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Show I ffTTb PoY --of i& G LAY F fl Vx By Luke Thrice --a. H A 5reaiMe J(ory wiA a flonfiii; flfinj7. Mifrts . H 1119 jtcitiy XArOMj. a serif o terws titiiath-t ' H satisfying climax On- of the T'tj ,6i - ' -nl B ten o M "Matter Rogue," o .rr.f'f. M pages bv Thrice. .r ' H l w -' B Coprrij:S.t. 110. bj U Ntt iOfli ""-ij., - VV . "'' ' KH flf 7 HAT'S the !U1M, '??. 'is b ' W s,or B ' Burch. considered the nui-ti'jn and th- B VV glowing tip of his coronation Lhrcujyli M the drift, naze of tho smoke for. a u H ment of silence The two wen- cnaconscd. In their H usual summer retreat, the hidden arbor, on tho roof H nhw only the attentive, flitting shadow of Ota, the H Japanese, "brofc-s upou their seclusion. About then H lay the litter of the day's papers, from which ttiev H had absorbed such professional items as served then H business and social Iulcre.sK. H -Why not simply the attraction of ".skilful theft, the H tlirdl that comes to a subtle mind through oveneneh- H lug other minds?" inquired the master., "There iv- H mains kleptomania, which seldom make distinctions M i'ii the basis of Bradstreet." H KleptomonlHC, oh?" mused Laxton. ".Never saw H one," he ndded innocently H The masbr looked across at him and smiled, a ehai- H uctcrisllc. quiet smile. "One Jcs serious minded Hj I ban mjself might perpetrate an evil Jest by fetch- H Inp the mirror," In commeuted. H "Who, me?" exclaimed Laxton. with a llu-di o as- H tonlshed protel "No "ueh a thine;. I'm no bite;. H Why. I'm Just .is much a laborer as rhc lad who packs H Burch smiled again at 1il earnestness, but sobered H in a tlasli. "Pardon mc, Laxton. But wo were speak H Jup of kleptomania." he added In a lighter tone. "Let me dip Into mv grab bap of yarns aud perchance bring H forth one uudcr that head." H It was .second cigar time when the muster spoke fl again. I H The ;laee was the vast, wooded Long Island estate H of the Demaars; the time, late August, and the ncca- H Rion the fete masque for which all the north shore M that pioperly belonged to the north shore had schemed fl Ihrouglioul tin summer H Waudering paths tlankcd with shrubbery, tho faint H glow f multicolored paper lanterns, the thousand H mysteries) of night in the wood and the cureless spirit H of a frolic crowd make a templing setting to the clever H opgrntor. The three Central Office men who watched Hl tho gales of the park conscientiously for Just slich un- H Invited m.iftpierader.s us mypclf hod no opportunity H lo inspect my credentials, however I preceded them H by a day. taking up residenco with the prize pheasants and passing the time comfortably with n copy of M Montaigne and a basket of sandwiches. H Behold me then at the merriest hour my hour M it rutting in tho semblance of Bertrand dc Born, brave M In colors, a stringed rebec by my side, with black silk H mask wherewith I might meet all boldly. I'orliaps H the fascination such mummery held for me was the H sneaking opportunity to mingle on level Jcnns H vith . "Well, the fascination was there, you un- H dorslacd. Immense, irresistible. H My flowing garmenb? showed aa we'd, my person M was us pleasing, my voice ns eoft and tenderly mod- M aatcd as the best rufflcr of them all. T knew the fl pmrnmrcd phrase, the discreet advance, the flash of ,hc eve, tbc sly pressure, the hundred and one points fl C a game whereby a jaded set consents to forget M under Pierrot's garb and mien for an evening the fl threadbare, playaday ronnd of life. None was there to question me. For a moment I was an equal mem- H ber. .Weakness If you like, but I revelled lu U-, safe , H lu the heltcr skelter of blr.arre disguises. H I morcd among the throng that filled lawns and H terraces, spread along the alleys and wooded trails, H far out through groves where myriad globos winked H and nodded. T threaded my way unchaljenged, low- H ing for an instant over the while hand of an Arthurian heroine, disputing and winning a dance with a bewitching little shepherdess ogalnsl an importunate 'Richelieu and a bristly mosstrooper; clapping hand H to hilt at the pretensions of a black vlsagcd Turk. H whispering audacious flattery into tbc pink but ready H ear of a jewelled Isabella; fetching ice? for a naulch H girl, and something les innocuous for a while H browed, unapproachable Diana. H The Whirl of Pleasure. H The surge