Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-09-29
Copyright. 1908. by the Bobbs.
Merrill Co.

al, then knocked timidly on the door
leading to the drawing room.
"Avanti." called a soft voice.
Hillard gathered in his courage,
opened the door and stepped inside.
On a divan near a lamp sat a woman
In black. Only a patch OF white throat
could be seen, for her shoulders were
not bare and her arms only to the ell
bows. Her back was turned suuarely.
But what a head! He caught his
breath. 1t glowed like a copper beech
in the sunshine.
Madam" he faltered. He spoke
English and not very firmly.
The woman turned. Hillard took a
step backward and blundered against
a pedestal.
She was masked!
Masked! Only her mouth and chin
were visible, and several little pieces
of court plaster effectually disguised
these. There was a mystery. He to
come blindfolded and she to wear a
mask-eXtraordinary!
"And this" she said ironically, els
the gentleman who leaned out of the
window"
He brought all his faculties together,
for he knew he would need them in
this encounter. "Supposing l had
fallen out of it-well. it could not
have mattered. l should not have
been more at your feet than 1 am
now" This was very good, consid-
cring how dry his tongue was.
Hillard reached a chair successful
ly enough, but he never could rec
ollect how. He sat down as a bashful
man sits down in a crowded ballroom,
with his knees drawn Ia tightly and
his feet at sympathetic angles.
Presently she laughed with malice.
"You are not comfortable in that
chair"
THAT Is true, and yet it is soft and
roomy. l am uneasy. Perhaps you
recall to my subconsciousness a period
in my former existence on earth, or, if
you will, one of my ancestors"
II fail to understand"
"Well, a Hillard 200 years ago had
his head cut off by al ak. His execu-
toner wore q mask"
"a mistake. Your ancestor should
have been hanged"
"And 1 along with him, you would
imply"
Are you not Irish? I have known
1rishmen of the name Of Hillard."
"They were in disguise. But I have
a generous strain Of Irish blood in me;
otherwise l shouldn't have had the
courage to follow up an adventure like
this"
Thanks. The compliment is rather
ambiguous"
"My compliments cannot possibly be
more ambiguous than your appearance.
Surely there will be an hour for I'M
masking"
"It has already begun, Mr.. Hillard."
$50 I am the one who is to be un.
masked? Well, 1 have only the mask
nature gave to me. I wish she had
been more liberal. But 1 shall see
what can be done with it,"
He took note Of her teeth and felt a
sudden tinge Of regret. One may dis
guise the face and hair, but the teeth
are always the same. Two lower teeth
on the right side appeared to be gone;
the others were firm and glistening
white. 1t was a pity, for a woman's
teeth are as much her glory as her
hair.
Silence. The ruddy light on her hair
fascinated him.
what is it," she demanded.
"Your hair" with a simplicity which
silenced her. you have the most
beautiful hair I have v e SEEN"
"Thank you. And yet, for all you
know, it may be a fine wig"
'If it is 1 shall never be sure of
anything again. Am I in prosaic New
York? Have you not by some carpet
magic transported me to old Europe?
If a dozen c%onspirators came in in
cowls to render me the oath I should
not be at all surprised"
There is no magic, only a mask"
"And there is no way Of seeing be-
hind that?"
"None-absolutely none. 1 am told
that you are a gentleman, so l am
confident that you will not stoop to
use force"
"OnIy the force Of eloquence, if ever
l may lay claim to that again."
"You are beginning well, for I tell
you, Mr.. billiard, I shall expect but
the most brilliant wit from you to-
night. AS for me, I shall only inter-
polate occasionally. Now. begin"
II am not used to dancing without
the POLE"
sYou must learn. Danced"
upon what-npthing? And how
chcIy z lkNnuy fhot vnu HonninO nloQ SQa