Omaha daily bee., 1915-06-27
Where the Chase Led
CHAPTER II.

So confident was Elaine that Kennedy
was still alive that she would not admit
to herself what to the rest OF us seemed
obvious.
She even refused TO accept Aunt jose
phine's hints and decided to give a mas
auerade ball which she had planned as
the last event OF the season before she
closed the Dodge town house and opened
her country house on the shore of Con-
necticut.
II was shortly after the strange ap-
pearance OF the fussy old gentleman that
] dropped In one afternoon 20 find Elaine
addressing invitations while Aunt Jose
phine helped her. As we chatted. 1
picked up one from the pile and me-
chanicaliy contemplated the address.
M Del Mar. Hotel La coste. New
York City,
II don't like that FELLOW" remarked,
shaking my head obviously.
''Oh, you're-jealous, Walter" laughed
Elaine. taking the envelope away from
me ard plling It again with the others.
Thus It was that in the mornings mail.
Del Mar. along with the rest OF US. re-
ceived a neatly engraved little Invitation;
Miss Elaine Dodge requests the pleas
ure OF your presence At the masquerade
ball to be given at her residence on Fri
day evening. June l."
'Goodp' he exclaimed, reaching for the
telephone, TN go"
In restaurant in the white light dis
trict two OF those who had been engaged
in the preliminary plot, TO steal Kenne.
dy's wireless torpedo model. tho younG
woman stenographer who had betrayed
her trust and the man TO whom she had
passed the model out OF the window in
Washington. were seated at a table.
So secret had been the relations OF al
those in the plot that one group did moi
know the other and the strangest meth
DDS Of communication had been adopted
The man removed q cover from q dish
Underneath. porhaps without even IN,
walters knowledge. was a note
Here are the orders at last" he whls
pered to the girl, unfolding and readinI
the note. Look. The model OF the tor
pedo is somewhere in her house. Go TO
night TO the ball as a masauerader an,
search for H."
'oh. splendid" exclaimed the girl ''rr
crazy for little society after this grind
Pay the check and let's get out an
choose our costumes"
The man paid the check and they lei
hurriedly Half an hour later they wer
az a oostumers shop choosing their dis
guises. both careful 10 get the fulles
masks that would not excite suspicion.
II was the night OF the masquerade.
During the afternoon Elaine had bee
thinking more than ever OF Kennedy ]
all seemed unreal TO her More tina
once she stopped TO look At his photo
graph. Several times she checked herse
on the point OF tears.
No" she said 20 herself with a sol
Of grim determination. 'No-he is aiiv,
lie viii come back TO me-he will"
And yet she had feeling OF terrifi
loneliness which even her most powerf,
efforts could not throw off. She was d
termined 10 go through with the bal
now that she had started Il. but she wa
really siad when Il came time 10 dres
for even that took her mind from h,
brooding.
As Marie finished helping her put on
very effective and eonspleuous costum
Aunt Josephine entered her dressir
room.
Are you ready my dearY" she aske
adjusting the mask which she carried
that no one would recognize her 4
Martha Washington.
In just minute. Auntie." answer,
Elaine. trying hard 70 put out OF n
mind how Craig would have liked h,
dress
Somewhat earlier, IN my apartment.
had been arraying myself az Boum-Bou
and modeatiy admiring the imitation
made or . circus clown as ! ala a coup
Of comedy steps before the mirror
But ! was not really 40 light-hearted,
could not help thinking Of what this uig
might have been n Kennedy had be
alive. Indeed. ] was glad TO take up n
white mask. throw a long coat over n
outiandish costume and hurry off IN n
waiting car IN order 10 forget everythi
that reminded me OF him In the apsi
nenf.