Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1909-10-28
|TheLure Of
the Mask
~ HAROLD MAC GRATH
Copyright. 1908. by the Bobbs.
Merrill Co.
Continued from page 3

.ho low murmur of voices, the soft
.,ste Of silks, the music of ringing
rold all combine to produce a picture
es beautiful as mirage and as false
They Joined the never ending process
.,on which passes in and out Of the
swinging doors day after day. year
after year.
"There's the chap with the scar. He
ia a handsome beggar." Hillard admit
TOD II wonder what sort Of blackleg
ba Is. He's no ordinary one. I'm GER
tain | begin to recognize the face Of
the man with him. He's distinguish
ed diplomat"
The Italian played like an old hand,
! number once in awhile. but making
4 a point to stake on the colors. Red
began to repeat itself. He doubled
and doubled. On the sixth consecu-
tive turn he played the maximum of
10000 francs and won. The diplomat
touched him on the arm significantly.
but the player shook his head. Ten
minutes later he had won 10000
francs. Again he refused to leave his
chair.
III he stays now," said Hillard. The
will lose 1t all. His friend is right"
"Forty thousand francs, $1,000"
murmured Merrihew sadly. Why
couldn't he have luck like this?
Hillard was a true prophet. There
came change in the smile Of fortune.
The game jumped from color to color.
seldom repeating. with zero making
itself conspicuous. The man with the
scar played on. but he began to lose
small sums at first then larger till
finally he was down to his original
stake. The scar grew livid. He waited
FIVE turns Of the wheel. then placed
his stake on the second dozen. He
lost He rose from his chair scowling
His eye CHANGED to meet Hillard's, and
their glances held for moment.
"Foo!' said Merrihew in an under
tone as the man strolled ieisurely past
them. Flight thousand and not con-
tent to quit
and Mentone had poured into Monte
Carlo their usual burdens Of pleasure
seekers. On one of the cars from Nice
there had arrived two women, both
yelled and simply gowned They sell
dom addressed each other and never
spoke to any one else. Doubtless they
were some sober married women out
did not at once go into the casino, but
directed their steps toward the ter
races for the band was playing. They
sat in the shadow of the statue of Mas
senet and near by the rasp of a crick-
ct broke in upon the music. When the
music stopped they linked arms and
sauntered up and down the wide
sweep of stone, mutually Interested in
the crowds. Once as they passed be-
hind bench the better to view the
palaces Of the prince they heard the
voices of two men,
As they went on the women heard
something about "those bad cigars
The men We're Americans evidently.
1t was only an inconsequent incident,
and moment later both had forgot
ten 1t.
AT which table shall l make the
stake. Kitty?"
The center. There is always a
crush there, and we shall not be no.
ticed.''
i do not agree with you there. How
ever. 1t shall be the center table. What
would you do. Kitty. II should break
the bank ~
Die of excitement" truthfully.
You will live through this event
Then With a light, careless laugh La
signorina pressed her way to the TIA
BILE.
She lost steadily from the start She
gave no sign, however. that her forces
We're in full retreat from the enemy.
ene played on, and the hand which
paced the bets was steady. And when
Tue gold was all gone she opened
ner empty hands expressively and
shrugged. She was beaten.
behlnd the chair of the banker, oppo-
slte' stood the italian. The scowl still
mafred his forehead When the wo-
.iah IN the veil spread out her hands
ne started. There was something IA
nlhiar In that gesture. And then the
woman saw him. For the briefest mo-
ment her form stiffened.
Kitty La Signorina whispered, 'let
vs. 90 out TO the atrium. l am tired"
ihey left the hall leisurely and found
vacant settle In the atrium.
how cold your hands are" ex-
claimed Kitty.
NIFTY, | am fool, a fool. l have
ui"ittingly put my head in the lions
mouth. II had not reached this seat
:" ume | should have fallen. l would
Niihgly give all my rings II at this
moneht | could run across the hall
anu out into the open"
:, Merciful heaven. Why, what is
'u J, matter? What has happened"
! cannot explain to you"
was 1t some one you saw In there"
slence, and sit perfectly still"
-. man In evening dress came out
.o Inc atrium, lighting a cigarette.
a. .ne sight of him both women were
startled.