White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-28

10 n OUTSIDE or the library door. 1
presume that your late visitor left 1t
as a memento7.
Jachin Fell took the paper. the other
men crowding around him.
"Ah, Maillardi The same hand
writing as that of your letter. -
Upon the paper was penciled q
single hasty line:
MY compliments TO Robert Mall
lard-and my thanks"
Bob Maillard sprang forward. an
grily inspecting the paper. When he
"Confound the rogue - muttered the
bankers son turning away. His fea-
lures were pale. perhaps with anger.
There was nothing but stock certif-
Gates In that envelope-and they can
be reissued."
The festivities were not broken up.
News of the robbery gradually leaked
out among the guests; the generally
accepted verdict was that the Masquer
had appeared. only to be frightened
away before he could secure any loot.
II was nearly two in the morning
when joachim Fell, who was leaving,
encountered Henry Gramont at the
head of the wide stairway. lie halted
and turned TO the younger man.
"Ah-haye you a pencil. II you
please?'
II think so, Mr.. Fell" Gramont felt
beneath his Franciscan's robe. and ex-
tended a pencil.
Jachin Fell examined 1t. brought a
paper from beneath his domino, and |
wrote down a word. The paper was
that on which the farewell message
Of the Midnight Masquer had been
written. !
"A hard lead. a very hard point In
deed" said Fell. He pocketed the
paper again and regarded Gramont
steadily as he returned the pencil.
Few men carry so hard n pencil.
sir"
You're quite right" and Gramont
smiled. II borrowed this from Bob
Maillard only a moment ago. Its hard
ness surprised me-
do you know. a most curious
thing
"YesY" prompted Gramont. his eyes
intent upon the little gray a
THAT paper you brought us-the
paper which you found pinned to the
library door" said Fell, apologetically.
do you know, Mr.. Gramont, that
oddly enough there we're no pin holes
In that paper?"
Gramont smiled family, as though
he were lnwardly amused over the re-
mark.
Not ut all curious" he said, his
voice level. 1T VAS pinned rather
stoufly-i tore off the portion bearingl
the message. I'll wager that you'll
Ind H. end IF The Foyer still On the
door downstai.s. You might make
certain that its torn edge fits that OF
the paper in your pocket II 1t did not.
then the fact would be curionsi l am
most happy to have met you, Mr.. Fell.
l trust we shall meet again. often"
With a smile, he extended his hand,
which Mr.. Fell shook cordially.
Upon gaining the lower hall Fell
glanced at the door OF the library.
There. still pinned to the wood where
1t had been unregarded by the pass
ers-by. was a small scrap Of paper. Mr..
Fell glanced at II again, then shook
his head and slowly turned away, as
though resisting a temptation.
mo-" he muttered. mo. 1t would
be sure to ct the paper In my pocket.
II would be sure to fit, confound him J"
A little later he left the house,
striding briskly down the avenue
When he approached the first street
light he came TO a pause, and began
softly to pat his person as though
searching for something.
Il told you that you'd pay for
knowing too much about me, young
man !" he said, softly. whats this,
now-what's this?
A slight rustic of paper, as he
walked along. had attracted his atten-
ton. He passed his hands over the
loose, open domino that cloaked him
he detected q scrap of paper pinned
to Ii In the rear. lie loosened the
paper, and under the street light man.
aged to decipher the writing which 1t
bore.
A faint smile crept to his lips as he
read the penciled words:
II do not love you, Jaehln Fell,
The reason why, / cannot tell: !
But this I know. and know full well.
do not love you. joachim Fell"
Certainly the fellow has wit, II not
o~riufnalitv mutferpd Mr.. Fell. ms HI
carefully slowed away h paper.
The writing upon IL was In the hand OF
the Midnight Masquer.
ITO BE CONTINUED.) 8
The Life immortal.
We are born for a higher destiny
than enrth there Is q realm where