The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-12-02
By
HAROLD
MAC GRATH
Copyright. 1908 by the Bobbs.
Merrill Co

10000 >>H~$%~<<<%<<<><%
not eve know that such Il person eX-
listed. and yet sercnely unconscious
one was casting his life line. as the
palmist would say. across Hillard's.
The knots and tangles were to come
later.
The coffee in this country is abom-
Unable" growled one.
The waiter smiled covertly behind
his hand. These Italians and these
Germans. Why. there is only one
place in the world where both the aro-
ma and the flavor Of coffee are pre-
served. and il is not. decidedly not. in
Italy or Germany. And if his tip cX-
ceeded 10 cents he would be vastly
surprised. The Italian never wastes
on necessities a penny which can he
applied to the gaming tables. And
these two were talking about Monte
Carlo and Ostend.
The younger of the two was a very
handsome man, tall. slender and ncrV
Gus, the Venetian type. his black eyes,
keen and rowing. suggesting Il hasty
temper. The mouth partly hidden un-
der Il graceful military mustache. was
thin Tipped. the mouth Of a man who
was always master Of his Vi es, From
his right cheek bone to the oru cf
his mouth ran n scar. very well heal
ed. And the American Imagination
might readily have pictured villas.
maids in durance vile and sword
thrusts under the moonlight. But the
waiter, who had served his time in a
foreign army. knew no foil or rapicr
could have made such Il scar: more
probably the Saber.
His companion was equally pictur-
esque. With white head and iron gray
beard, he wore in his buttonhole a tiny
bow Of ribbon. the badge of foreign
service.
I'm afraid, Enrico. that you have
brought me to America on n useless
adventure" said the diplomat.
"She is here in New York. and
shall find her. | must have money
must. | owe you the incredible amount
Of 100. 900 lire. There are millions an
ueI lily manu. anu : '"hi'' ''"Nh "
penny"
do not let your debt to me worry
you"
"You are so very good, Giuseppe"
"Have we not grown up together?
Sometimes | think | am partly to
blame for your extravaganza. But a
friend is a friend or he is not"
sgD,@ l,o u,J,n l,nrrny- {. frn~, ktc frianA
loses him. Observe how | am placed.
1t is maddening. have had a dozen
opportunities to marry riches. This
milestone is e~ternally round my neck.
I have gone through my part Of the
fortune which was left us independ-
emily. She has all Of hers, and that is
why she is so strong. I am absolutely
helpless"
"Poor friend. These American wo-
men. They all believe that a man
must have no peccadillos once he has
signed the marriage contract. Body
Of Bacchus. The sacrament does not
make a man less human than he was
before. But this one is clever. She
might be Italian born"
Her UiOtIlPT was ltdlldH. L 10 liz
schooling in this country that has made
her so clever. The only thing Italian
about her is her hatred. She is my
countrywoman there. Without her
consent | can touch nothing, and if
divorce ~her-pouff.-all goes to the
state. Sometimes | long to get my two
hands round her white throat. One
mistake, one little mistake. | am will
Ing TO swear that she loved me in the
beginning. And | was a fool not TO
profit by this sentiment. Give me pa
! thence. patience. If | say TO her. 50
much and you may have your freedom.
there is always that cursed will. The
crown of Italy will never withdraw
its hand. No. With his wife's family
on his hands. especially her brother,
the king will never waive his rights
And. remember. we have but ten
days"
I'VE shall not find time heavy. l
know a few rich butchers and grocers
who call themselves the aristocracy,
And some OF them play bridge and
%ecarte."
The diplomat smiled In ANTICIPATION.
II have followed her step by step to
the boat at Naples. She is here. She
will not be hard to find. She has
wealthy friends
You say she Is beautiful?'
"Yes. and a beautiful woman cannot
hide. Think of It. Chateaux and vii
las and splendid rents. all waiting to
be %gormanized by the state! Let us
get out into the air before l become
excited and forget where / am"
The waiter stepped forward with
the coats and hats.
CHAPTER III.
NINE. ANGOT.
THREE nights later, as Hlllard
and Merrihew were dining to
gether at the club, the stew