The Lamar register., 1920-06-02

loss for an answer when n rather
merry Pilgrim strutted up and pulled
her of for a fox trot. She gave n
little sigh of relief; the toreador was
lovely, but the questioning about the
yatnghan was embarrassing. She no.
ticed with delight that 1t was near
twelve, almost time to unmask She
quite longed to see the SpanIard's
face. And then the JOY of Phil's
amazer1ent when he saw who the
Turkish vamp was!
The fox trot over. Alcina put her
hand to her sash-it felt a trifie loose.
The yataghan must have slipped
ilttle-wherr was 1t? II was gone
she had lost It'll Then began fran
tic search, but II WAS not 10 be found.
Terror-stricken, she questioned many
OF the dancers, and then, as last re-
sort. ran to the dressing room and
asked the maid. No one had seen the
dagger. II had vanished. it seemed.
Tears of fright came TO Alcina's dark
eyes she sank TO chair In the cloak
room. miserable, utterly unhappy. The
evening was over for her. She could
not return to the festivities. In a
moment or two. enveloped In her
long cloak, she was speeding home in
taxi alone. A sorry end OF the won
derful evening
At breakfast Phil was not even con
cerned about how she had reached
home alone. He was still under the
impression that she had been the
shepherdess and somebody had In
formed him that she had left with an
escort. Alcina did not explain. she
was 100 miserable TO care about any
thing except how she would explain
the loss Of the yataghan to Mrs. Nav.
son.
A very pale. quiet social secretary
crept into the great gloomy library
for work that morning. She raised
two worried eyes to the bare spot
where the yataghan had hung-brt
was she dreaming-she rubbed her
eyes, for there In its old place hung
the Turkish dagger. polished like new.
Alcina drew back. actually fright
ened. then hastened to touch II to see
II II WAS real and not an optical H.
iuslon. No, II was the silver yata-
CHAN. there was no possible mistake.
II don't understand IT," she said
aloud; ats the most remarkable
thing that ever happened"
Not really so very remarkable,
considering that put II there" said
II voice strangely familiar. Alcina
swung around to see II tall young man
quite unknown TO her.
Don't you really remember your
devoted toreadorf" he questioned.
coming nearer.
Alcina gasped. How on earth did
you get here and how do you know
me. II you pleaseT
II think would recognize the
dark eyes of my Turkish vamp any
where but seriously | owe you an
apology. I took the yatnghan last
night-you see II happened to be
my yataghan. recognized II imme-
diately. But II had had an idea
thnt II would make you leave | never
would have done II In the wide worli
When could not hnd you any
where. then I left. too"
Alcina. mortified. her breath com
Ing fast. answered. very disturbed.
Then you must he Mrs. Mawson'-
youngest sonf'
He nodded. IL am very much
ashamed of myself for causing you
an anxious moment over that old
knife. And I'm going TO confess stiIl
further. when ] came home night
before last I happened to glance In
the library. and 10 and behold a very
charming young woman was taking
down my old Turkish yataghan and
putting II In her nun. I wondered
what on earth she could possibly want
with that sword. On questioning
mother ! found out who you were and
that you intended to go to a fancy
dress ball. Then aud there decided
that l was going to the ball. too, but
II was not the silver yntaghan that
made me GO, Please forgive me. and
let's be friends" He held out both
hands beseechlngly. and before Al
Gina knew what she was doing she
had laid her hands In his II was
silent but true promise of future part
nershlp in the silver yataghan,