Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1915-08-21

But ] was not really so light-hear
ed could not help thinking of whs
this night might have been IL Kel
, needy had been alive. Indeed, wa
Q glad to take up my white mask, thro'
! long coat over my outlandish co..
tune and hurry off in my waiting ca
In order to forget everything that n
minded me of him In the apartment.
Already continuous stream of guest
was trucking in from carriages at tn
curb to the Dodge door, while gar
ing crowd surrounded the canopy o.
the sidewalk.
AS | entered the ballroom II wa
really a brilliant and picturesque as
semblage. OF course recognize,
Elaine In spite of her mask, almos
Immediately
Characteristically, she was talkin,
to the one most striking figure on thu
floor, tall man in red-a veritabl,
Mephistopheles. AS the music started
Elaine and his Satanic majesty laugh
| ingly foxtrotted off, but were not los
to me in the throng.
soon found myself talking to 9
young lady in spotted domino. She
seemed to have peculiar fascination
for me, yet she did not monopolize all
my attention. AS we trotted past the
door, / could see down the hall Jen
nings was still admitting late arrivals
and / caught a glimpse of one cos
tuned as gray friar, his cowl over
his head and his eyes masked.
Chatting, we had circied about to
the conservatory. A number of cou.
Piles were there and, through the
palms. | saw Elaine and Mephisto
laughingly make their way.
AS my spotted domino partner and
swung around again, l happened to
catch another glimpse of the gray
friar He was not dancing, but walk
ing or rather stalking, about the edge
of the room, gazing about as If search.
ing for someone.
In the conservatory, Elaine and Me.
phista had seated themselves In the
breeze of an open window, somewhat
in the shadow.
"You are Miss Dodge" he said ear
nestly.
"You knew me?" she laughed, And
your"
He raised his mask, disclosing the
handsome face and fascinating eyes of
Del Mar.
II hope you don't think I'm here In
character" he laughed easily, as she
started bit
'T-I-well, I didn't think It was
you she blurted out.
Anthem there is someone else
you care more to dance within"
Mono one-no"
81 may hope, them"
He had moved closer and almost
touched her hand. The pointed hood
of the gray friar in the palms showed
that at last he saw what he sought.
Mono. Please-excuse me-" she
murmured rising and hurrying back
to the ballroom.
A subtle smile spread over the
gray friar's masked face.
or course had known Elaine.
Whether she knew me at once | don't
know or whether 1t was an accident,
but she approached me as l paused in
the dance a moment with my domino
girl
From the-sublime-to the ridicu-
lous," she cried excitedly.
My partner gave her a sharp glance.
"You will excuse me?" she said, and,
as bowed, almost ran off to the con-
servatory, leaving Elaine to dance off
with me.
Del Mar, quite surprised at the sud.
den flight Of Elaine from his side. fol.
lowed more slowly through the palms. |
AS he did so he passed a Mexican
attired in brilliant native costume. At |
a sign from Del Mar he paused and
received small package which Del
Mar slipped to him, then passed on as
though nothing had happened. The
keen eyes of the gray friar, however,
had caught the little action and he
quietly slipped out after the Mexican
bolero.
Just then the domino girl hurried
INTO the conservatory. whats do.
ng?" she asked eagerly.
Keep close to me-" whispered Del
Mar, as she nodded and they left the
not apparently In COM
)any.
Upstairs, away from the gayety of
he ballroom, the bolero made his
way until he came to Elaine's room,
limly lighted. With a quick glance
lbout, he entered cautiously closed
he door, and approached a closet
which he opened. There was safe
)uilt into the wall.
AS he stopped over, the man I'M
wrapped the package Del Mar had
landed him and took out curious lit
lie instrument. Inside was a dry bat
cry and most peculiar instrument,
omething like little fiat telephone
ransmitter, yet attached by wires to
ar pieces that fitted over the head [
fter the manner of those OF a wire