 7. Portland Limited 6;4S " EAST BOUND Ne. t Pendleton Local 10:28 A. M. "No. g. Chicago Limited 11:55 " No. 12. The Dallea Local 8:45 P. M. No, 4. Soo-Spokane-Portland 9.-00 " No. 10. Fart Mail :10 " No. t. Oreiron A Washington ExprenalOiS " No. S. No, 8 and No 7 make no atopa between Hood River and Portland. No. 1 and No. 11 "top at all atatkma. No. 4. No. 8 and No. 1 atop at The Pal lea. Arl ington, Umatilla. No. atupa at Moaier. The Dalle. Celilo. Dee ehutea. Biirea, Rufua, Arlington. Coyote. Irrigon, Umatilla, Hermi.ton. Stanfield. Echo. No. i atopa at all atationa between Portland and Pendleton. No. IS atopa at all ataliona between Portland and The Pallea. For further information inquire at the ticket office. J. II. I REDRICY, Agent. Copy for advertisements should he In the office by Monday morning. To Those Who believe In Patronizing Home Industry When you lay in your witter supply of Flour and Feed.ak for CUPID FLOUR : A isi l HOMEMILLED FEED If your denier does not want i ... to supply it, come to Us . . . CL'PID IS STILL MADE FROM OLD WHEAT Kood Ri)er ITliWing Company CT. i 5 s I , e H. H. Bailiy W. E. Colbt BAILEY & COLBY Electric Wiring and Fixtures ; All Iciml nf F.lnotn'ral r' Supplies at Moderate Prices ff n 111 ! 3 . - & . ' - t !: . ( r- a -ir:t.. n nl c... c. . ' Vmcc inu isopiay nwm 11 11 ijiam a7irc Shop Phot :::-K RdrK PKn 3b-L