Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27
CHAPTER II.

1t was a full minute before the door
swung open: and the unlooked-for wait in
some way keyed the younger mans curios-
fly up to the swapping point. AS 1t finally
opened. slowly. he had the startled vision of
a young woman, dressed in sober black,
looking half timidly cut at them, with her
hand still on the knob. AS he noticed the
wealth OF her waving chestnut hair, and the
ipoise OF the head. and the quiet calmness of
the eyes. that appeared almost violet-blue
in contrast to the soft pallor of her face,
Durkin felt that they had made mistake
in the house number. But, seeing MacNutt
step quickly inside, he himself awkwardly
took OFF his hat: under the spell of her quiet,
almost pensive smile. he decided that she
could be little more than mere girl, until
he noticed the womany fulness of her
breast and hips and what seemed ianguld
WEAKNESS about the eyes themselves. He
also noted and in this he felt touch Of
sharp resentment. the sudden telepathic
glance that passed between MacNutt and
the woman: questioning flash on her part.
an answering fash on the others. Then she
turned to Durkin. with her quiet, care
lessly winning smile, and held out her
hand-and his heart thumped and pounded
more drunkenly than II had done with all
MacNutt's brandy and setter. Then he
heard MacNutt speaking, quietly and
evenly. as though talking of mere things of
the moment
This is Mr. Jim Durkin: Durkin this is
Miss Frances Gambler. You two re going
to have lot o trouble together. so l guess
you'd better get acquainted right here
might as well make II Frank and Jim, you
two, for you're going to see mighty good
deal OF one another"
"Au right Jim" said the woman. girlish-
ly. In a mellow. English contralto voice
Then she laughed little. and Durkin no.
ticed the wilderness of her fine strong in
cisors. and straightway forgot them again.
in the delicious possibility that he might
hear that soft laughter often, and under
49, "A. hny, ha dno Ad hot
and cold, as ne felt her shaking hands with
him once more. Strangely sobered. he
stumbled over rugs and polished squares of
marquetry. after them. up two flights Of
hurried questions and the woman's low an
swers. which sounded muffled and far away
TO him. az though some impalpable wall
separated them from him.
A man by the name of Mackenzie. Durkin
gathered from what he could hear Of their
talk. had been probing about the under
ground cable galleries Tor hall day. and
had just strung wire on which much
seemed to depend. They stopped before a
heavy oak-pnneled door. on which MacNutt
played a six-stroked tattoo. A key turned
thin-lipped. and with blue veins showing
about his temples. thrust his head cautious
iy through the opening. The sweat was
running from his moist and dirt-smeared
face: a look Of relief came over his features
at the sight OF the others. Durkin Won
dcred just why he should be dressed In the
peaked cap and blue suit OF consolidated
Das Company inspector.
The room into which they stepped had
obviously. once been q sewing room. In
one corner still stood the sewing machine
Itself. In the shadow. incongruousiy enough,
Of a large safe with combination lock. Next
10 this stood q stout work-tabie, on which
rested q box relay and a Bunneii soundar.
Around the latter were clustered o galyn.
nonstsr, f.2 duplex set. a condenser, i.nd
u Whsatstons bridge of the post offIes pat.
tsf5i while about the floor lay coils of sop.
pc wire, pair of finaman's pliers, and o
number OF scattered tools. Dufkln's trained
sSs saw that tbs condenser had been ia USE
- reduce tina current from a tapped aiee-
triS-iight wirss whils tho next moment his
Ei1ncs fell on eompiats overlapping out
~, snugfy packed away In an innocent
enough looking suit eass. Then he turned
20 the two fasn and the woman, as they
BENT anxlsusty over the Uttered table where
Maeksnzis was once more Struggling with
bis instrument, talking antekiy and fshssly
as be tested and worked and listened.
"orsat Scott, Mack. It's easy enough feF
you to talk. but IL was FOOLS luck, pure