The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-01-20
He searched eagerly for the sigma

He searched eagerly for the sigma,
ture
Don't bother" she said 1.-THE name
Is. only a nickname We gave her at
school"
school? Do you mean to tell me
that you went to school with her.
Where?''
I'm Pennsylvania FIRST. then in Milan
Read"
o Cara Mia-If only you knew how
sorry | am to miss you, Why must YOU
SAN at once? Why not come to my beau
tifuI Venice? I have so much to say that
cannot be written. You ask about the al.
venture. Pouf goes my little dream OF
greatness II was a blank failure Tho
officials put unheard OF obstacles In our
path. The contracts were utterly disre-
garded In the first place. we had not
purchased our costumes and scenery in
Italy.
Costumes and scenery" Hillard
sought the signature again.
The base OF all the trouble was clerk
In the consulate at Naples He wrote us
that there would be no duties on costumes
and scenery Alas. the manager and his
hacker are on the way to America. sad.
return tickets to the chorus and sent
them home. The rest OF us arc stranded
is not that the word?-here in Venice.
waiting for money from home II ! were
alone. II would be highly amusing. but
these poor people with me, There is only
one way | can helpthem. but that-never'
You recollect that my personal income Is
i quarterly. and II will be two months be
fore | shall have funds. There are per.
sons moving heaven and earth to find me
My companions haven't the least idea
who | am. So here we all are. wandering
about the Piazza San Marco. calling at
Cooks every day In hopes Of money. |
am staying with my maid In the Campo
Santa Maria Formosa. near our beloved
Santa Barbara. | have guaranteed the
credit OF my companions. and they believe
that Venetians are generous people. Cen
erous! Perhaps you will wonder how
, dared appear on the stage In Italy. A
black wig and a theatrical makeup-these
were sufficient. A duke sent me an invi-
tation to take supper with him. as II
/ we're a ballerina! I sent one OF tho Amer
lean chorus girls. a little mink for mis-
chief She ate his supper and then ran
away. I understand that he was furious.
! Only a few months more Nell. and then
may come and 60 as | please. Come to
| Venice CAPRICCIOSA
HIllard' did not STIR Another laby-
rinth to this mystery! Capricciosa-
/ kitty Killigrew's unknown prima don
the morning train for Venice, and
! twenty-four hours later he would be
proving through the Campo Santa
Maria Formosa.
/ Mrs. Sanford observed him curl
ouSly. even sadly. Why couldn't his
fancy have been charmed by IN every.
day. sensible girl and not by this
whimsical. extraordinary woman who
fooled diplomats. Haunted dukes and
kept king mt arms length as pas
time? And yet
"Capricciosa." he unused aloud
THAT is not her name"
"Ard shall not tell 1t you"
"But her given name? Just a straw.
something to hold on. I'm drowning
man."
at is Hilda."
THAT Is German"
"She prefers 1t to Sonia"
"Sonia Hilda 1t begins well. May
keep this letter.
Certainly not With that cara mia
Give 1t to me-"
He did So Shall seek herr"
"This Is my advice-dcn't think OF
her after tonight. If you ever see or
recognize her. avoid her. 1t may sound
theatrical, but she Is the innocent
cause Of two deaths. These men
sought her openly too"
"What has SHE doneT'
HChn fhnyrrh
mistake"
"Political?"
"Don't be foolish. am sorry let
you see the letter forgot that she
told me her hiding place"
"Her hiding place"
"Mr. Hillard. she Is as far removed
from your orbit as Mars is from Jupi-
ter's. Forget her"
"My orbit Is not limited. shall
seek her When find her shall
marry her"
IL like you too much. Mr.. Hillard, to
stard by and see you break your heart
against n stone wall"
Don't you see. the deeper the mys-
terry Is the more powerful the attrac.
ton beromes?"
The door to the lift opened and
closed noislly. and Hillard turned neg
liCently. A man sauntered through the
room The moment he came into the
light Hillard's interest became lively
enough II was the handsome Italian
with the scar.
"Who is that MANI he whispered
"Only few weeks ago bumped into
him or coming cut Of the club
ado not attract his attention." she
answered.
"WhO Is hep he repeated
"A Venetian officer ard q profligate
entertained him once, but I learned
from him that had been III advised
IIillard saw that this subject would
admit Of no further questions, The
man with the scar had committed
some lnexcusable OfYense. and Mrs
Sanford had crossed him off the
list