Sf -* 1 "S HEARTS AND MASKS Bv HAROLD MacGRATH LAdthorof"ThsM»non ths Eox,"ete. With Drawings by Harrison Fisher (.Copy ri&hl. 1905, by liobln Men ill Co.) ' CHAPTER lll.—Continued. "What do you know about the ten Of hearts?" 1 began with directness. "I am a shade; all things are known to me." « "You may bo a lamp-shade, for all I ■care. What do you know about the ten of hearts?" "Beware of it," —hollowly. From under his toga he produced a ten of ; hearts! My knees wabbled, and there was a sense of looseness about my collar. The fellow knew I was an impostor. Why didn't he denounce me? "Is the back of your card anything like this one?" —ironically. "1 dare say it isn't. But have your good time, grave monk; doubtless you are willing that the fiddlers shall be paid." And wrapping his toga about, him majesti cally, he stalked away, leaving me •staring dumfoundedly alter his reced ing form. Discovered! The deuce! Had I been attired like von Romeo, I certainly should have taken to my heels; but a fellow can not run in a Capuchin's gown, and re lain any dignity. 1 would much rather be arrested than laughed at. 1 stood .irresolute. What was to be done? How much did he know? Did he Rnow who 1 was? And what was his object in letting me run my course? I was sill at sea. . . . Hang the grisly old Roman! 1 shut my teeth! I would see the comedy to its end, no matter what befell. 11 worst came to worst, there was always Teddy Hamilton to fall back on. I made off toward the smoking room, rumbling imprecations against the gods for having given me the iuea •of attending this masquerade, when it would have bei'u cheaper and far more ■comfortable togo to the theater. But as soon as I entered the smok ing room, I laughed. It was a droll scene. Here we were, ail of us, trying savagely to smoke a cigar or cigarette through the flabby aperture desig nated in a mask as the mouth It was a hopeless job; for myself, 1 gave it up in disgust. Nobody dared talk naturally for fear ■of being identified. When a man did -open his mouth it was only to commit some banal idiocy, for which, during • office hours, he would have been haled to the nearest insane asylum and .labeled incurable. Added to this was h.at matching Sahara's and the op pressive odor of weltering paint. By Jove! Only one man knew that the back of my card was unlike the others; the man who had picked it up ;in old Friard's curio-shop, the man who had come to Blankshire with me! ( knew now. He had been there buy ing a costume like myself. He had seen me on the train, and had guessed the secret. 1 elbowed my way out of the smoking room. It wouldn't do me a bit of harm to ask a few polite ques tions of Mr. Caesar of the sardonic laugh. But I had lost the golden oppor tunity. Caesar had gone to join the shades of other noble Romans; in vain I searched high and low for him. Once Iran into Hamilton. His face was pale and disturbed and anxious. "What's the trouble. Hamilton?" I asked, with forced gaiety. He favored me with a penetrating glance. "The very devil is the trouble," he growled. "Several of the ladies have begun to tniss valuable jewels. Anne of Austria lias lost her necklace and Queen Elizabeth is without a priceless comb; altogether, about ten thousand dollars." "Robbery?" I looked at him aghast. "That's the word. Curse the luck! There is always something of this sort happening to spoii the fun. But who ever has the jewels will not get away with them." "What are you going to do?" "I have already sent, for the village police. Now 1 shall lock ail the doors and make every man and woman pro duce cards for identification," —ab- ruptly leaving me. Thunderbolts out of heavens! My Xnees and collar bothered me again; the first attack was trifling compared to this second seizure. How the devil was 1 to get out? "Are you searching for me?" in quired a soft voice at my elbow. I turned instantly. The Blue Dom ino had come back to nte. "I have been searching for you everywhere," 1 said gallantly. "Oh! but that is a black one. Never snind; the fib was well meant." I led her over to a secluded nook, within a few feet of the door which gave entrance to the club collars. This door I had been bearing in mind for some time. It is well to know your topography. The door was at the left of the band platform. There was a twin door on the other aiie. We sat down, "Have you heard the news?" I asked. "No. Has some one been discov ered making love to his own wife by mistake?" "It's serious. Anne of Austria and Queen Elizabeth have been robbed of some jewels." • A thief among us?" "A regular Galloping Dirk. I'm a thief, myself, for that matter." "You?" she drew away from me a bit. "Yes. Rly name is Procrastination." "Ah, my grave Capuchin, we do not steal time; we merely waste it. But is what you tell me true?" "1 am very sorry to say it is. The jewels were worth something like ten thousand dollars." "Merciful heavens!" "It is true, infernally true," —look- ing around to see if by chance Caesar was I to manage my escape? it is true I might hie me to the cellars; but how to get out of the cellars!) "Have you seen Julius Caesar?" 