A A COMPLETE NOVELETTE ) | rease Paint Strategem BY THEODORE SHELDON Finneran bough the news-stand uptown upon whicjh he had set his heart, and it so profperea that nue was justified in relinquishing his job with the news company in order that he might bestow upc h his new venture his full and individual attention. The company for which he had worked for ten years handled all the “hest sellers” —and others—and through this source Finneran had aug- mented the erudition gained in an Kastside public school and to his knowledge of the world and things as they appeared to him from the top floor of a downtown tenement. Finneran was frugal and shrewd, but like I, of us, he had his weak- ness—a lust for adventure. Finneran was an adventurer pure and simple. At from the “best sellers”—and olhers—he had read of the sprightiy ramble of one Haroun-al-Rischid, and, being blessed with a fecund imagina- tion, he delighted to regard himself as a sort of modern Bagdad caliph. When this fanciful mood came upon Lim he would roam the city’s length and breadth hopeful that some strange happenings would befall him. Business done for the day, Finneran would carefully close up his stand and draw from his pocket a teetotuni. This was a home-made contrivance fashioned from a Small square block of wood pierced with a short wire nail, and the point of which acted as a pes on which the little cube might spin when the upper part of the nail was rp twist between the thump ard middle finger. The four outward sides of the block Lore respectively the letters BE, W, N and S. With great solemnity Finne- ran would stand under the glare of the electric light which fiickered high above him and spin this top on one of the projecting shelves of his booth. If it fell with W uppermost westward he would go in quest of adventure until, if he found none, he would spin again for another direction. On a certain evening he closed nis ond later than usual, intending to wend his way homeward, when the spirit of the venturesome caliph en- {ered his being and half guiltily he vielded to its persuading power. The toetotum directed a southerly course, and after a block or two on foot the heat of the evening caused him to hoard a car. Southward he rode almost to the roint where the car's seat-backs were turned over for the return journey, t- and once again he consulted an e rly direction, and accordingly he got or a cross-town car upon which he stayed until a broad, East Side avenue attracted him and he dropped off, n ih turning his steps southward, obedient to the guidance of the tee- totum, The buildings on this wide thor- oughfare sit far back from the stree! and the restauranis, large and small, which abound and flourish, avail them- selves of the additional space, thus afforded and array their tables and chairs under the awnings of vine- covered trellises. the gaze of passers- Ly being partially screened by small trees and shrubs set in green boxes along the front and sides. Into one of these places Finneran wandered and took a seat at a small, round, iron-based table near the side ¢ntrance which gave upon the street. Owing to the hour there were but few patrons and an obsequious waiter lost nc time in ministering to Finneran’s wants. “Iced coffee and cakes,” he ordered, “and bring me a paper.” The waiter bowed and hurried to a side table whereon lay many foreign rews journals and illustrated periedi- cals, some of them held in wooden binding. with handles attached. Now it huppened that the clientele ra ort, small though particu.2r was, was made up of men from ny land which accounted for th yemopolitan array of vublic prints; but never before had the waiter en- countered such a poyglot person. He brought the paper Finneran requested, and then retired to a far corner, where he gazed in admiration at the young- ster who read in all languages. Quietly alive to the interest he had awakened, Finneran, with the utmost gravity, persuod his whim and scanned the pages of ihe foreign papers with deepening absorption, stealing now and again a glance at the wondering waiter. When, finally he ordered more iced coffee and cakes, and carelessly asked if there was a chinese paper in the place, the waiter’s negative died in hi s throat, and he could only shake his head. On his way to the kitchen, however, on meeting the proprietor, his power of speech returned, and that dignitary was informed of the presence of the linguistic marvel, and Finneran’s last request made known. The pro- prietor went behind his desk and rum- maged a moment, at last drawing forth a crumpled newspaper which he bore in triumph to Finneran‘s table. “Thank’s very much,” said Finne- ren, taking the paper then, as he glanced at it he added, “Oh, but ¢ an old one—I've seen it.” The proprietor gulped. “Pll finish II Progresso, I