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Show would that you were back home w'ith your father. I might sleep o nights, then." I have so little amusement! "You work three hours a day and earn more in a week than your father and I do in a month. Yours is a very unhappy lot. "I hate the smell of paints; I hate the studio. And I suppose you hate your fame? acridly. Hah! that Is my card to a living. The people I meet bore me. AND Not satisfied with common folks, eh? Must have kings and queens to talk to? "I only want to live abroad, and you and father will not let me, petulantly. By , The music started up and I heard HAROLD MacGRATII no more. Occasionally the girl glanced Author of'TheMan on the Box, "etc. at me and smiled In a friendly fashion. She was evidently an artists model f and when they have hair and color With Drawings by Harrison Fisher tills girls, the pay Is good. I rjJ like found myself wondering why she was bored and why Carmen had so sudCo. I (Coiiyrlirhl, lMt. by lost its charms. denly CHAPTER I. Continued. It was seven o'clock when I pushed You will pardon ir.y niece, Interaside my plate and paid my check. I polated the old gentleman, coughing a calculated that by hustling I could If she annoys you bit nervously. reach Hlankshlre either at ten or Uncle!" reproachfully. That would be early enough "Heaven forfend! I exclaimed eag- for my needs. And now to rout out a erly. "There is a charm In doing un- costume. All I needed was a gray conventional things; and most people mask. I had in my apartments a do not realize it, and are stupid. Capuchins robe and cowl. I rose, Thank you, sir, said the girl, smil- lighting a cigarette. The girl looked up from her coffee. ing. She was evidently enjoying Do a so was I, for that matter. "Hack to the dime museum? trick for me, she commanded pres"I have a few minutes to spare, ently. I couldn't have said I. I smiled weakly. done a trick with the cards, not If "By the way, I forgot to ask you my life had depended upon It Hut I what card you drew. rather neatly extricated myself from the trap. 1 never do any tricks out of business hours. ten "Uncle, give the gentleman cents; I want to see him do a sleight-ofhantrick. Her uncle, readily entering into the spirit of the affair, dived Into a pocket and produced the piece of silver. It looked as if I were caught. "There! this may make It worth your while," the girl said, shoving the coin in my direction. Hut ugain I managed to slide under; I was not to be caught. "It is my regret to say," frowning slightly, "that regularity in my business is everything. It wants half an hour for my turn to come on. If I tried a trick out of turn, I might foozle and lose prestige. And besides, I depend so much upon the professor and his Introductory note: Ladles and gents, permit me to introduce the Fantoccini, Signor whose marvelous tricks have long puzzled all the crowned heads of Europe " "That's "Fantoccini," muBlngly. Italian for puppet show. "I know it, but the dime museum Tlsitors do not. It makes a fine impression." She laughed and slid the dime back to her uncle. I'm afraid you are an impostor," she said. I'm afraid so, too, I confessed, laughing. Then the comedy came to an end by the appearance of our separate orders. I threw aside the cards and proceeded to attack my dinner, for I was hungry. From time to time I caught vague fragments of conversation between the girl and her uncle. "It's a fool idea," mumbled the old gentleman; .you will get into some trouble or other." "That doesn't matter. It will be It was the ten of hearts. like a vacation, a flash of old Rome, "The ten of hearts? Her amazewhere I wish I were at this very mo- ment was not understandable. ment. I am determined. Yes, the ten of hearts; Cupid and "This is what comes of reading ro- all that. her composure mantic novels," with a kind of grumShe recovered ble. quickly. "I admit there never was a particle Thep you will not blow up the of romance on your side of the fam- postoffice No, I replied, not ily, the girl retorted. You have really and truly aroused Happily. There is peace In the house where I live. my curiosity. Tell me, what does the ten of hearts mean to you? "Do not argue with me. I gazed thoughtfully down at her. "I am not arguing with you; I should be only wasting my time. I Had I truly mystified her? There was am simply warning you that you are some doubt in my mind. shout to commit a folly. "Frankly, I wish I might tell you. "I have made up my mind. All I am at liberty to say Is that I am Ah! In that case I have hopes," about to set forth upon a desperate he returned. "When a woman makes adventure, and I shall be very fortunup her mind to do one thing, she gen- ate if I do not spend the night in the erally does another. Why caut you lock-up.