F HEARTS] AND MASKS By HAROLD MacGRATH Author of"The Man on the Box." etc. With Drawings by Harrison Fisher ■ r (Copyright, 1906, by Bobbs-Merrill Co.! CHAPTER Vll.—Continued. We entered the general assembly- Toom. It was roomy and quaint, and somewhere above us was the inevit able room in which George Washing >ton had slept. Thp great hooded fire place was merry with crackling logs. •Casually I observed that we were not alone. Over yonder, in a shadowed •corner, sat two men, very well bun ■dled up, and, to all appearances, fast asleep. Moriarty lighted a four branched candelabrum and showed us the way to the little private dining room, took our orders, and left us. "This is romance," said 1. "They uead to do these things hundreds of ♦ours ago, and everybody had a good time." "It is now all very wicked and im proper," murmured the girl, laying •aside her domino lor the first time; "but delightful! I now find 1 haven't ■the least, bit of remorse for what I have done." In that dark evening gown she was very beautiful. Her arms and shoitl •ders were tinted like Carrara marble: .and I knew instantly that I was never going to recover. I drew two chairs •close to the grate. I sat down in one and she in the other. With a con tented sigh she rested her blue-slip pered feet on the brass fender. "My one regret is that 1 haven't any shoes. What an adventure!" "It's fine!" Two hours in the soci ety of this enchanting creature! It was almost too good to be true. Ah. if it might always be like this —to re turn home from the day's work, to be greeted warmly by 0 woman as beauti ful as this one! I sighed loudly. Moriarty came with the chicken and ham and coffee. "If ye would like, it won't be a bit of trouble to show ye George Wash ington's room; or" —with inimitable Irish drollery—"l can tell ye that he •dined in this very room." "That will serve," smiled the girl; .and Moriarty bowed himself out. His departure was followed by the clatter of silver upon porcelain. Of a truth, both of us were hungry. "I was simply ravenous," the girl •confessed. "And as for me, I never dreamt I could be so unromantic. Now," said I, pushing aside my plate, and drop ping sugar into my coffee, and vainly hunting in my pockets for a cigar, "there remains only ono mystery to -be cleared up." "And what might this mystery be?" ■she asked. "The whereabouts of the bogus Haggerty?" "The bogus Haggerty will never •cross our paths again. He has skipped by the light of the moon. No, that's not. the mystery. Why did you tell me you were an impostor; why did .you goto the cellars with me, when all the while you wore at the ball on Mrs. Hyphen-Bonds' invitation?" She leaned on her elbows and smiled at nie humorously. "Would you Really like to know, iSignor? Well, i* was an impostor." She sat with her back to the fire, and a weird halo of light seemed to sur round her and frame her. "Mrs. Hy- I hen-Bonds accidentally dropped that invitation in my studio, a few days before she sailed for Europe. I sim ply could not resist the temptation. That is all the mystery there is." "And they still think you were there rightfully!" "You are no longer mystified?" "Yes; there is yet another mystery to solve; myself." I knew it. With out rhyme and reason. I was in love; and without rhyme or reason, 1 was glad of it. "Shall you ever be able to solve such a mystery?"—quizzically, i "It all depends upon you." "Mr. Cornstalk, you will not mar the exquisite humor of our adventure by causing me annoyance. I am sure that some day we shall bo very good friends. But one does not talk of love on eight hours' acquaintance. Resides, you would be taking advantage of my helplessness; for I really depend upon you to see me safe back to New York. It is only the romance, the adventure; .arid such moonlight nights often su perinduce sentimentality. What do you know of me? Nothing. What do I know of you? Nothing, save that there is a kindred spirit which is al ways likely to lead us into trouble. Down in your heart you know you are only temporarily affected by moon shine. Come, make me a toast!"