1 asked. "Caesar?" "Yes, Miss Hawthorne —" The Blue Domino swung about and leaned toward me, her hands tense upon the sides of her chair. "What name did you say?"—a strained note in her voice. "Hawthorne," I answered, taking out the slip of pasteboard. "See! it. says that one blue domino was rented of Monsieur Friard at live-thirty this afternoon." "How did you come by that ticket?" she demanded. •It was a miracle. I purchased a mask there, and this ticket was wrapped up in my bundle by mistake." ' /" t i •• , ~ .. The Blue Domino Swung About. "It is a curious coincidence," —her voice normal and unagitatcd. I was confused. "Then I ain mis taken?" —my chagrin evident. (All this wiiiie, mind you, I was wonder ing if that cellar-door was unlocked, and how long it would take me to reach it before the denouement!) "One way or the other, it does not matter," said she. "Yet, if I could reach the collars," —absently. Then I bit my tongue. "Cellars? Who said anything about collars? 1 meant that this is not the hour for unmasking or disclosing one's identity,"—coldly. "And yet, when Caesar whispered 'Beware the ten of hearts,' you turned and shuddered. What have you to offer in defense?" "it was t!ic horrid .mask he wore." "Well, it wasn't handsome of him." "What did you mean by cellars?"— suddenly becoming the inquisitor in her turn. "I? Oh. I was thinking what 1 should do in case of fire,"—nimbly. "That is not the truth." "Well, no, it isn't. Can you keep a secret?" 1 whispered "if it isn't a terrible one " "Well, I have no earthly business here. I am an impostor." "An impostor!" "Yes. And for the past few min utes, since 1 heard of the robbery, I've been thinking how I could get out of here upon the slightest notice." While the reckless spirit was upon me, I pro duced the fatal card and showed the back to her. "You will find that yours is of a different color. But I am not the Galloping Dick; it was only a hare-brained lark on my part, and I had no idea it would turn out serious like this. I was going to disappear before they unmasked. What would you advise me to do?" She took the card, studied it, and finally returned it. There followed an interval of silence. "I have known the imposition from the first," she said. "What!" She touched the signet-ring oil ny little linger. "I have seen that once before to-night. No," she mused, "you will not. blow up the postofHce to-night nor the police station." She lif the corner of her mask, CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1907. and I beheld the girl I had met In Mouquin's! "You?" "Silence! So this is the meaning of your shuffling those cards? Oh, it is certainly droll!" She laughed. "And are you Miss Hawthorne?" "I am still in the mask, sir; I shall answer none of your questions." "This is the finest romance in the world!" I cried. "You were talking about getting out," she said. "Shall I lend you my domino? But that would be useless. Such a prestidigitator as Signor Fan toccini has only to say—Presto! and disappear at once." "I assure you, it is no laughing mat ter." "1 see it from a different angle." An artist's model, and yet a guest at this exclusive function? A commotion around the stage dis tracted us. Presently we saw Teddy Hamilton mount the stage and hold up his hands. "Attention, ladies and gentlemen!" he called. Silence gradually fell upon the mote- Iy groups of masqueraders. "A thief is among us. 1 have had all the exits closed. Everybody will be so kind as to present cards at the main entrance. Three ten-spots of hearts have been tallied on the com paring lists. We have been imposed upon. The police are on the way. Very sorry to cause you this annoy iince. The identity of the holders of the cards will be known only to those of us on the committee." Silence and then a murmur which soon became a buzzing like that * many bees. The Blue