- " "You do not look desperate. put aside this fool idea and go to the "Oh, I am not desperate; it Is only opera with me?" I have seen Carmen in Paris, the adventure that is desperate. "Some princess in durance vile! Rome, London and New York, she Some villain to smite? Citadels to replied. (Evidently a traveled young per- storm? Her smile was enchantment itself. son.) I hesitated a moment. What would Carmen is your favorite opera, besides. you say if I told you that this adventure was merely to prove to myself "Not whimsically. "Go, then; but please recollect that what a consummate ass the average if anything serious comes of your man can be upon occasions? Why go to the trouble of proving folly, I did my best to prevent it. Its a scatter-brainedrolly. idea, and no good It? "I am conceited enough to have will come of it, mark me. some doubts as to the degree. trucu"I can take care of myself, "Consider it positive. lently. I laughed. I am in hopes that I am So I have often been forced to obneither a positive ass nor a superlaserve," dryly. (I wondered what it was all about.) tive one, only comparative." "But the adventure; that is the But, uncle dear, I am becoming so thing that mainly interests me. dreadfully bored! "Oh. that is a secret which I should That sounds final, sighed the old man, helping himself to the haricots hesitate to tell even to the Sphinx. I see you are determined not to verts. (The girl ate positively nothing.) But it seems odd that you can't go illuminate the darkness," and she about your affairs after my own rea- turned carelessly toward her uncle, who was serenely contemplating the sonable manner. I am only twenty." glowing end of a fat perfecto. I bowed and passed out into Sixth The old mans shoulders rose and avenue, rather regretting that I had fell resignedly. not the pleasure of the charming No man has an answer for that. I promise to tell you everything young person's acquaintance. t of hearts seemed to The that happens; by telegraph. That's small comfort. Imagine re- have startled her for some reason. I ceiving a telegram early in the morn- wondered why. The snow blew about me, whirled, ing, when a mans brain is without Invention or coherency of thought! I and swirled, and stung. Oddly enough HEARTS MASKS 1 ten-thirt- her-Bei- d world-renowne- d t. t, d ten-spo- I recalled the paragraph relative to Mrs. Hyphen-Bonds- . By this time she was being very well tossed about in As the old order of used to say, little did I dream what was in store for me, or the influence the magic name of Hyphen-Bond- s was to have upon my destiny. Bismillah! (Whatever that means!) mid-ocea- CHILD, COLE CO. yarn-spinne- CHAPTER 11. After half an hour's wandering about I stumbled across a curio-shoa weird, dim and dusty, musty old curio-shop- , with stuffed peacocks hanging from the ceiling, and skulls and bronzes and marbles, paintlngsv tarnished jewelry and ancient armor, rare books of vellum, small arms, tapestry, pastimes, plaster masks, and musical instruments. I recalled to mind the shop of the dealer in antiquities in Balzac's La Peau de Chagrin, and glanced about (not without a shiver) for the fatal asss skin. (I forgot that I was wearing it myself that jilght!) I was something of a collector of antiquities, of the Inanimate kind, and for a time I became lost in speculation speculation rather agreeable of its kind. I liked to conjure up in fancy the various scenes through which these curiosities had drifted in their descent to this the brave men and beautiful women, the clangor of tocsins, the haze of battles, the glitter of ball rooms, epochs and ages. What romances lay behind yon satin slipper? What grande dame had smiled behind that ivory fan? What meant I i An Impromptu 100 Atlas Block, Salt Lake City. Both Phonos, No. r (Copyright.) It was within a fortnight of the opening of the Plaza de Toros In the capital, and agents had been scouring the immediate suburbs in search of bulls young and sufficiently untamed to meet the requirements of the Corrida. The principal source of supply half-bree- 325. Telephone and Mail Orders Promptly Executed on By MAIA BURNHAM was drawn from one Maximo Gomez, a cattle owner. This season, however, had been an unusually unlucky one, inasmuch as disease had killed off a very large number of the cattle In that region, and Gomez bad been one of the heaviest losers. Standing under the one shade-tre- e that his corral afforded he took a last disconsolate Inventory of the thin and drooping animals browsing outside, and turned over in his hand the agents letter. The man seemed to take a dismal satisfaction In reading and a document that promised prompt payment for the Immediate delivery of several first-clas- s bulls. He bad spent the entire day In a vain endeavor to convince himself