Arizona republican., 1909-06-02

some formality If you should need
any financial aid, do not hesitate to
call upon me.
La Principessa di Monte Blanca.
"A villa," exclaimed Kitty rap
turously. So many villas had she
seen. guarded by Lombardy poplars
or Expresses, that her mind hungered
( to live in one, if never so shortly.
And the villa of a princess!" sigh
ed O'Mally. Fudge! I'm a patriot,
! all right, but may l be hanged if l
| shouldn't like to meet a princess, the
real article, just once. What do you
/ say, Smith,
Sure, 1t would be something to
/ brag about. When | was in Flor
ence my friend, the Princess di
! Whatdeyuhcallit, said to me- and so
forth. Sounds good. But it's and
/ idle dream, Tom. and idle dream"
"Wnl you permit me to read the
/ letter." asked Worth.
La Signorina consented. Worth had
an idea; it was as yet nebulous; still,
it was shrewd idea, and needed
only a small space to stand. The
moment he saw the letter the nebu-
lous idea became Opaque. The page
was neatly typewriter in Italian.
and only the signature was in ink.
1t was d small, slanting, aristocratic
signature
do you read Italian" she asked
with pardonable malice.
Very little and nothing on this
page" Worth felt embarrassed I'M
der her glance. Still he continued to
stare at the letter. The crest on the
paper, the postmark on the envelope,
| convinced him of its authenticity.
/ The date was quite recent, and did
not correspond with their unhappy
| sojourn in the Imperial City.
THE question is, shall we accept
/ this offer2" She refolded the letter
This was the plan / had in mind
when we went to Monte Carlo, and 4
much better plan, too"
"Of course, we shall accept it,"
said Worth. confident that the mys-
| terry was still there but that for the
! present he had been fooled
But what's the matter with your
playing the princess to the neigh
bors2" suggested OMally. his eyes
! laughing I'll be the concierge
Smith the steward and Kitty your
/ maid"
And -" asked Worth
"Oh, you can be her Highness' pri-
/ vate secretary and attend to the cor
| respondence."
| The laughter which followed this
/ was light-hearted and careless. Once
more worry had taken to wing and
| they were without burdens. Only La
/ Signorina did not join in the mer-
riment. The sparks in her eyes, the
silver points of light. the flash of ex-
citement, portended something. She
rose with a determined air.
Mr.. O'Mally makes a very good
suggestion. 1t will be an adventure
worth recounting. / shall go as the
princess. What sport with the coun-
try gentlemen! This will be an ad-
venture after ones own heart Her
! Highness commands VIII it not be
delightful?"
ed at Smith, who looked at Kitty:
then all four looked at La Signorina.
Are you not Tightening our trials
by joking?' asked Worth obviously.
Il am positively serious"
Impossible, 1t would be nothing
less than madness to fly in the face
u THIS SlIbhe u luCh.
Call it madness. if you like I
shall go as the princess.
Put the authorities! 1t will be
prison"
Il am sufficiently armed for any
event. 1t all depends upon your
courage" with a yelled insolence cal
culated to make any man commit
any kind of folly.
IT is not a question of courage"
replied OMally; its prudence"
Prudence in an Irishman?" more
insolent than ever.
'Oh. if you take that tone" said
OMally, coloring, why, the thing is
done. Henceforth I am your major
domo. No one can call me a coward"
"O'Maliy!"
That's all right. Worth" said
O'Mally. Il wouldn't turn back now
for siXty-seven jails You need not
join"
Il shan't desert you in a strait
like this" remarked Worth quietly.
only, | think La Signorina rather
cruel to force such a situation upon
us, when it was entirely unnecessary
Put me against the correspondence"
IF l wasn't flat broke" said
Smith, I'D bow out politely But
where the grub-stake goes l must
go. But 1 don't like this business a
little bit. Signorina, do tell us that
it's a joke"
Yes" cried Kitty, still in doubt.
81 repeat l am perfectly serious"
But the consequences protested
Kitty, now terrified