—lift ing her cup. "You are right," said I."I am a gentleman. But it was only consist ent that, having been the fool, t should now play the ass. Here's! ' —and I held up my cup. But. neither of us drank; there wasn't time. For the door opened quietly, and in walked the two men we had seen upon eMering the Inn. One of them gently closed the door and locked It. One was In soiled everyday clothes, the other in immaculate evehing dress. The latter doffed his opera hat with the most engaging smile Imaginable. The girl and 1 looked up at him in blank bewilderment, and set our cups down so mechanically that the warm amber liquid spattered on the table cloth. Galloping Dick and the affable in spector of the cellars stood before us! CHAPTER VIII. "The unexpected always happens," began the pseudo-detective, closing his hat, drawing off his gloves and stuffing them into a pocket. "As a friend of mine used to say, it is the unexpected that always surprises us. We never expected to see these charming masquesaders again, did we. William?" "No, sir," said Wiliam, grinning af fably, "we didn't. The gentleman was very nice and obliging to me, sir, when I was in the cellars." "So I understand. Now," continued the late Mr. Haggerty, with the deadly affability of a Macaire, "I beg of you, Mr. Cornstalk, I beg of you not to move or to become unduly excited. Physicians tell us that excitement wastes the red corpuscles, that is to say, the life of the blood." "Your blood, sir, must be very thin," 1 returned coolly. But I cursed him soundly in my mind. William's bulg ing side-pocket convinced me that any undue excitement 011 my part would be exceedingly dangerous. "William, you can always tell a gentleman," said the chief rogue ad ■2— .4 , ■/. • / €y>. ?',r> ■'' " ' ■•' /V " j Rested Her Blue Slippered Feet on the Fender. miringly. "A gentleman always re cognises his opportunities, and never loses his sense of the balance of things." "And he is usually witty, too, sir," William assented. The girl sat pale and rigid in her chair. "What do you want?" I demanded savagely. "For one thing, I should like to question the propriety of a gentle man's sitting down to dine with a lady without having washed his face. The coal-dust does not add to your manly beauty. You haven't a cake of soap about you, William, have you?" "No sir." Wiliam's face expressed indescribable enjoyment of the scene. The girl's mouth stiffened. She was Struggling to repress the almost irre sistible smile that tickled her lips. "In times like these," said I, deter mined not to be outdone, "we are often thoughtless in regard to our personal appearances. I apologize to the lady." "Fine, fine! 1 sincerely admire you, Mr. Cornstalk. You have the true spirit of adventure. Hasn't he, Wil liam?" "He certainly has, sir." "Comes to a private ball without an invitation, and has a merry time of it indeed To have the perfect sense of humor—that is what makes the world go round." "Aren't you tp' extra risk in of fering me these ]>. a tries?" I asked. "Itisks? In what manner?" "The man you so cleverly imper sonated is at the club." I do not know what prompted me to put him on his h'uard. The rogue laughed lightly. "I know Mr. Haggerty's habits. He is hustling back to New York as fast as he can. He passed here ten minutes ago in the patrol, lickety-clip! He wishes to warn all pawnbrokers and jewelers to be on the lookout lor me to-morrow. Ten thousand in a night!"—jovially. ( "A very tidy sum, sir," said William. "A fourth of which goes to you, my good and faithful friend." "Thank you, sir," replied William. Two cooler rogues I never wish to meet! "But wouldn't it be well, sir, to hasten?" asked William. "We have plenty of time now, my CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, APRIL n, 1907. "You have not entered this iaoin, said the girl, her terror slipping from her, "simply to offer these bana.litiea. What do you wish?" "What perspicacity, Wlliam!" cried the rogue, taking out a cigarette case. "I don't know what that word means, sir, but as you do, it seems to fit the occasion proper enough." "It means, William, that this charm ing young lady scents our visit from afar." "I had a suspicion, sir, that it might mean that." William leaned against the wall, his beady eyes twinkling mer rily. The master rogue lighted a cigar ette at one of the candles. "Pardon me," he said, "but will you join me?" —proffering the band some gold case. I took a cigarette and fired it.