The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-10-02
The Lure Of
the Mask
By HAROLD MAC GRATH
Copyright. 1908. by the Bobbs.
Merrili-C


the gentleman with the scar was nj
unknown quantity Besides, VIII,
should Kitty run away from me of nj
persons? And why. when | spoke Il
them in the casino, did they ignor,
me completely"
Its your COMPOUNDED prima donna
She's at the bottom of all this, take
one. But OH my side they will tell you
that | have been terribly wronged
And all wish is to be left alone
alone. 1t was cruel of me to forbid
you to speak to Mr.. Hillard. But
wish him 10 recollect NE pleasantly,
as whimsical being who came into
his life one night and vanished out of
1t in two hours
But supposing the memory cuts
deeply" ventured Kitty. Men fall
In love with less excuse than this"
Nonsense" La NSignorina opened
the window to air the room She lin
gered, musing. You are very good to
me, Kitty"
81 can't help being good to you, you
strange, lovely woman, for your sake
as well as for mine Now I am going
to write a letter"
La Signorina still fingered by the
window.
Merrihew was pocketing currency IN
exchange Tor his gold when Hilard
passed an open letter to him:
My Dear Mr.. Hillard-Do not seek us.
II will be useless. If Mr. Merrihew IL
with you. tell him that some day | will
explain away the mystery. But this
please make plain TO him-if he insists
upon searching for me he will only double
my unhappiness.
KITTY KILLIGREw.
Merrihew soberly tucked the letter
away. 81 knew It," he said simply.
"She is i'm some trouble or other, some
tangle. and fears to drag us into It,
Who left letter here this morning?"
he asked OF the concierge
"a small boy from Villefranche."
Just my luck" said Merrihew II
said that II would be of no use to
hunt I'm the smaller towns. Well. we
had better take the luggage back to
the rooms. am going to Vile
franche."
'You Will be wasting time. After
what happened last night am certain
they will be gone. Let us respect their
plans. hard as it may seem to you"
but you?"
"Oh. don't bother about me. I have
relegated my little romance to the gar
ret OF no account things. at least for
the present" said Hillard. with an
enigmatical smile. Make up your
mind-we have only twenty minutes"
'Oh, divine afllatus! And you lay
down the chase so readily as this?'
Merrhew was scornfully indignant.
81 would travel the breadth Of the
continent were | sure of meeting this
woman. But she has become will-o'-
the-wisp. and | am too old and like
comfort too well TO pursue impossible
tiles"
"But why did she leave you that
mask" demanded Merrihew. "She
must have meant something by that"
True. but for the life of me can't
figure out what"
"But | don't like the idea of leaving
Kitty this way without final effort
to rescue her from the clutches Of this
adventures"
81 admit nothing. my boy. save that
the keenness Of the chase is gone. AS
for Kitty. she's worldly little woman
and can take good care Of herself
Her letter should be sufficient
But IL isn't. woman's don't Of
ten means do If Kitty really expects
me TO search for her and do not she
will never believe in me again"
Perhaps your knowledge of women
Is more extensive than mine," said
Hillard.
But this 1attery did not appeal 20 |
Merrihew. ''Bosh! There's something
you haven't told me about that makes |
you so Indifferent"
This was a shrewd guess. but Hill |
lard had his reasons for not letting his
friend see how close he had shot. "A
lady? Grace of Mary. that is droll!"
He could not cast this out Of his
~ o,,uBntR-