The Mask: A Story of Love and Adventure
most liberal scale. The house was decorated by Herly, three
picturesque fiddlers were obtained from an agency, and Mazzoni, who
provides delicacies for the "400," had charge of the catering.
Everybody who was anybody was invited, all Ray's personal friends
besides a lot of people she did not know so well. A number of Helen's
intimates were there and also some men friends of Mr. Steell and Dick
Reynolds. The girls in their light gowns looked pretty as angels. The
men were handsome, attentive and gallant. Altogether, everyone voted
it one of the most enjoyable social affairs of the year.
Ray had danced her sixth waltz and at last utterly exhausted, unable to
stand any more, she allowed Dick Reynolds to escort her to a sofa.
"Please get me an ice, will you? That's a dear boy," she gasped.
"Will I!" echoed the youth. "What wouldn't I do for you--fire and
water--that's all!"
"As bad as that?" laughed the girl panting. "Please don't be silly.
Go and get me an ice."
Obediently, he left her and forced his way through the throng to the
buffet, while Ray, left alone, started to fan herself vigorously. As
she sat there Helen passed on the arm of Mr. Parker. The President
stopped short and quizzed the young girl.
"You here?" ejaculated the old gentleman in mock amazement. "Why
aren't you dancing? This will never do."
Helen smiled.
"I expect she's tired out. This is the first time I've seen her sit
down all evening."
Ray nodded.
"You've guessed right, sis. I'm nearly dead. I sent Dick for an ice."
"Did you ever see such a crowd?" remarked the president of the A. A. M.
Company as he surveyed the throng that passed in and out of the rooms.
"Oh, Mrs. Traynor we're having such a jolly time," exclaimed a tall
graceful girl, gracefully dressed in light blue empire gown with
Grecian head dress.
"I'm so glad, dear," smiled the hostess amiably. Turning to Mr. Parker
as the girl passed on she asked: "Do you know who that is?"
He shook his head.
"She's the granddaughter of John R. Rockerford, the money king. Fancy
her saying this is jolly after the grandeur she is accustomed to!"
"No doubt she likes this better," retorted Ray. "Those very rich
people don't do things any better than we--sometimes not so well.
Their parties are too stiff and formal."
Suddenly Mr. Parker nudged his hostess.
"Here comes Mrs. Brewster-Curtis," he said in a stage whisper. "They
say her husband's worth ten millions--all made from graft."
A handsome woman, blazing with diamonds, came up. Addressing Helen,
she exclaimed gushingly:
"Oh, Mrs. Traynor, isn't this perfectly delightful? How do you do, Mr.
Parker. Do you know I haven't enjoyed myself so much this season.
What's the news from your dear husband?"
"No news as yet."
"Dear me--you poor thing! How interesting--so pretty and husband away.
What an opportunity for some of our gay Lotharios!"
"They wouldn't have much chance with Helen!" laughed Ray.
Mrs. Brewster-Curtis turned, and putting up her gold lorgnon, stared at
the unknown young woman who had been so bold to venture to express an
opinion. Ray, meantime, was wondering what detained Dick. Here she
was famishing with thirst and still no ice. Her partner had
disappeared completely.
Addressing her hostess Mrs. Brewster said languidly:
"Your niece, I believe."
"No--my sister," corrected Helen with a smile. It was a mistake often
made.
"Of course--of course, how silly of me. I might have known that. You
look enough alike."
"Do you think so?" interrupted Ray hotly. "Helen is far prettier than
I."
"You are no judge, my dear. You must let the men decide that."
"They do," said Ray, "and they all declare in favor of Helen."
"Not by the way Mr. Steell dodges [Transcriber's note: dogs?] your
footsteps." Looking up she exclaimed: "There he is now."
"Oh, Mr. Steell," cried Helen, "don't forget our next waltz."
His face all smiles, the lawyer forced his way through the press of
people.
"Have you seen Dick?" asked Ray. "I sent him to get me an ice."
Mr. Steell laughed outright.
"Oh, it was you who sent him. If I had known----"
"Why?" demanded Ray, opening wide her eyes. "Where is he? I want my
ice."
"I'll get you an ice, dear," said Helen.
"No, let me go," exclaimed Mr. Parker.
"No--no one will get the ice but myself," said Mr. Steell. "It's my
fault that the ice is not already forthcoming. It is only just that I
suffer accordingly."
Mr. Parker laughed.
"The ice episode threatens to become a diplomatic incident."
"Why--whatever is the matter?" smiled Helen.
The lawyer was so much amused that he could hardly keep his face
straight. With an effort he controlled himself, and said:
"Just now I was talking with a pretty girl and Dick suddenly forced his
way through the crowd, going in the direction of the buffet. I had no
idea on what a serious mission he was bound, of course, and so I called
him to introduce him to the pretty girl, who had with her an aunt, a
veritable witch, as hideous as a Medusa, and who, in addition, is
afflicted with a wooden leg. Dick gave the aunt only a glance. That
was enough, but he was all smiles for her pretty niece, who, I must
admit, is somewhat of a flirt. Anyhow she rolled her eyes so
eloquently at him that he forgot all about the important errand on
which he was bound. Just at that moment the musicians struck up a
_schottische_, and, on the spur of the moment, he asked the pretty girl
to dance. She declined, with an arch smile, but, pointing to the old
witch, said her aunt would be delighted. Poor Dick! There was no help
for it. The Medusa got up, seized him in her claws, and, the last
thing I saw of the poor youth, they were doing a sort of Bunny Hug, the
wooden leg of his lady partner marking time on the waxed floor."
