Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1905-1906, 1906-02-10
CHAPTER XVIII.
rATTGHTt

CAUGHT!
Karloff came around to music. The
dramatist's wife should play Tosti's
Ave Maria. Miss Annesley should play
the obligato on the violin and the
prima-donna should sing; but just at
present the dramatist should tell them
all about his new military play which
was to be produced in December.
Count, I beg to decline" laughed
the dramatist. II should hardly dare
to tell my plot before two such military
experts as we have here. l should be
told to write the play all over again.
and now 1t is too late"
Whenever Betty's glances fell on her
fathers face. the gladness in her own
was somewhat dimmed What was
making that loved face so care-worn.
the mind so listless. the attitude so
weary? But she was young; the
spirits of youth never flow long in one
direction. The repartee. brilliant and
at the same time every sting with
drawn, flashed up and down the table
like so many fireflies on a wet lawn in
July, and drew her irresistibly.
AS the courses came and passed, SO
the conversation became less and less
general and by the time the ices
were served the colonel had engaged
his host, and the others divided into
twos. Then coffee, liqueurs and cigars,
when the ladies rose and trailed into
the little Turkish room, where the
''distinguished-loo butler" sup
piled them with the amber juice.
A dinner is a function where every
body talks and nobody eats, Some
have eaten before they come, some
wish they had, and others dare not eat
for fear of losing some Of the gossip.
After the liqueurs my butler con-
cluded that his labor was done and he
offered a short prayer of thankful
ness and relief. Heavens. what mad.
fantastic impulses had seized him
while he was passing the soup. Sup
posing he had spilled the hot liquid
down Karloff's back, or poured out
glass of burgundy for himself and
drained 1t before them all, or slapped
his late colonel on the back and asked
him the state of his liver? 1t was
maddening and he marvelled at his es-
cape. There hadn't been a real mis-
hap The colonel had only scowled at
him: he was safe. He passed secretly
from the house and hung around the
bow-window which let out on the low
balcony. The window was open, and
occasionally he could hear a voice from
beyond the room, which was dark.
II was one Of those nights. those mild
November nights. to which the novel
lists of the old regime used to devote
a whole page: the silvery pallor on
the landscape, the moon-mists. the
round. white. inevitable moon. the STIR
ring breezes. the murmur Of the few
remaining leaves, and all that. But
these busy days we have not the time
to read nor the inclination to describe.
Suddenly upon the stiffness Of the
night the splendor Of a human voice
broke forth: the prima-donna was
trying her voice. A violin walled
note. A hand ran up and down the
keys of the piano. Warburton held
his breath and waited. He had heard
Tosti's Ave Maria many times but
he never will forget the manner in
which 1t was sung that night. The
songstress was care-free and among
persons she knew and liked. and she
put her soul into that magnificent and
mysterious throat of hers. And throb-
bling all through the song was the
vibrant, loving voice of the violin.
And when the human tones died away
and the instrument ceased to speak,
Warburton felt himself swallowing
rapidly. Then came Schumann's Trau-
merei on the strings. Handel's Largo.
Grieg's Papillen. and a ballade by
Chaminade. Then again sang the
prima-douna: old folksy songs.
sketches from the operas. grand and
light, Faust, The Barber of Seville,
La File de Madame Angot In all his
days Warburton had never heard such
music. Doubtless he had-even better;
only at this period he was in love.
The imagination of loves young dream
Is the most stretchable thing I know
Of. Seriously. however, he was a
very good Judge of music. and | am
convinced that what he heard was out
of the ordinary
But must guide my story into the
channel proper.
During the music Karloff and Col
onel Annesley drifted into the latter's
study. What passed between them I
gather from bits recently dropped
by Warburton.
Good God, Karloff, what q net you
have sprung about mel" said the
colonel. despairingly
my dear Colonel. you have only to
step out OF It. It Is the eleventh hour:
Il Is not too late. But Karloff
watched the colonel eagerly.
How In Gods name can l step out
of IT."
Simply reimburse me for that $40. 900
I advanced to you in good faith. and
nothing more need be said" The
counts Slavonic eyes were half-lidded.