that he could fill the that tarnished silver mask? order, at least in part, and he had eviThe old French proprietor was finally been forced to admit that he dently all things from a pawnbroker did not possess a single animal that to an art collector; for most of the matador would tolany erate in the ring. And what was worse, none of bis neighbors had any bulls to sell. The only man who might, if he would, help him out of the matter was Don Pedro Benavente, a rich rancher, whose territory ran parallel with Gomez' at the western boundary. Stooping, he caught up the lasso that he had thrown down in final disgust, and was about to leave the corral when a short, deep bellow in the distance attracted his attention. He stopped and listened. Presently he heard it again, this time a little nearer. He walked toward the gateway and waited. In a few moments the animal appeared, crashing through the shrubbery that bordered the clearing, and Gomez saw that it was not one of his. It was a young bull that had evidently strayed through some break In a neighbors fence and, attracted by the lowing of the nearby cattle, had found its way to Gomez corral. The man stood perfectly still until It came near enough, then his arm flashed upward and the noose described three circles over his head, falling neatly around the neck of the startled animal. He tied the rope to a fence-ba- r and Inspected his prize. It was a splendid animal, and, as he had suspected, it bore the curious and unmistakable brand of Benavente. For a long while he stood considering, and pulling nervously at his black moustache. Not that he was harassed by any conscientious scruples, nor that he was wasting any thought on the ethics of the case, but he knew that a convicted cattle-thie- f was dealt with summarily and most unpleasantly in that region, and so he weighed most carefully his chances of eluding discovery. By leaving the ranch at dawn he could have the animal well out of the district before It would be even missed, and once delivered to the jewelry was In excellent order and agent, who was not abnormally curithe pictures possessed value far be- ous in matters of this kind, all trace of the bull would be speedily lost yond the instrinsic. From the shining metal of the small arms, my glance traveled to The sound of his horses retreating the face of the prospective buyer. It hoofs had scarcely died away when was an interesting face, clean-cut- , the scattered cattle turned their heads beardless, energetic, but the mouth in the opposite direction, where a impressed me as being rather hard. great disturbance in the underbrush Doubtless he felt the magnetism of had suddenly begun. With much my scrutiny, for he suddenly looked crackling of broken twigs and swayaround. The expression on his face ing of foliage, a horse and rider was not one to induce me to throw emerged into the open. 'The horse my arms around his neck and de- was an ordinary broncho, but the clare I should be glad to make hts rider could not have been duplicated It was a scowl. He anywhere between that ranch and acquaintance. was in evening dress, and I could the frontier. It was a fact, a remarksee that he Knew very well how to ably pretty girl, in a fashionable shirtwear it. All this was but momentary. waist and correct riding skirt, gloveHe took up a revolver and balanced it less and hatless, her heavy golden on his palm. braids coiled round and round on her By and by the proprietor came sid- shapely head. She Immediately spied the solitary ling along behind the cases, the slipshod fashion of his approach inform- bull in the corral. ing me that he wore slippers. Oh. you young sinner!" she called Do you keep costumes? I asked. out gayly. "What a chase youve Anything you like, sir, from a given me! But you see, these people crusader to a modern gentleman," have found out and shut you up in with grim and appropriate irony. there to keep you for us; and now I "What is it you are in search of am going to take you home!" a masquerade costume? Riding round to the gate, she disOnly a gray mask," I answered. mounted, and managed, with some I am to go to a masked ball to lower the bars; the imas a Gray Capuchin, and I want a difficulty, bull, meanwhile, prisoned standing mask that will match my robe. with Irritably twitching tail, and Your wants are simple. watching the proceedings with a susFrom a shelf he brought down a picious and unfriendly eye. His neck box, took off the cover, and left me still smarted from the viciously to make my selection. Soon I found tightening tug of Gomez lasso, and he what I desired, and laid it aside, wait- was in a mood to resist any further ing for M. Friard to return. Again bullying. I observed the other customer. When the newcomer rode into the There is always a mystery to be