and whirl of mcrrymakfrn, the froth and H patter of email talk, the ripple and tinkle of, laughter H up and down the dim lit paths where shadows H moved in and out of the shadows, where unsuhstuutlal H forms gathered in eddies und broke to gather again H all this was to mc as real and unreal, aud SnUr.igl- H ble and delicious, as intoxicating aud soothing as a H hasheesh dream. Handsome women, delightfully H hhy, mockingly attentive gallant men, meticulously H courteous, subtly defiant entertained and saluted H me unawares. While the spoil lasted there was no H .1. Ramsey Burch, -various and unmitigated rogue: H only a featherbrain beneath the curls of Borlrand de H Borun, whose one Interest was an ephemeral but- H passionate devotion for an arch mlhr of a Black For- H est peasant girl. H At the height of the revelry I stood upou the verge H of the sylvan circle, sunk below the surrounding H promeuadc. where, by the same touch of golden H magic that bad rahed all this wcnderland, Itn- H smooth, polished surface of a perfect dancing floor H boue under thr clustered, pendulous lights. In the H centre, as from a placid lake, rose a natural ciag, H reached by an underground pansage. whereon tin H orchestra vkj marooned In harmonious l$ol.llIuii. The H Interweaving of form and color, the swinging rhythm H of the dance, wrought sweetly ujxm my eusc H (h-usuders, banditti and c"agcr carpet Unlgbls of a H iloxcn impostilblc courts hustled inc. passive, hither H und yoa as they plucked their nymphn and gypsies, H their goddesses and Pompadours, tholr Jeanut and H Theodoras, to ehe tripping of tho measure. :;houl- H dered to tho outskirts. I spied a rustic IkucIi half hld- H don beneath a gigantic lilac .bush. I sank: upon It, H and os by the rending of a veil the glamour wa gone. H The harsh, low voice of a woman reached me from Hj beyoqd the bush. H "My dear, you have ouly to wntch him the Gray j Frtar. Ordinarily one saya nothing about such H things they pass ns a hldeouB nightmare. But this H Is too terribly bold, too odtragcoug an affront to pcr- M mlr-nt ancrincc or silence. There will be no sceue.-df M course, I wished to warn you of what to cipcer, that H is H "Bui, molliur." cume a hurried, tlaUerlup protest, j "it it is qditc impossible. Oh, how can you aav such B hcadfiil, dreadful tldnpsV ateven Bascom" - M "Hush:" rcUirned the first speaker shurp!.r. On M y flieiccllon of the floor just across the Dromcnad'tj from "Hey, Barney, you've got the wrong man." where I sat a couple glided through a gap, balanced and reversed into the waltzing throng. One was a Gray Friar, with plain robe, cowl and knotted cord that showed a tall, broad shouldered, powerful ilgurc. As he parsed he laughed, a deep chested, virile, primitive primi-tive laugh that spoke of a splendid, high spirited animal. ani-mal. Ills partner was the jewelled IsnbeJIa. who seemed withal quite content to nestle within his masterful arm. "You bee, he is will; Marion Sluyvcr," came the harsh, vibrant, decisive whisper from behind the bush. "And she has her emeralds." "How cm you how can you say such things 2" was the broken, passionate remonstrance "it Is too horrible! hor-rible! I've never heard" "That will do, Estelle." was the peremptory rejoinder, rejoin-der, in a tone used to the inflections of command "It makes not tho slightest difference what a girl in her first season may have heard or nfver have heard. Such things occur from time to time. Usually they are hushed up and (he person Is cared for by Ins family. Steven Bascom has already alienated his family, aud he mnst suffer." "But he couldn't " "Estelle, 1 see I must apeak more plainly. I have warned you oefoie against Steven Bascom. nc is entirely en-tirely too much Interested In you. Aud you. I fear, wore not uuresponsive. Your father and I wore considering con-sidering ways and means before this happened n boy utterly without fortune. But now you see he is a thief" "Mother!" "Cxactly," was the nasal response. "He has mj canary pendaut In his pockets this liibtaut. Oh, I promise you. the afrnir has- been carefully Investigated. Investi-gated. Not that I am In the least .llarmed. Mr. Henianr was ulmost prostrated when your father aud her husband told her the truth as well she might be. poor woman! a fearful scandal. They huve gone for tho pohcemeu now. He will he caught quietly and the property recovered, we