The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1916-02-17
Her CHARM
BY cLARIssA MAckIE.

:.
The village streets rang with merri--
ment as crowds Of young people in
fantastic costumes wended their way
10 the Hendryx home, a large colonial
structure crowning wooded slope.
The guests were masked.
Dorry Hendryx, garbed as Puritan
maiden. was without a mask, and sne
gave gay greeting to her unknown
guests as they filed before her. Some
she recognized by voice or gesture.
Henry Tuttle she knew by familiar
ring on his little finger; otherwise she
would never have distinguished him
from Ned Allen. for they were both
of the same height and general appear
ance. and by a singular coincidence
both had chosen to assume the dress
OF century ago.
There was another stranger pres
ent, a menGer. whose identity no one
could guess.
Then came Ned Allen. holding his
head with the same confident air that
marked his bearing before papers had
been missed from the bank and Ned
Allen. the cashier. had been accused
If making way with them. The Tut
iles-Mr Tuttle was president of the
oanx and Henry was yice-rresident-
iad exonerated Ned. but he had not
,een reinstated and the finger of sus
,icion still pointed at him and the
ongue of gossip still babbled about
iim.
Masquerade parties are much alike.
md Dorry's was no exception to the
general rule. They played the same
bid games and danced the old-fash-
oned dances to the playing of the
4ecker family.
The old umbrella mender created
diversion by stepping into the middle
If the floor and lifting his hand.
Il an a fortune teller. friends" he
.ackied shrilly Who consults me
nay receive a charm against good or
vii fortune. and / will read the past
md the future for him."
At once he was surrounded by the
gay crowd. and his fortune telling was
so wittily enlivened that the room
rang with laughter Once he came
close to Henry Tuttlc and whispered;
PLEASE point out to me a young
man named Tuttle."
And Henry coclly nodded toward
Ned Allen. who stood near by. Five
minutes afterward Henry Tuttle had
disappeared from the rooms
Dorry Hendryx had heard question
and answer. ard Henry's duplicity had
startled her. Who was the umbrella
mender and what did he want OF
Henry and why had Henry lied?
The umbrella rsender was gradually
making his way toward the spot where
Ned Allen. brave in knee-breeches and
coat of blue satin. was waiting his
turn TO have his palm read by the
quasi-fortune teller. who was giving
tiny metal trinkeis right and left.
A little silence fell upon the room
as the fortune teller bent low over
Ned Aliens hard. Perhaps curiosity
prompted some to wonder IL the for
tune tellcr might not reveal the guilt
or innocence OF Ned Allen.
Young man." said the fortune tel
Ter briskly. Il can see that you are
going tc propose to some charming
girl before the clock strikes mid
night-you will live losg and happily
-and-just favor ne with your thumb
print. str. yon know l am making
collection OF them-a hobby of mine
even ar umbrella meEder may ride
hobby. Thank you. sir-eh,"
Amid suhiucd laughter the UNI
hrella = ender held a strip OF glass to
the light. and turned and stared a.
Ned Alien through the eychole of his
mask. then hastily tore on his own
mask and revealed a nut-cracker face
convulsed with anger and surprise.
Henry Tuttie.' he commanded
sterniy. remove your mask"
Ned tore on the mask and faced thc
room.
Ned Anen," A score of voices
breathed hts name convincirgly.
Where is Henry Tuttie?" demand
ed the umbrella mender
He Is not here" said Mrs. Hendry:
with much disrlcasure. May l in
quire who you are. sir
The little man whipped cut a car
and gave It TO her.
Mrs. Hendryx gasped. "A-a dc
tective?"
fes. ne sara orusuueiy. Wan
Henry Tuttle-for the tseft OF tn
Waybrook securities"
Somewhere outside was the thros
bing OF a motor engine.
Then you better beat it," laughe
a masculine voice. That's Hen Tut
ties automobile and it's racer. too,
The detective disappeared and afte'
while excitement was subdued ar'
the dancing went on. Suddenly Dorr,
found herself standing IN a curtaine,.
bow window with Ned Allen.
Look. Dorty." said Ned quietly.