The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-11-21

Of hearts disturb her? I made up my
mind to seek out the noble Roman
and learn just how much he knew
about that disquieting card.
The music ceased.
Now, run away with your benedic.
lions, said the Blue Domino breath.
lessly.
Shall see you AGAIN." eagerly.
If you seek diligently" She paused
for moment, like a bird about to
take flight Positive, fool; compare
tive, fooler; superlative, foolest!"
And 1 was left standing alone:
What the deuce did she mean by that?
After all, there might be any mum
Der of blue dominoes in the land and
it seemed scarcely credible that a
guest at the Hunt Club would 90 to
costumers for an outfit. Il had gone
to costumer's, but my case was alto
gether different. l was an impostor.)
| hunted up Imperial Rex 1t was not
long ere we came face to face, or, to
speak correctly, mask to mask.
What do you know about the ten
Of hearts?" l began with directness.
Il am a shade; all things are known
to me-"
You may be lamp-shade, for all
care. What do you know about the
ten Of hearts?"
Beware of ,"-hollowly. From
under his toga he produced ten of
hearts
Nv Izraae xuahbiod ond +baro woo a
sense of looseness about my collar.
The fellow knew l was an impostor.
Why didn't he denounce me?
Is the back of your card anything
like this ne?"-ironically i 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 after his reced-
ing form.
Discovered!
The deuce! Had I been attired like
yon Romeo, | certainly should have
not run in a Cannchin's gown. and re
tain any dignity. would much rather
be arrested than laughed at. l stood
irresolute. What was to be done?
How much did he know? Did he know
who 1 was? And what was his object
IN letting me run my course? l was
all at sea. Hang the grisly
old Roman! | shut my teeth! l would
see the comedy to its end, no matter
what befell. If worst came to worst,
there was always Teddy Hamilton to
fall back on.
l made off toward the smoking
room, rumbling imprecations against
the gods for having given me the IDEA
of attending this masquerade, when it
would have been cheaper and far more
comfortable to go to the theater.
But as soon as | entered the smok-
ing room, | laughed. 1t was droll
scene. Here we we're, all Of US, trying
savagely to smoke a cigar or cigarette
through the fiabby aperture desig-
mated in a mask as the mouth. 1t was
a hopeless job; for myself, l gave it
up in disgust.
of being identified When a man did
open his mouth 1t was only to commit
some banal idiocy, for which, during
office hours, he would have been hailed
to the nearest insane asylum and
labeled incurable. Added to this was
heat matching Sahara's and the OPP
pressive odof of weltering paint.
OIL ~ /
the back of my card was unlike the
others; the man who had picked it up
in old Friard's curioshop. 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. l elbowed my way out of
the smoking room. It wouldn't do me
a bit of harm to ask few polite ques-
tions of Mr.. Caesar of the sardonic
laugh.
But 1 had lost the golden oppor-
tunity, Caesar had gone to join the
shades of other noble Romans; in
vain searched high and low for him.
Once l ran into Hamilton. His face
was pale and disturbed and anxious.
What's the trouble Hamilton?" |
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 miss valuable jewels Anne
of Austria has lost her necklace and
Queen Elizabeth is without a priceless
comb; altogether. about ten thousand
dollars"
Robbery" l looked at him aghast.
That's the word Curse the luck!
There is always something of this sort
happening to spoil the fun. But who
ever has the jewels will not get away
with them"
What are you going to do?"
4 have already sent for the village
police. Now I shall lock all the doors
and make every man and woman pro
duce cards for Identification, alb
ruptly leaving me-