The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-01-31

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am not very formidable"
He took her fingers, very mucn -
the prince had done upon her arrival.
and pressed them formally to his hpA
Then he released them and rose.
you know" he confessed, 7 am
very stupid at this sort of thing. Shan
We 20 back to the reception rooms7
shall be the most unpopular man here
II keep you any longer"
The smile deepened slightly. Little
lines appeared at the sides OF hsf
eyes. So far from being annoyed, b
could see that she was laughing.
.Joseph," she Knocked, II am not
tempting you, reallyI Do SIT down
have met men In many countries, Dus
none like you. Don't you realize that
your love for one woman should make
you kind to allf
"No, don't" he answered bluntly.
She patted his hand gently.
aCome," she said, "do not be afraid
of me. I will not make love to you
seriously. You must be kind to mo BE-
cause everybody spolls me. After sup
Der there are one or two more ques-
tons I must ask You. Do you know
that am going to dance here7 Nevea
before have danced in private house
in England. Except upon the stage. ]
like to dance only to those whom ]
Lowell"
The little space between the cur
tains was suddenly darkened. John
turned eagerly around, and. to his i'm
mense relief, recognized the prince
Their host came forward to where they
were sitting, and held out his arm to
Calavera.
"Dear lady" he announced, Supper
is served. VIII you do me this great
honor"
She rose to her feet. The primes
turned to John.
This is my privilege as host" ht
explained; ''but II you will follow uA
you will find some consolation in store
for you"
"Well7" the prince asked. as hs
handed Aida Calavera to her place q
his right hand.
II think not" she replied.
He raised his eyebrows slightly. For
a moment he glanced down the supper
table with the care of a punctilious
host, to see that his guests were prop
erly seated. He addressed a few
trivialities to the musical-comedy star
who was sitting on his left. Then he
leaned once more toward the great
dancer.
"You surprise me-" he said. II
should have thought that the enter.
prise would have commended itself to
you. You do not doubt the facts"
'They are obvious enough" she 70
piled. 1.-THE young man tried to tell
me that he was in love with another
woman, and felt suddenly powerless.
think must be getting to that age
when one prefers to achieve ones con-
quests with the lifting of finger"
The prince sighed.
II shall never understand your sexi"
he declared. "I should have supposed
that the slight effort Of resistance
would have provided just the necessary
stimulus"
She turned her beautiful head and
looked at the prince through narrowed
eyes.
After ALL" she asked, 'what should
I gaini The young man is. in his way.
q splendid work Of art. Why should
be vandal enough to destroy it7
shall ask you another question"
The prince slowly slipped the wine
from the glass that he was holding to
his lips. Then he set 1t down DELHI
erately.
"Why notr'
"what is your INTEREST," Il tia bet,
q whim, or-enmity"
"You may count 1t the latter" the
prince replied deliberately.
Calavera laughed softly to herself.
"Now, for the first time," she con-
fessed, 'T feel interest. This is where
one realizes that we live In the most
impossible age Of all history. The
great noble who seeks to destroy the
poor young man from the country 10
powerless to wreak harm upon him.
You can neither make him a pauper
nor have him beaten to death. Why
are there princes any longer. I won
der7 You are only as other men,"
"It is an unhappy reflection, but
1t IL the TRUTH" the prince admitted.
my ancestors would have disposed Of
some fly. and 1t would have cost them
no more than a few silver pieces and
a sack Of wine. Today, alas, condi-
tions are different. It will cost mo
more"
She trified for q moment with the
salad upon her plate. which as yet shs
had scarcely tasted.
II am feeling" she remarked, '.mag-
nif1cently oriental-like Cleopatra. The
sensation pleases me. We are bar
gaining, are we not"
Eve shall not bargain" the prince