(l really wanted it.) I would sho'v up well before this girl if I died fc;r it. I blew a cloud of smoke at the .r.an die-flame. There was a sparklo of admiration in the girl's eyes. "Mr. Cornstalk, my respect for you increases each moment." The rogue sat down. "And to whom might this hand some case belong?" I asked, examin ing it closely. "Oh, that has always been mine. There was a time," —blowing rings at the candelabrum, —"when 1 was re spected like yourself, rich, sought after. A woman and a trusted friend: how these clten tumble down our beautiful edifices! Yes, lam a scamp, a thief, a rogue; but not because I need the money. No," —with retro spective eyes—"l need excitement, tremendous ami continuous, —excite ment to keep my vigilance and inven tion active day and night, excitement, to obliterate memory. "But we can't do it, my. friend, w« can't do it. Memory la always with us. She is an impartial Nemesis; she dogs the steps of the righteous and the unrighteous. To obliterate mem ory, that is it! And where might I find this obliteration, save in this life? Drugs? Pah! Oh, 1 have given Haggerty a royal chase, it has been meat and drink to me to fool the cleverest policeman in New York. Till yesterday my face, as a criminal, was unknown to any man or woman, save William here, who was my valet in the oid days. I have gone to my clubs, dined, played billiards; a fine comedy, a fine comedy! To-morrow William and 1 sail for Europe. Miss Haw thorne, you wear one of the most ex quisite rubies I have ever seen. Per mit me to examine it." The girl tore the ring from her fin ger and flung it on the table. I made a move as though to push back my chair. "I wouldn't do it, s'r," warned Wi» liam quietly. My muscles relaxed. "Do not commit any rash action, Mr. Cornstalk," said the girl, smiling bravely into my eyes. 'The gentle man would not appreciate it." The master rogue picked up the ring and rolled it lovingly about hi:* palms. "Beautiful, beautiful!" he mu» mured. "Finest pigeon-blood, too. It is easy worth a thousand. Shall X give you my note of exchange for it?'' —humorously. The girl scorned to re ply. lie took out a little chamois bag and emptied its contents on the table Ilow they sparkled, scintillated, glow ed; thousands in the whitest of stones! How he ever had got his fingers on them is something I Mlia.ll never learn. "Aren't they just beauti ful?" he asked naively. "Can you blame me for coveting them?" He set the ruby on top of the glittering heap. Jt lay there like a drop of blood. Pres ently he caught it up and—presented it to the girl, who eyed him in aston ishment. "1 only wanted to look at it,"in; said courteously, "i like your grit as much as I admire your Keep the ring." To be Continual WILDWiNDS [raveled 300 Miles, Kill ing 20 Persons. IN THREE STATES. Portions of Pour Towns Were Dev astated, the Loss to Property Exceeding $500,000. New Orleans, La.—A score of per sons were killed Friday by a tor nado which swept for 800 miles across portions of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Parts of four towns were devastated, with damaflt exceeding $500,000. The wind damaged houses, crops and telegraph wires throughout its course. The tornado began at Alexandria, La., soon fcfter 1 o'clock in the morn ing, killing four persons there, prob ably fatally injuring and seri ously injuring 13 others. Soon after daylight it neared the Mississippi river, killing five persons at Jackson, La., while ar Bayou Sara, La., at least half a dozen others are reported killed. There was one fatal injury at Jackson. The tornado next appeared at Car son, Miss., where great property dam age was done, and disappeared about noon near Selma, Ala., where the in habitants saw whirling clouds rise Into the air as they crossed the river. A negro was reported killed near Selma. Alexandria, a town of about 16,000 inhabitants, had a fearful experience. When the tornado struck, the electric lights went out, the cracking of fall ing buildings could be heard above the noise of the wind and vivid lightning flashes showed such sights as an empty Iron Mountain passenger train rolling over and over. Immediately after the wind spent its violence a heavy hail srorm added to the general discomfort. The ~ main portion of Alexandria escaped the worst of the tornado, which cut a path through the northern part of town, a residence quarter. A score of homes were de molished, 50 were damaged and alto gether about 100 buildings were wrecked, including several business houses. The Iron Mountain road lost its roundhouse. A freak of the wind drove a small section of a house into an empty passenger coach, wedging these two bodies almost inextricably together. In the woods about the town the tccnado cut down trees and small cabins in a narrow line about nine miles long. Several houses were blown down at Pineville. At Jackson, La., the insane asylum was wrecked with a loss of $200,000. In addition to three female inmates many others were injured. A PRINCELY GIFT. Founder of Carrugie Institute Donates $6,000,000 to It, as an Endowment. Pittsburg, Pa. —W. N. Frew, of the board of trustees of the Carnegie institute, on Friday made public a let ter he had received from Andrew Car negie, in New York, announcing that Mr. Carnegie