Domino suddenly clutched my arm. "Please take me away, take mo away at once! l'n> an impostor, too!" Two of lis! This was disaster. I give you my solemn word, there was nothing 1 re gretted so much as the? fact that I hadn't gone to the theater. But 1 am a man of quick thought and resource. In the inelegant phras ing of the day, me for the cellars! "Come," said I to the girl; "there's only once chance in a hundred, but we'll take it together." "Together? Where?" "Why to the collars. I've a pocket ful of matches. We can make a try. For, if there's a thief around, and we are caught and proved impostors— Well, I leave you to imagine!" "I will go with you," she replied resolutely. The gods wore with us. The door leading to the collars was not locked. 1 opened it, passed the girl before mo, and closed tho door. "I am frightened!" she whispered. "So am I," I offered, to reassure her. "You are not afraid of rats, are you?" "No-o!" "Bully!" 1 cried. Then T laughed. "llow can you laugh? It is horri ble!" she protested. "You would come, though 1 heard your uncle warn you. Look at it the way I do. It's a huge joke, and years from now you'll have great fun telling it to your grandchildren." "I wish, at this moment, I could see so far ahead —What was that?"— seizing my arm. Click! Somebody had locked the door be hind us! To he Continued. Willing to Overlook It. "You!" exclaimed the indignant old gentleman, "you want to marry my daughter? Why, sir, it was only a few years ago that you were caddy ing for ine." "Yes," the young man replied, "but I dou't intend to iet that stand In the way. I hope 1 am philosopher enough to understand that a very bad golfer may make a fairly good father-in-law. —Chicago Itecord-He;*ald. INTOADITCH A B. & 0. Passenger Train was Thrown. ENGINEER KILLED. He was Pinned Under the Engine and Roasted to Death—Fire Destroyed Entire Train. Connellsville, Pa. Baltimore & Ohio train No. 49, westbound, running 18 minutes late and 40 miles an hour, was wrecked last night near Indian Creek, seven miles east of here. The entire train, consisting of a combination smoking and, baggage car, two day coaches and the private car of Robert J. Finney, superintend ent of the Pittsburg division of the Baltimore & Ohi<# railroad, left the rails and after running 200 feet along the ties was thrown into a ditcli at the foot of the mountains, where tho wreckage was completely burned. The engineer was killed, the fireman fa tally injured, the baggagemaster, ex press messenger, conductor and six passengers were seriously hurt. About 30 passengers were more or less cut and bruised. There were 41 passengers on the train, including a party of Baltimore & Ohio railroad officials who were on a tour of inspection. When the train was three miles east of Indian Creek the engineer began to speed in an en deavor to make up 18 minutes lost early in the trip. Suddenly the whole train swayed and with much jarring and cracking left the rails. Fortunate ly the train took a course* northwest from the track and /ifter running over 200 feet along the ties plunged into a heap almost directly over the engine. The passengers were thrown and tossed about like packages. Screaming and fighting desperately they managed to break the windows of the cars and gain places of safety just as all the cars became ignited from the engine and commenced to burn fiercely. Within a few moments ail had gotten out. While they stood about in a dazed condition they were attracted by the cries of Engineer Irwin. Sev eral of the passengers, accompanied by Superintendent Finney and tho other railroad officials ran to the en gineer's rescue. Their efforts were accelerated by Irwin's pathetic pleading and every possible attempt was made to liberate the engineer, who was tightly wedged under the wrecked engine, but without success. The flames quickly burned their way toward the doomed man and soon it was apparent that he would be cremated. Within a short time the flames reached the engineer. There were a few piercing screams and all was over. ANTI-SUICIDE BUREAUS. They Will be Established by the Sal vation Army in the Large Cities of the United States. Xew York. Commander Miss Booth, the head of the Salvation Army in the United States, will to-day inaugurate anti-suicide bureaus in all the large cities of the country. The plan follows one which has been in operation in London under the direction of Gen. William Booth. The bureaus are designed to assist and advise any person contemplating