The Golden Circle Read Online Free PDF Page B

The platinum- haired girl was chubby, disguised as a medieval queen. The other girl was dark-haired, oddly pretty. She was wearing a crisp ballerina costume, a lace trimmed domino. On the left side of her bodice was a golden arrow pin.
This dark-haired girl smiled at the masked man. "I'm trying to figure it out," she said.
"Figure what out?"
"Who you're supposed to be?"
"Some kind of superhero," suggested the black cowboy.
"Beau is into comics," said the dark girl, "and sees everything in that light. But really . . . what?"
The Phantom took hold gently of the girl's arm "Let me buy you a drink and we'll see if I can explain."
"Okay, you're on. Bye, group." The girl took the lead, pulling him after her through the costumed crowd.
"Hi, Mimi," called a passing clown.
"Is that you?" asked the Phantom. "Mimi?"
"Right. And you?"
"You can call me Devlin."
She looked back ova: her shoulder at him. "Okay, Devlin."
Up ahead a half-dozen brightly garbed people were clustered around a tall thin old woman, who was dressed in a fairy princess outfit. She wore a narrow royal purple mask, with similarly colored patches of makeup on her wrinkled cheeks. Round her neck hung a glowing scarlet ruby.
"Hey, look at that," said Mimi, slowing down to point. "The queen of the ball herself."
"Who is she?" asked the masked man.
"Oh, don't you know Mrs. Mott-Smith, Devlin? I thought anyone who was anyone in Manhattan knew the old girl."
"I guess I'm not anyone at the moment"
"Mrs. Mott-Smith is fantastically rich," the dark- haired Mimi explained. "One of the sponsors of this thing tonight. And that rock is real."
"Is it now?"
"Sure enough. They call the thing the Eye of Isis," said Mimi. "If a stone like that were mine, I'd wear it only in the privacy of my own home, with all the doors double-locked. But the old girl seems to subscribe to the philosophy of ... if you've got it, flaunt It."
"Yes," agreed the Phantom. "Speaking of decora- lions, Mimi, that's an interesting pin you're wearing, ii golden arrow. I don't believe I've ever seen one like II before."
"It's a family heirloom," replied Mimi. "Come, Devlin. Let's push on to the bar."
"An heirloom? Then I suppose I couldn't get one like it."
"Not a chance, no way." The girl's head turned to the right and then the left. She seemed to notice someone or something and nodded very quickly. She hurried on ahead dodging a fat man with a gigantic egg for a head. "It occurs to me, Devlin, you are very fond of asking questions."
"Am I?" He grinned at her.
After a second, she returned the grin. She said, Success is near, Devlin. There's the bar right up ahead. What say you fight through and get me something simple with scotch in it?"
The Phantom again took hold of the pretty dark girl's arm. "Let's try it as a team, Mimi."
"Be easier if you go. Don't worry, Devlin, I won't vanish like Cinderella. It's a long way to midnight yet."
Letting go, the masked man made his way to the makeshift drink counter. The bartender noticed him at once, served him in under a minute.
When the Phantom returned to the spot where he'd left Mimi, she was gone.
His eyes narrowed behind his mask. The girl didn't seem to be anywhere in the immediate vicinity.
"If you've got nothing else to do with that drink, I can use it."
The long, tall black girl who worked for Sweeney Todd was standing beside him, dressed in a full- length cloak with golden fastenings, "Good evening, Nita," said the Phantom.
One bare arm extended itself through a slit in the cloak to tap at the glass. "What is that, bourbon?"
"Scotch," answered the Phantom. "Originally intended for a girl named Mimi. Know her?"
"Nope, sorry," said the tall Nita. "But, listen, the reason I sought you out is that I have a message for you."
The Phantom passed the chill plastic glass to her. "A message from Sweeney Todd maybe?"
The girl sampled the scotch, then wrinkled her nose and puckered her hps. "Um, that's surely quality stuff," she said. "Yes, Sweeney Todd's in attendance and