had made an endowment of $6,000,000 to the institute. This gift is in addition to the $4,000,000 given hy Mr. Carnegie some time ago. The previous endowment provided $2,000,000 for the department of fine arts and museum and a like sum for the Carnegie schools of technology. The endowment yesterday provides $4,000,000 for these three depart ments; $1,000,000 for the purpose of erecting additions to the technical schools and $1,000,000 to be used for j the schools as an endowment fund j when completed. Mr. Carnegie also establishes a , pension fund for the benetit of those j connected with the institute, which after the death of the recipient is to be continued to the widow in all cases where needed. REVIEW OP TRADE. Distribution of Spring Merchandise Fully Equals the Most Sanguine Expectations. New York.—R. G. Dun & Co.'s Weekly Review of Trade says: Trade responds to seasonable weather, distribution of spring mer chandise fully equalling sanguine ex pectations and country merchants 1 purchase liberally from wholesalers at leading centers. Reports from princi pal cities are uniformly favorable, ac tive business being accompanied by further improvement in collections. Leading industries are fully occupied and 110 strikes of more than local sig nificance have materialized thus far. Manufacturers are busy on goods for early shipment and sample busi ness for later seasons promises con tinued activity. Improved traffic con ditions make deliveries more prompt. Few lines of finished steel can be de livered promptly, and quotations are consequently well maintained. Steamer Burned to Water's Edge. Dobbs Ferry, N. Y.- —Th 3 steamer City of Troy, bound up the Hudson river, was burned to the water's edge here last night. All the passengers, some 65 in number, were landed safely. The steamer was com pletely destroyed. Japan to Have Biggest Battleship. London, Eng—lt is reported that the largest battleship in the world, to have a displacement of 21,000 tons', is I to be built in England for the lap. anese government. It will cost aboa'- $11,250,000. j Baton & Lloyd, j h WE have the best stocked R general store in the county 9 ■ and if you are looking for re- tf Is liable goods at reasonable 1 | prices, we are ready to serve it H you with the best to be found. p Our reputation for trust- »| jS worthy goods and fair dealing | P is too well known to sell any $ jjf but high grade goods. 9 H Our stock of Queensware and j! H Ohinaware is selected with B iii great care and we have som® ?l ffl of the most handsome dishes B jgjj ever shown in this section, H both in imported and domestic ffl | |f makes. We invite you to visit || us and look our goods over. || 1 « i i Ml | | ======== | | Balcom & Lloyd, j fSSSSSSSSSSCEXSSSSSSSSSSSSSa Ml« |j LOOK ELSEWHERE BUT DON'T FORGET THESE PRICES AND FAQTS AT I | LaBAR S|| ij M II M EH M We carry in stock - . 1 the largest line of Car- ~ ,^ggßsggggg» |g || pets, Linoleums and ftL ' IBFJIITfITTfITISB £2 Mattings of all kinds M || f ver brought to this ICQMSII l\ S3 towu - Also a big line i SMI of samples. jMOIU III 1 3 H , A very large line of FORTHE E—gil J2 Lace Curtains that can- .-• fl » XeV;thep t lce auy COMfORTABLE LOD6IMG 1 1 j| . Art Squares and of fine books In a choice library H Rugs of all sizes and select the Ideal pattern of Globe- M II kind, from the cheap- Wernicke "Elastic" Bookcase. est to the best. I Furnished with bevel French I £. j plate or leaded glass doors. M Dining Chairs, I ro " ° fILE ov I || Rockers and GEO. J. LaBAR, ** High ChairS. Bole Ageut for Cameron County. tftjj A large and elegant I———————————————J rj || liue of Tufted and H Drop-head Couches. Beauties and at bargain prices. kg 21 lj fed f3O Bedroom Suite, COC S4O Sideboard, quar- C3fi £3 solid oak at tered cak )0U ** S2B Bedroom Suits, CO I $32 Sideboard, quar- COC ** solid oak at tered oak p* ** $25 Bed room Suits, tfOfl $22 Sideboard, quar- CJC M M solid oak at 4)ZU I tered oak, M M A large line of Dressers from I Chiffoniers of all kinds and H N $8 up. I all prices. £3 7— l : M feg The finest liue of Sewing Machines on the market, || the "DOMESTIC" and "ELDRILGE.' All drop- Jj £2 heads and warranted. A fine line of Dishes, common grade and China, in £2 sets and by the piece. PI As I keep a full line of everything that goes to SM ft« make up a good Furniture store, it is useless to enurn- M erate them all. ££ Please call and see for yourself that I am telling y you the truth, and if you don't buy, there is no harm y done, as it is no trouble to show goods. B GEO. J .LaBAR. |j 3
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers