Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-09-25
By William Hamilton Osborne.
Fight" "Catspaw," blue Bicke
ETC.

with his face. He was past master at
a certain art-disguise. There are few
masters at this art save those who
tread the footlights, and those who
tread the footlights are always at the
| theatrical distance from spectators.
Few men there be whose disguise
can stand the light of day-the scru-
| tiny of a pair of eyes Or SO, a few
feet off. The false nustache-the
covering of grease paint-these things
are things Of story books. In the
open man must disguise by pulling
down a slouch hat over his eyes; by
the insertion of quills In nostrils-by
the actual growth of a three months
beard.
But this man was Hernandez-and
he knew his business. Upon his face
there was a saber cut to cover-a thin
nostril to fill out. The matter Of the
nostrils was a simple one; q new ar
rangement of the hair was simpler
still. But the beard-the beard must
grow; at least 1t must be so cleverly
applied that the keen eyes Of a young
girl named Annette could not detect
the disguise.
I'VE must be astute, friend Ponto,"
said Hernandez, quite astute, Tell
that beast to leave the room"
Ponto, with his ever ready dog
whip, uttered a command and en-
forced It, The brute, covering, crept
away.
Now we shall see." exclaimed
Hernandez.
Carefully he applied cold cream
upon certain portions OF his face, then
he seized a small bottle filed with
spirit gum and applied the gum; then
from a cardboard box he took mass
of human hair--loose human hair
the color of his own. With exceeding
care he sprinkled this loose hair upon
the sticky@bortions of his face; then
he leaned back to rest for moment,
for 1t takes spirit gum only moment
to dry. He seized a pair of shears
and passed them to Ponto.
Now, Ponto," he said, Careful
very careful do you understand?
Then minutes later stranger stood
erect within that room-a full-bearded
stranger, clad In an evening coat OF
foreign cut, with well-padded paunch
and shoulders, cycling himself still
critically in the looking glass. he
raised his high hat and bowed
pompously to Ponto.
"In reality, friend Ponto,' he re-
marked, II am M. Romanon-a Rus
sian nobleman."
He drew forth an engraved and
heavy square of paper and exam
"My friends and are invited to the
dance on board the Alabama" ne
said. my friends and shall 60 Call
In that beast. Now for the nnai
Ponto disappeared and a moment
later tIe brute crept into the room.
He glanced fearfully toward the cha1r
where Hernandez had been sltting.
then he glanced about the room
puzzled expression oVerspread ms
countenance and then with deep
cultural cry he sprang for the apparl-
tIon's throat.
Hernandez twitched himself to one
side lust in time, and then tapped inc
brute smartly on the arm.
.T am satisfied" he said, in tones
that the brute Immediately recog-
nized. Even he did not know mo
he with all the instincts of a savage
but faithful dog. Let us be on.
An hour later he was standing e&-
pectantly In front of the huge punch
bowl on the dancing deck OF the Ala
hama Clustered around this punch
bowl were a group Of officers ana
pretty women--and among them lnez
Castro and her friend, Annette llllng-
Romanoff stared boldly at them
both, then he turned to Neal Hardin:
"a glass of punch, If you please
he said in foreign accents.
Neal Hardin did not answer. he
was otherwise engaged. Annette
Ilington was standing at the table
with a young ensign at her side.
They were both drinking from the
punch bowl The ensign drank with
his right hand; so did Annette, but
Annette's left hand was firmly
clutched In the hand of Neal Hardin
OF the punch bowl. 1t was the only
chance the evening could afford them
"a glass of punch" reiterated the
unknown Russian nobleman.
Neal Jumped as though shot. Hast
ily he ladeled out q glass and pre-
sented 1t to the Russian. The Rus
sian took one sip of 1t and sat down
his glass.
"B-r-r-r," he exclaimed, as he
walked away in disgust.
There was a genteel litter from the
picturesque little group around the
punch bowl. Inez touched Romanon
upon the arm.
at Is perfect" she whispered, no
one could ever tell
The pseudo Romanoff glanced at
her Significantly, paced across the
dancing deck and passed out upon the
moonlit deck beyond. Inez, flirting
with an officer, excused herself, beck
oned to Joe Welcher, who came swift
ly at her beck and call, and with her
hand upon his arm she followed in
the wake of Romanoff. AS they
reached the bow Romanoff turned
suddenly and confronted them. He
seized Welcher by the arm.
"You will introduce me to this
lady" exclaimed Romanoff.
"I'n throw you overheard, said
Welcher with bravado.
Inez sniggered. Joey" she cried,
'see who 1t is." and at her words
the pseudo Romanoff thrust his race
into the face of Joe Welcher.
Hernandez" exclaimed Weioner'
shrinking back
Hernandez. with his hand stin upon
Joe Welcher's arm, pointed TO a
launch that ciroled afar or on the
bosom OF the water.
"a Russian nobleman," he said,
land his two friends. You perceive
the others-they do not dance. They
nrefer to sail by moonlight. When ]
need them / shall signal them and !
shall need them very soon. Friend
Welcher," he went on, his grip tight
ening, ION the canvas curtains att'
on the port side, you will find one
black cross mark upon the curtain
and one black cross mark upon the
deck. They are my marks. You VIII
dance with Annette Ilington-"
IT win IL she let's me-" said Joe. BE
laughed an uneasy laugh. II mean IL
youth let me-" he exclaimed to 1nez.
Inez held him just moment with
her glance. "You shall do as he says
now,5' she whispered. Later you
come back to me-"