Bandit Love

"For goodness sake don't try to do anything of the sort, Myra,"

counselled Lady Fermanagh. "Don Carlos is very much a man of the

world, and you would be playing with fire. I should judge that he

knows women better than most men. And in any case, my dear, it isn't

safe to trifle with a Spaniard."

"And it isn't safe to trifle with a Rostrevor Don Carlos de Ruiz will

find to his cost," retorted Myra, with a sudden laugh. "My mind is

made up, and I shall start on my conquest to-night."

She took special pains over her toilette that evening, and her maid

found her unusually exacting. She chose a very decollété evening frock

of jade green shot with blue that matched the blue of her eyes but

contrasted beautifully with her red-gold hair, and with it she wore a

necklace of emeralds and turquoises.

"By Jove! Myra, dear, you are looking lovelier than ever to-night!"

exclaimed Tony Standish, admiringly and adoringly, when she went down

into the great hall of Auchinleven Lodge before dinner. "You look

simply wonderful, darling. Wonderful!"

"Thank you for these few kind words, good sir," Myra answered

smilingly, in bantering tones, and dropped a mock curtsey. "I hope Don

Carlos will be equally complimentary. You see, Tony, I am afraid he is

rather vexed with me for complaining to you about him and snubbing him,

so I have decided to let him fall in love with me again and make you

furiously jealous."

"Righto!" laughed Tony. "But don't overdo it, old thing, or I may do a

bit of the Othello business, don't you know. I believe I could be as

fiercely passionate as any Spaniard if I tried."

"Why not try?" responded Myra lightly. "Incidentally, I fancy Othello

was a Moor, and not a Spaniard."

"Well, the Moors had something to do with Spain, so it amounts to the

same thing. Talking of Spain, Myra, reminds me that Don Carlos has

consented to be one of my yachting party for our Mediterranean trip in

the winter, and has invited all of us to spend a week or so with him at

his place, El Castillo de Ruiz, somewhere in the Sierra Morena."

"Really! That will give me plenty of time to complete my conquest,"

commented Myra, her blue eyes sparkling mischievously. "I suppose it

isn't good form to make a fool of one's host, but Don Carlos will

deserve anything he may get."