Arizona republican., 1909-06-03
Continued from yesterday.)

I'm yesterday
A neat little woman was buying
corn. Hillard stepped over to her
and touched her arm. AS she faced
him, he raised his hat, smiling.
OH" The corn spilled in a golden
shower and the doves. tickle as all
flighty things are, deserted Merrihew
for the moment.
And where may I find your dis
tinguished mistress?" Hillard asked
pleasantly.
She is not in the Campo Formosa,
signore." Bettina, recovering her
scattered wits, laughed.
But you were-last night"
Yes. l watched you and your
friend for some time" Bettina's eyes
We're merry. She would play with
him. Everything was so tedious now.
Your mistress is in Venice"
Perhaps. At least her maid is"
Il should not dare suggest a bride"
he said slyly
You might make the attempt, just
to see what l should do"
Merrihew stood watching them, hay
AAA5 AOSN AlllNltol III tic hONtS.
"Supposing l should drop hun
dred lire note, accidentally, and walk
away" Hillard twisted the ends of
his mustache.
But first 1 should have to tell
you, accidentally, where my mistress
is?"
That, of course"
"A hundred lire motel" To Bettina
this was an enormous sum in these
unfortunate days. Her resolution
wavered. a hundred lire motel"
She felt that she could make no
strong defense against such an as
sault
Hillard drew the note from his
pocket and crinkled it. "A new dress
and bits Of lace
Bettina saw duty one way and
avarice the other. Her mistress would
never know. Still, if she should find
-out that she, Bettina, had betrayed
her! Was a hundred lire note worth
the risk of losing her mistress? -
began to think deeply At length she
shook her head sorrowfully.
NO. signore. l dare not"
But a hundred lirel"
"Ah, no, no." Bettina put her
hands over her ears.
Then l shall follow you step by
step all the day long"
She searched for the Jest in his
eyes, but there was none. Yes, he
would do il. How was she to escape
him? Her glance Travelled here and
there. By the glass shop on the cor
ner she espied two carabinieri. There
lay the way.
DO you see them?" she asked.
The carabinieri? Yes" But he
swore under his breath, as he I'M
derstOod the drift of her inquiry.
Il shall ask them to hold you"
But l have done nothing
Not yet, but you viii attempt to
follow me-" ..-.
Begin" he said, with banter.
What's the row, jack" Merrihew
called out impatiently. Why didn't
they talk in a language a fellow could
understand?
Stay where you are, Dan" To
Bettina, Hillard repeated: Begin"
She busted her hands of the corn
and walked resolutely toward the
carabinieri. Hillard equally resolute,
followed, but with a rowing eye
which took in all things ostensibly
save Bettina. He had a plan by which
he proposed to circumvent any in
reference by the guardians. And
Bettina aided him, for she never
turned her head till she stood at the
side of the carabinieri.
"SignOri, this man is following me-"
she said.
Hillard came on and would have
passed. but they stopped him.
You are following the signorina,"
said one.
Il? What put such a preposterous
idea into the lady's head?" Hillard
demanded Indignantly.
For a moment the carabinieri en-
tertained some doubt.
He is following me, I tell you,".
Bettina reiterated. II do not wish
him i'll. Simply detain him till l am
out of sight"
This was not unreasonable. 1T
shall be as the little signorina
Wishes" and the carabinieri laugh
ed. 1t was some jest, and they
would take their part in it willingly.
Hillard resigned, and Bettina took
to her heels. Her victory was per-
illdlltlll Olics lOI lllt IC-
leased Hillard only when they knew
it would be impossible for him to
take up the pursuit. So, taking his
defeat philosophically. Hillard return
ed to Merrihew
We'll, what was it?" asked Mer-
rihew, scattering the doves.
Did l ever tell you about Bet
tina?"
"Bettina? No"
well, she is the maid. The wo-
men we are looking for are here in
Venice. Now, what's on the pro-
gram for the rest of the morning."
Merrihew damned his hands into
his pockets. "Oh, let's go and take
a look at the saints. I'm in the mood
for it,"
So the two set out at the heels
of the German tourists. They went