Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-12-24

il sDo you think am beautfful?" sha
asked him suddenly. shifting her pc.
Lsition. as she spoke, so that the light
of the lamp fell more fully upon her
lfacc A.neS answered her with quiet
assurance: ~
Il know that you are S.'cry beanti-
full wonan-One Of the NEST beautiful
stAat / have ever seem"
For moment the impaSsiveEess Of
the woman's pale face lansed into a
smile of satisfaction. Anles noted With
i pleasure that the transition did moth
Ing to diminish the impression Of love-
illness that be had Just praised so
highly.
"Then I am tempted" she said. ito
remind you OF your old-time chivalry.
and to claim the fulfllment of your
vow-even though it was not made
over the peacock"
Perhaps there was subtle sugges-
ton of hysteria in her fantastic speech
touched Ames, or perhaps it was the
enchantment of her physical beauty as
it showed under that glimmering gas
lamp: perhaps an appreciation of both
possibilities led him to answer very
gently and very decisively. that lie
should consider himself very fortunate
If it We're in his power to be of any use
in any way to her.
The woman caught eagerly at his
words. "Come with me-" she said, and
as she spoke she clutched rather than
took hold of Philo's arm, and seemed
in her impotence to seek to drag him
along with her. Philo surrendered
himself with impassive acquiescence
to all her actions. 1t was always his
rule when he began a game to play it.
out to the end, and as he had once for
all decided to accept this chance Of en-
tertainment he was now stubbornly re-
solved to see the thing out to it's end.
His companion hurried him along the
embankment as far as to the neighbor-
hood of the next gas lamp. Then Ames
saw that hanson cab was in waiting,
its two lamps cleaning in the dreary
darkness like the eyes of Il belated owl.
When they got close to it Philo saw
that the cab driver was apparently en-
gagged in an animated conversation
with policeman, who seemed to be
questioning him sternly as to his I'M
occupied presence then and there.
When the cabman saw Ames and his
unknown friend come toward him out
of the darkness he Strengthened him
self from the stopped attitude he had
adopted in conference with the law
and pointed triumphantly toward the
| woman.
There's my fare he said, with a
hoarse exultation. II told you had a
fare all along, but you wouldn't he
lieve me-"
The policeman did not appear to be
greatly treasured by the arrival of
pair when he had only heard of one,
for he turned the light of his lantern
upon the couple, though at the same
time seeing no cause for interference
he drew back few PAGES and survey
ed the scene with watchful majesty.
Philo's companion whispered to him to
get into the cab. While he obeyed she
said few words to the cabman. then
she got in in her turn and the cab
drove briskly of. Philo could hear his
companion give a sigh of relief, and in
the next moment he felt his hand
caught in hers in pressure that i'm
piled very great sense of gratitude.
1t was only after the cab was in mo-
ton that Ames seemed to realize the
popularity Of his situation and the
whimsicality, to say the least. of the.
whole amazing expedition With the
rapidity that thought permits in mo-
ton of extremity he contrasted two
pictures-the one Of Philo Ames seated
in the comfort of the st. Stephens
club, a delicious memory of green cura
Goa stimulating his fancy and the at
mosphere Of Amber Pasha's wonder
full cigarettes charming his mind; the
other of Philo Ames on this raw, wind
whipped night, driving i'll q hanson
cab along a course which seemed the
very abomination of desolation, by the
side Of woman whom he had never
seen five minutes before. and who. if
she was certainly strangely beautiful,
was not less strangely eccentric. and
who opened q casual acquaintance by
perplexing questions as to the price
her companion set upon his life. Philo
felt that it was his duty as a more or
less sensible and more or less reputa-
BILE citizen to come to some understand
ing with the divine enigma by his side.
1t was, he assured himself, absurd.
and worse than absurd, to be thus
drifting about London in the society of
creature as lovely as vision, yet
who might be either dangerous luna
tic or a no less dangerous decoy.
His heated mood fired his tongue to
fantasy that seemed apt to the hour
and the woman.
"Well, sweet minion of the moon."
he said with a laugh. docs your driver
know the way to the Broken? Your
witchhood might at least have offered
me lift on brOomstick.'
The woman had her face turned to
him; he could see her quite plainly in
! the lanplit cab, and he saw that her
eyes and her lips gave back his laugh
ter and that if she was lovely in aus
terity she was yet more lovely in mirth.
This common cab will serve our
turn" she said softly, and her voice
now sounded sweeter with the assur-
ance It seemed to derive from the de
yneanor of her companion. 1--WE shall
not fare far tonight"
May l not at least know whittier
the wind CT your within will watt our
spirits:" Ames begain in Il tone which
he Intended to be wholly playful. but
into which. in spite of himself. he
could not help allowing a suggestion
Of anxiety to intrude. 10 what star
do we steer our course?''