The Arvada enterprise., 1917-08-23
"You promise that?"

instantly ene Onefe0 ner lips 10 uis'
He frightened an arm round her, low.
cred his head. She seized the pistol,
planted an elbow against his chest
with wicked force, fought wildly to
break away and dlsarm him.
What followed was 10 blurred with
fear, desperation, panic-stricken strug-
glings, that she retained no clear un-
derstandlng Of the affair.
She knew only that it eliminated in
the explosion Of the pistol. She saw
Edouard reel back. catching wildly at
the air, and fall. She stared incredu.
ously at her hands that held the weap-
on. Instinctively she fled that place
like hunted thing.
BAL MAsoUE.
Parr, alarmed by the pistol shot, ran
back toward the glade to meet midway
and receive in his arms the wellnigh
demented girl.
It was many minutes before he sue
ceeded in gaining disconnected ac-
count Of what had come Of Patria's In
fatuated attempt to sacrifice herself.
"And then," she walled. "the pistol
went off In my hands, and he fell
dead, dead! I murdered him!"
On the echo Of that cry both heard
the sound Of drumming hoofs dead
ened by the forest mould.
"Dead?" Donald doubted. 'Oh, I
fancy not. Either Edouard has already
recovered sufficiently to steal my horse,
or he had confederate to do me that
service. Come and see."
The glade. when they again entered
1t, was empty. Both Elaines manager
and DOnald's cob had vanished. There
remained only the echo Of flying hoofs
to testify that either had been there.
"How he managed to trail me here
without my knowledge is what mysti-
fies me-" Parr complained when, some
time later, the two sat together be-
fore the little bungalow. HE could
hardly have done 1t unasslsted. I see
Huroki's hand in this; the man Is
shrewder than credited him with be-
ing-and that's saying lot"
"And what can we do?
"There's only one thing to do now.
Every hours delay now means added
danger-fOr II Huroki doesn't know 1t
already. he'll learn quickly enough now
from Edouard that you still live; and
he won't waste much time before he
tries to rectify that fatal flaw In his
calculations. We've simply got to beat
him to it,"
"And howl"
"Tonight there's to be bal masque
at the Charming cottage. II we lie low
till nightfall-I won't leave you again
we can take advantage Of this
masquerade, fancy, quite effectively"
Rapidly and clearly he outlined q
plan Of operations.
publicity We must avoid II possi-
BILE, both for your sake and for the
sake Of the work you have yet to do as
executrlx of the Claiming Defense
Fund.-" he concluded. III we can Qui-
etly put the fear of God into the heart
Of Elaine and send her back to town.
and at the same time persuade HurOki
and Company It's far more comfortable
to leave the country than stay to face
charges Of criminal conspiracy-I
think we may call 1t good days work
and let it go at that, without banker
ing for more spectacular revenge"
It was nearly eleven when Parr
brought the canoe to the beach where
on Patria had landed the previous
night. The girl, again In bathing suit
and beach clOak-the only things Pa
! tria had been able to muster from her
bungalow wardrobe In the WHY OF cos
tume-jumped out lightly and lent
Donald hand he didn't need to carry
the canoe we'll up out Of reach Of the
tide.
At the top of the cliff they paused
only to adjust their masks; there was
no need for further discussion Of plans
already definitely formulated.
Viewed from a little distance, the
scene on the lawns was distractingly
interesting. As Parr had fOretold, 20
1t had fallen out, all Newport-all that
social colony which makes Newport
what 1t stands for in the c0mprehen.
sion Of the world-had foregathered
on the lawn Of the Charming cottage
In brilliant costumes and gayest spir.
Its.
But Patrla and Captain Parr did not
llnger. Their time was too precious.
Entering the house by side door
little used, they separated Immediate
ly. Parr strolling nonchalantly to q pre-
arranged point Of asslgnation with his
assistants, Patria slipping quietly up.
stairs to her dressing room.
She threw open the door and en-
tered without ceremony, cOurageOusly
prepared to do what she had come to
do. but ut once disappointed and q
bit relieved to find the room tenanted
only by an astOnlshed maid.
II wish to see Miss Channlng." Pa.
trla demanded.
"Madnm will find her on the lawn
the maid replied. cycling this strange
nasGucrader with considerable suspi.
cion. "She has Just descended to dance
for her guests"