The Irish standard., 1908-10-03

l trusted YOU"
He nodded. eyes to hers, fascinated,
with an odd commingling of fear and
, hope and satisfied self-love Now 1
am unconnected with the affair. No
! ore knows that had any hand in it.
Besides, no one knows me-that l.
steal" Her tone fell lower. "The po-
lice have never heard Of me. Dan!"
"I-believe-"
Il could get away" she interrupted;
"snd then, If they stopped you"
You're right, by the powers!" He
struck the table smartly with his first.
You do that and we can carry this
through. Why. lacking the jewels.
am Maitland-I am even wearing Matt
lands clothes!" he boasted Il went
to his apartments this morning and
saw to that. because 1t suited my pur.
pose to be Maitland for day or two"
"Then-?" Her gaze questioned his.
"Waiter!" cried Anisty. And, when
the man was deferential at his elbow:
Call cab, st once, please"
Certainly, SIR"
The rest Of the corps Of servants
we're at the other end Of the big room.
Anisty made certain that they were
not watching, then stealthily passed
the canvas bag to the girl. She bent
her head, bestowing 1t in her handbag.
"You have made me happy,
Dan," came tremulously from beneath
! the hat brim.
Whatever doubts may have assailed
him when it was too late. by that re-
mark were effaced, silenced. Who
could mistrust her sincerity?
"Then when and where may I see
you again?" he demanded.
"The same place"
1t was a bold move; but she was
standing; the waiter was back, an
nouncing the cab in waiting, and he
dared not protest. Yet his pat riposte
commanded her admiration.
! "No. Too risky. II they are watch.
ing here, they may be there. too" He
| shook his head decidedly. The flicker
! o. doubt was again extinguished; for
undoubtedly Maitland had escorted her
home that morning; her reference had
been to that place. Somewhere else" {"
he insisted, confident that she was
playing fair.
She appeared to think for an in
slant, then, fumbling in her pocket.
! book, extracted typical feminine
pencil stub-its business end looking
as though it had been gnawed by a
vindictive rat-and scribbled hastily
on the back Of menu card:
Mrs. McCabe, 2O5 West One Hun
dred and Eighteenth street. Top floor.
Ring three times"
Il shall be there at seven," she told
him. you won't fail me?"
] "Not If I'm still at liberty" he
laughed.
| And the waiter smiled at discretion,
. far-away and unobtrusive smile that
could by no possibility give offense;
at the same time 1t was calculated to
convey the impression that, in the
opinion of one humble person, at least,
Mr. Maitland was merry wag.
| "Good-by DAM"
/ Anisty held her fingers in his hard
palm for an instant, rising from his
chair.
"Good-by, my DEAR" he said, clum-
silly.
| He watched her disappear, eyes
humid, temples throbbing. by the
(. powers!" he cried. But she's
worth it!"
! Perhaps his meaning was vague.
even to himself He resumed his seat
mechanically and sat for time
staring dreamily into vacancy, blunt
fingers drumming on the cloth.
"No," he declared at length. "No:
I'm safe enough in her
hands,"
Once secure from the public gaze.
the girl crowded back into a corner of
the cab, as though trying to efface her
self. Her eyes closed almost auto
matically; the curve of laughing lips
became doleful droop; crinkle ap.
peared between the arched brows;
waves Of burning crimson flooded her
face and throat.
In her lap both hands lay clenched
into tiny fists-clenched so tightly that
| it hurt, numbing her fingers-a phys
ical pain that somehow, helped her to
endure the paroxysms Of shame. That
she should have stopped so low!
Presently the fingers relaxed. and
her whole frame relaxed in sympathy.
The black squall had passed over:
but now were the once tranquil waters
ruined and angry. Then languor
gripped her like an enemy; she lay
listless in its hold, sick and faint with
disgust Of self.'
This was her all-sufiicient punish
ment; to have done what she had
done, to be about to do what she con-
templated. For she had set her hand
to the plow; there must now be no
drawing back, however hateful might
prove her task.
The voice Of the cabby dropping
through the trap. reused her. This 10
the Martha Washington. ma'am."
Mechanically she descended from the
hanson and paid her fare; then. sum-
moning up all her strength and reso-