The Washington times., 1905-09-24
PART Two-CHAPTER XVI.

PART TwO-CHAPTER XVI.
At one minute past twelve Strobe
Knocked sharply at the house in Palace
Court He was quite as neat in appear
ance, quite as well groomed as ever,
but the patent leather of his boots was
soiled with mud. and the ends. of his
trousers were slightly splashed with
It. Without any preliminary ceremony
he walked past Branks i, TO the hall
Your mistress2' he queried shortly
Mrs Maxtead is in the boudoir, sir.
Shall -?
No I think I know the room: I'll
go right IN" He walked across the hall
and lifted the dividing curtain
The windows were open. and the
blinds futtered slightly in the draft
of his entrance. 1t was still a room OF
soft colouring. as it had been OF the
day of Annals first visit: the lamplight
glowed through pink shades, and in the
crate long sprays Of pink roses were
massed in purple bowls At the farther
end Mrs Maxtead lay on a couch close
TO the window, a book held open in her
hand She rose slowly as Strobe ap-
peared.
Where is Anna?'' he asked curtly. as
he held out his hand
She raised her eyebrows. My dear
Maurice. 1 had almost asked the same
question You have seen her last?"
He moved impatiently- I've been to
the 'Corinthian. but that doesn't count
After the first act I sent up my carr.
but she wouldn't see me- 1 left tie
theater then and walked-anywhere-
everywhere" He looked down at his
boots. ''I thought of going back and
meeting her as she came away-I even
reached Green street; then 1 changed
my mind After all. it was her privilege
to see me or not as she pleased; no man
has the right to dog woman in a pub
lie place i came here instead. She
hasn't arrived2''
Mrs Maxtead walked back to the
couch and sat down Not as yet. The
carriage meets her at a quarter to
twelve; she seldom gets here before a
quarter past"
There was silence for a while. STROBE
walked TO the mantelpiece and stood
with his back TO ii. His hat was still
In his hand, he stared down at it vague
ly All the while his companion watch
ed him with vigilant eyes: at last she
spoke, tentatively and very low.
Have you looked in the glass to-
night, Maurice2
He started. and laughed uneasily. "Oh.
1 know what you meanl I did see my
face about three hours ago. 1t looked
exactly like my uncle's when he's row.
ing the men or negotiating a big deal.
Queer things likenessesi'
There was a fresh pause Three min
utes passed, then five. Mrs Maxtead
touched each OF her rings separately,
drew one off. slipped it on again. then
tapped her book Maurice, if You have
a spark of consideration, say something
Tr, a ina of enc
pense than 1 have done tonight 1 dined
IN my own room, and sat there till the
furniture turned into ghosts: 1 came fol-
comfort to the dining room. and there
Annals picture stared me out of counte-
nance; then / fed in here. but here there
was ticking clock. warranted to drive
one frenzied in half an hour. 1 had
just looked in a drawer and opened the
windows when you arrived. Your knock
on the front door-but 1 won't say any
thing about that. believe 1 understand
at last what people mean by nerves
She twisted her book restlessly and tried
TO laugh.
Strobe stood silent.
Maurice
Yes"
oh" She brought her hands 20
gether and the book fell. How dense
you are. Why do you stand there like
: a mute? Is this mystery a diseases
Does it hang about in germs? tel
o you I have been breathing it in-been
living IN it-been suffocated by it 70;
| four whole weeks. / feel like annlhl'
. lating the next person who looks at me
!, blankly and answers in monosyliable
: Strobe crossed the room and picked
n n up the book What do you want?' -
= he asked
She sat UP straight and looked at him
You have seen Anna; you know al
: there is TO know. What is the result
> He walked TO the window and. hold
u ing back the blind looked out. IF you
want plain speaking" he said, Il have
u been in hell ever since
Each word fell with distinct preci-
sion. For the first time in a lengthy
space of years Mrs. Maxteads guard
?, of calIousness lost its hold. and hel
feelings swept across her face; incredu-
lity establishment, contempt. each shoob
II her visibly At last she spoke with
bitter emphasis
l. How shOrt-sighted we are. Maurice
when all is reckoned up, Only two DAYS
ago-two little days ago-I proposed I;
explain Annals identity en- half a shoe
os notepaper." She laughed.
II Strobe looked back into the room. Hi:
silence stung her afresh-
~ see, l overlooked the value you men