Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-07-30
A DANGEROUS WOMAN.


sloppy pavement where the Strand be-
comes Fleet street, felt his spirits sink
lower with each stroke of the CLOCK.
He had been engaged to dine with
man who had been suddenly called OUT
of town an hour ago. He had called on
one delightful woman who was not al
home, and on an intolerable bore-the
wife of a leading solicitor-who was
The month was November and the
weather was beastly Moreover, Ar
thur Mastyn, having been called to the
bar this four years, was beginning TO
wonder where the briefs came from,
and more particularly where they went
to. Altogether as he looked up at the
grotesuue and familiar beast that
guards the entrance to the city ne was
in a very depressed frame or NINA, not
knowing that this very evening would
mark the turn of his fortunes tide.
The echoes of the law courts clock
had scarcely died away and Mostyn was
within a few steps of the entrance OF
the Temple, which led to his chambers,
dreading the dismal darkness which
dwelt within them, when an arm was
slipped through his and soft VOICE
addressed him by name: Mr.. Mostyn?'
He glanced down and saw dainty
figure yelled sufficiently to conceal the
face in the gloom of evening. The dress
was quiet and the foot which, peeping
from under the skirt, caught the gleam
of the gas lamp was small and shapely.
Il beg your pardon" said Mostyn.
Can l do anything
Your chambers are close by, SAID
the unknown lady. Il should Ike 10
speak to you there"
"A matter of business?" asked Mos
tyn.
'WelI. to a certain extent" said the
lady.
Mostyn turned into the dark entry
with the lady by his side. AS he
passed the porter at the gate looqed
up a moment, and returned to his even
ing paper with smile.
'I seem to know your face" said
Mostyn. as they walked side by side,
'but at the moment, cannot quite"
"You don't, am sure" said the lady.
"Tell me. honestly, do you? If you do
l must go back"
Mostyn had simply adopted the con-
ventional method of asking an unknown
persons name, and said as much, hav-
ing stolen another glance at his COM
panion's figure. She walked on quietly
by his side.
Mostyn's chambers were in Paper
buildings. and were reached by several
flights Of stairs On the stairs the
lights were lit, and the lady followed
him boldly enough, holding back her
skirts daintily from contact with the
dusty environment But, as Mostyn
fumbled with his key in the lock and
opened the door upon the darkness,
she seemed to hesitate.
wait here a moment" he said, "and
will light up. Business hours are over
you know. strictly speaking"
Mostyn lit the lamp and stood for
moment with the match in his fingers
as he watched the lady, who advanced
slowly from the doorway into the room.
She seemed a little nervous, possibly,
so Mostyn thought, owing to the
strangeness of the situation, the loneli-
ness of the rooms, and she rested one
slightly tremulous hand on the back Of
a friendly chair.
you will think this little-a little
strange" said the lady, with a CULVER
ing smile upon her lips. MY visit, l
mean-at this time-alone."
Mostyn threw the burnt-out match
into the crate. "In my profession"
he began.
But you are not supposed to deal
directly with your clients. are yOu?"
she interrupted. Things have to be
done through a solicitor, don't they?
And I suppose nobody but solicitors ever
come here?"
Sometimes, said Mostyn. Il see
people here. Won't you sit
down Tor the lady was still stand
ing. with a tromulous hand upon the
back of a chair
She glanced round and sat down on
one side of the table. Mostyn stood
on the other side with his hands in
his pockets, looking down at her.
You're a barrister. Now lister"
said the lady, leaning forward excited
". What is a woman to do when
her whole happiness depends upon her
having a child and"
she has none?'
The lady nodded.
I'm afraid | don't quite see the
point yet, said MOstyn, wrinkling his
brows. But one point he thought he
saw very clearly, and that was that he
was in the presence of a lunatic. What
with her tears and with her hystericai
Of affection for him, he
was greatly alarmed, and was i'm
mensely relieved when the mysterious
lady took her departure.
Left to himself Mostyn tried to
piece together some explanation of the
strange visit he had just received. He
had not the slightest recollection OF
ever having seen her face before. But
she clearly knew him and had appar-
entity seen enough of him before this
evening to fall in love with him. The
strangeness of it all was increased by
her absolute refusal to give any clew
to her identity. Mostyn himself re-
GREETED that he had not managed to
her more air1itlys or
even to steal her pocket handkerchief.
the mystery added i
piuuancy to the adventure, which, no
doubt. would be continued by a-ietter
from the beautiful stranger Within a
few days.
Meanwhile it occurred to Mostyn
that he hadn't had any dinner and that