The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-08-20

A9hL 4 Nan hhN ANoAAy ~ AabAN AANeAN
ed could not help thinking OF what
this night might have been If Ken
nedy had been alive. Indeed, l was
glad TO take up my white mask. throw
a long coat over my outlandish cos
tune and hurry off in my waiting car
in order to forget everything that re-
minded me of him in the apartment.
Already a continuous stream of guests
was trickling in from carriages at the
curb to the Dodge door, while a gap
ing crowd surrounded the canopy on
the sidewalk.
As / entered the ballroom II was
really brilliant and picturesque as
semblage. OF course recognized
Elaine in spite of her mask, almost
Immediately.
Enthusiastically she was talking
to the one most striking figure on the
floor, a tall man in red-a veritable
Mephistopheles. AS the music started,
Elaine and his Satanic majesty laugh
ingly fox-trotted off, but were not lost
to me in the throng.
soon found myself talking to
young lady in spotted domino. She
seemed to have a 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 l caught a glimpse Of one cos
tuned as a gray friar, his cowl over
his head and his eyes masked
Chatting, we had circled about to
the conservatory. A number Of cou-
pies were there and, through the
palms, l saw Elaine and Mephisto
laughingly make their way.
AS my spotted domino partner and
1 swung around again, 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-
phisto had seated themselves in the
breeze of an oIen window, somewhat
in the shadow.
"You are Miss Dodge" he said ear.
nestly.
"You knew me?" she laughed, "And
you?"
He raised his mask, disclosing the
handsome face and fascinating eyes Of
Del Mar.
81 hope you don't think I'm here in
character" he laughed easily, as she
started a bit.
"I-I-well, 1 didn't think it was
you" she blurted out
Anthem there is someone else
you care more to dance WITH"
Mono one-no"
81 may hope, then?"
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
rising and hurrying back |
to the ballroom.
A subtle smile spread over the |
gray friar's masked face
OF course I had known Elaine. |
Whether she knew me at once l don't |
know or whether it was an accident,
but she approached me as paused in
the dance a moment with my domino
girl.
From the-sublime-to the ridicu-
ous," she cried excitedly.
My partner gave her a sharp glance.
You will excuse me?" she said, and,
Is l bowed, almost ran off to the con-
leaving Elaine to dance off
With me.
Del Mar, quite surprised at the sud.
len flight of Elaine from his side, fol.
owed more slowly through the palms.
AS he did so he passed a Mexican
lttired in brilliant native costume. At
/ sign from Del Mar he paused and
'eceived small package which Del
Mar slipped to him, then passed on as
hough nothing had happened The
,een eyes of the gray friar, however,
lad caught the little action and he
Iuietly slipped out after the Mexican
'olero.
Just then the domino girl hurried
nto the conservatory. whats do
ng?" she asked eagerly.
Keep close to me-" whispered Del
lar, as she nodded and they left the
not apparently in COM
any.
Upstairs, away from the gayety Of
he ballroom, the bolero made his
'ay until he came to Elaine's room,
imly lighted. With a quick glance
bout, he entered cautiously, closed
he door, and approached closet
'hich he opened. There was a safe
uilt into the wall.
AS he stopped over, the man un-
raped the package Del Mar had
anded him and took out a curious lit
q instrument. Inside was a dry bat
cry and most peculiar instrument,
like a little fiat telephone {
yet attached by wires to
ar pieces that fitted over the head t
fter the manner or those of wire
ss detector. ]
He adjusted the headpiece and held s
le fiat instrument against the safe,
ose to the combination which he be- l
an to turn slowly. 1t was bur- g
ar's microphone, used for picking /
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