corral he faced about and tore angrisolved and a story to be told, when the earth with his horns. The a man makes the purchase of a ly at drew rein. She had not instantly girl A a in man who seen a bull do this before and she felt pawnshop. pistol buys a pistol for the sake of pro- the first twinge of alarm. Before she tection does so in the light of day, had time to turn back he had rushed and in the proper place, a almost upon them, with head lowered He does not haunt the pawnbrokers for battle. of dusk in the evening. Well, It The rider struggled with all her was none of my business. Doubtless, young might to regain control of an he knew what he was doing. I animal that had no better instinct, and Friand caughed suggestively, than to run came slipping in my direction again. in fending for himself, wildly in the wrong direction. It was This is what I want How much? useless. Then, her wits returning to I inquired. she remembered her pistol, and her, Fifty cents; it has never been with a quick wrenching open of the worn." holster, and an aim that was fairly T be Continued. steady, she fired, cutting a red furrow gun-sho- Bull-Fig- ht in the thick skin of the- - bull's neck. This was for a moment, effective. He stopped short, bellowed furiously, and tossed up a cloud of dust She fired again and missed. Suddenly, in the confusion, just how she never remembered everything was different. The desperate horse had wheeled not quite in time. The bull had caught him on one horn, a blow glancing but deadly, tearing a hideous gash in his sides. The poor animal sank to its knees with a groan. Her face distorted with terror, the girl kicked away the stirrup, clutched the saddle-hor- n with both hands, and swung to her feet. At the same moment her horse lurched heavily forward and rolled over. The next instant a lasso flashed before her eyes, and she saw the bull voice swerve aside. A reassuring called out to her, and she turned to see Maximo Gomez making fast the rope. But she was too frightened to realize just what had happened. she gasped; Oh, help me over! I shall be killed! Ive got him! called the man. He is tied fast. Wait there. I will come in and look at your horse. It seems to be badly hurt. He dismounted and climbed lightly over the bars. It may not die, he said, after examining the wound. "But it will be quite useless for a long time. Have you far to go? I am .visiting the family of Senor Benavente. I am a stranger here. Can you lend me some kind of an animal to carry me home? He turned Senorita. Assuredly, again to the wounded horse, which lay passively on its side, breathing heavily. With several quick slashes 'the girth fell away, and the man removed the saddle. You must wait a little, he said, spreading the small blanket on the ground beside her, until I can get your saddle patched up. Will you rest here while I work at it?" He crossed the fence again, and presently returned with the girth strap from his own saddle. He seated himself on the ground, a short distance away, and set about securing the slender leather thongs to the smaller saddle. The her knees, girl, hugging watched him curiously. After awhile she asked: Do you not wonder how it is that I came to be fighting a bull in your corral? Well, Senorita, I will own that it does not happen every day." His keen eyes rested on her in a strangely wistYou had a narrow esful manner. I came pretty fast when I cape. heard the pistol shots. The girl turned her glance for an instant toward the wounded horse, and shivered. It was fairly close. I was never so frightened in all my life. Senor Benaventes vaqueros are rounding up the stragglers, and I have been on the hills with them every day. I let one get It Is great sport. away. I saw him go through a break in the fence and I followed, but lost track of him for awhile in the thick underbrush by the river. Then I heard your cattle, and knew he must havo come over here. Gomez fingers were still busy with the saddle straps, but his eyes scarcely left the fair young face before him. When he had repaired the saddle Gomez stood up. I am going to put your saddle on my horse now, he said. A few moments later he led his animal into the corral. He helped her mount and she gathered up the reins, beaming upon him. You will receive your horse when we Send for the bull. 1 leave for New York in a very few days, but I shall never forget that you saved my life this afternoon; and if you ever need a friend I hope you will write to me, to the address I will send She held out her hand. "Goodyou. bye! To-da- y ALL UTAH STOCKS Roforoneo Any Bank in Utah. We Want Your Business Branch Office, Eureka, Utah. arJ It is just aa much our cam to aoa that your watch or jawolry ara oarofully ro- -I paired as to eharga a vary modarata price for the work. 