Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1909-09-30
The Lure Of
the Mask
By HAROLD MAC GRATH
Copyright. 1908. by the Bobbs.
Merrill ca.
Continued from page y

PAoooOi9 luz SdDcE
Ills companion was equally pictur-
esque. With white head and iron gray
beard, he wore In his buttonhole tiny
bow Of ribbon. the badge Of foreign
service.
I'm afraid. Enrico, that you have
brought me TO America on useless
adventure" said the diplomat.
"She is here In New York. and |
shall find her. l must have money
must! owe you the Incredible amount
OF 100000 lire. There are millions un.
der my hand. and cannot touch a
penny"
do not let your debt to me worry
you"
"You are so very good. Giuseppew
Have we not grown up together?
Sometimes think am partly to
blame for your extravaganza But a
friend is friend or he Is not"
But he who borrows from his friend
loses him. Observe how | am placed.
1t is maddening have had dozen
opportunities to marry riches. This
milestone Ia eternally round my neck.
l have gone through my part of tho
fortune which was left us independ-
entity. She has all of hers. and that Is
why she Is SO strong. am absolutely
helpless"
Poor friend! These American wo-
men! They all believe that a man
must have no peccadillos once he has
signed the marriage contract. Body
Of Bacchus! The sacrament does not
make man less human than he was
before. But this one is clever. She
might be Italian born"
Her mother was Italian. 1t il the
schooling In this country that has made
her SO clever. The only thing Italian
about her Is her hatred She Is my
countrywoman there. Without her
consent can touch nothing. and II l
divorce her-pouff!-all goes to the
state. Sometimes long to get my two
hands round her white throat. One
mistake, one little mistake! am will
Ing to swear that she loved me In the
beginning. And ] was fool not to
profit by this sentiment. Give me pa
thence. patience. IL say to her, so
much and You may have your freedom.
there is always that cursed will. The
crown Of Italy will never withdraw
its hand. No. With his wife's family
on his hands. especially her brother,
the king will never waive his rights"
And. remember. we have but ten
days"
I'VE shall not find time heavy. /
knnHp faxr ~ but ohn
who call themselves the aristocracy
And some of them play bridge and
ecarte"
The diplomat smiled in anticipation.
II have followed her step by step to
rne boat at Naples. She is here. She
will not be hard to find. She has
wealthy friends"
You say she Is beautiful?''
'Yes. and beautiful woman cannot
hide. Think of 1t. Chateaux and VII
las and splendid rents. all waiting to
be gormanized by the state! Let us
get out into the air before become
excited and forget whers am
The waiter stepped forward with
the coats and hats.
CHAPTER Ill.
NINE. ANooT.
"HREE nights later, as Hillard
and Merrihew were dining to-
gether at the club the stew
i ard came into the grill room
and swept his placid eye over the
groups Of diners. Singing out Hi.
lard. he came solemnly down to the
corner table and laid a blue letter at
the side of Hillard's plate.
II did not see you when you came
In, SIR" said the steward bis voice as
solemn as his step. 1.-THE letter ar
rived yesterday"
THANK you. Thomas" With no
small difficulty Hillard composed his
face and repressed the eagerness In his
eyes. She had seen; she had written:
the letter lay under his hand. Who
said that romance had taken flight?
True. the reading of the letter might
disillusion him. but always would
there be that vision and the voice com.
NrrY <Sspf 81 et,<> - A~l~ -