The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1909-10-28
CHAPTER VII.


careless shot. He grounded bill
cue and stood back from the
= = table. That was the way ev
erything seemed to goat tennis. al
squash. at fencing. at billiards, 1t was
all the same.
Il say. Jack, what's the matter witt
you anyhow" asked Merrihew. out 81
patience
1T was bad" Hlllard agreed. Per
haps l am not taking the interest In
the game that formerly took"
And when / make a proposition .
pursued Aerrihew. Ito ride to the Cat
skills and back. something you would
have jumped at year ago. you shake
your head. Think of 1t. By George,
you had a bully time last year, You
swore 1t was the best trip we ever
took on the horses. Where's your spirit
of adventureT
I'm sure / don't know where it is.
Shall we finish the gamer
Not If you're going TO throw it like
this" declared Merrihew
Ten and string against your half
a string" said Hillard. studying the
score. TN bet a bottle that / beat
you"
Done" said Merrihew. Being on
his mettle. he made a clean score Of
twenty, five to go. Il can see you pay
ing for that check, Jack"
But the odds tingled Hillard's blood
He settled down to brilliant play
and turned sixty-one in beautiful form.
Later the two passed upstairs to the
secluded alcove. Merrihew filed the
glasses with the air of one who would
like to pass the remainder of his days
doing the same thing-not that he was
overload. but each bottle temporarily
weeded out that crop of imperishable
debts. To him the world grew roseate
and kindly viewed through the press
of the sparkling grape. and Invariably
he saw fortune reckoning to the card
tables.
Now. then. Jack. I've got you where
1 want you. Who is she?'
ION my word. don't know
''Then there is a woman cried Mer-
rihew. u knew it, Nothing else would
so demoralize you. Drink a health to
her"
Hillard raised his glass and touched
that of his comrade. For the peace of
his mind he determined to tel Merri-
hew the whole adventure.
ITO the lady in the fogr he said
"Fog?" blankly.
''Well. the lady in the mask"
"Fog, mask? Two of them:"
mo, only one. Once | met her In the
fog, and then | met her in the mask"
III drink to her. but I'm hanged if
don't believe you're coddling me-"
said Merrihew disappointedly This
is New York"
The whole story. Jack, details and
all; no half portions"
Hillard told the yarn simply. omit
ting nothing essential He even added
that for three weeks he had been the
author of the personal inquiry as to
the whereabouts of one Nine. Angot
Il don't know, Dan. but this has !
taken so strong a hold on me that l |
shan't forget it soon. Imagine 1t your
self. Oh, but she could sing. | am /
man not to be held in the leash of an
adventure like this, but she held me. |
How? BY the hope that one day l |
might see her face with no veil of |
mystery to hold her of at arms /
length"
Merrihew was greatly excited. He
was for ordering a second bottle. but
Hillard stayed him.
by George. And you are sure that
it was at the Sandfords'"
81 &c !
that | have failed to solve-Sandford's
cable and the caretaker's declaration
know that was in that house The
patrolman says that he has seen no
light in the house since the family
sailed for Africa. 1t is no dream. but
it begins to look as If were the vic
tim of some fine hoax"
1T is more than hoax. in my opin-
ion. Wait till sanford returns and
finds his silver gone"
Hillard started
And his gold plate" continued Mer-
rihew. pleased with the idea. My
boy that's what it is-the best dodge
i ever heard or 1t will make good
story for the Sunday papers. You
won't be In ii unless she ropes you in
as an accomplish
I'm romantic ASST Hillard sighed
Leddy Lightfnger, If this turned out
TO be the case he would never trust
human being again.
Let's take that ride on the horses"
Merrihew urged. "That'u clear your
brain Of this sentimental fog"
Mo- Hillard struck his hands to-
yether. 'I've better idea than that
shall go TO Italy, and You shah go
With me-"
Impossible. Why. I'm all but .
broke"
I'm take you as companion. Tn :.
sick man. Dan. I'm likely TO jump
overheard If some one isn't watching
ne every minute"
I'D like to so, Jack. Heaven ard :.
'arth. but should, But l can't possi- =
by so to Italy with letter of credit
10 more than twenty-five hundred. and
hats all there Is in the exchequer at :.
resent
Between such friends AZ We are