Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-05-09
stepped forward and kissed her hand,

stepped forward and kissed her hand,
then drew it through my arm
VINO chooses the other black knave?"
asked Moore, sweeping off his hat aud
bowling with It held across his heart.
noted he had changed his voice
II do" said she who had STYLED us
''Satan's twins,' and she gave him her
hand.
He who had been with them shrug-
ged his shoulders and turned to her
who had spoken first
"Mademoiselle," said he, 81 am wait
ing to be chosen"
She laughed. "Matieinoissi.e vii! he
deeply honored,' she said. "if monsieur
will deign to accept the only queen
that is left
1t CHANGED that none of these four
mosques had gone through the recep-
ton room while we were behind the
curtains. SO, Of course had not the
| slightest notion of their identity. 1t
was quite possible Moore would be able
to make good guess, and fancied he
had already placed my queen, she Of
the musical laugh.
She was of good height and rather
slender and wore blue gown with
powdered hair. Her face and ears
were completely hidden by her mask;
but, judging from the bit Of neck that
was visible and other Indications, she
was not over twenty-five. / took it
that she had no desire to be prominent,
and was very we'll content.
do you know, monsieur," she said
presently. you and your friend are
not the only two men here tonight
who are dressed alike?"
Are they black knaves, too?" ask,
ed
She tapped me on the arm with her
| fan.
Don't be sarcastic, my DEAR" she
said, though l admit We were very
forward"
Two men were coming down the
path toward US.
"Here are the other twin knaves."
she said.
And 1t was true enough. They were
as alike as Moore and myself, only
they wore white satin small clothes
and powdered perules. They were in
earnest conversation, but broke of as
they neared u.s.
There seems to be plague of twins
tonight" said the man with us.
One of the white masks made as
though to halt, but the other whisper,
ed something and tried to draw him
on.
Our fellow laughed irrtatingly and
waved his hand toward Moore and
| me.
We've got a pair of knaves here
Also" he bantered. "Perchance the
four of You are from the same pack"
The white masque turned quickly.
Then it would be pack, monsieur
in which you would be about equal to
the deuce" he said.
OR the joker" said the other as they
moved away, (which in a gentleman's
game has no place.
Our man made quick step toward
them, but Moore caught him sharply
by the shoulder
LET them CO." he said curtly.
The other hesitated, then shrugged
his shoulders. For the present be it.
then," he said, and we went on.
What queer speech" said my
masque. "One might almost fancy
they were Of royal rank"
"The king possibly" suggested.
| Nonsense, monsieur. You know per-
fectly we'll his majesty is not in Dorm
| litz."
"The Duke of Lotzen and the Amer.
n ~ r6r11yo
She laughed. Very likely; very
likely, indeed!"
"Mademoiselle is pleased to ridi-
Guile"
And monsieur is pleased to affect
ignorance"
"Of what?' / asked.
when did your knaveship come to
Dornlitz?"
every recently"
"You must be a very stupid diplo-
mat"
81 am agreed.
"Do you know the American arch
| duke as YOU call him?"
Very slightly" said l.
DOUBTLESS you would rather know
his wife," she said naively.
/ q
Then you think he is married."
asked.
"of course, monsieur. So does every
one. Don't you?'
.'No," said /, II don't"
She laughed. you mean you don't
want to think so. Madame is very
beautiful, is she not?"
shrugged my shoulders. '"The lady
does not interest me- said; "let US
talk of something else"
"Of the American archduke, then"
she suggested.
why not of yourself?" I urged.
Il am only masque-the American
may be king"
mot likely" scoffed.
Are you for Lotzen" she demand
ed.