suicide. An announcement issued last night says:"The Salvation Army extends an invitation to all distressed persons who are tempted to commit suicide to call at headquarters, or if unable to do so, write to the officers." The plan in London, according to the local army officers, proved imme diately successful, resulting in the forming of bureaus in various conti nental cities. In London there were numerous requests "for advice from people who contemplated taking their own lives. These included all classes of society. "The results have been astonishing. Within the first 11 days no fewer than 300 applicants were personally inter viewed and a large number of others reached by correspondence with ad vice and assistance. It was soon dis covered necessary to classify the ap plicants. This was done as follows: "The sick and incurable, especially those suffering from nervous diseases, and those unable to see. "Drunkards or persons addicted to the use of narcotics and who while suffering from excesses were subject to overpowering mental depressions. "The unemployed and those financi ally embarrassed, which proved to be the most numerous class." Congress. Washington.—On the 28th the sen ate passed the bill extending govern ment aid to the exposition to be held at Seattle in 1909 and spent the rest of the day in debate of the denatured alcohol bill. The house devoted its session to debate of the ship subsidy bill. Bomb Exploded in a Cathedral. Madrid, Spain.—A bomb exploded In the cathedral here Thursday while a service was being held. Thert was a great panic among the congregation and ten persons sustained serious in juries in the crush to get out of the building. Shot and Killed Four People. Blouniington, 111. Thomas Bald win, a rich farmer and former mercSant of Colfax, 111'., on Thursday shot and killed Charles Kennedy and , wife and Mrs. Sim Eistnan and (laugh ' ler Corn. Baldwin was arrested. Eff ff PHWCTgjglTgßlf I Balcom & Lloyd, j If* WE have the best stocked I general store in the county j§ p and if you are looking for re- j§ d liable goods at reasonable jl !' prices, we are ready to serve fJ you with the best to be found. j| |J Our reputation for trust s' worthy goods and fair dealing !is too well known to sell any but high grade goods. it jj Our stock of Queensware and jf gj Chinaware is selected with p S great care and we have soma of the most handsome dishes 8j ever shown in this eection, both in imported and domestic 8 Ejjj makes. We invite you to visit jj us and look our goods over. j| j i | Balcom & Lloyd. j anna* ** *io m- a LOOK ELSEWHERE BUT DON'T FORGET THESE PRICES AND FACTS AT II *i § II LaBAFS I g H M M ZIZIZZZIZZZZI M We carry in stock 1-— —■■■ - 1 M the largest hue of Car- -, .fsjBjgEgMWIM ? |i pets, Linoleums and : ki ?2 Mattings of all kinds F? ever brought to this Sj ' P* town. Also a big line ' mßsssssgsffl P* Mof samples. * ItMSMII M , A very large line of t FOR THE EES® " Lace Curtains that can- _ *3 m Xr"fprlce! ny - CMffBRME LGDSIE& >1 Art Squares and of fine books In a choice library EI Rugs of all sizes and select the Ideal pattern of Globe- M kind, from the cheap- Wernicke "Elastic" Bookcase. jffl est to the best. | Furnished with bevel French I £ j plate or leaded glass doors. H M Dining Chairs, I roB OALI °* M || Rockers and GEO. J. LaBAR, ** High Chairs. soio Agent for Cameron County. I * E3 A large and elegant I—— ——— ——________J 112 2 kg line of Tufted and |jjj Drop-head Couches. Beauties and at bargain prices. |g tt M N|3o Bed room Suits, OC S4O Sideboard, quar- CtQfl & M solid oak at J)<£o tered cak j)OU *1 Jjf|| S2B Bedroom Suits, Ol |32 Sideboard, quar- COC )r| solid oak at tered oak r* fell |25 Bed room Suits, Clfl $22 Sideboard, quar- tt|C W M solid oak at 4)ZU I tered oak, 4>IU || M A largo line of Dressers from I Chiffoniers of all kinds and N $8 up. all prices. || «t* ___________— n fed The finest line of Sewing Machines on the market, kg JJ the "DOMESTIC" and "ELDRIDGE.' All drop- || £2 heads and warranted. ** A fine line of Dishes, common grade and China, in ] : £2 sets and by the piece. As I keep a full line of everything that goes to M M make up a good Furniture store, it is useless to enum- M M erate them all. N £1 Please call and see for yourself that lam telling || || you the truth, and if you don't buy, there is no harm || done, as it is no trouble to show goods. || GEO. J .LaBAR. | TJ]>ffDE!R.TiLI2.IISrG. *1 3
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers