Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-15


all gone, she opened her empty hands
expressively and shrugged. She was
beaten.
Behind the chair OF the banker. op-
posite, stood the Italian. The scowl
still marred his forehead. When the
woman in the veil spread out her
hands, he started. There was some
thing familiar to his mind in that
gesture. And then the woman saw
him. For the briefest moment her
form stiffened and the shape of her
chin was nodded in the veil. Slight as
this sign was, the italian observed it.
But he was puzzled.
Kitty" La Signorina whispered,
'1et us go out to the atrium. | am
tired"
They left the hall leisurely and found
vacant settle in the atrium.
II have horror of bats" said La
signorina.
How cold your hands are!" ex-
claimed, Kitty. Never mind about the
money. They will understand
kitty, 1 am fool, fool! have
unwittingly put my head in the lions
mouth. If had not reached this seat
in time, should have fallen. would
willingly give all my rings if, at this
moment, could run across the hall
and out into the open!"
"Merciful Heaven! Why, what is
the matter? What has happened?"
Kitty was all in flutter.
Il can not explain to you"
"Was it some one you saw in there? 2"
silence; and sit perfectly still"
The swinging doors opened and
closed. A man in evening dress came
out into the atrium, lighting a cigar
cite. At the sight of him both women
were startled. Their emotions, how
ever, were varied and unlike.
st Is Mr.. Hillard, Mr.. Merrihew,s
friend!" Kitty would have risen, but
the others strong hand restrained her
Kitty, remember your promise"
us he the man."
mo, no! Only, have said that we
must not meet him. 1t might do him
incalculable harm. Harm" La Sig
norma repeated; "do you under
stand?"
But"
silence, l command you!"
The tone had the power to subdue
Kitty The indignant protest died on
her lips. She sat perfectly still, but
she would have liked to cry. To Let
Mr.. Hillard pass by in this manner,
without sign of friendliness or recog-
milton! 1t was intolerable. And he
could tell where Merrihew was (as in
deed he couldD and what he was
doing She choked and crushed the
ends of her veil.
. HJI1prd b1aw outward q four paIo
rings of smoke and circled the atrium
with an indolent glance which stopped
as 1t rested upon the two yelled WON.
en- sitting alone. Besides being bored
and wanting amusement, certain cur.
iosity impelled him toward them, and
he sank on the settle beside
them, with perhaps half a doz-
en- spans of the hand between. He
smoked till the cigarette scorched his
fingers, then he dropped it, extinguish.
ing the coal with the toe of his pump.
He observed the women frankly. Not a
single wisp of hair escaped the wells,
not a line of any feature could be
traced, and yet the, tint of flesh shone
dimly behind the silken. bands of
Grape, and the eyes sparkled. He nod
ded.
"a wonderful scene in there" in
dicating the swinging doors. Puck
was right. What fools these mortals
be! Something for nothing will always
lure u.s."
The wells did not move SO much as
the breadth of hair.
Fortune favors the brave, but rare
ly the foolish
There was no response, but the
small shoe of the woman nearest be-
gan to beat the floor ever SO lightly.
Hillard was chagrined. To be re-
buffed the very first time he spoke to
woman in the Casino!
Perhaps madame does not under
stand?" he said in French.
One Of the women stirred restlessly;
that was all
He repeated the question in Italian,
at the same time feeling like a pen
dant airing his accomplishments.
Nothing.
II beg your pardon" he said, getting
upon his feet. II see that you do not
wish to talk"
Thereupon he bowed, sought another
seat, and lighted a fresh cigarette
But not for moment did his eye leave
these two mysterious women. Their
absolute silence confused him. Usual
ly d woman gives some sign of disap-
prevail when addressed by stranger
He shook the ash from his cigarette,
and when he looked up again, the
women were hurrying across the floor
| to the lobby. He would have given
them no further thought had not the
Italian with the scar appeared upon
the scene, eyed the retreating figures
doubtfully, and then started after
them. That he did not know them Hill
lard was reasonably certain He as
sumed that the Italian saw possible
| Irritation. He rose quickly and fol
| lowed. If these two women desired to
be left alone, he might be of assist
ance.
The four departed from the Casino
and crossed toward the Hotel de Paris,
! the women in the lead. AS yet they
had not observed that they were being
followed. The car stops at this turn.
AS the women came to stand, one of
them saw the approaching men. In.