Arizona republican., 1909-05-22

believe one thing: you brought me
here to teach me a lesson. Gentle
men should never use the personal
column" --..--......
Nor should ladies read 1t. 1 am
not saving any mercy for myself"
with laughter
shall l begin with my past?
Something less horrifying, If you
pleased"
Il object to the word NICE" he
said, seeking a new channel, for he
was not steering very we'll in those
he had so far selected.
DThe word was employed negligent
.ly. Your friends used the word"
Il should have preferred milksop!"
He was growing impatient. Hadn't
you better try some new kind OF tor
ture?"
This is only a skirmish; your real
torture hasn't even begun yet. But
this will give you an appetite. / do
not drink champagne, but the cham
bertin will do nicely. Oh, l propose
that you shall pay for this dinner,
Mr.. Hillard; pay for the privilege of
sharing it. with me-
Bring on the check. l should like
to settle the bill at once, and have it
off my mind"
You may take off your gloves"
she countered. Il know that you
must feel uncomfortable with them
| on. To clasp ones own hands is a
kind of personal sympathy. Try it"
He drew them off, not ungrace-
fully. and tucked them away. He
spread his thin brown muscular fin
gers a few times, then folded his
arms.
You look quite Napoleonic in that
pose"
IF this were only Elba and not
| st. Helena! l should be coming back
to you some day"
Il shall credit that against the
partridges.'
This time her laughter was relaxed
and joyful. And somehow he felt
more at ease. He was growing ac-
| customed to the mask He stretched
his legs and fingered his neither lip.
Have you not somewhere an in
Visible cloak?"
Il had one that night, which nature
lent me-" she answered readily. Il
was so invisible to you that l heard
the policeman call out your name I
thank you for insisting that l was
not chorus lady"
Here was a revelation which &C
counted for many things. Il haven't
been very fortunate so far in this adj
venture"
THAT is rank ingratitude. l am Of
the opinion that fortune has highly
favored you"
But the mask, the mask, II you
heard the policeman call my name,
you must have heard him speak of
one Leddy Lightfinger."
II did indeed. And is it not posi-
BILE that L am that very person."
Hillard dropped his hand toward
his watch. why do you hate Italy?"
She sat straight. and what little
he could see of her mouth had hard
ened
There will be no retrospection
this evening, if you please her voice
rather metallic.
The mystery lifted its head again.
One does not hate a country without
a strong and vital reason. Was Clio
vanni partly right, after all? Was
this kind of trap, a play to gain his
interest? Was her singing under his
window purely accidental? She hated
Italy The state or the church?
More likely the state. And what
had the state done to her or she to
the state? A conspirator, in need of
funds and men? II this was the
case, she was not going about her
cause scientifically. Italy had no hold
upon anything of his save his love
of beauty. Perhaps her reason for
hating Italy was individual and sin
gular; as she would have hated any
other country, had her unhappiness
originated there.
will you not sing?" he asked. |
This was an inspiration Music might |
assist in melting her new reserve.
you. recolleot, then, that 1 possess
a voice."
1T is all 1 have to recollect. Tell |
me, whittier is all this to lead?"
ITO the door, and into the fog |
again"
ION my word. I'm half inclined to |
believe you to be an anarchist or a |
Red, or something on that order"
ION account of my hair?" She |
laughed again. Put yourself at ease. |
am neither Leddy Lightfinger nor a |
socialist. There are no dynamite |
bombs in this house 1 despise anyI
organization which aims to destroy |
society. Society is bad enough as it |
is; but think of trying to readjust |
it,"
Il give up the puzzle"
THAT is better"