Arizona republican., 1909-06-25
THE LURE OF THE MASK
BY Copyright 1908
HAROLD MGRATH The Bobbs- NerrW Co.
Continued fir ON Wednesday,

Meanwhile the prince, RAGING ana
out of joint with the world. mounted
his horse He would have revenge for
this empty Scabbard, or he would re-
sign his commission. His throat still
ached and pointed lights danced be-
fore his eyes. Eth, well! This time
tomorrow night the American should
pay dearly for it. His short laugh and
an ugly sound. This American was
Just the kind of chivalric fool to ac-
cept a challenge. But could he handle
foils? Could he fight? Could any of
these damned American heretics fight,
save with their fists? 1t WIS the
other mans lookout, not his. He put
the duel out of his mind as a thing
accomplished Shortly he would have
compensation commensurate for all
these five years chagrin. To elude
him all this time, to laugh in his
face. to defy him. and then to step
deliberately into his power! He never
could understand this woman. The
little prude, But for her FOOLS con-
science he would not have been riding
the beggar's horse today She was
now too self-reliant. too intelligent,
too cunning; she was her father over
again, soldier and diplomat. Well, the
mystery of her actions remained. but
he was no longer the broken noble.
So why should he puzzle over the
why's and wherefores of her motives?
All! and would he not dig his hands
deep into the dusty sacks of gold and
silver? Life, again, such as he craved
good cigars and good wine and pretty
women who were no ardent followers
,F u -
money down the threats of his yelp-
ing creditors. to tear up his paper and
fling it into the faces of the greedy
Jews, Ha. this would be to live!
Paris. or Vienna, or London, where he
willed; for what hold had the army
now?
He was an expert horseman, but
like all Italians, he was by nature
cruel AS he passed the gates the
horse slid and stumbled to his knees;
he was up instantly, only to receive
a hard stroke between the ears. This |
treatment caused the ami |
NAL to rear and waltz. This was not |
the stolid going campaign mount. but |
his best Irish hunter, on which he |
had won prizes in many a gymkhana. |
There was a brief struggle, during |
which the man became master both of |
himself and the horse. They were just |
passing the confines of the villa when
a man darted out suddenly from the
shadows and seized the bride.
AT last, my prince!"
Giovanni"
InStinctively the "-ince reached for
his saber knowing that he had need
He cursed the folly which had made
him lose it. This encounter promised
to be a bad one. What mouth of hell
had opened to cast this beggar, of all |
men, in his path? Oddly enough his
thought ran swiftly back to the little
casa in the Sabine Hills. Bar, Full
of courage, knowing that one of the
other would not leave this spot alive,
he struck his horse with purpose this
time to run his man down. But Clio
vanni did not lose his hold; hate and
the nearness of revenge made him
strong.
No, no." he laughed. She is dead.
my prince. And l, l was not going
to seek you; / was going to let hell
claim you in its own time. But you
rode by me tonight. This is the end"
Let go, fool" -roared- prince,
Giovanni across the face with
he heavy crop.
Giovanni laughed, and drew his
knife. Il shall not miss you this
time."
The prince, trained soldier. shift
ed the reins to his teeth, buried his
knees in the barrel of the horse, I'M
hooked his scabbard and swung ii
aloft, deity catching the reins again
in his left hand. But Giovanni was
fully prepared. He released the bride.
his arm went back and the knife spun
through the air. Yet in that instant
i'm which Giovanni's arm was poised
for the cast, the prince lifted his
horse on its launches The knife
gashed the animal deeply in the neck.
Still on its launches it backed, wild
with the unaccustomed pain. The lip
of the road at this spot rotten and
gave way. The prince
saw the danger and tried to urge his
horse forward. 1t was too late. The
sank, the horse whin-
MED in terror and the prince tried in
vain to slip from the saddle. There
came a grating crash, a muffled cry.
and horse and rider went pounding
down the rock bound gorge.
Giovanni listened He heard the
light, metallic clatter of the empty
scabbard as it struck projecting
boulders; he heard it strangely above /
the duller, heavier sound. Then the
hush OF silence out of which came the
faint mutter Of the stream. Giovanni
trembled and the sweat on his body
grew cold: less from reaction than
from the thought that actual muir
der had been snatched from his hands
For several minutes he waited, dread
ing, but there was no further sound.
He searched mechanically for his
knife, recovered it, and then crept
down the abrupt side of the gorge
till le found them. They were both
dead A cloud swept over the benign
moon.
Holy Father, thou hast waited sew
en- years too long," Giovanni crossed
himself.
He gazed up at the ledge where
the tragedy had beguIL The cloud
passed and revealed the shining mus
kets of two carabinieri. doubtless at
tracted 10y the untoward sounds. Clio
vanni, agile and muscular as wolf.
stole over the stream and disappeared
into the blackness beyond. But there
afasN