ure assured At least a dozen losses of Jewelry have been discovered, traceable trace-able in every cabe to him." The whisper ran on. petulantly, maliciously, cynically, cyni-cally, wllh no apparent concern on the part of tho speaker for the iitler borror expressed by the girl's 2clamtttions at the monstrous churge. "I don't believe it." was tho strangled Interruption. She had courage, this girl "Once for all, Estelle, that will do. You aro blind. ou Imve Ulrted with ihh; thin degenerate" "That Is not true!" cried the girl. "He has qimr relied with bis people. He has been unfortunate, ho's bitter and Impulsive but not, uot criminal, mother!" "Estelle! Do jou presume to contradict? 1 give thanks do you henr? I am thanklul that this should have occurred fto pat upon his attentions to you. it bus been the heaviest or my burdens that you should th,vart and disappoint me nt every turn. But for this you might have been capable of . Well, at least, that Is scarcely likely now. You would hurdly disgrace yourself with a kleptomaniac!' The Cry of the Girl. The only auswer from the girl this time was a little suppressed cry of pain. I began to hate the elder woman. She wag a sour beldame who would crush the first flower of romance with so ruthless a hand. There was a puuse The music had ceased. Among tho dancers who trooped up to the higher level of tlio promenade T caught a glimpse of the tnll Gray Friar leading (he tatelv lobelia n willing- captive. Couples and parlies of masks began to stray past my Iliac bush. . "There Is another-matter, my dear." began the low, harsh voice again, wifh a softened hint of deprecation, depreca-tion, "it Is long since we have spoken frankly through your fault, I tuny add. Now we may as well have It out, now when you have had such a thorough demonstration of your own fallacious judgment. I have prepaicd you for this, 1 think. Mr. Stuyver, Mortimer Stuyver, has spoken to your father. He wishes to pay you bis addresses. Did you say anything?" any-thing?" Apparently her daughter had not, for she continued "Wo consented. He is in every way desirable, and enough older than you to balance your waywardness. I wish you to consider him as the one we favor. There he Is now. How well he looks in that dlstln- -gulshed Italian costume." ' Beyond, on the lloor, a big boned, beefy chap In slash trunk of purple velvet and parti-colored hose upon his thick, awkward legs, blundered in chn.e of a giggling Carmen. The mask could not hide the fat good nutme of his broad face nor the doublet conceal an unmistakably generous girth. "A charming man,"-whispered the elder lady, with satisfaction. "And a natural leader In everything. Tour fnther says he will be the next president of the Matriv NiUionnl. and his wealth is- estimated ar thirty mill ." How did you recognize Steven so easily?" asked the girl, impatiently, but with tears not far off. "I heard him admit bis Identity on the terrace, my dear." returned her mother, triumphantly, "to some mask who taxed him. And no one could mistake that voice. It was on the promenade heie that tie villain took my pendant. Come. 1 am perishing for an ice, nnd it would uot be well for you to see what will happen. People might talk " I wn up and into the path beyond the lilac bush in time to see the two women walking toward the house Tho elder was a 'thin, angular, sharp featured Queen Elizabeth in rnff and brocade, the very Impersonation of her voice. Her companion was the little shepherdess I had danced with, a charming, simple creature, exqnlsltely matched with her flounced skirt, staff and berlb-boued berlb-boued hat The orchestra Blru$k into another dance and tho merry folk came (locking back from all parts of the 'grounds to the lloor. I pressed in among them seeking seek-ing the Gray Friar, making the circuit of the promenade. prome-nade. I found him where the eroivd was thickest. He stood at the edge of a laughing group, In anl- mated converse with Marie Antoinette What drew my eye was a flue, four strand rope of pearls thHt liy carelessly about her shoulders. The group closed around them for a moment nnd 1 lost them. Then, at the further side, u tall, gray form slipped Into the shadows of the wood, and when I caught a glimpse of Murie Antoinette again there were no pearls,' though she was not yet aware of It. I darted after the Gray Friar. My Impulse was to breathe a