A Grease Paint Strategem

A COMPLETE NOVELETTE BY THEODORE SHELDON

ncatran bought th* newwUntf upon wWch he hxA net hU win and it bo proep«r®fl that w*» l iiVd in relinqni*Wn« hi* Job wltn £ r m ,s company In cnler Ihnt h# i£ vi bestow upon hi* new venture ►U full and individual attention. , The company for which he had rcr t«i for ten year* bandied all the -j^ t Boiler*"—and other*—and .►nwch this source Finneran had au«J. nI «l the erudition Rained in an j^rtrfde public echool and to hi* i „»i -d*e of the world anil thin** an .... appeared to him from the top •- e- of a downtown tenement. Fmncnn was fmical and shrewd, most of u*. he bad hi* weakiu»t for adventure. Finneran jn adventurer pure and simple, jar' from the -best aellera"—and iliet*—*• had read of the sprlRhtiy mble of one Ha.oun-al-Blschld. and. • blea»*d with 'a fecund ImaRlnah- delighted to recai-d himself » •••ort of modern Basdad caliph. When this fanciful mood came upon i. :a he would roam the city'a lenRtii ril Ireadth hopeful that aome atrange i p- nings would befall him. iiuslneaa done for the day, Finneran jould carefully close up hla stand and draw from his pocket a tettotum. 7!.u was a home-made contrivance .. htoned from a small square block i w o. d pierced with a short wire nail. »cii the point of which acted a* a peg which the little cube might spin then the upper part of the nail wa» , n R sharp twist between the thumb

I u middle linger.

The- four outward side* of the Work respectively the letier* E. W, N . nd S. With great solemnity Ftnncrin would stand under the glare of the '..trie light which flickered high him and spin thl* top on cne ( f me projecting shelve* of hl« booth. I: !! fell with W uppermost westward would go In quest of advent’tre nMl. If he found none he would spin in for another direction. • >n a -ertain evening he closed his . nd later than usual, intending to v.-nil hit way homeward, when the • lirit of the venturesome caliph en- ■ -■i! hia being and half guiltily he . V.t-d to its persuading power. The * /uni directed a eoutherly course, rod after a block or two on foot the ’• >i cf the evening caused him to

Southward he rode almost to the tolni where the car’s seat-backs were turned over for the return Journey, and once again he consulted an east-^-•h- direction, and accordingly he got ^!<r. a cross-town car upon which he atayed until a broad. East Side avenue attract.d him and he dropped off. turning his steps southward, still obedient to the guidance of the teetotum. The building* on thl* wide thoronchfare sit tar baeJc from the street and the restaurants. Urge and email, which abound and flourish, avail them s' Ives of the additional space, thus afforded and array their table* and chairs under the awning* of vinecovered trellises, the gase of p^asersL> being partially screened by amal! trees and shrubs set In green boxes along the front and sides. Into one.of these places Finneran wandered and took a seat at a small, round, iron-based table near the aide • ntrancr. which gave upon the street, owing to tne hour there were but few patrons and an obsequious waiter lo«I nc time In ministering to Finneran’*

glanced at It ne added, ”Oh, but this i* an old one—I’ve seen It.” The proprietor gulped. ’Til finish If Frogreaso. I guess’’ continued Finneran. picking up the Italian paper. As be said this be saw a swarthy gray-haired man who Ur off at one end of he room shift in bis seat, at the same time regarding

him fixedly.

When ihe propricu r who hai' been roaming about the place, came to the uble at which tt» gray-haired man sat the Utter rose and spoke a few words to him, inclii log bis head iti FlMPian’* direction .s he Ulked The proprietor shrugged nU shoulders. r*ade a gesture with Ms hands and continued on bis way l iU> the kitchen The gray-halred maa approached Finneran timidly. “Excuse me. signor.” he said, “you

i.pik Italian?''

