Tombstone epitaph. (Tombstone, Ariz.) 1887-current, 1918-07-07
COPYRIGHT. ,Ge
FOURTH EPISODE
The Hidden Prince

Christopher Race stared at the invi.
tation. and stared again. If it had
come to him in his palmy days. he
might not have been thus blankly
amazed; but at best who was Chris.
TOPPER Race that he should be hidden
to a reception at the foreign Office, &c
meet royalty?
OF course, Christopher said to him
self. he would not go. Before the day
of the reception he would be away in
the country with Scarlet Runner. trail.
ing a fat and vulgar Australian mil.
nonaire. with his fat and vulgar mil
lionairess about rural England
Had he not CHANGED to knock down
reaching for the coffee pot. he would
have accepted the millionaire's terms
and declined with thanks the for
eign Office invitation. But he did
knock the pile down. and the bottom
envelope had no resemblance TO the
rest
1t was blue. but Of a delicate
and attractive azure. The letter was
signed. "Eloise Dauvray."
That name had ruag in his ears
mysterious and sweet as the music OF
bells floating over the sea from q city
Of mirage. since the masked ball, where
he had been lucky enough to serve the
fair Sou,herner's purpose.
Her letter had no conventional be
ginning. "Since / have been a grown
woman" she said. Il have known only
two rec. men, and you are one Of those
two. 1 want you to meet the other
Something great may come Of the meet.
ing. and this time you would be with
me in an adventure Of which neither OF
N need be ashamed. AS for me. ! am
in II deeply, heart and soul. II you
will throw In your fortune with mine,
come tomorrow night to the foreign Of.
fee reception for which / will see that
you hare an invitation. Yours-grate-
fully for the past. hopefully for the fu-
turHEloise Dauvray."
No question now as to whether he
would go or not go. He wanted to see
Eloise Dauvray. On the night Of the
reception he dressed himself as one
Of the two real men in the world ought
to be dressed for an occasion Of i'm.
portance.
Lest she should be needed he drove
Scarlet Runner to Whitehall, and left
her in charge of a hired chauffeur
whom he could trust.
10 cd hy- ha fnroiOr
Rotary and his wife, and instantly for.
gotten rs the murmur went round that
royalty was arriving. Now he paused
forlornly. looking for Eloise Dauvray.
Mr.. Race" murmured a voice that
10 man who had heard 1t once could
forget; and. turning. he was face te
face with Eloise Dauvray-an aston
ishingly changed Eloise Dauvray.
She had been beautiful before. but
she was doubly beautiful now. with the
radiant. morning beauty Of a girl o,
eighteen. Then he saw the other man
and. seeing him. knew the secret Of the
change in Eloise Dauvrsy. The glory
Of love irradiated her, and II seemed t.
Christopher that she was not ashamed
to let him see 1t.
Mr.. Race" said Eloise DauvraJ
again, II wanted you to come and NEE
Prince Mirko Of Dalvania- have tolt
him about you"
Christopher was not surprised t.
learn that this noble young giant, II
the wonderful eastern uniform. scintl
laung with orders and decorations
vas called prince.
II am here with my grandmother
said Miss Dauvray. you have no
met her, but she Is an old friend Of
the foreign secretary's wife. Primo
Mirko and you and must talk to
gether."
They found a quiet corner. out d
the way of the crowd. Nov I an
going to tell you 9 secret" the CIR
went on. you see how I trust you
how We both trust you? For it's ,
secret that, II known, might spoil
plan whose success means everything
to the prince-everything. therefore, Z
me.
He has asked me to marry him
That is part Of the secret" said Eloise
For his sake ought to have refused
But love him. Ny love has made m
selfish"
You would have spoiled my life an
killed my ambition IL you had refused,
Prince Mirko Of Dalvania broke Il
hoty.
He spoke in perfect English, thong
with an accent something like that
an Italian
Congratulate me. Mr.. Race" sal
the prince. Good fortune had qua
rel with me until two weeks ago; the
met Miss Dauvray."
Congratulate mel" exclaime
Eloise. "Ycu saw what ] was before
You see what ] am now"
This was a delicate topic; and pei
haps Christopher's face showed that D
found IL difficult, for the girl spoke b
fore he could choose his answer. tn
prince knows" she said. Il told hiI
everything. It was hard. and va
tempted to keep my own counsel. PEI
hans conscience alone would not hav
aee1d>d me. but-it was better B