Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-03-12

trimmed with long, thick lace, looking
like a pierrot in his white wrap. the
viscount thought himself very ridicu.
lous. Men Of the world do not go to
the opera ball in fancy-dress! 1t was
absurd. One thougot, however. con-
soled the viscount; he would certain.
ly never be recognized!
This ball was an exceptional affair.
given some time before Shrovetide, in
honor of the anniversary of the birth
of a famous craftsman: and 1t was
expected to be much gayer, noisier,
more Bohemian than the ordinary
masked ball. Numbers of artists had
arranged to go. accompanied by q
whole cohort Of models and pupils,
who, by midnight, began to create a
tremendous din. Raoul climbed the
grand staircase at Ave minutes to
twelve, did not linger to look at the
motley dresses displayed all the way
up the marble steps, one OF the rich
est settings in the world, allowed no
facetious mask to draw him into a
war Of wits. replied to no jests and
shook off the bold familiarity OF a
number OF couples who had already
become trifie too gay. Crossing the
big crush.room and escaping from
mad wtirl Of dancers in which he was
caught for moment, he at last en-
tered the room mentioned in Chris
tines letter. He found 1t crammed;
for this small space was the point
where all those who were going to
supper in the Rotunda crossed those
who we're returning from taking a
glass of champagne. The fun, here,
waxed fast and furious.
Raoul leaned against door-po
and waited. He did not wait long. A
black domino passed and gave quick
squeeze to the tips Of his fingers. He
understood that it was she and fol-
lowed her:
rs that you, Christine?" he asked,
between his teeth.
The black domino turned round
promptly and raised her finger to her
lips, no doubt to warn him not to
mention her name again. Raoul con.
tinued to follow her IN silence.
He was afraid OF losing her. after
meeting her again In such strange
circumstances. His grudge against
her was gone. He no longer doubted
that she had nothing to reprcach
herself with" however peculiar and
lnexplicable her conduct might seem.
He was ready to make any display
of clemency, forgiveness or cowardice.
He was in love. And. no doubt. he
would soon receive very natural ex-
PLANTATION of her curious absence.
The black domino turned back from
time to time to see If the white DOM
ino was still following.
AS Raoul once more passed through
the great crushroom. this time in the
wake of his guide, he could not help
noticing group crowding round
person whose disguise. eccentric air
and gruesome appearance We're caus-
Ing a sensation. It was a man dressed
all In scarlet. with a. huge hat and
feathers on the top of wonderful
deaths head. From his shoulders hung
an immense red.velvet cloak, which
trailed along the floor like kings
train; and on this cloak was en-
broidered, in gold letters. which every
one read and repeated aloud, Don't
touch me! am Red Death stalking
abroad"
Then one. greatly daring. did try to
touch him but skeleton
hand shot out Of crimson sleeve
and violently seized the rash ones
wrist: and he. feeling the clutch OF
the knucklebones, the furious grasp
Of Death. uttered q cry of pain and
terror. When Red Death released hin,
at last, he ran away like very mad.
man, pursued by the ieers of the by
ISLANDERS.
1t was at this moment that Raoul
passed in front of the funereal mas
querader. who had Just happened to
turn in his direction. And he nearly
exclaimed:
THE deaths head of Perros.
Guirec!"
He had recognized him! He
wanted to dart forward, forgetting
Christine: but the black domino. who
also seemed a prey to some strange
excitement. caught him by the arm
and dragged him from the crush-room.
far from the mad crowd through which
Red Death was stalking.
The black domino kept on turning
back and. apparently. on two occa-
sions saw something that startled
her, for she hurried her pace and
Raoups as though they were being
pursued.
They went up two floors. Here. the
stairs and corridors were almost de-
serted. The black domino opened the
door of private box and beckoned
to the white domino to follow her.
Then Christine. whom he recognized
by the sound of her voice. closed the
door behind them and warned him, In
q whisper. to remain at the back of
the box and on no account to show
himself. Raoul took off his mask.
Christine kept hers on. And. when
Raoul was about to ask her to remove
1t, he was surprised to see her put her
ear to the partition and listen eagerly
for a sound outside Then she opened
the door ajar, looked out into the cor
ridor and, in a low voice, said:
He must have gone up higher"
Suddenly she exclaimed: HE Is com.
Ing down again."
She tried to close the door, but
Raoul prevented her: for he had seen.
on the top step OF the staircase that
led to the floor above, red foot. fol-
lowed by another and SLOW