The Chanute times., 1907-03-15
With Drawings by Harrison Fisher
Copyright, 1905, by Bobbs-Merrill Col
CHAPTER III.-Continued.

of heartS? i began with dlrectnesS
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 it,"-hollowly From
under his toga he produced ten OF
hearts!
My knees wabbled, and there was
sense of looseness about my collar.
The fellow knew / was an impostor.
Why didn't he denounce me?
rs the back of your card anything
like this one?"-ironically Il 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 | been attired like
yon Romeo, | certainly should have
taken to my heels; but fellow can
not run in Capuchin's gown, and re-
tain any dignity. would much rather
be arrested than laughed at. | stood
irresolute What was to be done?
How much did he know Did he know
who | 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! 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.
| made off toward the smoking
room, rumbling imprecations against
the gods for having given me the idea
of attending this masquerade, when 1t
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 drcll
scene. Here we were, all of us, trying
savagely to smoke a cigar or cigarette
through the flabby aperture desig-
mated in mask as the mouth. 1t was
hopeless job; for myself, gave it
up in disgust.
Nobody dared talk naturally for fear
of being identified. When man did
open his mouth it 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
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 / elbowed my way out of
the smoking room. 1t wouldn't do me
bit of harm to ask few polite ques-
tions of Mr.. Caesar of the sardonic
laugh.
But | 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.
Whats the trouble, Hamilton?" l
asked with forced gaiety
He favored me with 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 priceless
comb: altogether, about ten thousand
dollars"
Robbery" / 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?"
81 have already sent for the village
police. Now / shall lock all the doors
and make every man and woman pro-
duce cards for Identification, ,"-ab
ruptly leaving me.
Thunderbolts out of heavens My
knees and collar bothered me again;
the first attack was trifling compared
TO this second seizure. How the devil
was to get out?
Are you searching for me?" in
quired a soft voice at my elbow.
/ turned instantly. The Blue Dom
ino had come back to me.
II have been searching for you
everywhere" ] said gallantly.
"Ohi but that is black one Never
mind; 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 cellars.
This door had been bearing in mind
for some time. 1t is well to know
your topography. The door was at
the left Of the bard platform. There
was a twin door on the other side
We sat down.
Hearts and Mssis-