wamlug into the ear of this daring young giant, to give him n chance against the closing trap of Queen Elizabeth, -whom I cordially detested. I 'followed him with dlffluilty through the maze m the direction of the house, losing him frequently In the mystic, baflling glow of -the Infrequent lanterns. Running urouud a curve I was almost precipitated upon a tableau that sent mo scurrying to cover. At 'an open spot where three alleys Intersected the Gray Friar had been slopped by the Itallau ffobleraan, 'There was no one else In sight. "Hall, brother," said he of the (punks, gujly snl'it- lng with a small bundle he carried. "I have sought you high and low. Is your reverence minded to enter upon a merry plot for the sake of a good Jest?" "Speak on," rumbled the Gray Friar, laughing. "I hnve here a domino for which I wish to beg the exchange of that gray robe of yours. Will you grant the favor?" "Whj, it's Mortimer," cried the Friar. "Might have known your style with that vivid makeup, you giddy gallant. What's the game? Am I In on It?" He thumped the other vigorously on the bnck. I caught a note of constraint In Stuyver's answering answer-ing laugh. "It's a joke. Steve or, a Joke on Queen Elizabeth, if you know who she Is. I want to borrow thai role of yours and adopt your character for a few minutes." "Righto." boomed the Friar, cheerily, untying his girdle. "Anything you can put across on Queen Bets goes with me. N'o trouble about the heieht. Mort: but what about the paunch, eh? Can you hide (hat In the folds? Give me the domino " They made the exchange quickly. Stuyver slipped the muQling robe over his own brilliant costume, turn Ing up the cowl. Bascom presently stood transformed trans-formed in checked blue and white. The Ominous Pause. "Now. what's the ticket?" asked the younger man. eagerly. "Do T take a hand? Do you need me? By the way, I warn you. Mort, you'll have to pick up a lot of desperate flirtations where I left tbcm off If you're going to do credit to me." Stuyver stepped toward him and iHld a hand on his arm. his big. pudgy face gone solemn under bis visor. "yes," he said, evenly. "I'll pick up the whole thing for a time. Steve. You have about three minutes to get away from here. I should advise the west wall of tho park. The gate Is watched." There was a moment of silence. Voices borne on the distant strains of the orchestra swept softly through the wood. Bascom stood staring stupidly at tbc other. "Pardon mc, old man." ho said, at length, with an uneasy rumble of laughter, "but what the devil did you say? Does this go with the joke?" "It's no use, Steve," returned the other, Dimly and rapidly. "You've been watched. Mrs. Dcmaar, as you may not know. Las three Central Ofllee men out ' here She Is finding costumes for them now up at the house. They are to get you quietly. If possible, so as to avoid n scandal. Luckily I overheard the whole plan and I'm ready to lend them a wild goose chnso until you got away. N'ow, start; you haven't a moment mo-ment lo lose." He spoke with tense, kindly feeling, voice and gesture urging his act of friendship But Bascom wrenched looe from blra and flung forward with heavy, grasping hands. In his tnrn catching Stuyver roughly by the shoulders. "What's all this?" he breathed, hoarsely. "Why, you Don't trifle with my temper," he thundered thun-dered In a sudden gust of passion, and shook the other violently. Stuyver held up to him manfully. "Where's the good, Steven?" he pleaded, gently hnt urgently "I know you've been unfortunate, practically practi-cally lost everything you've got. And I'm the last to blamo you. God witness. If you'd come to mo with your trouble I'd have helped you Now it's too late. You've done It, and the whole thing Is known to Mrs. Demnar and others. I never would have believed It, bdt I saw you myself. We wero rivals, boy," ho added, with a little twisted smile "but I'd have given up Es,telle and everything else to save you from this Jt only remains for you Jto get away; If not for your own sake, then" Bascom. with a roar of anger, bent the older man like a reed, forcing him mercilessly to one kuce. "Damn you," he said, thickly, "thn.'s ns far as you go on that lap. Now what 1st it? The truth man. What have you and her mother T-ed between you? What do you know? What dood aw. Deinaur know? Our with It?" ' makT I 1 I t Stuyver remained calm and steady. "She