The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-01-19

spurious prince, saw them sltung To-
gether In the Piazza Colonna drinking
and smoking They both rose and took
off their hats to her. while she seemed
to be very proud of the Italian portion
of her company. After this she SEEM
ed bent on driving by the Piazza Co
lonna frequently at an hour when she
knew her two discarded sultors would
be there. If Prince Colonna on these
occasions felt embarrassed he conceal
ed his embarrassment under that stolid
grandeur of mien which was born In
him.
Upon my word" remarked Count
/ Leo Barbarini to Prince Sforza, 81 be-
lleye our scheme will be a success.
i Our waiter will marry the American"
You see, 1t required those Siberian
mines to make 1t So Though Amer
leans spend money like water, they
value II all the same"
"Who is the other fellow in the car
riage, | wonder"
An American. But whether he is a
sutton, too, cannot matter much to US
+ that is, provided we can keep up the
j sham. 1t Is the Colonna name and the
right to write princess after 1t that
will win"
I'm any event we have had the sat
lsfaction of passing n waiter Off upon
her as Il prince. Did you notice how
proud she seemed to be of him as she
passed."
And the smile she gave u.s."
And so the comedy went 1on, much
to the satisfaction Of the oonsplrators
Prince Colonna's capital was nearing
an end, and one day he mentioned be
fore Miss Henderson that a dividend
from his mines had been delayed. She
promptly asked him how much he re-
quired for his present expenses, and
while he was refusing to be supplied
by lady she sat down at desk and
writing a check for 5000 Ira, handed
1t to him.
But my remittance Will soon be
here" he protested.
Take 1t and pay when your remit
lance comes" she replied.
The same afternoon Miss Henderson
telephoned to her bankers to know II
Prince Colonna had drawn the check
and learned that he had done so. Then
she telephoned to the prince asking
him to call during the evening. When
he did so, magnificent in fresh ac-
cession of jewelry, she asked him to
be seated and said
Giovanni
The prince started.
you are not Gregorio Colonna
You are Giovanni Something or-other,
and you have this afternoon commit
ted a fraud. Some one has been put
ting you up to this playing prince, and
l wish to know all about the scheme
You are welcome to the 5000 Ira, but
hereafter l own you, for the moment
you refuse to obey my orders or try to
deceive me you go to jail. Do as
direct and you are safe from the re-
suits of your crime"
Giovanni confessed that he had been
a waiter at hotel at Frascatu and
that Barbarini and Sforza had hired
him to play the part of Prince Co.
lonna and marry Miss Henderson If
possible. He further stated that he
had agreed to pay each of them an
annuity after his marriage.
"Indeed!' she said, with much sur
prise. 81 did not suppose that Barba-
RIM and Sforza had sunk to that. How
ever, since 1t was murder In the mid
die ages, l suppose 1t must be swim
ding In the twentieth century. Go and
steal the paper you signed agreeing to
pay this annuity"
at Is not necessary, senorina. There
were duplicates made. / have one in
my pocket, but | do not like to part
with It,"
EITHER give 1t to me orr She
the receiver. The waiter knew the
meaning of this, and Miss Henderson
knew that with the transmitter near
her lips she had little to fear. Clio
Yanni opened a pocketbook, drew out
a paper and handed 1t to her. She
took 1t, read 1t and said:
NOW go to Frascatti and tell the
keeper of the hotel at which you were
employed that desire dinner for four
persons to be ready at 7 o'clock this
evening. Any failure to do as l direct
will result In your arrest at once"
With 5000 Ira in his pocket and a
Jail as an alternative there was not
much expectation that he would dis
| obey.
The next morning Count Barbarini
and Prince Sforza received an invita-
ton to drive with Miss Henderson to
the hills near Rome for dinner. She
said she mad an important announce
ment to make to them. They accepted,
feeling assured that they would learn
of her engagement to Prince COlonna.
They called at her hotel and were in
troduced to Mr. Blackwelder. Seeing
that they were surprised at not meet
ing Prince Colonna, she told them that
he would be of the party at dinner,
but would go in his own conveyance.
The four entered a carriage waiting
at the door and, driving across the
Campagna, assembled the hill to Fras-
catti and stopped before the - hotel.
Dinner was served, but the prince did
not appear.
"He will be late" Miss Henderson
explained.
/ 1t was not till the coffee was brought
on that he appeared, and then it was
!