The Washington times., 1905-08-13

ing" She searched. and drew out a
letter. II was written in careful I>rG-
lish, in a fine, foreign hand
Just glance through l." She wav-
ed the sheets and they rustled little
against the air.
Mechanically Anna stretched out her
arm. great fear, q great shadow
seemed lurching toward her. She
opened the letter cautiously. as II
Contagion lurked between the lines.
THE whole letter.
Mrs. Maxtead looked up. Not quite
the whole letter; say from the third
page"
Anna found the place.
"In the matter of the jewels, my dear
friend" the writing ran. II commend
your philosophy! For myself, 1 can
claim no such calm. In one direction, at
least, my fingers itch
''TVho wrote this?' Annals tone was
sharp: then without waiting for an an
swer she read on again,
:. x
MY fingers itch after my lost mes
senger, whom your whirlpool Of Lon
don seems to have caught in its eddy,
But as yet do not repine; such carrion
rise TO the surface If one has the pa
tience to wait When the time arrives
I promise you shall possess myself to
the value of the stones. I shall urge
the prosecution TO its limits-and the
limits should be wide. The fellow is
either imbecile or a villain; in one case
or the other he will obtain his deserts.
As my pen inscribes this. I think I see
you smiiei'
Anna laid down the letter and glanced
up. She would not admit the thought
that was knocking at her heart: but
against her will her eyes mirrored it.
This is Golstock?" she said.
THAT Is Golstock.
Her lips opened stif1y. Mrs. Maxtead
read their question and made a motion
with her hand.
IN that letter." she said. you have
the whole man. It is an interesting let
ter The loss of the stones he accepts
he shrugs his shoulders at; but the fact
of being duped ne does not accept. That
rankIes like a pebble IN a wound. But
my dear little girl. we fence! We have
fenced all along The quizzica1 tone died
out Of her voice; she ceased TO guard
her eyes. She was keen. direct. set tn
her point.
self.
My dear child. let me put things to
you as they are. Let the issue be
| plain.
Anna moved inconsequently 10 the
| desk and picked up a paper-knife.
II have never seen this Austrian-you
/ know that. But I have made a picture
| of him through you-through Golstocl-
| through my maid Celeste. I know him
as If I had met him a hundred times.
| In many points he is like d dog: and
! like manned dog he has appealed to
you He is gentle faithful. trusting
| trusting above all things; but he lacks
| one trait that the dog possesses. He Is g
coward
Anna caught her breath.
Eyes, he is a coward! You say that il
/ he lost you his heart would break. Now
| that works two ways. The man whc
breaks his heart in one instance may
/ cut his throat in another!"
The knife fell from Annals hand tc
the desk. shal1ingly she picked it up
Her face was coIorless as she turned
round. Il don't understand, she said
IT don't understand
Are you quite sure that you dom
understand" ?"
| She was silent
Mrs. Maztead moved slowly toward
| her
Are you quite sure7"
A wild expression swept over the girls
eyes.
Mrs. Maxtead came nearer by step
With her. excitement was a white heat
nearer 70 frost than fire.
y *
'Tt IS because you do understand
that you are silent. Before a great fea-
speech overf1ows; before a great fact il
shrinks away. Now in this affair there
are three factors: Goistock, waiting Ike
| a hungry spider: I. ready with a turr
OF my wrist to twist the fly into hi
| web; you, midway between US, holding
the reins Of destiny" She laughed gent
| ly between her words (which Is I,
come uppermost? Spider or fy?''
Anna moved across the room. ''Yo'
| couldn't-?'' she said.
Her tormentor ceased to laugh. m,
dear child, since I was nine years ole
have rated myself first In a crisis
habit always counts. Ia face facts If
were you
Anna moved on till the door wa
reached. At the door she turned, lean
ing her shoulder against it.
YOU don't think that Johann stol
the 6tonesF
"CandidIy. I do not"
Then you think-7''
That his presence-his existence hin
ders me; beyond that I do not think.
he goes to his Punishment 1t Will be yol
who sent him there. Ny conscienc
| viii be clear"
~ X
You are crueI!''
IT am human; you are looking at tn
present moment; I am looking fiv
| years ahead. One day you will than1
? me for my long sight. Go home and fac
| things. Question yourself, question
Johann; II you md him ready to NEE
4 ColstoclI heightened her words
ready to face the evidence Of tn
ciasp-brouGnt back by you as restitu
ton; the evidence Of his life in hiding
thcn-wen and good! You cannot do bet
ter than SIT down IN your curio shop
and wait But if-if. on the other hand
/. he IS not ready TO take the risk: If IN
loss Of you in a secure refuge seem
more ondurable than the loss OF you /
| q Drfsou rheu''-she let the sentence "a