guess” continued Finneran, picking up the Italian paper. As he said this he saw a swarthy gray-haired man who sat far off at one end of the room shift in his seat, at the same time regarding Rim fixedly. en the proprietor | who had ~- FA = a m pte wn been roaming about the place, came | to the table at which the gray-haired | man sat the latter rose and spoke a | few words to him, inclining his head | in Finneran’s direction as he talked. The proprietor shrugged his shoulders, made a gesture with his hands and | continued on his way into the kitchen : The gray-haiteu man approached Finneran timidly. “Excuse me, signor,” he said, “you pik Italian?” “I read it better than I speak it,” replied Finneran, with truth and ami- ability. Here possbly, was adventure, The gray-haired man glanced furi- tively about him, and then seated himself at Finneran’'s table. “You no Italian,” he began with con- viction, smiling at the other's brick- red hair and azure eyes. “No, I'm a blond Esquimaux,” said Finneran solemnly. "The gray-haired man glanced fur- drew from his pocket a much-soiled envelope which, after further furtive glances, he pushed across the table. Then looking eagerly at Finneran, he whispered. “Tell me what he says!” Finneran glanced at the address, which he recognized as that of a bet- ter class tenement in the Italian quar- ter, then drew the letter from the envelope. It was in Italian and exe- In one corner was cuted in red ink. a crudely sketched hand done in black. “Why do you ask me to read this, Cantarelli?” he demanded, shooting a stern and quizzical glance at his com- panion. “I can no read or write,” said the v-haired man, leaning across th2 ible and gazing squarely into his eyes, “But some Italian friend—" “Ah, I no trust—I scared! Not for me—myself. No! It matter not. But my daughter! My beautiful Giulietta. h, signor, she is so beautiful! Like the blessed Madonna! Finneran bent over the letter and as he did so he heard a quick intaking And so good. of breath, a muttered imprecation, and the gray-haired man sprang from the table and vanished through the side door, looking over his shoulder to- ward the main entrance as he fled. Finneran followed the direction of his glance and caught sight of a dark- tinned, evil face peering in at the door It vanised almost instantly. And there before him on the table lay the lurid letter, with its nature -of “Il Mano Nera'—the Black Hand! When Professor Altomare stopped fot his papers at Finneran's news and next morning, and was movin: toward the subway entrance, he v.as halted by the newsdealer's cheery xcuse me, professor, just a mo- men have you got time to translate a short letter for me?” “Certainly, my friend,” answered the little Italian teacher, and Finneran handed him the sinister-looking letter. As he hastily read it over to himself the professor elevated his eyebrows, and when he had finished emitted a prolonged whistle, y “Well?” said Finneran. “Did someone send this to you, “No, but I would like to know what The professor readjusted his spec- tacles and said, “I will read it for you.” Then he cleared his throat and read: “Animals! “You can delay no longer. Thrice yeu have failed. Tomorrow night I will call at your house as the clock strikes nine my knock shall sound on your door. Leave the money with Giulietta. If I find her empty-handed she will die on the spot, and you soon after, You are too wise to attempt If I am captured you will Be guided any trick. be dead within an hour. ty me and all will be well. Fail me and you know what will happen!” “No signature but a black hana,” chuckled the professor as he returned ) 1 fo Finneran and walked his arms. in’s first impulse, his more the matter le one, y police « iin of the pie- ct in which Giulietta and her father lived; thrall of adventure- king held him back—here was ity (at least but the according to her father), soon to be in distress, and he —J"inneran—could succor her-—could thwart and punish the miscreant who would offer her harm! And there was no monkey business about it, either! Now Finneran was far from quixotic in the purest sense.of the term; but he was keenly alert to the fact that an actual tragedy was impending, and that he himself could and would avert it single-handed. At last he faced a “regular adven- ture!” A plan of action must be immedi- ately devised. That the writer of thé threatening letter meant what he said there was no doubt—how to cope with and capture him was the question. That bodily hurt might come to him- self never entered the mind of Finne- ran. Lacking an inch of six feet in height, and broad in proportion, Fin- peran had a heart that was as stout as his sinews. The thought of lying in wait for the Black Hander and over- coming him by mere strength had no appeal—he must outwith the fellow by strategy, cunning