nnd othen t. say It must be kleptomania I don't believe there'! H anything of the degenerate In you. 8tee. It must II have been the pressure of your troubles 1 and De v I maur saw you take mv ulster's emerald bracelet." j; H lu a burst of primal rage BaHCom snntched tin '; other from his kneeling posture, held him uptight an H liistanU and smashed a heavy tlst full Into his face I It was a brutal thing, the act of a pure savage Stny- '! ffl ver was helpless. He reeled backward blindly, hit ' IB checks staining with crimson beyond tho black blllt i SI mask Bascom, wild with fury, wns whirling u'ton ) ffl him ugaln when a shout came from the end of ilia alloy toward the house A little party of mci in fl dominoes wa- coming ut a run. In the dim. broken 1 light they hud seen the assault. One. unmasked. In 1 dress suit, lumbered after them Dema.ir, whipping V on his detective. p Basfnni had slopped -hort at the cvj. Stuyver, fo bringing tip agnlnst the end of a bench, stared it lh j approaching group. Almost instantly he recovered f, wrenched around and sprang upon Bascom j, "Quick!" he yelled, dragging the other with fr.m tic strength into the lower alley. "The shrubbery", Make to the west for the wall! I'll give them a chase vet- Thev'Il follow me." lie was a powerful mna "for all his weight, and his vigor had taken Baseoin - completely by surprise. Now, with a sudden shoe, , he sent the younger stumbling anil floundering lnt j, the bushes not a yard from when I crouched Bus- com scrambled n moment, swelling outrageously The running group broke around the corner just at u he stood erect once more, and with a yell he dashed Into the path In front of them. The pursuit passed ' on swiftly toward the dance floor, led by the false ( Gray Friar, with the culprit next and the pack o( , the law at their heels. . I held to my place of concealment for a moment, j' debating whnt might yet be done to aid Bascom. 1 no longer had any paitlcuhir sympathy with him. but j I would have saved a worse man to despite Queen Elizabeth. That Instant of hesitation reversed the entire affair as sharply as the crack of a whiplash. j For as I waited the bushes on the opposite side of the ( open space parted nnd a tall, stooped, stealthy llgure ' stole out. I gabled with amazement. It was ch A Gray Friar! f And yet not the Grny Friar Stuyver was pounding v down (he alley with that distinctive robe flapping i' about his awkward leg. The man before me was another Gray Friar, the very twin of Bascom as Bascom Bas-com had looked with mnsk and robe. Many readjustments readjust-ments took place swiftly In my mind ns 1 watched I The now Gray Friar stood a moment, mouth opened j in silent mirth as he viewed the departing pursuit 1 race down the alley, hands on hips. I was glad h ji had opened his moulh that way. When he had sulli- i cleutly enjoyed the situation he turned and glided cat j; footed" to the end of the path toward the house, spylnj the next step toward speedy escape The movemcul brought him with his back toward me. 5 With Infinite caution I crawled out from my hldlnj ; place, ne bad not turned wheu my feet wuie on th i gravelled walk. Aud then I had him. Three sllenl Jumps took me across and hurtllup on him from the rear, knee driven at the waist line- His hands flew up and I caught a hold that Ota taught me yeitrs ago 4; One wrench and he collapsed, limp and groaning, face ,' down, to the path. The ribbon of my little rebec, j which was still bound to my shoulders, served my j purpose J " 'Silk Stocking' Dugan, my dear young friend,' I . purred to him, as 1 slid the capacious sleeves of the , friar's lobe from him, "lie quiet, as you value the j. . articulation of your vailoua joints." Having removed the Indispensable garment I proceeded to truss him : up scientifically. "I'm right glad I didn't have to come at you from , the front. Just the sume," I assured him cheerfully. "You've got all the build of young Ba-com there, i whom you so cleverly duplicated, aud you're probnblj ; a heap more effective In handling your h(, not tc .' mention that gun. By the way, 1 must congratulate : vou on the Job. It was worthy of your best efforts, 1 'Silk.' and you've done some pretty classy work it jour time. " But the game must go on. I'm sorry, "but the drnmntlc suspense domnnds It There have 1 been tluc-e Gray Friars to-night Bascom. Stuyver and i, yourself. Now there's going to be a fourth " "What do you mean when you say that?" 1 later hnd occasion to rejoice that the trussing oi Dugan had progressed to a stage where he was help- j les.s, for when this question was murmured In my j, ear by a fresh, sweet toned voice I was momentarily : paralyzed. 