Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-20

Consequences! l shall find a way
to avoid them"
But supposing some one who
knows the real princess happens
along?" said Worth, putting in his fl
nal argument.
IF | get into trouble of that sort
her Highness will help me out.
thank Mr.. o'Mally for his suggestion.
Don't mention it, returned O'Mally
dryly. Inwardly he was cursing his
impulsive Irish blood.
"It is agreed then, that tomorrow
we depart for Florence as the Princi
pessa di Monte Blanca and suite?"
Tears began to fill Kitty's eyes. TIC
have everything spoiled like this! La
Signorina would land them all in
prison.
There's a legal side to it." Smith
advanced cautiously. "The law may
not see the jest from your point OF
view"
81 believe am clever enough to
meet any contingency Of that order"
81 give up" said Worth Respondent
ly. "But your princess must be a
very dear friend for you to take such
llDertleS with her name.
"She appreciates jest as thor
oughly as l do; moreover, she will
stand by me in anything may do.
Tomorrow morning, then. We shall go
direct to Florence and engage car
riages to take us out to the Villa
Ariadne. We are all capable enough
actors to carry out the venture sue
cessfully. And now, to relieve Mr..
Worth's chivalrous mind, | shall re-
claim my pendant. You will doubtless
have enough moneay to forward your
selves to Florence. Once you arrive
there, you will leave the further bur
dens upon my shoulders. Come, Kitty,
we must be going. know that I can
rely upon you gentlemen to enter with
full spirit into the adventure"
1--WE are all crazy, but who cares?"
O'Mally cried. But he trembled in his
boots, and thought vainly Of certain
comfortable chop house on old Broad
way
The three men bowed ceremonious-
~ Worth opened the door for the
women, and when 1t closed after them
he turned savagely toward O'Mally
"You-ass!"
"There are others!" retorted O'Mal-
ly, afire, "You agreed; so drop 1t. But
what the devil are we going to do?"
That's the question Smith got
out his pipe.
1--WE are all going to the Villa Ari-
adne, and from there to jail" And
Worth flung out of the salon.
"Jail!" unused O'Mally. Blame me,
if don't believe he's right"
CHAPTER XVII.
1t is in carly morning that one
should discover the Piazza San Marco.
Few travellers, always excepting the
Teutonic pilgrims, are up and about;
and there is room for ones elbows in
the great quadrangle The doves are
hungry then; and they alight on your
hands, your arms, your shoulders, and
even your hat. They are greedy and
wise besides. Hidden among the stat
ues above the arcades and in the cor
you approach the vender OF corn
In moment they are fluttering about
you like an autumn storm Of leaves
subsiding quickly; blue-grey doves
with white under wings and coral
feet. During the season the Venetian
photographers are kept busy printing
from amateur films. For who is so in
different as not to wish to be snapped
a few times with the doves forming
a heavenly halo above ones head
ones body in a sentimental pose, and
ones eyes looking straight into the
camera? Well, we'll; this is as near
saintliness as most Of US will ever
get.
How the warm sunshine brightens
the worn marbles, or flashes from
the many windows, or sparkles from
the oriental domes! And the colorec
marbles of the ducal palaces fairly
palpitate In the bronze fountain al
the left of the cathedral will be more
doves taking their morning additions
1t was such a picture Merrihew ant
Hillard, his guide, came upon the
morning following their arrival. The!
had not visited it during the night
They had, with the usual impatienct
of men, gone directly to the Campo
Santa Maria Formosa for the grea
| reward. They had watched and waited
till near midnight, but in vain. Fo
| once Hillard's keenness had been a
fault. He had forgotten that the Campo
was to be entered from two ways, b,
gondola and by foot. He and Merri
hew had simply guarded the bridge.
| 81 wonder why Giovanni ran ava,
last night?" said Merrihew, balancing
dove on his hand.
Il wonder, too" replied Hillard
ut is possible that he did not recoe
nize me. l find that each day means
new wonder of some sort. Giovanni
knows that would do anything in M
| power to help him. But he runs ava
at the sight of me. In fact, they al
run away from me. I must nave tn
evil eye He was shaking the cornr
/ copia free of the last kernel of cor,
when he saw something which cause
/ him to stifle an exclamation. Dan,
he said, keep on feeding the doves
If I'm not back inside of ten minute
return to the hotel and wait for me
No questions; I'll tell you everythin
| later"
Merrihew's eyes widened. Wha
now? His tongue longed to wag, hu
by this time he was readily obeyin
Hillard in all things.
A neat little woman was buyin