Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-29

"Then her Highness will occupy her
villa?"
"She is already in possession. am
the Principessa di Monte Blanca,
calmly.
Had an earthquake shattered the
surrounding hills, and CULTS opened at
their feet, it could not have spread
terror more quickly among the tran.
sient guests at the Villa Ariadne than
this declaration They were appalled,;
they stood like images, without the
power to take their eyes off this wom-
an. This transcendental folly simply
paralyzed them. They knew that she
was not the princess; and here, calm
ly and negligently, she was jeopardlng
their liberty as well as her own. Mad,
mad! For imposture of this caEber
| was a crime, punishable by long i'm
prisonment; and Italy always con-
| triyed to take in dozen or so &C
completes. They were all lost indeed,
unless they could escape and leave La
| Signorina alone to bear the brunt OF
her folly.
The keen-eyed inspector took mental
note of these variant expressions.
"Your Highness,'' he said, his cap
setting the dust on the stones flying,
"a thousand pardons for this disagree
able intrusion. 1t was not othclally
known that your Highness was here.
at is nothing" replied the pseudo
princess. "Only I desired. to remain
| incognito for the present.
sAnd the seals?'' purred the official
eve shall go through that formality
the morning after the ball. AT pres
ent I do not wish to be disturbed with
the turning of the villa upside down
as would be the case were the seals
removed
"That will require the permission OF
the crown, your Highness.
Then you will set about at once
10 secure this permission"
The air with which she delivered
this command was noble enough fol
any one The inspector was overcome
But as your Highness has never be
fore occupied the villa, some definite
assurance"
"You will telegraph to Crawford ano
Barring, in the Corso Umberto Primo
Rome. They will supply you with the
necessary details and information.
The inspector inscribed the address
in his book, bowed, backed away
and bowed again. The crunch of.the
gravel under his feet was as a sinister
thunder. and it was the only sound
He spoke to the carabinierl. The!
saluted and the trio marched TOWARD
the gates.
80, n foh nj
sque but tense. Then Kitty began t
cry softly.
"Are you mad?" cried Hillard, hi
voice harsh and dry.
La Signorina laughed recklessly. 81
you call this madness"
Smith, my boy" said O'Mally
moistening his lips, you and | thi
might will pack up our little suitcase
-movimento, motto, viaggia, o
whatever the Dago ward is for NOV
on I'm out of the game; the stake
are too high. pass, signorina."
How could you do it," sobbe'
Kitty.
Merrihew patted her hand an
scowled.
: What an ado!" said La Signorine
Struggling. $50 you all desert me :?
, Desert your" O'Mally resumed hi
. seat and carefully loosened the tor
most buttons of his coat. "Of cours
we shall desert you We are sane il
dividuals, at any rate. have no de
sire to see the inside Of an Italia
: jail, not knowing how to get out. Wha
under the sun possessed you? Wha
excuse have you to offer for pushin
: us all into the lions mouth? 70
could have easily denied all know
edge of the invitation, referred the1