Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-11-03
By
HAROLD
MAC GRATH
Copyright. 1908. by the Bobbs.
Merrill Co.

Not with the brand of cigars you
are smoking, 80 cents EACH"
"No; we can't bail them out, but we
can ease up their bills till money
comes from home. Not one of them by
this time will have a watch. O'Mally |
will remain sober from dire necessity.
Poor Kitty Killigrew! All the Won
derful shops and not a silver in her
pockets"
Merrihew paced the floor for some
time. his head full of impossible
schemes. He stopped in the middle of
the room with an abruptness which
portended something.
II have it. Instead of going directly
to Venice. We'll change the route and
go to Monte Carlo. I'll risk my four
hundred, and if l vim
Then the announcement cards, a
house wedding and pictures in the
New York papers. Dan, you are i'm
possible. You have gambled enough
to know that when you are careless
of results you win, but never when
you need the cash. But it is Monte
Carlo if you say so. Two or three
days there will u II you of your beau
tiful dream. After ALL" with a second
thought, Its a good cause, and it
might be just your luck to win. The
masquerading lady! Monte Carlo it
is"
Merrihew danced a jig. Hillard
stepped to the mirror n bowed pro-
foundry. The jig ceased.
Madame, permit me. a comparative
stranger. to offer you passage money
home. We won it at Monte Carlo.
1t is yours. Polite enough unused
Hillard, but hanged if it sounds
proper"
ITO the deuce with propriety!" cried
Merrihew buoyantly. We'll start to-
morrow"
From her window Kitty looked down
on the Campo, which lay patched with
black shadows and moonshine. How
still at night was this fairy city in the
sea! There were no horses Gathering
over the stone ~pavements, no trains, no
omnibuses. The stiffness which was of
peace lay over all things. And some
of this had entered Kitty's heart.
But for one thing the hour would
have been perfect. Kitty, ordinarily
brave and cheerful, was very lonesome
and homesick. The dismal failure of it
all! She had danced, sung, spoken her
lines the very best she knew how, and
none had noticed or encouraged her.
1t was a bitter cup after all the sue
cess at home. If only she could take it
philosophically like La Signorina!
And there were so many things she
could not understand. Why should La
Signorina always go yelled? Where
did she disappear so ~mysteriously in
the daytime? And those sapphires and
diamonds and emeralds? Why live
here with such q fortune hanging
round her neck?
"Kitty?" The voice came from the
doorway. Kitty was startled for a
moment, but it was only La Signorina.
Kitty furtively wiped her eyes.
II am over here by the window.
The moon was so bright I did not light
the lamp"
La Signorina moved with light step
to the window, bent and caught Kit
tvs face between her hands and turn
ed it firmly toward the moon.
"You have been crying, cara!w
II am very lonely" said Kitty.
"You poo little homeless bird" La
Signorina seized Kitty impulsively in
her arms. IF l were not She hest
tated.
"If you were not?"
eff l were not poor, but rich instead.
I'd take you to n Of the fashionable
hotels. You are out Of place here in
this rambling old ruin"
mot half so much as you are" Kit
ty replied.
II am never out Of place. 1 can live
comfortably in the fields with the
peasants, in cities in extravagant no.
tells. My mind is always at one height.
Where the body is does not matter
much"
There was a subtle hauteur in the
voice. 1t subdued Kitty's inquisitive-
ness.
Sometimes" said Kitty, drying the
final tear-''sometimes I am afraid of
you"
"And wisely. I am often afraid Of
myself. 1 always do the first thing
that enters my head. and generally it
is the wrong thing. Never mind. The
old oma here will trust us for some
weeks yet" She leaned from the win
dow and called, "Pomp-e-o"
From the canal the gondolier an
swered.
snow them" said the woman to the
girl.
Kitty threw a heavy shawl over her
head and shoulders, while the other
wound about her face the nov famil-
; lar dark gray veil. and the two went