The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-08-16
Masquen-

~ CHAPTER II. :
~ = Masquers.
Joseph Maillard might have hope
FULLY considered the note from the Mid
night Masquer to be hoax perpetrat-
ed by some of his friends, but he took
40 chances. Two detectives were post
I'd In the grounds outside the house:
inside, two others, masked and cos
TUNED. were keeping quietly efficient
eye on all that transpired.
Each guest upon entering was con-
iucted directly to the presence of 10
seph Maillard himself, or of his wife;
was hidden to unmask in this private
audience, and was then presented with
4 favor and sent forth masked anew
20 the festivities. These favors were
concealed, in the case Of the ladies, in
corsage bouquets; In that Of the men.
inside false cigars. There was to be
a,general opening Of the favors at mid
night,s the, time set for unmasking. All
this ceremony, was regarded. by the
guests as a delightful innovation. and
by Joseph Maillard as a delightful
way OF, assuring himself that only in
vited guests entered histhonse Invita-
tons might be ,forged-faees. never!
.Lucie Ledanois entered the presence
Of her, stately relative, and after. un-
masking. i dutifullys exchanged kisses
with Mrs. Maillard. Until some months
previously. until she had come, into the
management of her own property-or
what was, left of. it-Lucie had been
the.ward OF the Maillards. --..n
Mercy. child how marvellous you
look tonightl"s exclaimed Mrs. Mall
lard. holding her OF and examining her
high .color.with obvious suspicion.
THANK you. ma'am," and Lucie made
a mock courtesy. DO you like little
Columbine? ...
...very much. Here's Aunt Sally:
take Miss Lucie's cloak, Sally"
. IAN old colored servant bObbed her
head in. greeting to Lucie. who re-
moved her cloak. As she did SO. she
saw that Mrs. Maillard's eyes were
fastened In utter amazement upon her
throat.
sIsn't 1t pretty. auntier' she asked,
smilingly.r
my goodness gracious!" The stern
eyes hardened. "Where-where on
earth did you obtain such thing?
Why-why-"
Columbine's features flinched. She
was a poor relation, Of course, so the
look in the older woman's eyes and the
Implication Of the words formed little
less than IN insult.
Quietly she put one hand to her
throat and removed the collar, drop
ping it into the hand Of Mrs. Maillard.
It was a thing to make any woman's
eyes widen-a collar of exQuisltely
wrought gold studded with ten great
blazing star sapphires. Beside 1t the
diamonds that bejeweled Mrs. Mail.
lard's ample front looked cold and
!ifeless. "n.
"That?" queried Lucie, innocently,
producing scrap Of chamois and dab
bling at her nose. "Oh. that's very in
teresting! 1t was made for Queen Hor-
tense-so was this scarf that keeps my
ragged hair from looping out! They
were a present-only this morning."
."Girl" The lady's voice was harsh.
"A present? From whom, II you
please?"
&''Oh, promised not to tell; he's a
particular friend of mine. Aren't the
stones pretty?" r~.
Mrs. Maillard was speechless. She
compressed her firm lips and watched
Lucie replace the sapphire collar with
out word to offer. Silently she ex.
tended corsage bouquet from the pile
beside her; then. in trembling voice.
forced herself to explain about the fa-
vor inside. -. ..'.
, Slipping her mask into place Lucle
was gone, not without felfef. She
knew very well that within half an
hour Bob Maillard would be informed
that she had accepted gifts Of Jewels
feom other men. with all the ;accompa-
nying implications and additions that
imagination could furnish. :, For, al.
tfiongh Bob Maillard wanted very
much ihdeed to marry her. his mother
had no intention of sanctiOnlhg such a
union. ..r .
.'Neither has Uncle Joseph" she re-
hected, smiling to herself, "and neither
have I! So we're all agreed, except
Bob" ...G .',Er--,.'s.. +
"Columbine A hand fell upon her
wrist. "Columbine! Turn and confess
thy sins !" = 49, ; =. -,