Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1909-10-14
The Lure Of
the Mask
Continued from page 81

as YET. nut believes her to be on board.
O'Mally's on the water wagon. But
Kitty aggravates me-"
what has she done now, refused
you by interchangeable"
mo. but she promised me her ad-
DRESS
Address her care Cooks. Florence,
Rome, Venice. It's the popular mail
box Of Europe, and If she has given
them the address they will forward"
"That helps considerably. Pm glad
there's one Cook which can be relied
on"
'Tn the morning I'll arrange for pas
sage. Wen try the Celtic"
'I'll leave the business end of the
trip to you"
"The first Saturday in March, then.
II We can get booking. That will be in
less than two weeks"
In the lobby Of the club as they
were about TO enter the coat room Hill
lard ran into one of several gentlemen
issuing.
"Pardon me-" he said, stepping aside.
"NOn impOrta! said the stranger,
with graceful wave Of the hands.
Hillard looked quickly into the gen.
tleman's face. II am clumsy" he said
in Italian.
Then the other stared at him and
smiled. For a moment there was a
brief tableau. I'm which each took the
others measure and noted the color of
the eyes. The man was an exceedingly
handsome Italian. for all that a scar
ran from his cheek to his chin. 1t was
all over in moment. and Hillard and
Merrihew proceeded to the street.
Handsome duffer." was Merrihew's
comment. But you never can tell a
man by his looks. Gaze on me. for in
stance"
go home" Hillard slapped him
jOvially on the shoulder.
"HOme! All. yes! But shall l have
home to go to when get back?
You have roped me in nicely. My
poor little twenty-five hundred. But
Swiss champagne at $1.4O the quart!
Well. every cloud has its lining"
AS Hillard never received any an
swer to his personal, he discontinued
uAJs chS lCtuAuCu " Tic lug
out Of which she had come But 1t
was no less difficult for him to take up
the daily affairs again. What mystery
yelled her? Whittier had she gone?
Giovanni was delighted when he
heard the news. He would go, too
and act as valet to the signor and his
friend till they put out Tor Rome.
Then. Of course. he would be obliged to
leave them. Occasionally Hillard
would reason with him regarding his
deadly projects. But when a Latin
declares that he has seen through
blood. persuasions. arguments. en-
treaties. threats do not prevail. He
cOmforted himself with the opinion,
however. that Giovanni's hunt would
come to no successful end.
"You will surely fall into the hands
Of the police"
what God wills comes true But
by this time they will have forgotten
me-"
"But your man might be dead"
"He is not dead II he were some
thing would tell me-"
''It is bad business. and I wish you
no luck"
Giovanni smiled easily. Wishes sell
dom Interfere with any one.
II will double your wages" said Hill
lard. az you will go where l go and
return with me when I come back to
America"
+. A deprecating movement. Money?
1t Is nothing. ! am rich after my
kind"
"Are you still in the church,"
81 confess regularly once week
Oh. am n good Catholic"
''Take yourself off am displeased
with you"
1t was drizzling, foggy morning
when they drove down to the boat
impression on the volatile Merrihew
And he had an eye for all things. from
the baskets of fruit and flowers, mes
sengers with late orders from the
stores, repeated farewells, to the
squalling babies in the steerage.
At o'clock they were on the high
seas, heading for the Azores. Hillard
was dreaming. and Merrihew was stu
diously employed over a booklet on
how to speak Italian in one day. Clio
vanni, who had been arranging the
luggage, came up ON deck. He had
two packets of letters and kilograms.
One he gave to Merrihew and the
other to his master
Hillard found among his bulky en-
velope postmarked Naples. Naples!
He sat up. 1t had been addressed to
the house and the address typewriter
Look at thisr' he cried.
Good Lordw Dan gasped, his feet
coming down to the deck.
Hillard was holding up for his in
spection crumpled black silk mask.
CHAPTER VIII.
WHAT MERRIHEw FOUND.
.I,t \