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§
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fJ you with the best to be found. j|
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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
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ever shown in this eection,
both in imported and domestic 8
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| Balcom & Lloyd. j
anna* ** *io m- a
LOOK ELSEWHERE BUT DON'T FORGET
THESE PRICES AND FACTS AT
II *i
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H M
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We carry in stock 1-— —■■■ - 1 M
the largest hue of Car- -, .fsjBjgEgMWIM ? |i
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, A very large line of t FOR THE EES® "
Lace Curtains that can- _ *3
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Art Squares and of fine books In a choice library
EI Rugs of all sizes and select the Ideal pattern of Globe-
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High Chairs. soio Agent for Cameron County. I *
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Drop-head Couches. Beauties and at bargain prices. |g
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N|3o Bed room Suits, OC S4O Sideboard, quar- CtQfl & M
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A fine line of Dishes, common grade and China, in ] :
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|| GEO. J .LaBAR. |
TJ]>ffDE!R.TiLI2.IISrG. *1
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