"Please stop! If you go on--I shall expire."
Ray was nearly in convulsions of laughter in which all joined. When
Helen had somewhat regained her composure, she said:
"I think it's unkind to make fun of the poor woman. Who is she?"
"I haven't the least idea. Perhaps Dick will tell us."
At that moment the youth emerged from the throng and came towards them,
his linen mussed, his hair dishevelled. But in one hand he held grimly
a plate of ice cream. Looking shamelessly at Ray, he smiled:
"I've got it--at last."
"Where have you been all this time?" she demanded innocently.
"Oh, I've been having no end of a good time!"
Steell burst out laughing.
"Did she ask you to call, Dick?"
"If she had I'd have killed her."
"How did the artificial leg work?"
"She jammed it on my foot once. How it did hurt!"
Ray, by this time, was almost in hysterics, and Helen and the others,
catching the contagion, the whole group were soon shaken by
uncontrollable laughter.
The orchestra struck up a quadrille. A man came rushing up to Ray.
"My dance, I believe."
With a comical expression of resignation, the young girl allowed
herself to be led away, while Helen and Mrs. Brewster-Curtis took seats
to watch the figures.
"Come, Dick," said Steell in an undertone. "Let's go and smoke a
cigar."
Leading the way he went into the smoking-room, where cigars and liquors
were laid out. Turning to the youth, he inquired eagerly:
"Well--what about the Signor? What have you found out?"
Dick lit a cigarette and then calmly he said:
"Everything."
"What--to be specific."
"He's all and more than we expected."
"In other words--a crook?"
"Yes, and a dangerous one."
"What's his game?"
"Confidence man, bank robber, blackmailer."
"How did you find out?"
"Very easily. I found his record. The police haven't disturbed him
because his clever disguise has deceived them. They have not
recognized in the polished, suave Signor Keralio, the popular fencing
master, the man they have been hunting for years. His real name is
Richard Barton. His pals call him Baron Rapp. Five years ago he was
convicted of robbing a bank out West and was sent up for ten years. He
served a year in Joliet and then broke jail and he has been at liberty
ever since."
"Good!" exclaimed the lawyer, rubbing his hands with satisfaction.
"We've got him where we want him. What else?"
"He has managed to elude the police so far owing to the fact that he
has not been operating of late, but from what I've been able to ferret
out, he is preparing some big haul. Everything points that way. I
don't know what it is, but it's the biggest thing in which he has yet
been mixed up. He's affiliated with crooks who operate all over the
country. Some of his men are disguised as servants and valets in rich
houses. They spy on their masters and tell him if there is anything
worth robbing. He is the master-mind that schemes the operations that
others carry out. He tells his men what banks and homes to break into
and instructs them how to do it. He receives all the stolen property.
At this very moment his flat in the Bronx is full of stolen loot. I
also suspect him of being engaged in counterfeiting."
The lawyer was lost in admiration.
"Dick, you're a wonder!"
The young man grinned with pride.
"Well--what's it to be--shall we tip off the police?"
"Not by a long shot. We'll have the gun loaded--all ready for use. If
the Signor gets ugly we'll shoot--that's all. Not a word, do you hear.
Leave everything to me. Come, let's go back or they'll think
something's wrong."
In the ballroom, they were still dancing the quadrille, the pretty
gowns of the girls and black coats of the men making a picturesque
sight as they blended in the ever changing figures.
The gayety was at its height when the maid entered and whispered in her
ear:
"There's a gentleman downstairs."
Helen looked at the girl in surprise.
"A gentleman? What's his name?"
"I don't know, m'm. He wouldn't say."
"Very well, I'll go down."
Slipping away unobserved, Helen made her way downstairs and throwing
back the heavy tapestry portieres entered the drawing room which was
almost in complete darkness. The maid had forgotten to switch on the
electrolier and as the only light came from the distant dining-room,
the big parlor was practically all in gloom. Before her eyes had
become quite accustomed to the dark, a man advanced out of the shadow.
It was Signor Keralio.
She recognized him instantly and instinctively she shrank back,
alarmed. How had he dared come again to her house after what had
occurred? He noticed the movement and asked:
"I see that I'm unwelcome. Do I frighten you so much?"
Coldly she answered:
"You do not frighten me. You surprise me. I did not expect this
pleasure after what passed between us the last time you were here."
Making a half turn, as if about to leave the room, she added quickly:
"I have company upstairs. You must excuse me."
She walked away and had almost reached the door, when, with a quick
stride, he intercepted her.
"Please don't go. I am here in your own interest. I want to talk to
you--just a moment, about----"
She hesitated.
"About what?" she demanded haughtily.
"About your husband."
"My husband?" she echoed, turning and facing him.
"Yes--your husband. He is in danger. I want to help you and--him."
"Kenneth in danger?" she faltered. "What do you mean?"
He pointed to a chair.
"Won't you sit down. I won't keep you a moment. I will tell you
everything----"
She sat down like one in a dream. Taking a seat near her, he began in
his low, musical tones.
"Peril threatens your husband. It is known that he has gone to South
Africa to bring home diamonds of almost inestimable value. A number of
desperate men, who stop at nothing to accomplish their ends, have taken