The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-05-09

stepped farvaFd and kissed her AanA.
then drew It through my arm.
Who chooses the other black knavsy"
asked Moore, sweeping OF his ~ and
bowling with It held across his haast.
noted he had changed ~ voice.
Il do" said sho who I'D styis1 ~
"Satan's twins," and shs gave ~ Ase
hand.
He Who had hssa With ths0 drug
ged his shoulder as1 tns1s1 - ~
Who had spoken 6rst.
-Mademoiss'la." " saiA ~. II 81 ~
Ing to be chosen"
She laughed. "AaAemoiaslle v11l -
dssply honOrsd," she said. ~ 0aaG1Gns
vii deisn to aeesot ths eaAV Onsss
that y left"
1t CHANGED that nons q thass esss
Mosques had gone through the weep
ton room while We were behind the
curtains. %. Of course. I had NJ the
slightest notion Of thsir Identity. lt
was quite possible Moore would b. able
to make q good guess. and fancisd hs
had already placed my queen. shs Of
the musical laugh.
Shs WAS OF good hsight and rsthse
slender and wore . blue gown With
powdered hair. Her face and sars
were completely hidden By her mask;
but. judging from the bit of neck that
was visible and other indications. she
was not over twenty -hve. l took ie
that she had no desire to b. prominant.
and l was very well content
do you know, monsieur" she said
presently, you and your friend are
not the only two men here tonight
who are dressed allke?'
Are they black knaves. toof" I ask.
ed.
She tapped me ON tie arm with hsf
fan.
Don't be sarcastic. my dear" she
said, though l admit We wsrs very
forward"
Two men were coming down tho
path toward VI.
"Hsre are the other twin knavss."
she said.
And It was true enough. They Wsro
a. alike as Moore and myself, only
they wore white satin small clothes
and powdered perukss. They wsrs In
earnest conversation, but broke OF a.
they neared US.
"There seems to be q plague Of twins
tonight" said the man With US.
One Of the white masks made 20
though to halt. but the other whisper
ed something and tried to draw hin
on.
Our fellow laughed irrItatingly and
waved his hand toward Moore and
me-
We've got 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 4 gsntleman's
game has no place"
Our man made n 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 snid, and we went on.
"What II queer speech" said my
masque. "One might almost fancy
they were of royal rank"
"The king possibly" suggested.
Nonsense, monsieur. You know per-
fectIy well his majesty is not in Dorm
litz."
THE Duke Of Lotzen and the Amer
lean archduke. then"
She laughed. VERY likely; very
likely. indeed!'
"Mademoiselle is pleased to ridi-
cule."
"And monsieur is pleased to affect
ignorance.
"Of what?" asked
when did your knaveship come to
Dornlitz?"
VERY recently"
You must be a very stupid diplo-
mat"
Il am" agreed.
do you know the American arch
duke as you call him."
Very slightly" said l.
"Doubt!ess you would rather know
his wife" she said naively.
Then you think he u married." !
asked.
"Of course, monsieur. 80 does every
one. Don't your
NO" said l, II don't"
She laughed. "You mean you don't
want to think 70. Madame = very
beautiful, Is she not?"
shrugged my shoulders. The lady
does not interest me-" said; "lst u
talk of something else"
"Of the American archduks, then.
she suggested.
why not Of yourselfr' urged.