The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-05
(CONTINUED.)

low again. Tramping on ahead, the
smell from his villainous pipe assailing
my nostrils was the man who had
asked for match. The former stood
undecided for moment, and during
this space of time he caught sight of
me-, He became erect, gave me sud
den sardonic laugh, and swiftly dis
appeared into the darkness. All this
was uncommonly disquieting; in vain
I stared into the blackness that had
swallowed him. What could he be
doing here at Blankshire? | didn't
like his laugh at all; there was at
once a menace and challenge in it.
"Any baggage, sir?" asked one Of
the station hands.
NO" But asked him to direct me
to hotel. He did so.
made my way down the street.
The wind had veered around and was
coming in from the sea. pure and cold.
The storm clouds were broken and
scudding like dark ships, and at
times there were flashes Of radiant
moonshine
The fashionable hotel was full. So
l plodded through the drifts to the
questionable hotel. Here l found ac-
commodation. l dressed, sometimes
laughing, sometimes whistling, some
times standing motionless in doubt.
Bah! 1t was only lark. :. thought
of the girl in Mouquin's; how much
better 1t would have been to spend the
evening with her, exchanging badinage,
and looking into each others eyes!
Pshaw! | covered my face with
the gray mask and descended to the
street
The trolley ran within two miles Of
the Hunt club. The car was crowded
with masqueraders, and for the first
time since started out l felt comfort
able. Everybody laughed and talked,
though nobody knew who his neighbor
was. l sat in corner, silent and mo-
tionless as a sphinx. Once a pair Of
blue slippers attracted my eye, and
again the flash of lovely arm. At the
end of the trolley line was a carryall
which was to convey us to the club.
We got into the conveyance, noisily and
good-humoredly. The exclamations of
the women were amusing.
Good gracious!"
isn't 1t fun"
Lovely" And all that. II must
have been a novelty for some Of these
to act naturally for once. Nothing lasts
so long as the natural instinct for play;
and we always find ourselves coming
back to 1t.
Standing some hundred yards back
from the road was the famous Holly
wood inn. run by the genial Moriarity
Sometimes the members of the Hunt
club put up there for the night when
there was to be run the following
morning. 1t was open all the year
round
We made the club at exactly 1890
Fortune went with me, doubtless It
was the crowd going in that saved me
from close scrutiny. My spirits rose
as I espied Teddy Hamilton at the
door. He was on the committee, and
was in plain evening clothes. 1t was
good to see a familiar face. shnu-
dered toward him and passed out my
ten dollars.
Hello. Teddy. my son!" cried out
jovially.
"Hello!"-grinning Teddy thought
1t was some one he knew; well, so it
was. whats your card?" he cried, as
l pressed by him.
"The ten of hearts"
"The ten of hearts" repeated Teddy
to a man who was keeping tally on
big cardboard.
This sight did not reassure me. II
they were keeping tally of all the cards
presented at the door. they would soon
find out that there were too many tens
of hearts, too many by one! Well. at
any rate, had for the time being es-
caped detection; now for the fun:
II would be sport-royal while 1t last
ed. What a tale to give out at the
club OF a Sunday night! l chuckled on
the way to the ball room. | had dis
pensed with going up to the dressing
J room. My robe was genuine one
heavy and warm; so had no overcoat
to check.
Grave monk. your blessing!"
Turning. beheld an exquisite Col
umbine.
Pax vobiscum!" replied, sol
emnly.
Pax What does that mean p
"It means, do not believe all you
see in the newspapers"
Colurhbine laughed gaily. Il did
not know that you were Latin
scholar; and. besides, you gave me to
understand you were coming as Jes'
nit. Billy"
Billy? Here was one who thought
she knew me. hastened to disillusion
her.
my dear Columbine, you do not
know me, not the least bit. My name
is not Billy, it is Dicky."
"Oh, you cannot fool me-" she re-
turned. 81 heard you call out to Teddy
Hamilton that your card was the ten
OF hearts; and you wrote me, saying
that would be your card"
Complications already. and
hadn't put my foot inside the ball
room!
II am sorry" I said. "but you have
made mistake. Your Jesuit probably
told you his card would be the nine
not the ten"