1 looked up to find my little shepherdess beside me, lennlng on her staff, and questioning mo and my occupation with wide, fearless eyes. 1 recorded recor-ded wheu I found bhe was alone "What do you mean?" she went on, earnestly. "I ' was In the bushes there I saw and hcaid, every -t thing. This man," pointing to Dugan. "Is the thief. 1, 1 followed him, thinking he was the other. But ( they are running after Mr. Stuyver. When they catcb him they will learn their mistake and pet Stevi. Mr j Bascom. Even If they find nothing on him he cannot 1 clear himself" ner voice caught, slightly, but , she went on. "I don't think 1 know you. You : danced with me, didn't you?" If she was afraid, ufi-ald of mc or of Dugan, lylnp there, she gave na sign of it But she was Infinitely more appealing in her brave, frank, direct questioning r- she bent over me with Jlushed checks and parted lips than she ' would have been lu fear. There are times when I feel somewhat sorry and ashamed In spite of all my philosophical props. I felt so before this simple, cbarmlug child, and I was glad of my mask. "MLsa Estelle, you honored mc by a dance this ovculng," I agreed, gravely. "But you do not know me ' I finished the tying of Dugan, dragged him Into the bushes, where I Informed him he could release himself with hnrd work, Inside of an hour, and slipped on the robe of the Gray Friar. "This is whut I maint," 1 .went on, as the girl i watched mo. "1 am to be the fourth Gray Friar this evening-, nnd the last Listen." ', Tho music had censed again below. The hum and t: ripple of volo.es filled the pause. But now there was a new note A. crcsendo wave of laughter Inter- ( speraed with cheers, followed by another and an- , other, reached us. I smiled at her. "Do you know what that means?" 1 asked. "It means that tho crowd views the chase aa some prank of madcap j masks, Thej need never be the wiser, except thone who have suspected Mr. Bascom. Hurry straight to , the dancing floor If you wish to sec the last Incarna- ' tlon of the Gray Friar. And I left her, running at ' top speed down the alley to my right H k" The path brought me out nt the side of the circle ' furthest from the house. -Most of the throng wnfl banked along the promenade across from me ami on ; the floor tho serlo-conicdy that excited their applause W was being enacted. Stuyver. the rolc flapping about ' S his legs, was running aud dodging (ho pack, waving ' frantically at Bascom. who pursued him as desper- U atoly as the detectives. Stuyver must have been B frantic with chagrin and dlsuppolutniciil nt the fall- t H uro of his well meant elTorLs, hut he still kept dog- I fl gedly In the lead, wiping hK fice as he ran. So much j aQ I saw as I plunged Into the musicians' underground . b passage, that led beneath the floor to the orchestral Sa cra. t When I climbed out among the bewildered fiddlers , and galued a point of vantage the huut was closing fl In. The detectives had circled tho rock on both " H sides aud Stuyver, In a bust spurt, was coming . D straight toward me. Teu yards away Bascbm ran : M him down nnd the breathless group came panting to ' B a stand almost at my feet. ; Bj "Hey, Barnoy, you've got the wroug man," I hailed ' B one of tho detectives mockingly All their faces wero I B turned up to me In wonder, nnd as they stared from 1 B The capacious pockets of the Gray Frlnr I drew a : B dazzling handful of Jewels, a canary pendant among SH vthom, Bnrney, the best of the Central Otllce men, . cR was tho first to recover und made a jump for me. fl With a goy wave I dropped from the opposite side of "ffl the rock aDd sprinted away from the hopeless pur- , B suit to the woods and safety. As I made my way J B toward the west wall tho cro,wd was still buzzing ; B with laughter over the pranks of the strange madcap t H masks who caught one Gruy Friar only to be dls- IB tuncecl by anothor. WM Among the society weddings next June was that of 1 B my slinplo little shepherdess to Mr. Mortimer Stuy- RJ ver, which led me to suspect that she was uot so WKBk "'mnlr offer fill H HEAD 'TiTiSf5Prr?ft |