170 Sft SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. Mail orders carefully attended. WHERE MR. SPOONER LOST OUT. Next Time, Maybe, He Will Be More Chary of Compliments. Do you really mean It, Mr. Spooner, when you say I am the best girl in the world? asked Miss Flypp, after the young man had suggested that she should become Mrs. Spooner. Indeed, I do. Miss Flypp, asseverated the young man. I say It again you are the best girl In the world." And the loveliest, I think you said? The loveliest, without doubt. "I think you said something about my accomplishments, too? I did. I said they excelled those of any other girl. "I believe you called me sweet? " A sweeter woman neer drew breath, quoted the ardent lover. You used the word perfect, too, did you not? I did. I also pronounce you the pink of perfection,, propriety and modesty, the empress of my heart, the peerless one among the beauteous creatures of your sex, a maiden adorable, enchanting and worthy of the hand of the best man on earth. Say the word that will make me the happl-es- t man, my own Dora! Before I give you an answer, Mr, Spooner, I should like to ask you one question. A dozen If you like." One will be enough. ; Dont yoa think you have a good deal of assurance to expect a yoman with all those excellent qualities to marry you? Then Mr. Spooner went home. Too Muoh Idealized. He was at one time the leading photographer, wasnt he? Yes. But after Bellas experience his business dropped off. Tell me about It. Bella had some pictures taken there and they certainly were swell. A multimillionaire from Pittsburg saw one In the showcase and fell in love at first sight. With Bella? With Bellas picture. Of course, he was wild to be Introduced. Then he saw thd actual Bella. And then? And then he took the first train back to Pittsburg. Theres the Rub. thing of no great difficulty to raise objections against another mans oration nay, it is a very easy matter; but to produce a better in Its place Is a work extremely troublesome. It Is a Plutarch. When Learning Is Jocular. The Yale students attitude toward the faculty, though Jocular, is not antagonistic, and as a rule the Record laughs with the professor at his unfortunate pupil, as instance i Dycut Funker But I do not think I deserve an absolute zero. Professor Neither do I, but that Is Gomez felt the touch of her cool the lowest mark I am allowed to give. Among the stage settings of the fingers for a bewildered instant, and then he knew that she was gone and campus the lunch rooms, called dog he would never see her again. He wagons, because of their remarkable went over to the wounded horse and output of bologna sandwiches, or hot lifted its head. It was dead. Lying dogs, are well patronized and conon the ground, where it had been hid- tribute their share of fun. Shay, Jack, come on over and have den by the thick mane, lay a small a dog. He picked it up. It was an pistol. Nop, I just had a rabbit. ordinary revolver of no great value, "Well, shen, come on over and have but he jerked off the silk handkerThe Bohemian. chief that was knotted about his a dog for a chaser. throat and rolled the pistol in it As Women Not Humorous. he did this his eye fell upon a small Lida Rose McCabe says that women yellow object shining near his foot are lacking In humor and that most a small gold hairpin, curiously of them either take a hyper-seriou- s wrought a fragment of the aureole! view of life or look at it from an The pistol he would return, but this standpoint Women are too this she surely would not miss! highly conventionalized to be able to Surely the young saint with the heavy appreciate humor with the keenness gold braids had many more such! Rev- of men from their broader outlook. erently hd turned it over in his hand, More Zones of Quiet. as he might a blessed relic of the Chicago has recently established cnarch, and felt in his pockets for something to hide ft in. He pulled hospital quiet zones, similar to those out the agent's letter. Very carefully In New York, and there are other he shaped a neat little packet about signs that a wave of protest against his treasure. Taking out his old to- unrestrained noise la sweeping over bacco pouch he spilled the brown the country; and even In Europe the powder on the ground, slapping it authorities of many of the larger cities measures. against his knee to be sure that every are instituting stuff was Medical Record. particle of the When the paper packet dislodged. Uncle Eben, had been securely fitted Into this he said Uncle Eben, Sometimes, into his in it breast thrust the Then, 11 plates, per cent; flanks, 4 soft gray light of the swiftly-dyinfolks dat wants to be contented dasnt Gomez the Maximo left corraL day, foh fear t bein' unfashionable. ultra-frivolo- anti-nois- g e |
