The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-04-21
The
Million
Dollar
Mystery
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Masked Ball.

toward Norton-there arrived in New
York city a parsonage This person
age was the Princess Parlova, n fabu.
lousy rich Polish Russian She leased
fine house near Central park and set
about to conquer social New York.
This was not very difficult. for her
title was perfectly genuine and she
moved i'm the most exclusive diplo
matte circles in Europe which as
everybody knows Is the most brilliant
in the world When the new nome
was completely decorated. she gave
an elaborate dinner and that attracted
the newspapers They began to talk
about her highness, printed portraits
of her. ana devoted a page occasion
ally in the Sunday editions She be
came something of a rage One morn
ing IL was announced that the Princess
Parlova would give a masked ball to
formally open her home to society;
and it was this notice that first
brought the Princess Parlova under
Braine's eyes He was at the Perigoff
apartment at the time
Well well!' he unused aloud
What is it?" asked Olga turning
away from the piano and ending one
of Chopins mazurkas brokenly
Here is the Princess Parlova in
town"
And who is she?"
she is the real thing, Olga; real
princess with vast estates in Poland
with which the greedy Slav next door
has been very gentle"
81 haven't paid much attention to
the social news lately What about
herr"
she is giving a masked ball to for
mally open her house on the West side
And it's going to cost a pretty penny"
well, you're not telling me this to
make me want to know the princess"
said Olga petulantly.
mo But I'm going to give you a
letter of introduction to her highness"
"Oh!"
"And you are going to ask her to
invite two particular friends of yours
to this wonderful ball of hers"
Indeed" ironically That sounds
all very easy"
Easier than you think. my child"
Il will not have you call me child"
well. then. Olga"
That's better. Now, how will 1t be
easier than Think"
Simply this, the Princess Parlova is
an oath bound member. but has not
been active for years"
"Oho!" Olga was all animation now.
GO on!"
you will go to her with letter of |
introduction-no! Better than that,
you will make formal cali and show
her this ring. You know the ring" he |
said. passing the talisman to the count
ems. SHOW this to her and she will |
obey you in everything She will have
no alternative"
"Very good" replied Olga And |
then the program is to insist that she
invite Florence and that fool of a re-
porter to this bail Then what?"
you can leave that to me"
Haven't all these failures been
mo my dear | was bern optimis-
tic; but there's ink somewhere in
one OF my pockets Time after time
I've had everything Just where wanted
1t. Gnd then-poof! It's pure bald
luck On their side but sooner or later
the wheel will turn And any chance
that offers | am bound to accept |
or other we may be able to
trap Florence and Norton. | want
both OF them If can get them snug
ly away, Jones will be forced to draw
in Hargreave."
is there such MANI"
"You saw him that night at the
Il have often thought that perhaps
! just dreamed it," She turned again
to the piano and began humming idly. |
Stop that and listen to me-" said
Braine, not in quite the best of tenn
pers. Pm in no mood for whims."
Music does not sooth your soul.
them" cynically.
III ! had one II might You Will
call on the Princess Parlova tomor-
row afternoon. II depends upon you
what my plans will be think you'll
have little trouble in getting into the
presence Of her highness, and once
there she will not be able to resist
you"
I'm 60"
And go she did. The footman in
green livery hesitated for a moment,
but the title on the visiting card was
quite sufficient He bowed the count
ess into the reception room and went
In search of his distinguished mis-
tress.
The Princess Parlova was hand
some woman verging upon middle age.
She was a patrician; Olga's keen eye
iiscerned that instantly. She came
INTO the reception room with that dig
,ified serenity which would have i'm
pressed any one as genuine She held
he card In her fingers and smiled In
mi riu civ toward her guest