Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-09-29

cares.
you are, then, seeking a diversion?''
Nothing more or less. Do not fat.
ter yourself that there is anything per.
sonal or romantic on my side. l am
bored"
Il am wholly in your hands," he said.
land they are very beautiful hands,"
rs there anything more beautiful
than a cats paw when the claws are
hidden? Never judge a woman by hel
hands Nevertheless she buried her
hands in the depths Of a down pillow
She had forgotten her rings. She slip.
ped them off and managed to hide
them.
81 promise to remember. Your let.
ters'- he began dithdently. Where the
deuce was his tongue? Was he to he
tongued tied all the evening before this
Columbine, who, with the aid of hel
mask, was %covcrtly laughing at his
awkwardness?
My letters? A woman often writes
what she will not say and says what
she will not write. Did you not ask
me to disillusion you?"
Yes, but softly, softly. l begin to
believe one thing-you brought me here
to teach me a lesson. Gentlemen should
never use the personal column"
Nor should ladies read it. l am not
saving any mercy for myselfw with
laughter.
Shall l begin with my pasta"
Something less horrifying, if you
pleased"
Il object to the word NICE" he said.
II should have preferred milksop.
Hadn't you better try some new kind
Of t%orture?"
This time her laughter was relaxed
and joyful. And somehow Hillard felt
more at ease. He was growing accus-
toned to the mask. He stretched his
legs and fingered his neither lip.
Have you not somewhere an in
visible cloak?"
81 had n that night, which nature
lent me-" she answered readily. 81
was so invisible to you that I heard
the policeman call out your name. 1
thank you for insisting that 1 was not
a chorus lady"
Here was a revelation which ac-
counted for many things. 81 haven't
been very fortunate so far in this ad-
venture"
"That is rank ingratitude. l am of
the opinion that fortune has highly
favored you"
But the mask-the mask! If you
heard the policeman call my name you
must have heard him speak Of one
Leddy Lightfinger."
81 did, indeed. And is it not pos
sible that I am that very personw
Hillard dropped his hand toward his
watch. why do you hate Italy?"
She sat straight, and what little he
could see Of her mouth had hardened.
"There will be no retrospection this
evening, if you please" her voice
rather metallic.
The mystery lifted It's head again.
One does not hate a country without
a strong and vital reason. Was Gio-
vanni partly right, after all? Was
this a kind of trap-a play to gain his
interest? Was her singing under his
window purely accidental?
Evil you not sing?" he asked. This
was an inspiration. Music might as
sist in melting her new reserve.
"You recollect. then, that I possess a
voice."
ut is all 1 have to recollect. Tell
me, whittier is all this to lead?"
ITO the door and into the fog again."
ION my word, I'm half inclined to
believe you to be an anarchist or a
red or something on that ORDER
put yourself at ease. I am neither
Leddy Lightfnger nor a Socialist.
There are no dynamite bombs in this
house."
Her severity, her irony and her ap-
parent lack Of warmth were mere mat
tiers Of calculation. Her plan was to
inspire him with trepidation, to keep
him always at arms length, for his
W safety as we'll as hers. She knew
something Of men. She was secretly