Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-03
THE ACCOMPLICE
FREDERICK TREVOR HILL
&
served.
FREDERICK TREVOR HILL
Copyright, 1905, by Harper & Brothers.
All rights reserved.

| Tn afraid you would laugh If did,.
| Il promise l won't
But you might think 1t a breach of con-
! fidence''
| 1T won't be if you tell it,
| How do you know?''
| Because I'm certain you wouldn't tell it
| If ii We're.
| | bowed with exaggerated politeness.
THANK you. mademoiselle, for the COM
| pliment," / began, but
You would be the last person in the
| world l would try to compliment" she in
terrupted. with sudden seriousness.
"Why?"
Because you are the sort of man who
irstinctively knows the truth when he
hears it,
Her eyes met mine as she spoke, and I
held them for moment with questioning
earBestness
do you really believe that?" demanded
Il am absolutely certain of 1t, or
wouldn't dare say it."
She spoke impulsively. confidently, and
her tone and manner were as grave as they
had been gay moment previous.
II wish l could think you were right
answered, solemnly But your other mis-
take has shaken my faith l added lightly
She gazed at me with a puzzled express
sion.
what other mistaken" she queried.
Don't you remember saying that my face
expressed my thoughts so clearly that you
could read them at a glance?"
Certainly, but"
But you didn't do it,
"When?'
This morning Did you read my thoughts
them"
One of the long hat pins dropped from
Miss Barbara's fingers. and she began
hunting for it in the hay.
When you were playing mirror" she in
quired, still cropping for the pin.
Mirrors merely reflect" / answered.
They do not think. Did you learn my
thought of your
"Of me? No
"Can you read ii now?
There was a moments pause, and then
the girl lifted her head and faced me. her
cheeks crimsoning under my steady gaze.
Can you read mine? she demanded.
smilingly.
My question came first" protested
ut viii chivalrously yield to mine. though
/ am sure" she asserted. What am
thinking OFF,
1 hesitated as I gazed into her eyes but
her glance never wavered.
You are thinking that do not know you
well enough to put my question" / an
swered, slowly.
Wrong" She responded brightly. "Try
again.
tuous to suppose you would care to read
what you have seen and now see In my
eyes
She shook her head
You are poor guesser,' she answered.
"or else have no gift of facial expression.
Do you give me up?"
81 do not" answered, meaningly
Then what am / thinking off, she de-
| manded ignoring her slip.
Il do not know / admitted.
Then I'll tell YOU she responded, conf.
, dentially. m thinking of food
"Of food?9
"of plain. everyday. common or garden
food I'm hungry
The girl leaned forward. resting Mr ell
bows on her knees and her chin in her
hands. as she made this tragic announce
ment. and as IFwatched the dnrf1fcal eynras-
sion of her eyes my face gradually relaxed
into a smile. She had outmaneuvered me-
and the most graceful move for me was 10
capitulate with laugh.
Il ought to have guessed that secret" I
exclaimed looking at my watch But IL
there are any signs of clearing you~rnay
still arrive for luncheon Are we far from
Pollieeta
We're much nearer Melton,
"A good idea. Let's take lock at the
weather"