The Ely miner., 1915-10-08

4 -
ed. 1 could not reip thinking of what
this night might have been if Ken
| nedy had been alive Indeed, 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 gap
ing crowd surrounded the canopy on
the sidewalk.
AS I 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, 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.
I 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 trotted past the
door, could see down the hall. Jen.
| nings was still admitting late arrivals,
and I caught a glimpse of one cos
tuned as q 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. / saw 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 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, "Ard
you?"
He raised his mask, disclosing the
handsome face and fascinating eyes of
Del Mar.
Il hope you don't think I'm here in
character" he laughed easily, as she
started a bit
I-I-wel, / 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
murmured 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 | don't
know or whether it was an accident,
but she approached me as I paused in
the dance a moment with my domino
girl
From the-sublime-to the ridicu-
lous," she cried eXcitedly.
Ny partner gave her sharp glance.
"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
a sign from Del Mar he paused and
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 ana he
quietly slipped out after the Mexican
bolero.
Just then the domino girl hurried
into the conservatory. What's do
ing?" she asked eagerly.
Keep close to me-" whispered De
Mar, as she nodded and they left the
conservatory, not apparently in com
pany.
Upstairs, away from the gayety o
the ballroom, the bolero made hi!
way until he came to Elaines room
dimly lighted. With a quick glance
about. he entered cautiously, close;
the door, and approached a close
which he opened There was SAFE
built into the wall.
AS he stopped over, the man un
wrapped the package Del Mar hat
handed him and took out curious lit
tie instrument. Inside was a dry bat
terry and most peculiar instrument
something like little fiat telephone
transmitter, yet attached by wirNs t
ear pieces that fitted over the hea
after the manner of those of a wire
less detector
He adjusted the headpiece and hel
the fiat instrument against the safe
close to the combination which he be
gan to turn slowly. 1t was a bul
glars microphone, used for pickin