The Elbert County tribune., 1915-08-13

this night might have been il Ken
nedy had been alive. Indeed. I was
glad to take up my white mask. throw
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 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 It was
really brilliant and picturesque as
semblage. OF course recognized
Elaine in spite of her mask, almost
Immediately.
Characteristically 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
ingiy fox-trotted off. but were not lost
to me in the throng.
/ soon found myself talking to a
young lady in spotted domino She
seemed to have a peculiar fascination
for me. yet she did not monopoliZe all
my attention. AS we trotteG past the
door, could see down the hall Jen-
nings was still admitting late arrivals,
and | 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. number of cou-
Piles were there and. through the
palms. | saw Elaine and Mephisto
laughlngly make their way
AS my spotted domino partner and
[ 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 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
81 hope you don't think I'm here in
character" he laughed easily. as she
started bit
'T-I-well. didn't think it was
you" she blurted out.
~Ah-then there is someone else
you care more to dance WITH"
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.
OF course had known Elaine
Whether she knew me at once | don't
know or whether 1t was an accident.
but she approached me as paused in
the dance moment with my domino
girl.
From the-sublime-to the ridicu-
lous," she cried excitedly
You will excuse me?" she said, and,
as l 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
received a 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
ing?" she asked eagerly.
Keep close to me-" whispered Del
Mar. as she nodded and they left the
conservatory, not apparently in com
pany.
Upstairs, away from the gayety of
the ballroom, the bolero made his
way until he came to Elaine's room,
dimly lighted. With quick glance
about. he entered cautiously, closed
the door. and approached a closet
which he opened. There was. a safe
built into the wall
AS he stopped over. the man un-
wrapped the package Del Mar had
handed him and took out curious lit
tie instrument. Inside was dry bat
terry and most peculiar instrument,
something like a little fiat telephone
transmitter, yet attached by wires to
ear pieces that fitted over the head