The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1914-12-25
oooOoOooOOoOo .
; TWO OF THE MASKERS
BY ARTHUR COTTONWOOD.

| tSOpyflSnt, lSl4, Dy the mcclure NeWSpd-
per Syndicate)
| A truly awe-inspiring footman in liv-
cry led Craymore down the stairs.
ing by the heavy portiers, and with
drew noiselessly. This second foot
man held aside the old tapestry,
which had undoubtedly worn thin the
! fingers of clustered nuns centuries
ago, and announced: MIR. Robert With
ington Craymore," in loud, clear
voice, to which no one seemed to pay
the least attention, and stood aside for
| Craymore to enter.
| Craymore found himself in a room
filled with men in somber evening
clothes and the most gorgeously
| gowned women he had ever seen.
A stout little bald-headed man near
the door, who could not have helped
hearing the announcement of his name,
said: Hello, Craymore, old chap" as
Craymore passed him, and a pretty
young woman just beyond nodded to
him brightly.
| He found himself at last before a
dull, bored-looking man, who stopped
down and whispered, even as he
clasped Craymore's hand: L never
| could remember names!"
| "Craymore," the young man replied
with that engaging smile he knew SO
well how to use.
| 'Of course, of course" said the bored
man rather apologetically. Ought to
remember 'em better, but can't seem
to get the hang of doing it. My dear, "
he turned to the stout, voluble woman
beside him, here is Craymore."
| Thus he washed his hands of Cray
more and went on looking 6rearily
bored.
| "Oh, Mr. Craymore, so good of you
to come. Where have you been hiding
yourself, naughty boy? Are you in Sc
clusion trying for holy orders? One
would think so from all we see of you
these days. Oh, Alice, want you
to know Mr.. Craymore. Craymore,
Miss Leyden. You lucky girl! No one
tangoes quite like Mr. Craymore. Run
along, now, and prove to her how
/ l. dill. AIlU uOu
dance with me at IL"
| Thus did she dismiss Craymore and
continue being voluble. 1t was really
easier than Craymore had supposed
| He tangoed in the big, glazing gold
and white ballroom with Alice Ley.
her at the end of the dance he was
| told how divinely he danced, and
passed on to Miss Greig, who chat.
| tered while she danced.
| At the end of that dance, Miss Greig
being promptly claimed, he found him.
conservatory just off the ballroom,
| with little orange trees in bloom and
| tiny fountain FLASHING unsteady into
big pool of Japanese goldfish.
| He sat down to adjust things. He
| had done the thing and it was ridicu.
| lousy easy. 1t almost spoiled it all to
| think there had been no more call to
use his wits.
Then his thought were interrupted
by girls ripping laughter. He liked
the sound of that voice even before he
| saw the girl herself. And he liked the
| girl when she came into view, even
| better. There were two SWANS in at
| tendance with her
She looked quickly at Craymore
sitting by one of the little blossoming
orange trees, half nodded, and laugh.
| ingly dismissed her two knights. Cray.
more jumped to his feet.
| You are not having a good time"
said the girl, quite unexpectedly.
why, how on earth do you know
that?" he asked.
Your face tells it plainly" said she.
You are moping alone over some.
thing. Cheer up. I'm not, either
| Five dances she sat out with him in
the little room of the goldfish and bios
| soming orange trees. Craymore had
| prided himself that he was not particu-
larly susceptible to women, but this
girl was like no other he had ever seen
| or known. That was what he had
come here to find out-if these girls
| one met here were SO wonderfully diff
| fereht.
This time it's to say goodnight, or
| goodmorning," she said. Il wish"
and there was a little wistful note in
her voice, "it didn't have to be good.
by. Of course, you'll never see me
again"
So she had seen through him all the
| time!
Il wish it didn't have to be good-by
too," said he. But, since you've seen
| through me l may as well save my
| face as best can. 1t was ridiculously
| easy Far easier than / thought II
would be, indeed"
What do you mean?" she asked
puzzled.
Even these clothes / have on are
hired for the occasion" said he. u
simply drove up in state in hired
| clothes in a hired car and gave my
name brazenly and in rather bored
| fashion"
"Then you haven't any right here?"
II thought you had seen that
"Why, no." said she. why, no."
she repeated. Il said it would have to
be good-by because / thought you
were one of these people-and speak
ing of hired things-this gown is
| hired and so was the car l came in.
| and, oh, dear!"
She fell to laughing immoderately.
who are you?" she demanded at
length.
my name is Craymore- I'm law
| yer-without clients as yet, but / have
| hopes"