The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-07-15
tContinued)

Allard paused, then laughed out
1n sheer delight at the situation.
81 forgot all about names; l be-
lieve you do. not know mine, for
that matter. But come incognito.
n you choose l will even play
host incognito, If that will ARRANGE
matters. Monsieur, my Christian
name Is John"
Youth. and the South, and the ro-
mance-freighted Sicilian night,
1 ..You are very good" said the
other simply. Il am called Feodor."
They went home to Villa Giocosa.
The three weeks which followed
were charming and graceful in
cident to Allard, an interlude in his
happy, pleasantly-filled life. What
they were to his companion, the
American did not realize until long
afterward The two young men
read or lounged together in the
messy garden, boated on the placid
sea, talked and smoked through the
tranquil evenings in the perfection
of comradeship. But they kept the
playful incognito, calling each other
Don job nand Don Feodor in the
pretty Italian custom of the island
where they met. Yet there was a
difference, for the frank and COM
municative Allard soon laid all his
past and present open to view,
while the other never spoke OF him
self.
s.How much you KNOW ex-
claimed Allard, one day when Don
Feodor came to the aid OF the col
lege man and passed from compii-
Gated subject to subject with the
light surety OF a master of each.
Il ought to know something; /
have been trained in a school that
comedies no rest" was the COM
posed reply.
The idyl ended abrupuy. One
sun-gilded, flower-scented noon,
messenger was ushered into the
villa garden. In silence Don Eco
dor accepted and read the letter
brought, in silence wrote and gave
to the bearer his answer. And then
he turned to his dismayed host.
'They have found me-" he said
quietly. "Of course you cannot
realize how shall remember this
time; you are too happy
That was ALL ut Allard had re-
membered also; remembered the
breathless, hot hush of noon, the
heavy perfume of orange and lemon
blossoms, as they shook hands in
the old garden, and the sense OF
boyish desolation with which the
farewell had left him.
Eve knew each other very well,
five years ago"
The prisoner bent his head over
his work, setting his white teeth in
his lin until his mouth was bitter
with the taste of his own blood.
The short spring day drew
toward its close. The threatened
storm marshaled its gray columns
down the river signing ralr
whispered around the buildings o.
sorrows. Very early, shore ane
water alike blended into vague, in
determinate dusk.
Rather less than the hour fixet
had elapsed when the distinguished
visitor, who had once worn the
name of Don Feodor instead of tha
journalistic title, reentered the up
per end of the hall. He came &C
cmoapnied only by the same stolit
official as before; .Dancla had dis
appeared.
Opposite the prisoner he paused
to light a cigarette, then hesitated
looking from him to the little golt
case in his own hand.
q am going out again with thi
officer" he said in French, his cas-
ual tone exvellently feigned. ct
to that river door, put on the Goa
lying upon the bench and the ca
YOU will find in pocket, the
walk slowly to the barred gate An
wait for me. When | come, salut
me and follow"
Allard stiffened to rigidity, hi
eyes seeking the others.
II am guilty of what they az
cuse: do you still wish this?' h
demanded
There was something more tina
admiration in the visitors smile.
did you question me in Palel
mo, or did you accept caste a
enough? Yes, / wish it." H
turned to the official and offere
him the gold case. Il wanted t
give the poor devil cigarette" h
explained. But he says 1t is no
allowed. All, have forgotten t
sign your register; will you com
back"
"Yes. sir" readily consented tn
man. curiously inspecting the din
inutiye, gold-tipped, perfumed GIG
arctic lying in his ample palm. TIL
nicotine bon-bon touched his mas
sive sense Of the ludicrous; he wa
still contemplating 1t as he led tn
way back.
When the two vanished, Altar
went swiftly down the long room
casting around him a glance OF fey
erish scrutiny. He reached tn
door as a great gong announced tn
time when he should have n