and skill combined. There would be so much more to it! Thus did Finneran reason, and finally set himself to thinking how he should accomplish, in the most grati- tefore him. He closed his stand earlier than usual that evening and hurried to his lodgings. From the re- cess of a venerable trunk he dug up {a black tin box which contained grease-paints and powders such as are used by the theatrical profession. He unearthed also a trick dagger, the blade of which telescoped when a blow was struck with it, the hilt fastening itself to the clothing, look- ling as though the knife had entered the body. Of these things Finneran had be- come possessed in his his more youth: ful days when vaudeville had held out t¢ him its lure, but until tonight he had neither seen or thought of them for years. Now the very definite man- ner in which he resurrected them and packed them together in a parcel showed that they were to play a part in the night's work which very evi- dently he had mapped out. Looking once more at the scrawled name and address on the envelope which contained the red-ink Black- Hand letter, he tucked his package under his arm and sallied forth. Finneran mounted boldly the five flights of the dismal tenement desig-] rated by the address on the envelope, and knocked boldly on the door which Lelow stairs, he had learned was the entrance to the abode of the people he scught—the Cantarellis. His knock was at first unanswered, but hearing sounds of viithin he rapped again. whispering This time a soft, feminine voice replied in Italan, and although he did not understand what was said he announced with all the assurance of having uttered an ‘pen sesame,” “It’s Finneran.” Then from the other side of the door came in English, “Are you a police- man?” “Oh, no, better than newspaper man!” Again there was a whispered con- that—I'm a versation, and the door was opened. In the dim light of a solitary oil lamp Finneran beheld a strikingly pretty voung woman. Her glossy, black hair, tastefully arranged, crowned an oval, intelligent face which, with her well- fitting simple black dress and white collar, seemed strangely out of keep- ing with the surroundings. A look, half inquiring, half fearful, in her dark, wide-set eyes as she As he did sc and the door closed behind him Wi invited Finneran to enter. the gray haired man of the avenue sprang from thé shadow and rreeted him. nor, what did he r said, Mr. Cantarelli, that you ire a boob not to have handed his ers to the police in the first place; that he knew he ‘had vou right,’ and that he is coming here tonight to col- leet a little piece of change from you, not to mention other things which don’t make no never-mind. Do you ee} me, amiko myo?” (The two last words are spelled as Finneran spoke them.) The Italian nodded. “Oh, please tell me what it ig all about,” pleaded the girl, with a suppli- cating move in Finneran’s direction. “1 suppose it’s some more of those miserable letters, but, of course, I do not know, as my father no longer con- fides in me.” “It’s a good thing that neither of you know what's in this letter,” thought Finneran, at the same time marveling at the girl's correct speech and lack of accent. Then he said aloud, “Pardon me a second—Mr, Cantarelli, I have come here to meet this man, you leave it all to me?” The old Italian did not,seem to grasp what had been said to him, and the daughter quickly translated to him. It brought forth a hopeless shrugging if shoulders and a mumbled, “All right but it is no good!” Finneran grinned encouragingly, ind taking the chair offered him hy Miss Cantarelli he explained briefly to her why he was there, relating his 'xperience of the night before, and 1 Low he came to have in hig posse mn the letter, but telling no more of its contents than he had already told. Tn ring the recital Cantarelli walked up and down the room, the clenchinz and unclenching of his hairy, gnarled fists being punctuated with fervently muttered prayers. ’ “If you and your father will leave “This matter to me and do just as 1 say,” concluded Finneran cheerful, “1 think we can fix it all up as easy as pie!” “You are very kind, indeed, Mr. Finneran,” said the girl, “but what are we to do?’ Finneran consulted his watch. “It is now 8.25,” he said, “and our caller will be here at 9.00. Now, I want your father to gc out and get away from the neighborhood—he can return at 9.30.” ; To her father the yourg woman red peated this in Italian, ard when she; had finished he tremblirgly took up\ Lis hat and with a sorrovful “Addio.”