The evening world., 1921-05-26


sence. She was devoted to Hugh. He
was all in all to her.
She danced with several partners
having first made a rendezvous with
her mother at midnight at a certain
spot under one of the great palms in
the promenade.
About 1.3O o'clock big motor car
drew up in the place before the Ca
sino, and tail man IN a white fancy
dress of cavalier. with wide
brimmed hat and staggering plume,
stepped from 1t, and presenting his
ticket, passed at once into the crowd
ed ballroom. For a full ten minutes
he stood watching the crowd of reve,-
lers intently. cycling each of them
keenly, though the expression on O.
countenapce was hidden by the st,ip
OF black velvet.
His eyes, shining through the sits
IN the mask, were, however, dark and
brilliant. 1t was the feet of the dane
erS that he was watching. OF a sud-
den, he seemed to discover that for
which he was in search. and made
MS way quickly after pair who, hav-
ing finished dance, were walking in
the direction OF the great hall
The stranger never took his eyes of
the pair. The man was slightly taller
than the woman, and, the latter wore
upon her white kid shoes a pair Of
old paste buckles. 1t was for those
buckles that he had been searching.
Yes" he muttered in English be-
meath his breath. That's she-witli-
out a doubt"
He drew back near to where the
pair had halted and were laughing
| together. The girl with the glittering
buckles upon her shoes was Dorise
Ranscomb. The man with her was
the Count dAutun.
The white cavalier pretended to
take no interest in them, but was,
nevertheless, watching intently. At
| last he saw the girls partner bow,
and leaving her, he crossed to greet
stout French woman in a plain
| domino. In a moment the cavalier
was at the girls side.
"Please do not betray surprise. Miss
Ranscomb," he said in low, re-
fined voice. I'VE may be watched.
But have message for you"
For me?" she asked, peering
through her mask at the man in the
! pluned hat.
"Yes. But I cannot speak to you
here. 1t Is too public. Besides, your
mother yonder may notice U.S."
"Who are your? asked the girl.
naturally curious.
"Do not let us talk here See. right
over yonder in the corner behind
where they are dancing in n ring
under the balcony. Let us meet
there at once. Au revoir."
And he left her.
Three minutes later they met again
out OF sight of Lady Ranscomb, who
was still sitting at one OF the little
wicker tables talking to three other
| women.
"TelI me, who are your" Dorise in
quired.
The white cavalier laughed.
| I'm Mr.. X" was his reply. But
my name matters nothing, Miss
| Ranscomb," he said. II have come
here to give you a confidential mes
sage"
| "Why confidential and from
whom?" she asked. standing against
the wall and surveying the myste-
rious masker.
From gentleman friend OF yours
Mr. Henfrey."
you know him?"
| "Yes."
IT expected him to come with us
tonight. but he has vanished from
his hotel"
'I know. That is why ] am here
was the reply. "A serious contre-
j temps has occurred. Mr.. Henfrey
has escaped from France.
"Escaped!" she echoed. "Why?"
because the police sucpect him OF
Crime, What crime? Surely he
is innocent?" she cried.
He certainly is. His friends know
! that. Therefore, Miss Ranscomp,
beg OF you to betray no undue anx-
ety even If you do not near from
him for many weeks"
"But he will write to met" she
! asked in despair. "Surely he will
not keep me in suspenseT
HE will not II he can avoid II. II
might be dangerous II he were te
write to you"
Dorise was thinking Of what her
mother would say when the truth
reached her ears. Hugh was fu5i-
tive!
"Of what crime is he suspectedT p
"INweIl, / don't exactly know
; was the strangers falterng response
"Do you know where he Is now?
: mot in the least. All | know Is
that ne is safely across the frontier
into Italy," was the reply of the tail
| white CdNulleT'
"He is making his way to Brussels
A letter addressed to Mr. GODFREY
) Brown, Poste Rostante, Brussels, viii
eventually find him. Disguise youl
handwriting on the envelope and
< when you post 1t see that you are moi
. observed"
"Trust me-" she said. "But do lei
me know your name" she implored
"Any old name is good enough fol
, me-" he replied. Call me Mr.. X"
you say Hugh is innocent. Ar
: YOU certain of that?" she asked
+; eagerly.
"Yes. I repeat that he is entirely
: innocent" was the earnest response
"But I would advise you to affect ig
no,ance. The police may question
: Won. II they do you know nothing
:: emember-absolutely nothing"
, "But how lonr will 1t be before
/ can see him again?"
"Ah! That l cannot tell. Their,
is a mystery underlying II all tina
, even l cannot fathom. Miss Rams
!, comb"
I "What kind OF mystery"
b The white cavalier shrugged hi
; shoulders.
n "You must ask Mr.. Henfrey. o
e perhaps his friend Brock knows. Ye
{: IN he does, do not suppose he woult
!: disclose arv'hinF his friend ma!