Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-12-15
By
HAROLD
MAC GRATH
Copyright. 1908. by the Bobbs.
Merrill Co.


The air with which she delivered
this command was noble enough for
any n
"You will telegraph to Crawford &
Barring, in the Corso Umberto Primo,
Rome. They will supply you with the
necessary details and information"
The inspector spoke to the carabini-
eri. and the trio marched to the gates.
Loud were the EXPLANATIONS Of dis
may from the unfortunate Americans,
and only Hillard and Merrihew show
ed faith in La Signorina and her prot
estation that she would straighten
out the tangle without any additional
misfortune coming to her former as
sociates in the opera troupe.
Kitty. O'Mally and Smith. however.
were convinced that a dirty Italian
prison would be their ultimate resting
place.
Suppose we go and break the news
to WORTH" remarked Smith.
O'Mally assented. stopping a moment
in front of La Signorina.
1--WE have all been together for many
weeks" he said. Yet who you are
o n Of us knows"
The shadow of a smile lay upon her
lips and vanished. My name is Sonia
Hilda Grosvenor." And her voice was
music.
Tomorrow" said Merrihew. Pm
going to look up the Jail md engage
rooms ahead. 1t might be crowded."
Both he and Hillard rode back to
their quarters for the night, but they
found that sleep was practically out of
the question.
The morning sun poured over the
hills, throwing huge shadows in the
gorge below. O'Mally shifted. AS the
wind veered internationally there came
to him the perfume Of the locust trees.
now in full bloom. Pietro rocked, his
legs crossed, his face blurred in the
drifting tobacco smoke.
mo more tourists, Pietro"
"No," Pietro sighed.
did you ever see La Signorina be-
fore? Do you know anything about
her"
"Never! Mop answered Pietro, with
the perfect candor Of an accomplished
liar.
Have you ever seem
"Zitto! She comet" Pietro got up
with alacrity.
La Signorina was as daintily fresh
in her pink frock as a spring tulip.
Her eyes were shining. but her color
was thin.
II have been looking for you, Mr..
O'Mally." she said. II have just re.
ceived a telegram from her highness.'
OMally accepted the yellow sheet.
Il can make out a word or two" he
said. It's in Italian"
Il forgot" apologetically.
Briefly, La Principessa di Monte
Blanca gave Sonia Hlda Grosvenor
full authority to act as her proxy in
giving the ball. AS for the invitation,
she knew absolutely nothing about it.
This last statement rather staggered
the erstwhile concierge. If the prin-
cess hadn't issued the invitation. who
the deuce had?
The dreamy. ~pleasurable days at the
Villa Ariadne were no more. The
spirit Of suspicion now stalked
abroad. And there were a-coming and
going of the many needed extra serv4
ants. a to and froing of extra garden
ers and carpenters and the sound of
many hammers. The ballroom and the
dining room were opened and aired
and the beautiful floors polished.
In Florence there wa a deal of ex-
element over the coming affair. for
the Villa Ariadne had once been the
scene of many a splendid entertain
ment. There had always been a mys-
terry regarding the Principessa di
Monte Blanca. Many doubted her ac-
tual existence. But the prince was
known all over Europe as a handsome
spendthrift. And the fact that at this
precise moment he was quartered
with the Eighth corps in Florence add
ed largely to the zest Of speculation.
AS for Hillard. well indeed he un-
derstood now why Mrs. Sanford had
warned him. He understood now
what the great mistake was.
He was always at her heels now.
but speaking no more Of his love. She
understood and was grateful. Once
she plucked a young rose and gave it
to him, and he vas ure that her hand
touched his with pity, though she
would not meet his eyes.
At 4 o'clock on the afternoon Of the
day before the ball. now that the
noise had subsidized and the servants
were. in their quarters, La Signorina
went into the gardens alone. An hour
earlier she had seen billiard mount
and ride away, the last time but once.
There seemed to bear down upon her
that oppression which one experiences
In n nightmare OF being able TO ny 80