The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1910-01-06
CHAPTER NYII.
MORE TANGLEs.

~ Merrihew. who presented 1t to
Kitty Smith had already seen
4 a It. He waved 1t aside moodlly.
La Signorina's eyes roved as in an eff
fort to find some way out
IT'S pretty kettle OF fish" said
OMally. rather pleased secretly In
having created so dramatic moment
There's nothing for us TO do but to
clear out. bag and baggage"
Then La Signorina rose TO her feet
She took the card from Kitty's fin
gers. tore it into many pieces and flung
them over the wall.
I'VE have been betrayedr' she cried.
a storm In her eyes.
Betrayed? In what manner?" asked
Hilard
Her highness has had no hand In
this. know Some one with malice
has done this"
La Signorina. her arms folded. her
lips compressed into a thin line Of
scarlet. the anger in her eyes I'M
abated, began to walk back and forth
O'Mally gripped Smith by the arm
and pointed TO the gates
Two carabinieri and an inspector of
seals. dusty. .but stern of countenance.
came up the path The inspector came
on. Without touching his cap-a bad
sign-he laid upon the tea table card
and newspaper. familiar now TO
them all
"Signora.' he said politely. but coldly.
to the whilom prima donna. will you
do me the honor TO explain this? We
have some doubts as to the authority
upon which this invitation was is.
sued"
She spoke evenly. almost insolently
"The invitation is perfectly regular"
Everybody experienced a chill.
This time the Inspector bowed
"Then her highness will occupy her
villa?'
''She is already in possession. am
the Principessa di Monte Blanca"
calmly.
Had an earthquake shattered the
surrounding hills and CULTS opened at
their feet it could not have spread ter
ror more quickly among the transient
guests at the Vile Ariadne than this
declaration. They knew that she was
not the princess. and here. calmly and
negligently. she was jeopardinC their
liberty as well as her own. She was
mad.
The keen eyed inspector took mental
note of these variant expressions.
Your highness." he said his cap
setting the dust on the stones flying.
"a thousand pardons for this disagree
able intrusion. 1t was not officially
known that your highness was here"
ut is nothing replied the pseudo
princess. Only ] desired TO remain
incognito for the present"
And the/ seals:" purred the Off
cial.
I'VE shall go through that formality
the morning after the ball. At present
I do not wish TO I've disturbed with the
turning of the villa upside down. as
would be the case were the seals re-
moved"
THAT will require the permission Of
the crown. your highness.''
Then you will set about at once to
secure this permission"
The air with which she delivered
this command was noble enough for
any one.
You VIII 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
Fri. and the trio marched to the gates.
Loud were the excla nations of dis
may from the unfortunate Americans,
and only Hillard and Merrihew show
I'd faith in La Signorina and her prot.
estation that she would straighten
out the tangle without any additional
misfortune coming 10 her former as
sociates in the opera troupe.
Kitty. O'Mally and Smith. however,
were convinced thar II dirty Italian
prison would be their ultimate resting
place.
Suppose we go and break the newe
to Worth" remarked Smith.
O'AIally assentPd. stopping a moment
front of La Signorina.
I'VE have all been together for many
weeks" he said. Yet who you are
bone of us knows"
The shadow of smile lay upon her
ips and vanished. My name is Sonia
Iiilda Grosvenor. And her voice was
music
Tomorrow" said Merrihew. I'm
going to look up the Jail and engage
rooms ahead 1t might be crowded
Both he and Hillard rode back to
their quarters for the night. but they
found rhat 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. PietroE'
NO" Pietro sighed
did you ever see La Signorina be-
fore? Do you know anything about
herr"
Never. Mo- answered Pietro. With
the perfect candor of an accomplished