} clumped down the steep stairs. Miss Cantarelli sat expectantly, her hands clasped in her lap. The fea had left her eyes, and she viewed Finer od reassuring expression and cmfident 1 bearing with undisguised relief : He looked at her wth growing of miration, and there was something of an awkward pause before he man- aged to say, “We've, got to do a little theatrical stunt tonight Miss Cantarelli —jever do any amateur shows?” “Yes,” she said, with a smile, “I've fving manner possible, that which lay taken parts now and then at the school where I teach, but I have no talent.” “Never mind, you'll get away with it,” Finneran rattled on. We haven't a good deal of time for rehearsal, but here’s the plot—tonight I am going (o riay your lover, and you are going to kill me!” The girl stared at Finneran for a space and then drew back; but the re- currence of the reassuring look on his face and the azure twinkle in his azure eyes brought a smile to her lips. “I don’t quite understand,” said she. Finneran said nothing, but produc- ing his bundle he unwrapped the make-up box and asked for a candle. This given him and lighted he seated himself in front of a small stand back of which hung a narrow, dingy mirror. With great deftness of fingers he ma- nipulated the sticks of grease-paint, first heating them in the flame of the candle, then applying them to his face. When he had used the powder puff as a finishing touch and turned toward the girl a little cry escaped her. His countenance appeared drawn as if in agony, his eyes sunken, staring and glassy, while his whole face and neck were ashen gray and waxen. “Now for the dirty work!” said Fin neran in mock dramatic tones. He {thereupon melted carmine cosmetic in a little pan, and with this daubed his shirt front in a spot under which he figured his heart should be; then he held up the trick dagger and explained its mechanism. Now he made as if to plunge the blade into his breast over the crimson stains, and as the hilt attached itseif to the soft shirt he wore and re- mained fixed Miss Cantarelli gave an- other little cry and turned away her head. “We must hurry,” said Finneran. “Tousel up your hair and take off your When she had done this bid ding he powdered her face until the collar.” healthy glow of her olive skin gave way to a deathly paleness. “Now unlock the door, and if any ene comes and attempts to enter,” her continued, “try to prevent him by pushing against it. Then let him come in and run over to this corner and nd? wv here—scared tiff, unders Don't get really scared at anything that happens, but remember this vou've killed me! Everything will be a;l right.” He stretched himself on the floor, one arm flung out, and his left knee arawn up. Then a stair creaked and a soft tread sounded along the hall, followed bv three smart taps on the door. With an exclamation, Miss Canta relli bounded across the room and hurled herself against the portal, but as it slowly pushed inward a tall, muscular man stepped into the room. nneran caught a glimpse of his wicked face, and at once recognized it as the same that had leered at him through the avenue cafe the evening hefore. The girl stood defiantly in front of the man in the doorway, and st: Lis entrance for a brief moment, du ine raze® at one an- » which the two other in amazement the man at the lved condition of t g the intruder, at recogniz tn "5 gasped, “Pasqual “GQ 31,” said he, as he pushed further into the room and launched into a tor ent of Italian which, in substance wa translated for Finneran’s benefit by Miss Cantarelli, exclaiming, “No, my father left no money with me for you or for anyone else! Get out of here!” It was then that Pasquale changed his manner and in place of the harsh, threatening tones he had first used, his voice became gentle and softly plead- ing—several times Finneran heard him say tenderly, “Giulietta!” There was a pause, and then the girl exclaimed dramatically in Eng Lich, “See what I've done!” The man crossed the room to where Finneran lay. “Santa Maria!” he whispered. Then he turned to the girl and once again his words flowed in an impassioned flood. “No, no!” cried Giulietta “No, nol” Finneran eh head a, lit S what wha iran ) he x X his left arm and with his right reach hip pocket from which pro 1 the awkward butt of a hu eutomatie pistol. There was but a second in which to act. Finneran rose to a sitting posture with a stiff arm and an acusing finger pointed at Pasquale’s back. Then he let out a horrid, blood-curdling scream, For an instant Pasquale stood mo- tionless, then relaxed, and Guilietta slipped limply to the floor. The Italidn turned and beheld the ghastly visage of Finneran, the hilt buried dagger in the crimson stain and the stark pointing finger. “Madre di Dio!” he shrieked, ana fled from the room. Professor Altomare was the first grest the Finneran's entertained in their cozy apartment. As they lin- gered over the meal Finneran repeated for the fifth time the story of the red- ink Black Hand letter, and what came of it. Guilietta left the table and in a moment