The Irish standard., 1908-11-07

lady,
He looked at her in sidelong fash.
ion, speculative, calculating, relent-
less. And she bowed her head, as.
senting Yes"
You're dead right, little woman.
Got you. Um-mmm."
| She made no reply; she could have
made none aside from raising an out
, cry, although now she was regaining
something of her shattered poise, and
with it the ability, to accept the sttua-
ton quietly, for little time (she
could not guess how long she could
endure the strain). pending an oppor-
tunity to turn the tables on this, her
prosecutor.
What is It," she said presently,
with some effort-"what is 1t you
wish with me?"
II have my purpose" with . grim
smile.
"You will not tell me?"
you've guessed 1t, my lady; I will
not-just yet. Wait bit"
She spurred her tagging spirit until
It flashed defiance. "Mr. Anisty!"
"Yes?" he responded with curling
lip, cold eyes to hers.
II demand"
"No you don't!" he cut her short
with snarl. You're not in position
to demand anything. Maybe it would
be as well for you to remember who
you're dealing with"
"And--?"-heart sinking again.
"And I've been made fool of Just
as long as can stand for 1t. I'm
crook-like yourself, my lady. but with
more backbone and some pride in be.
ing at the head Of my profession. I'm
wanted in dozen places; I'll spend
the rest Of my days in the pen. II they
ever get me. Twice to-day I've been
within an ace of being nabbed-kind-
ness of you and your Maitland. Now
I'm desperate and determined. Do
you connect?"
"What-?" she asked, breathlessly.
81 can make you understand.
fancy. Tonight. instead of dropping
to the backyard and shining over the
fences to safety, I took the fire.escape
up to the top-hat-something a copper
would never think of-and went
through to the hall. Why? Why, to
interrupt the tender tete-a-tete Matt
land had planned. Why again? Be-
cause, for one thing, I've never yet
been beaten at my own game; and
I'm too old dog to learn new tricks.
Moreover. no man yet has ever laid
hands on me in anger and not regret.
ted It." The criminals voice fell a
note or two, shaking with somber pas
sion. "I'll have that paps hide YETI"
he swore.
The girl tried to nerve herself. "1t
1T doesn't seem to strike you," she
argued, controlling her hysteria by
sheer strength of purpose. that
have only to raise my voice to bring
all Broadway to my rescue"
For by now the cab had sheered of
ing rapidly south. between glittering
walls Of light. A surface car swooped
Gown upon them. and past. making
night hideous with gong and drum
ming trucks, and drowning Anisty's
response. For which reason he chose
to repeat It, with added emphasis.
"You try 1t on, my lady, and see
what happens"
She had no answer ready, and he
proceeded, after waiting a moment:
"But you're not going to be such .
fool. You have no pleasure in the
prospect of seeing the inside of the
Tombs, yourself; and, besides, you
ought to know me we'll enough to
"What?" she breathed. in spite of
herself
Anisty folded his arms, thrusting
the right hand beneath his coat.
Maitland got only one Of my guns"
he announced, ironically. He'd We
got the contents of the other, only he
chose to play the fool and into my
hands. Now l guess you understand"
and turning his head he fixed her
with an infexible glare, chill and
heartless as steel-"that one squeal
out of you will be the last. Oh, I've
got no scruples; arrest to me means a
living death. I'll take short course.
by preference, and-1'll take you with
me for company"
"You-you mean you would shoot
me?" she whispered, incredulous.
Like a dog" he returned with
unction.
"You, a man, would-would shoot q
woman?'
You're not a woman, my lady:
you're crook. Just as I'm not .
man. I'm n cr0Ok Wo're onua1a aeY.