The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-03-30
" OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES -
Romance TO Order
By T. S. STRlBLINC

here playing and hoping something
would happen"
| 4. Shows pleasant. smiling face and
ingenious explanation the stranger BE-
| gan to thaw.
| $50 you are hunting an adventure"
responded the man. agreeably. Would
you mind helping me? I was just
wishing for someone to give me q
little assistance In case I should need
it."
| Arc you jcking?" asked Snow.
| Never more serious-here's my
hand" in impulsive Spanish fashion.
Snow took It Sravely. What shall
I do"
Stand right here and play the gui-
tar" Then the man vanished.
| The man had hardly disappeared In
the side alley when the silken curtain
behind the grill was drawn back Q
little
"Senor." said a voice. did Rafael
ask you to play there?"
Snow drew near and removed his
Panama. He could see a dim oval
face outlined in the black interior with
two dark splaShes for eyes. but there
was a quality in the voice that made
| II die away.
Yes. senorita." he whispered back:
someone set me here to play"
Then why don't you play" asked
the woman. with q little tremOlO In
her voice.
With a feeling that he was in the
midst of phantasmagoria. Snow once
more adjusted his guitar and began
strumming the tune. He had hardly
started again when he saw two white
hands clasp the brazen grills.
Not that! Not that" trembled the
voice. 'Ah. mia Dios. not that"
Snow paused again abruptly. You
know the tune-it is not a Cuban air?''
Nor I a Cuban girl. senior"
What shall I play. them"
Anything else" There was q touch
of pathos in her words and again that
dimly familiar quality the man had
noted all along.
He moved a trifle closer. MAY
inquire why am playing and-to
whom"
You are playing in Rapkaels place
SO tina: Rafael and Maria may escape
unobsarved. That is all. senor."
Snow pressed up against the grills.
He was staring fixedly into the dark
recess beyond the curtains. And to
whom" he asked. tersely: ito whom p
There was a broken little laugh In.
side. then a shaking. silvery voice
nummed over the air he had Just been
playing, then sang softly the first line
"But-but ! composed those word,
myself" stammered Snow.
$3.50 you did-Len."
"Carlotta!" trembled the American
In the uttermost surprise. "You!"
Yes. yes. my father sent me here
to-tO avoid you"
well. come On--Quick. Cariotta-
WeIl follow suit-the back way"
But. Len" gasped the girl. some
one must play the guitar. Rafael al
ways Played"
Snow leaped to the middle of the
narrow street and began wildly to sig
nal toward the dark corner. The two
Englishmen came up leisurely.
Hurry! Hurry!" cried the Ameri
can. Il need you!"
What's the matter?" asked Middle
ham. as the two followed him back to
the window.
stand here and play this guitar!'
snapped Snow.
"Aw, now. what do want to stand
here and play a guitar for?"
Don't ask questions! To make
them think I'm here till Senorita Car
iotta Vitrelli and l elope out the back
way"
"Yes. senors." pleaded the voice In
the window. land II my uncle comes
out you must catch him and hold him
Don't let him pursue u.s." They could
see her wringing her hands excitedly
in the gloom.
Now. really. Hulley. don't this upset
fellow. though? Snow here has
known her for at least five minutes
hasn't he?" Then. IS an afterthought
| ~oA Paoy q SOASoss SOu huO".
But Snow thrust the instrument
into his hands. you've got to try az
friend-a benefactor!"
Middleham held the guitar. Hulley
looked on in amazement. Snow van
ished around the side alley and the
girl disappeared from the window.
The two Britons were planted dog
gedly by the window and Snow knew
that neither the uncle nor all the Ha
vana police could move or pass them
As he and Carlotta met in the tiny
little alleyway there sounded from
the front the most execrable noise
that a guitar was ever guilty of In Ha,
vana.
Then HUXLEY tried to sing.
That's unnecessary punishment, "
murmured Snow in the girls ear.
But Carlotta laughed happily a
they hurried down the dark path.
Dies for Love Of . Girl In . Novel.
Most Of US have been impressed a,
some time or other with q lovable
character in a book. but is Is not Otter
that people are carried away like the
young laborer at Sidlesham. near Chi
chester. Eng. who. falling in love
with girl In a novel thought his love
for his own sweetheart was false. and
shot himself.