The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-05

actress off the stage. it seems 10 me that her beauty must almost have daz- xled them, thus suddenly displayed For Maxine Is Q gloriously handsome woman. and never had she been mos. striking, more wonderful. than at that moment. when her dark eyes lansnsa out of her white face and her red IDS smiled as if neither they. nor the great eyes. had any secret to hide
 Look at me" she said. throwing hack her arms In such a way as 10 bring forward her slender body. in the tight black sheath of the dress whicn was of the fashion which, think. women call. Princess. It ntted nes as smoothly as the gloves that coVereo her arms to the elbows.
 Do you think there is much chance for concealmant in this dress?' she asked T haven't pocket. you see No seif-respecting woman could have. in a gown like this. don't know in the least what sort of gift my ola friend Is supposed to have prougnt ms Is 1t large or small? I'll take otr my gloves and let you see my rings. if yoa like, Monsieur le Commisaire, for I've been taught, as q servant of the public. to be civil to my fellow servants, even if they should be unreasonable. No! You don't want to see my rtngsT Let me oblige you by taking off my nat then. I might have put the tnins- whatever 1t is-in my hair
 As she spoke, she drew out her nat plns. still laughing in a half scornful halt good -natured way. She was pc witching as she stood smiling. with her black hat and veil in her hand, the unified waves of her dark red nalr shadowing her forehead.
 Meanwhile, fired by her example. I turned out the contents of my pockets; a letter or two; a flat gold cigarette case; a match box; my watch, and q Handkerchief; also in an outer pocket of my coat, c small bit of crumpied paper of which I had no recollection; but as one of the gendarmes politely picked 1t up from the floor. where 1t had fallen, and handed it to me without examining it, mechanically slipped It back into the pocket, and thought no more of it at the time. There were too many other things to think or ana l was wondering what an earth Maxiue could have done with the letter-case. She had had no more than two seconds in which to dispose of 1t. hardly enough, 1t seemed to me, to pass IL from one hand to another, yet ap- parentIv 1t was well hidden.
 Now. are you satisfied7'' she asked. ssNow that we have both shown you we have nothing to conceal; or woulo you like to take me to the police station, and have some dreadful femaie search ne more thoroughly still? I'll 20 with you, if you like. won't even be indiscreet enough to ask questions, since you seem inclined to do, what we've no need to do-keep your own secrets. All I stipuiate is, that If you wish to take such measures you'll take them A once, for as you may possipIy he aware, this Is the first night of my new play, and should be sorry to pc late"
 The Comnnissary of Police looked fixediy at Maxine for moment as II he would read her soul "No, Made nnoiselie." he said. T am convinced that neither you nor Monsieur are conceaf- ing anything about your persons. l will not trouble you further until "e have searched the room."
 Maxine could not blanch, for already aha was as white as she will be when she lies in her coffin. But though neI expression did not change. l saw tnat the pupils of her eyes dilated. Acuress that she is, she could control net muscles; but she could not control the beating of the blood in her brain: ] felt that she was conscious of tnia betrayal, under the gaze of the polsse- man, and she laughed to distract ms attention. My heart ached for her ] thought of a meadow-lark manoeuver'