Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-12-17

REssrssecHunRl 1897
would be to commit violence upon a
man of his social prominence, Sallie was
a desperate woman and was capable of
anything.
If he hesitated, however, it was by no
means on account of any considerations
as to his own safety. If he had known
that he were going to certain death he
would still have been prompt to the
hour, provided only that he was assured
that Olympia had been placed in safety.
But this was very far from certain. The
"clew" might be merely a bait to draw
him to destruction; and his destruction,
so far from benefiting Olympia, might
remove the only chance remaining to
her to escape. And since no one was to
chances We're against his fate being dis
covered.
Nevertheless, after weighing all con-
siderations, he resolved to go. 1t was
chance, and the Oily one that had Of
fered itself. Were he to neglect it he
might repent it forever. The only pre-
caution he took was to place revolver
in his pocket, and at twelve o'clock the
next day he rang the bell at Sallie
Matchin's door.
Sallie, of course, was far too clever to
think of attempting to influence her WIS.,
itor by accentuating the seductiveness
of her beauty. She had already expert
enced the i'll success of such an effort,
and even had it been otherwise man
in an agony about one woman is not in
humor to be attracted by another, apart
from the question of previous enmity.
But Sallie enjoyed her beauty on her
own account, and took pleasure in adorn-
ing it. So the tiger seems to feel a pride
in her glossy stripes and the coral snake
in its gaudy scales. This woman had
never felt so sweet satisfaction with
herself ard her prospect as when she
bade her visitor welcome that day; and
she looked as she felt. At the first
glance there seemed to emanate from
her the pure bloom and freshness
of May itself; but as one looked
more closely he became conscious of
something behind this innocent and
baimy aspect which was as poisonous
and cruel as sin. The rich, glowing
color, the queenly grace, the dark, daunt-
less eyes, the smiling, curving lips, the
sparkle of a jewel here and there, and
certain oriental luxuriousness of eos
tune and demeanor, all contributed to
render her splendid, pestilential Great
ure, such as the women of medieval Italy
might have been, or Cleopatra. There
she stood, like a queen in her kingdom:
and she greeted the count with smile
Of pleasure SO bright and spontaneous
that, had he been in mood to speculate
about It, he might have imagined she
was glad to see him for his own sake
Il am heartily glad to see you, Count
chances that you did not come. You
evidently have courage. Shall l clap
my hands and let the assassins spring
forth upon your She actually did clap
her hands as she spoke, and at the signal
the curtains in doorway at the upper
part of the room parted, and in came
not band of assassins, but-a pretty
French matchmaking, with the Rus
sian Samovar on tray. Sallie watched
her guest under her eyelasnes, but he
did not even turn his head to see who
entered. He was turned to sterner is
sues than this, and Sallie smiled again.
81 am here on business" he said, seat
ing himself in the chair she indicated,
''and must request you to conduct this
interview on business basis. You say
you have something to sell that want
to buy. If You prove that you have it
you can name your price"
''Oh, my dear count, you forget that
am a woman, with all woman's foibles
and frailties," she exclaimed; "Women
cannot move in straight lines. like bull
lets; they must undulate. like snakes.
Besides, want to feel that am hui
man being dealing with another human
being, not one part of an abstract COM
mercial transaction. You must remem-
Der that this is one of the most interest
ing moments of my life. You cannot
expect me to let it pass by in SO frigid a
manner. must get what meat there is
out of it; or, if you cannot spare the time
and patience, you can always get up and
go away. But l give you fair warning
that will not tell you what you want
W hho" uAt11 nave tOIu yOu every
thing want you to hear"
perhaps, you had better give me
some assurance, in the first place, that |
you can tell me what want to know"
Sallie hesitated a moment, and her
hand moved toward box on the table.
But she withdrew it and said: ''No,
will not do even that. You think me
unreasonable, of course, but can't help
it; must conduct this affair in my own
way or not at all"
This whimsical pretense of feminine
fussiness in the face of a situation so grim
and tragic had a certain informal humor
about it that almost made the count
laugh. It was as if she were to protest
that it would quite make her head ache
to murder man with carving knife;
an Italian poinard Of the Fifteenth cent
ury was the only instrument could
think of operating with.
go on, then," he said. "There is a
limit, but hope, ON all accounts, you
won't transcend it. Recollect that I,
too, am desperate!'
''Come, that is bond of sympathy at
any rate" exclaimed Sallie, in musical
warble. "Now we chat together cosilyw
fro BE CONTINUED.