’. read li better ths I speak It" replied llnneran, with 'ruth and amiability. Here possbly. ras adventur-. The gray-haired mu glanced furitively about hla. an' then seated himself at Finneran's Uble. Ton no lUlian.” he b igaa with conviction. smiling at the other's brickred hair and aim - ev a. "No. I'm a blond Esqula.-nx.** Bald Finneran solemnly. The gray-halred man glanced furdrew from bis pocket a much-soiled envelope which. af*er further furtive gUnces. he pushed across the table. Then 1 joking eagerly at Finneran. he whispered. ’Tell me what he scout:" Finneran glanced at the tidress, which he recognised as that of a better class tenement in the lUlian quarter. then drew the letter from the envelope. It was In Italian and executed in red ink. In one corner was a crudely sketched hand done In black. “Why do you aak me to read thlf Cantarelll? he demanded, shooting a stern and quizzical glance at his com-

'I can no read or write." said the gray-haired man. leaning across the table and gazing squarely into bis

k ’ Iced coffee and cakes." he ordered, and bring me a paper." The waiter bowed and hurried to a sloe table wherooi. Uy m.Jiy foreign i*< w* ,ouro*U and illustrated periodical*. Rome of them held in wooden bindings with handles aturhed. Now It happened that the clientele o’this particular resort, small though it was. was made up of men 'com many lands, which accounted f- . the cosmopolitan array of public prints; hut never before had the waiter encAtmtered such a poyglot person. He brought the paper Finneran requested, i nd then retired to n far corner, where )•« gazed In zdmlratlon at the youngHer who read in ail languages. Quietly alive to ihe Interest he had twaki-noj, Finneran. with the utmost -gravity, persued hi* whim and scanned ■ pages of the foreign papers with deepening absorption. Mealing now and ngaln a glance at the wondering waiter. When, finally he ordered more iced coffee and cake*, and carelessly esked if there was a Chinese paper *0 Ihe place, the waiter’* nega'lv* died in hi s throat, and he could only shake

hla herd.

On hla way to the kitchen, however, on meeting the proprietor, his power of speech returned, and that dignitary wa* irfonned of the pmtmce of the linguistic marvel, and Finneran'* last request raada known. The proprietor went behind hia desk and rum ciaged a moment, at last drawing forth a crumpled newspaper which he bore in triumph to Finneran’* table. Thank'* very much." aatd Hnneran. taking the paper then, as he

"But aome Italian friend—" "Ah. I no trust—1 scared! Not for no—myself. No' It matter not But daughter! My beautiful Gluliettu. Ah. signor, she is so beautiful! Like the blessed Madonna! And so good. Finneran bent over The letter and a* he did so he heard a quick Intaking of breath, a muttered imprecation, and the gray-halred man sprang from the table and vanished through the aide door, looking over hla shoulder toward the main entrance as he fled. Finneran followed the direction of hla glance and caught sight of a darkakinned. evil face peering in at the door H vanlaed almost Instantly. And there before him on the table lay the lurid letter, with its signature of •’il Mann Nera’’—the Black Hand! When Professor Altomare stopped fot hi* papers at Finneran’* news stand next morning, and was moving off toward the subway entrance, he v as halted by the newadealeria cheery

tones.

“Excuse me. professor. Just a moment—have you got time to translate a abort letter for me?" "Certainly, my friend." answeied the little Italian teacher, and Finneran handed him the sinister-looking letter. As he hastily read It over to himself the professor elevated his eyebrows, and when he bad finished emitted a prolonged whistle. "Well?" said Finneran. “Did someone send thl/ to you.

no?"

"No, but 1 would like to know what

il saya."

The professor readjusted his spectacle* and said, “1 will read it for you." Then he cleared hi* throat and read:

"Animals!

"You can delay no* longer. Thrlcyou hate failed. Tomorrow night 1 will call at your house as the clock strike* nine my knock shall sound on your door. Leave the snoney with Giulielta. If I find her empty-handed she will file on the a pet. and you soon after. You are too wise to a'tempt any trick. If 1 am captured you will be dead within an hour. Be guided by me and nil will be well. Fall me and you know what will happen!" "No signature but a black hanu." chuckled the professor as he returned the letter to llnneran and walked away, waving his arms, Finneran's fiiat Impulse, his more sensible one, was tc lay the matter before the police captain of the precinct in wbl h G.alien* and her father lived: but the thrall of adventnre- »• eking held him back—here wa# beauty (at least according to her father), soon to be in distress, and he —Finneran—roulu succor her—could thwart urd punish the miscreant who would offer her harm! And 'here we* no monkey business about It. either! Now Finneran was tar from quixotic In the rqjvst sense of the term: but he was keenly alert to the f»c: that an actual tragedy was Impending, and that he himself could and would avert It single-handed.

