Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1907-04-17

SSANSNN ~ NAS ~" A"NSAeCi Nh0b ~
companied It,
Don't be silly" she whispered.
How can help it,"
True; forgot you we're a foo
in disguise"
What has Romance done to you
that you should turn on her with the
stufed-club, Practicality?"
She has never paid any particular
attention to me; perhaps that is the
reason"
AS we neared the corner saw the
Honorable Julius again. He stretched
forth his death s-head mask.
Beware the ten of hearts," hG
croaked.
Hang his impudence The
Blue Domino turned her head with q
jerk; and instantly l felt a SILVER
run through her body. For a moment
she lost step. was filled with won
der, In what manner could the ten
of hearts disturb her? l 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.
tons" said the Blue Domino breath
lessly.
Shall see you again." eagerly.
IF you seek diligently" She paused
for a moment, like a bird about to
take flight. Positive, fool; compare.
tive, fooler; superlative, foolest!"
And / was left standing alone:
What the deuce did she mean by that !
After all, there might be any num-
Der of blue dominoes in the land; and
it seemed scarcely credible that q
guest at the Hunt Club would go to q
costumer's for an outfit. Il had gone
to costumer's, but my case was alto
gether different. was an impostor.)
l hunted up Imperial Rex. It 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?' began with directness.
81 am a shade; all things are known
to me-"
You may be lamp-shade, for all I
care What do you know about the
ten Of hearts?"
Beware of it,"-hollowIy. From
under his toga he produced ten OF
hearts!
My knees wabbled, and there was q
sense Of looseness about my collar.
The fellow knew was an impostor.
Why didn't he denounce me?
is 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 flddlers 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! Fad 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 l 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? wa5
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 on 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. It was droll
scene. Here we were, all of us, trying
savagely to smoke cigar or cigarette
through the fabby aperture desig-
mated in a mask as the mouth. It was
q hopeless job; for myself gave it
up In disgust.
Nobody dared talk naturally for fear
Of being identified. When a man did
open his mouth 1t was only to commit
some banal idiocy, for which, during
once hours, he would have been hailed
to the nearest insane asylum and
labeled incurable. Added to this was
heat matching SRhara's and the OPP
pressive Odor Of weltering paint.
BY Jovei Only one man knew that
the back OF my card was unlike the
others; the man who had picked It up
Id old Friard's curio-shop, the man
who had come to Blankshire with mel
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. It wouldn't do me
q bit Of harm to ask few polite Ques-
lions Of Mr.. Caesar Of the sardonic
laugh.
But l had lost the golden oppor-
tunSty. Caesar had gone to join the
shades OF other. noble Romans: In
vain / searched high and low for him.
Once / ran into Hamilton. His face
was pale and disturbed and anxious.
ffvrya. :. A.. 49, t--..Nf. rr....aak,.s. \