Hearts and Masks

must have presented a likely picture, however-my face blackened with coal-dust, cobwebs stringin

the detective urbanely. "Well, you look it. Will you

do you and your police wan

d his star

entral Office. I want y

e story in the newspaper returned to my vision. Oh, this was too much, altogether too much! He took me to be th

think I have d

al thousand dollars' worth of

on was so impossible tha

u are losing time, besides. I am not the man for w

nother, it doe

inions of the law, whom I afterward lea

admittance here," demanded t

llected curiously about us. I could see the m

said I. "He escaped by the coal-window." B

ty, turning to his men. "They had a

presently cost you dear,"-thinking of the political pull my u

se!" said the

hen you dropped that card in Friard's and said you were going to a masquerade, I knew your game in a minute, and laid eyes upon you for the first time since I beg

prove to you that you are greatly mistaken." E

y landed in the lockup. Now, Madame,"-turning swiftly upon

has no part in

kin is very thick. Do

d. He stood undec

see yo

o produce it

ment. "I am sorry to annoy you, bu

den to go into the club cellars fo

ooked at he

rty. "Couldn't you have

d not

ted with him. I do not wish to do anything hasty in regard to yourself, but your p

ref

pany us to the room up stairs

go,"-q

his lady. Our presence in the cellar was perfectly harmless.

aid Haggerty. "Let the lady produce her card; let

," replied the girl. "I can very well explain my presence

he had said that she possessed an

for Hamilton. He was a friend in need. We were taken into the steward's office and the door was shut and locked. The band in the ball-room

y I am to have mixed you up

hink of what might have happened

sed of the two of us. I addressed my

suitable pisto

happy that I nearly put you on your guard. Lord, how long I've been looking for you! I give you credit for being a clever rascal. You have fooled us all nicely. Not a soul among us knew your name, nor what you looked like. And but for that card, you might still be at large. Until the lady submit

police, who was sitting at the desk

rters, m

that no reporter gets

rang. One of the

r. Haggerty

telephone and placed

"You have got the other fellow

the chief excite

work. I must hustle into town at once. There'll be plenty of time to attend to these persons. Br

Mr. Haggerty. Billy, go down with

, a fine night's work. I'll see that all get some credit. Perm

importantly. He already saw his name figuring in the New Yor

d motionless. It must have been a cruel ordeal for her. But what was puzzling me was the fact that she made not the slightest effo

e-quarters, an hour. Far away we heard the whistle of an out-going train. Would I had been on it! From time to time we heard faint music. At length th

lessly. "What the devil does th

ellow, Mr. Hamilton

" answered Teddy; "and I'll stak

dy!) I began

hief, seized with

ow this gentleman is incapable of the theft. There is some

ing inch by inch as I went along. Hamilton didn't k

, why didn't you write

old ball, had I been invited. I

theless," said the chief, "till e

oked at the

do me the honor to

will you do me the hon

is breath. Her beauty was certainly of a

oung woman before,"

ief, glad to find

tation through the proper

the invitation of Mrs. Hyphen-Bond

n impostor like myself, that her ten of hearts was as dark-stained as my own. I could not make head or tail to it. Mrs. Hyphen-Bonds! She was a la

r opene

ome," said the of

alled up. I don't believe his fashionable thief has materialized at al

, the general invita

she passed the eng

aid Hamilton humbly. "Everyth

an?" asked the chief of Ha

He is a retired army officer, and to my knowledge a ma

girl, scowling. It was quite evident he coul

," with an obliq

been

n? I am obliged to ask

ature painte

u the artist who recently completed the miniatures of the Empe

re is no further rea

ow bewildered chief. "Why didn't y

my re

sed ire. He reminded me of Vautrin, the only difference being that Vautrin was French while this man was distinctly Irish. His massive

en for a chief of poli

e you?" bawled the ch

you who I a

wonder. What was

is Mr. Hamilton?" aske

that he was the gen

have been robbed of thei

housand doll

ng his fist, "I want you to explain yourself, and mighty

erest rascal in the state to slip thro

police sat