The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-06-30
i, "Do not sign at ALL" he cried abrupt

do not sign at ALL" he cried abrupt
ly. II would rather you did not"
Victoria was hurt. Innocently sh
had wished to show him her frendshi
by the harmless ruse of her two sigma
lures, but now she pushed his hand
/ aside impetuously
II will sign she said, her face SUI
fused with a ruddier glow than his own
You asked me to, so ! will"
With every sign Of impatience sl1'
| dashed off her ignature-Victoria Ma
RE McKoy.
"There.' she cried, throwing aside
| the pen petulantly.
| He went away earlier that evening
| taking with him the book. which she
| had grown positively to hate Wher
| he had gone she put on her hat and, to
escape the WEAKNESS of a tete-a-tete
with her aunt, determined to go for a
walk
She had not walked far when at the
corner of road where benighted oil
lamp was showing feeble and flicker
ing light she saw Cyril standing and
talking to strange man. She drew In
the shadow Of the paling fence which
bounded the foot path.
MY Dear Cyril''-it was the voice of
a gentleman-''there must be no more
delay. / am getting too old-really,
you know, I am f1fty-to be as impa-
tient as youth. Still I am not stagnant
with age"
Il tell you,' said Cyril, interrupting
him, that l must get the other sigma
INV iotn r,to ,-io ;, ~
must have Victoria M. as you know"
VERY well, my dear friend" replied
the stranger, twirling his mustache still
more vigorously. II shall trust you till
the'aighth. d aSsMthis is the fourth. We
know each other. dear boy. We are
comrades in sorrow friends In need
What is the proverb, Ell? Bue if you
play me false-well, do not like double
dealings between partners"
The eighth day mentioned by the
stranger and not forgotten by Victoria
had come. 1t had, indeed nearly gone
by for at nine o'clock In the evening
yril and Victoria were In the billiard
room apparently engrossed in scoring
the required hundred.
Cyril put his4cue carefully in the rack,
and, Ticking some chalk stains off his
coat, remarked casually, II must really
be off; have an appointment
With the tall gentleman with the big
mustache?" said Victoria gently
How do you know" cried Cyril in
establishment
For answer Victoria methodcally put
aside her cue, and sitting down on the
settee, patted the seat at her side with
quietly suggestive motion.
You will come and tell me every
thing she said
He sat down, leaning forward with
his elbows resting on his knees and his
hands clasped.
1T is better not" he replied, modify
cycling the pattern Of the lnoleum car
peting.
She leaned forward, and, taking his
hands in hers, unclasped them: then, re-
leasing one, she held the other in both
Of hers. Their heads were close togeth-
er, and her wavy brown hair-her one
pride and beauty-brushed his temples.
There was no need to speak loud.
You will tell me everything" she re-
terated softly.
You know part of it," he answered
huskily. you've guessed somehow
hat l love you (she pressed his hand),
and I wish you hadn't. You see I'm
I'm scamp, rogue and a cheat"
He pulled his hand from hers almost |
'oughly and continued excitedly: I'm |
not fit for you to touch. I've been in |
all. I'm a hardened criminal. ought |
lot rightly to be allowed to love any |
me, and no one should, love me. My |
lame isn't Fitzherbert. It's Brown
Syril Brown"
I'm glad il is still Cyril" she inter-
upted. II love Cyril"
"Oh, that is nothing-not the name"
e went on passionately II came here
o swindle you, to rob YOU Look here"
He took something out of his pocket
nd handed it to her without turning
is head.
1t was a piece of folded paper, and
hen she opened it she disclosed a
teck-a check on her bank for ten
pounds. The signature, I'M
listakable and clear, was hers-Victo-
la Marie McKoy.
This is not forgery" she said, hest
atingly over the ugly word.
No. he replied, dropping his voice