At last he faced * “regular adventure!" . A plan of action must be immediately devised. That the writer of the threatening letter meant what be said there was no donht—how to cope with md capture him was the question. That bodily hurt might come to hints' If never entered the mind of Finneran. Lackic: an Inch of six feet in height, and broad in proportion. Finreran had a heart that was as ston! *s his sinews. The thought of lying in wait for the Black Hander and overcoming him by mere strength had no appeal—he must outwlth the fellow by strategy, cunning and skill combined. There wonld be so much more to it! Thu* did Finneran reason, and Anally set himself to thinking how he should accomplish, in the most gratifying manner possible, that which Icy and knocked boldiy on the door which relow stairs, he .rad learned waa the .trance to the abede of the people be ught—the Cantarellis. His knock was at first unanswered, but hearing sounds of whispering within he rapped again. This time a soft, feminine voice replied in Italan. and although he did not understand what was said he announced with all the assurance of having uttered an ’ open sesame." "It’s Finneran." Then from the other aide of the door come In English. "Are you a police-

man?"

‘Ob. no, better than that—I'm a newspaper man!" Again there was a whispered conversation. and the door was opened. In 'he dim light of a solitary oil lamp llnneran beheld a strikingly pretty young woman. Her glossy, black hair, tastefully arranged, crowned an oval, intelligent face which, with her wellfitting simple black drees and white collar, seemed strangely out of keeping with the surroundings. A look, half inquiring, half fearful, was In her dark, wide-set eyes as she Invited Finneran to enter. As he did so and the door closed behind him. the gray haired man of the avenue cafe, sprang from thS shadow and eagerly greeted him. "Ah. signor, what did he nay?" "He said. Mr. Cantarelll, that you aro a boob not to hare handed his letf-Ts to ihe police in the first place: that he knew he ’had you right,' and that be is coming here tonight to col- >• ct a little piece of change from vou net to mention other things which don't make no never-mlnd. Po you get me, amiko ’jyo?" (The two last words are spelled aa Finneran spoke

them.)

The Italian nodded. "Oh. please tell me what It Is all about." pleaded the girl, with a supplicating more in Finneran's direction. •'! suppose it's some more of those miserable letters, but. of course, I do not know, as my father no longer confide* In me." "It'a a good thing that neither of you know what's in this letter," thought F!aneian. at the same time marveling at the girl's correct speech and lack of accent. Then he said aloud. "Pardon me a second—Mr. Cantarelll, I have come here to meet this man, you leave It al! fo me?" The old Italian did not seem to grasp what had been said to Mm. ana the daughter quickly transla. ed to him. It brought forth a hopeless shrugginir, of .-i oulder* and n mumbled. “Ail right —but it is no good!" Finneran grinned encouragingly and taking the chair offered him by Miss Cantarelll he explained briefly to her why he was there, relating his experience of the right before, and how he came to have in hia possession the letter, bnt telling no more of Ur contents than he had already told. During the recital Cantarelll walked up and down the room, the clenching’ and unclenching of his baity, gnarled fists being punctuated with fervently muttered prayers. “If you and yonr father will leavthl* matter to me an 1 do Just as I ssy." concluded Flnnnr.in cheerful. "1 think we can fix It all up as easy a*