returned with the trick dag- ger which she laughingly exhibited to the professor. “I prize that among my most cher- ished possessions,” said she, for not only did it save my life, but it brought me a jewel of a husband—here's to him!” And Mrs. Finneran and Pro- fessor Altomare clinked their glasses of chianti while Finneran looked on and smiled sheepishly. Once upon a time the gallant used to kiss his lady’s hand. The modern girl will tell you it’s entirely out of Princess Willful (Continued from page 2) embraces, were most interested in their two visitors, especially the mon- key. * “Come,” said the good woman, “your supper is still waiting.” “We will come, too, if we may,” said the little princess, laying her hand on one curley head, and the monkey knowingly went ahead, so that the three children eagerly followed him into the house. As the supper neared its end the good woman looked up suddenly and asked, “But how did it come to pass vou were changed into roses?” for in the excitement and joy at recovering her children, she had forgotten the strange eircumstances. “"Twas a little old woman who made us into roses,” cried the littlest boy, “and I said I didn’t want to be goo and that I would rather like to stay away; so she said, ‘I will change you into roses so that you may see how sorrowful your poor mother! will be when you return not this evening.” “And then we began to cry,” said elder child, “but before we could run away we found ourselves roses grow- ing in our own garden.” “It must have been the little old women we saw,” said the princess, turning to her pet monkey. “Did she have a very crooked nose?” asked the littlest boy, “And did her chin turn up till it almost touched it?” asked the next child “And was her hair in a long white hraid?” asked the eldest, “and were her eyes black as coals and bright a alamonds ?” “Yes,” answered the princess with turning to each child in an- swer to his question. “And she hobbled crutch,” added the monkey. a laugh, along on a “Yes,” cried the three children at cnee, “she did!” At that moment the little old woman herself appeared. The children clung in terror to their mother’s skirt, while the little princess caught hold of the monkey for protection. “Fear not,” said the little old woman, “All's well that well. I returned to find out in a kindly voice. whether the three roses were to sleep in the garden or in their feather beds.” At this the children grew bolder and And the little princess turned to the little old woman lost much of their fear. and said, “I am sure you would not have let them remain roses all through the long night.” “Bless you no,” replied the little old woman, with a twinkle in her black eyes, “bless you, no. But I am ad that dit was the mother’s tears and of forgiveness that made them good little children in.” f mre { [1/1 [OWN YOUR OWN 1 LK FIRE 7% ARAG § : I If Aone [2% a i 9514 $135] | Portable—Sectional-Durable Bartlett Earages, Inc., 3 N. 21st, Phila. ¥ Don’t Sell Your Old Tires ‘Send Them To Us By Parcels ‘Post. 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Ihe House of Real Bargains Phila delphi | how often my dear mother kissed “So am L” replied the little pri cess | in a whisper, “it makes me remen ber | © 1 And here tha! in loving forgiveness.” little princess actually began to Cry. lat An Exploded Pun “Aw, yes!” grumbled the postmaster Forked Stick, Arkansas, “I've “I feel quite homesick!” she sobbed. |p, ered all I want to hear of them old “There, there,” woman, “don’t cry,” and turning to-) wards the good woman, she said, “take | the little princess into your house and ! put her to bed with your own dear children, for she is far from her own home and lonely.” “That I will gladly do,” answered the good woman, and placing her arm kindly about the little princess she led her into the humble cottage for the right, Highly Humorous “Don’t tell me a woman ain't got no sense of yumer!” said Constable Sam T. Slackputter, of Petunia. “I know a dad-blamed sight better! Rvery or.ce in a while when I crank a lady's flivver for her she starts the car be- fore I can get out of the way, and runs over me; everybody but me has a kearty laugh.”—The Press. An Ominous Outlook “Is your nephew, whom you are put- ting through college, coming back to the old farm when he completes his 0 education? “I'm afraid not,” answered honest Farmer Bentover. “His education is costing me so much that prob’ly by the time he gets all he can hold of it there won't be any old farm left, and the only inducement for him to come baci will be to see the place where the 11 Gl rm used to be,”—Time and Tide. U Need This Household Necessity Stoy’s Handy Capper and Spread er. Caps all size bottles without adjustments. Nickled and polish ed. Made to last. 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