The Elbert County tribune. [volume] (Elbert, Elbert County, Colo.) 18??-1920, 1918-02-15

tionai hefpiessness--as II she were
drawn by elemental forces she did not
understand.
The man leaned forward and asked
an eager question. Martha Ainsley
nodded. eyes, I'm ready" said she.
But at that moment Robert Wells
came Into the conservatory with an
air of unshakable purpose-the air a
man generally wears when demanding
his dance or any portion of his right in
the world / gathered the folds of my
masquerade costume about me and
took my courage in hand at the same
moment.
Then with the best imitation of
Martha's society stroll could man
age, advanced coquettishly upon YER
sale. OF course, was prepared to
have him greatly surprised at my
promptness in Kidding myself of his
rival, but this gave me additional ex-
cuse for marked winning coquetry.
so I explained that Bob had bored me
awfully and SO had run away.
l conducted my filtration" discreet
ly, withal, resisting the mans effort to
remove my mask. But when he became
insistent I found retreat the better
part of valor and ran away with Mr..
Versale In enthusiastic pursuit.
When got into the hallway. Jimmy
was coming down the stairs. He
seized me and dragged me back into
the shadows as Versale hurried
through seeking the presumptive Mar
tina. Then Jimmy. giving me a weighty
black bag, ordered me to remain where
/ was until he returned.
Moments passed and I crouched In
the shadow clinging to the black bag
and waiting for Jimmy. Presently 1
saw domino-clad figure creeping into
the hall. 1 started forward thinking
that Mr.. Barton had returned to re-
lease me from "durance vile" But
warm voice undeceived me; it was
Versale.
What did he want OF me? Had he
penetrated my disguise? Or was he
preparing to complete his elopement
with Martha Ainsley-and vast to be
used as a substitute for the heroine?
/ was not left long In doubt as to his
intentions and plans. He hurried over
to the great French window, lifted me
through and jerked me across the
grounds after him. Suddenly my won
der as to another matter was solved,
too.
The gray speedster, which had van
ished from my vision early in the eve
ming, now doomed before me with dark
menace. 1t was parked in little turn
of side street. I realized that Yer
sale was carrying me toward 1t. Evil
IDENTIFY he mistook me for Martha Aims
ley dared not undeceive him, but
struggled desperately to free myself
from him, and in the struggle the little
mask which had been covering my fea-
lures, loosened and fell.
1 could see flicker of recognition
across Versailles face. And then sud-
denly, to my very great amazement, he
caught me even more firmly in his
clutching grip and fairly flung me into
the speedster. In another second the
driver had started the powerful en-
CINE and we were whizzing up the
road.
Where was Jimmie Barton? He
seemed to be postponing my rescue
overlong, for Versailles grip of my arm
had changed to an unpleasant seizure
Of my shoulders.
struggle away, my beauty. That
only makes 1t all the more fun for
me. Interferers have to take what
they get when they're interfered with.
You offered yourself in Martha Aims
ley's place. All right. Now Butch and
I Will see that you make good"
1t was not particularly savory
situation.
Now. must carry you back to
Jimmy's adventurings the while adj
ventured to Versailles side in the con-
snvatory and began the bit of play
acting which led to the substitution
in which was forced to play so I'M
welcome part later.
At the foot of the grand stairway
behind which was destined to do so
much hiding that evening Jimmy met
Nita, the maid. She signaled to him to
follow her and let him up the stairway
to her own little room under the caves.
Then she turned and flung herself in
to his arms with truly southern aban-
don of feeling.
For moment Jimmy was puzzled as
to the cause of this unsought honor
and then he remembered that his
domino was exactly like the one YER
sale was wearing. That astute young
man readily figured out that while
counting the mistress versale had not
been above philandering with the
maid.
The correctness of his deduction was
proven second later. for the girl tore
herself from his arms, caught both
his hands and whispered. Everyone Of
her jewels is in the bag-S2O,000 worth.