taker part* now and then at the school lefore him. He closed his stand earlier than usual that evening and hurried to hia lodgings. From the recess of a venerable trunk he dug up a black tin box which contained grease-paints and powders such as are used by the theatrical profession. He unearthed also a trick dagger, the blade of which telescoped when a blow was struck with It. the hilt fastening itself to the clothing, looking as though the knife had entered the body. Of these things Finneran had become possessed in his his more youth ful days when vaudeville had held cut 'c. him its lure, but until tonight he had neither seen or thought of them for years Now the very definite manner In which he resurrected them and packed them together In a parcel showed that they were to play a part in the night'* work which very evidently he had mapped out. Looking once more at the scrawl same and address on the envelope which contained the red-ink BlackHand letter, he tucked hia package under his arm sad sallied forth. Finneran mounted boldly the five flights of the dhmal tenement designated by the address os the envelope, where 1 teach, but I have no talent." Never mind, yen’ll get away with It." Finneran rattled on. We haven't a good deal of time for rehearsal, but here's the plot—tonight I am going to play your lover, and you are going to kill me!" The girl stared at Finneran for a space and then drew back; but the curreuce of the reassuring look on his face and the azure twinkle In his azure eyes brought a smile to her lip*. "I don't quite understand.'’ said she. Finneran said nothing, but producing his bundle he unwrapped the make-up box and asked for a candle. This given him and lighted he seated himselt In front of a small stand back ol which bung a narrow, dingy mirror With great deftness of fingers he mar.tpnlated the sticks of grease-paint, first heating them in the flame of the candle, then applying them to his face. Wb«n he had used the powder pufi as a finishing touch and turned toward the girl a little cry escaped her. His countenance appeared drawn aa if in agony, hla eyes sunken, staring and glassy, while hia whole face and neck were ashen gray and waxen. "Nov. for the dirty work!" said Fin

Pa-

are very kind, indeed. Mr Flnnerwn." said the girl, "but what are we tc do?" Finneran consulted hi:

watch.

"It Is now 8.2fi." he aatd. "and ou' caller will he here at 9.00. Now. 1 want your father to go out and get away from the neighborhood—he can return at 9.80." To her father the young woman repeated this In Italian, am when she bad finished be tremblingly took up hla hat and with a sorrowful "Addlo." clumped down the steep stairs. Miss Cantarelll sat expectantly, her hand* clasped in her Up. The f/er had let her eyes, and the viewed Finneran's reassuring expression acd conCden' bearing with undisguised relief. Ho looked at her wth growing ad miration, and there was something of an awkward panse before he manage*'. jo aay. "We've got to «io a little theatrical jffta, tonight Miss Cantarelh —.ever do any amateur ebowi?" Tee." ahe Bald, with a smile, "I've

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neran in mock drat-.atlc tones. He hereupon melted carmine cosmetic in ' a little pan. and with thU daubed his *hirt front In a spot under which he figured hla heart should be; then he held up the trick dagger and explained its mechanism. Now he made as if to plunge the Hade into hla breast over the crimson stains, a-d as the hilt attached Itself to the so', shirt he wore and remained fixed Mias Cantarelll gave another little cry and tented away her

head.

"We must hurry," aatd Finneran. "Tousel np your hair and take off your collar." When she had done this bid ding be powdered her face until the healthy glow of her olive akin gave way to a deathly paleness. “Now unlock the door, end if any , cne comes and attempts to enter.'' he- continued, “try to prevent him bv poshing against It. Then let him come in and run over to this comer and stay here—scared stiff, understand? j Don't get really scared at anything that happens, but remember this— you've killed me! Everything will be ail right." He stretched himself on the floor, one arm flung out. and his left kne» orawn up. Finneran caugh* a glimpse of his wicked face, and at once recognized ; it as the same that bad leered at him through the avenue cafe the evenlog before.

The girl stood defiantly In front of the (nan In lld'doorway, and stayed his entrance for a brief moment, during which the two gazec at one another In amazement—the man at the dlshelved condition of the girl, and she at recognizing the Intruder, for she

"aspod. "Paaquale!"

"Si." said he. as he pushed further Irto the room and launched Into a torrent of Italian which. In snbstance was translated for Finneran's benefit by Mlsa Cantarelll. exclaiming. "No. my father left no money with mu for you or for anyone else! Get out of here!” It was then that Pasquale changed his manner and In place of the harsh, threatening tones he had first used, his voice became gentle and softly pleading—several times Finneran heard h’.m aay tenderly, “Glnlletta!" There was a pause, and then the girl exclaimed dramatically in Eng i--h, "See what I've done!" The man crossed the room to where

(Continued on page 6)

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