Mountain advocate., 1914-05-15

uuutI laltC EtVfttcutMUOuh. re
claimed TO be an emissary with Inn
portant instructions from the opera.
There was nothing unusual in this;
messengers came at all hours, and sell
dom the same one twice: 30 the con-
cierge's suspicious had not been
aroused. Another item. A tall hand
some Italian had called at eleven
o'clock Saturday morning. but the sig
norma had sent down word that she
could not see him. The maid recalled
that her mistress had intended to dine
that night with the italian gentleman.
His name she did not know, having
been with the signorina but two weeks.
Celeste Fournier. the celebrated
young pianist and composer, who
shared the apartment with the miss
ing prima donna, stated that she
hadn't the slightest idea where her
friend was. She was certain that mis-
fortune had overtaken her In some In
explicable manner. To implicate the
Italian was out OF the question. He
was well-known to them both. He had
arrived again at seven, Saturday, and
was very much surprised that the sig
norma had not yet returned. He had
waited till nine. when he left, greatly
disappointed. He was the Barone di
Monte-Verdi in Calabria, formerly
military attache at the Italian embassy
In Berlin. Sunday noon Mademoiselle
Fournier had notified the authorities
She did not know, but she felt sure
that the blond stranger knew more
than anyone else. And here was the
end Of things. The police found them
selves at a standstill. They searched
the hotels but without success; the
blond stranger could not be found.
Abbotts eyes we're not happy and
pleasant Just now. They we're dull
and blank with the reaction Of the
stunning blow. He, too, was certain
OF the Barone. Much as he secretly
hated the Italian, he knew him to be
fearless and sn honorable man. But
who could this blond stranger be who
appeared so sinisterly in the two
scenes? From where had he come?
Why had Nora refused to explain
about the pistol-shot! Any woman
had a perfect right to shoot a man
who forced his way into her apart
ment Was he one Of those mad fools
who had fallen in love with her, and
had become desperate? Or was 1t
some one she knew and against whom
she did not wish to bring any charges?
Abducted! And she might be, at this
very moment, suffering all sorts of IN
dignitles. 1t was horrible to be so
helpless.
The sparkle OF the sunlight upon the
ferrule OF q cane, extending over his
shoulder, broke in on his agonizing
thoughts. He turned, an angry word
on the tip OF his tongue. He expected
to see some tourist who wanted to be
informed.
Ted Courtlandt!" He jumped up.
overturning the stool. And where the
dickens did you come from? thought
you were in the Orient?"
just got back, Abby"
The two shook hands and eyed each
other with the appraising scrutiny of
friends Of long standing.
You don't change any" said Alb
bott
Nor do you. I've been standing
behind you fully two minutes. What
were you glooming about? Old Silenus
offend you?"
Have you read the Herald this
morning"
81 never read it nowadays. They
are always giving me a roast of some
kind. Whatever l do they are bound
to misconstrue it" Courtlandt stopped
and righted the stool, but sat down on
the grass. his feet in the path. What's
the trouble? Have they been after
your"
Abbott rescued the offending paper
and shaking 1t under his friends nose,
said: Read that"
Courtlandt's eyes widened consider
ably as they absorbed the Significance
of the heading-"Eleonora da Toscana
missing"
BAH" he exclaimed.
You say bah?"
1T looks like one OF their advertis-
ing lodges. know something about
singers" Courtlandt added 81 en-
gineered a musical comedy once"
You do not know anything about
her" cried Abbott hotly.
That's true enough" Courtlandt
finished the article, folded the paper
and returned it, and began digging in
the path with his cane.
But what want to know is, who
the devil is this mysterious blond
stranger1" Abbott fiourished the pa
per again. Il tell you, it's no adver.
tising dodge. She's been abducted.
The blond!"
Courtlandt ceased boring into the
earth. The story says that she re-
fused to explain this blond chaps
presence in her room. What do you
make OF thatT
Perhaps you think the fellow was
han nraoo aoanf 80 xpao tha ratort