The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-09-16

But ] was not really so light.heart.
cd. | could not telp thinking OF what
this night might have been II Ken.
nedy had been alive. Indeed. I was
glad to take up my white mask. throw
n long coat over my outlandish cos
tune and hurry of 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 a brilliant and picturesque as.
semblage. or course | recognized
Elaine in spite OF her mask, almost
Immediately.
Enthusiastically, she was talking
TO the one most striking figure on the
floor, n tall mar In red-a veritable
Mephistopheles. As the music started.
Elaine and his Satanic majesty laugh.
ingly fox.trotted OF, but were not lost
to me in the throng.
o o found myself talking 10 n
young lady In spotted domino. She
seemed TO have a peculiar fascination
for me. yet she did not m~onopolize 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 n cos
tuned as a gray friar. his cowl yer
his head and his eyes masked.
Chatting. we had circled about to
he conservatory. A number OF o u
Piles were there and. through the
palms. I say Elaine and Mephisto
laughingly 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 II 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
you?"
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 a bit
"I-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"
II 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 II was an accident,
but she approached me as | paused In
the dance a moment with my domino
girl.
From thc-sublime-to the ridlcu.
lous, she cried excitodly.
My partner gave her n sharp glance.
You will excuse me-" she said, and.
as ! bowed, almost ran of To the con.
%servatory, leaving Elaine to dance OF
with me.
.
Del Mar, quite surprised At the sud
don 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 a small package which Del
Mar slipped 10 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.
lng?' she asked eagerly.
Keep close TO me-" whispered Del
Mar, as she nodded and they left the
conservatory. not apparently in COLI
pany.
Upstairs, away from the gayety OF
the ballroom. the bolero made his
way until he came TO Elaine's room.
dimly lighted, With a quick glance
about. he entered cautiously. closed
the door, and approached a closet
which ne opened. There was a safe
built into the wall.
IA he stopped over. the man un.
wrapped the package Del Mar had
handed him and took out a curious 1T.
tie instrument. Inside was a dry bat.
terry and a most peculiar instrument,
something like a little fiat telephone
transmitter, yet attached by wires to
ear pieces that fitted over the head
after the manner OF those OF a wire.
less detector.
He adjusted the h~eadpiece and held