The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1914-07-02
CHAPTER ".
Captive or Runaway.

tdptfvc or runaway.
AT the hge cf twenty-six Donald Alb
bott had become prosperous and dis
tGsuished painter in water colors
His work was individual. and at the
same time II was delicate and charm
ing. One saw his Italian landscapes
As through fllmy gauze the almond
blossoms OF Sicily, the rose-laden walls
on Florence, the vineyards OF Chianti
The poppy-glowing Campagna out OF
Rome. His Italian lakes had brought
him fame He knew very little OF the
grind and hunger that attended the
eaieers OF his whilom associates. His
lather had left him some valuable pat.
snts--w ash-tubs, carpet-cleaners and
other labor-saving deyices-and the
royalties from these we're quite suf-
icient to keep him pleasantly housed.
His earnings mot uncomfortable,
for tourists found much to admire In
both the pictures and tie artist he
spent In gratifying his mild extrava-
gances. So there were no lines In his
handsome, boyish. beardless face; and
Ills eyes we're unusually clear and
happy Perhaps once or twice. since
his majority, he had returned to Amer
lea to prove that he was not an ex-
patriate. though certainly he was one,
The only tic existing between him and
his native land being the bankers who
regularly honored his drafts. And who
shall condemn him for preferring Italy
TO the desolate center of New York
state. where good servants and good
weather are as rare as are fiawless
emeraldsy
Half after three, on Wednesday aft
ernoon. Abbott stared moodily at the
weather-tarnished group by Dalou in
the Luxembourg gardens--the Tri-
umph OF Silenus. His gaze was de-
ceptive, for the rollicking old bi5ulous
scoundrel had not stirred his critical
sense nor impressed the delicate films
OF thought. He was looking through
The bronze. into the far-away things.
He had arrived early that morning. all
the way from Como. to find thunder
bolt driven In at his feet. Across his
knees fiuttered an open newspaper.
the Paris edition OF the New York
Herald. All that kept It from blowing
away was the tense II sprawling An
gers OF his right hand; his left hung
Imply at his side.
II was not possible. Such things did
not happen these unromantlc DAYS TO
celebrities. She had written
that on Monday night she would sing
In La Boheme and ON Wednesday,
Faust. She had since vanished. van.
Ished as completely as though she had
taken wings and flown away. It was
unreal. She had left the apartment
In the Avenue dc Wagram on Satur.
day afternoon. and nothing had been
seen or heard OF her since. AT the
last moment they had had to find a
substitute for her part in the Puccini
opera. The maid testified that her
mistress had gone on an errand OF
mercy. She had not mentioned where.
but she had said that she would return
IN time to dress for dinner. which
proved conclusively that something
out OF the ordinary had befallen her.
The automobile that had carried her
away had not been her own. and the
chauffeur was unknown. None OF the
directors at the opera had been mott.
he'd OF any change In the singers
plans. She had disappeared, and they
were deeply concerned. Singers were
generally erratic. full of sudden indls-
positions, unaccountable whims: but
The Signorina da Toscana was one IN
1 thousand. She never broke an en-.
Eagement II she was IN she said so
Al once; she never left them In doubt
antil the last moment. Indecision was
aot one Of her characteristics. She
MAS as reliable as the sun. II the di.
'ectors did not hear definitely from
her by noon today. they would have 10
Ind another Marguerite.
The police began to move. and thew
stirred up some curious bits OF infor.
nation A man had tried to bribe the
singers chauffeur. while she was sing
ng at the Austrian ambassadors The
chauffeur was able TO describe the
stranger with some accuracy. Then
came the bewildering episode In the
apartment; the pistolshot, the flight
II the man, the astonished concierge
% whom the beautiful American would
'ffer no explanations. The man (who
allied with the description given By
he chauffeurl had obtained entrance
inder false representations. He
Stained 20 be an emissary with i'm.
Dortant Instructions from the opera.
There was nothing unusual In this.
messengers came at all hours. and sell
aom the same one twice; so the con-
;ierge's suspicious had not been
reused Another item. A tail hand
'ome Italian had called at eleven
,'cloek Saturday morning. but the sig
iorina had sent down word that she
ou'd not see him. The maid recalled
hat her mistress had intended 10 dine
AT G'ght with the Italian gentleman.