Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-04


you've got the majority beaten to
finish for 'cuteness. You're as quick
a. they make them"
She Strengthened up. uneasy. OPP
pressed by q vague surmise as to
whittier this tended.
Thank YOU" she said. breathlessly.
but hadn't you better"
Plenty Of time. my dear. Maitland
has gone to Greenfieids and we've sew
eral hours before US. Look here, little
woman, why don't you take tumble
to yourself cut out all this nonsense.
and look to your own interests"
Il don't understand you." she fall
tered. but II"
I'm talking about this Maitland
affair. Cut 1t out and forget 1t. You're
too good-looking and valuable to your
self to lose your head just all on ac-
count OF little moonlight Irritation
with a good.looking millionaire. You
don't suppose for an instant that
there's anything In 1t for yours. do
you? You're nothing to Maitland
just an incident: next time he meets.
the baby-stare for yours. You can
thank your lucky stars he happened to
have q reputation to sustain as VIII
lage cut-up. a gay. sad dog always out
for q good time and hang the expense!
Otherwise he'd have handed you yours
without moments hesitation. I'm
not doing this M In tin-foil and tying
a violet ribbon with tassels on it. but
I'm handing 1t straight to YOU: some
thing you don't want to forget. You
just sink your hooks in the fact that
you're nothing to Maitland and that
he's nothing to you. and never will he,
and you won't lose anythins-except
Illusions"
She remained quiescent for little.
hands *witching in her lap, torn by
conflicting emotions-fear Of and aver
sion for the man. amusement, chill
horror bred OF the knowledge that he
was voicing the truth about her. the
truth. at least, as he saw it, and-and
as Maitland would see it..
"lllusions?" she echoed, family. and
raised her eyes to his with pitiful
attempt at a smile. ''Oh. but l must
have lost them, long ago; else !
shouldn't be"
Here and what you are. That's
what I'm telling you"
She shuddered inperceptibly; looked
down and up again. swiftly, her express
sion inscrutable. her voice a-tremble
between laughter and tears: "Well?'
En-" The directness Of her query
fguratively brought him up all stand
ing, canvas Tapping and wind out of
his sails.
What are you offering me in ex-
change for my silly dream" she in
quired, a trace OF spirit quickening her
tone.
"A fair exchange, I think-some-
thing that wouldn't offer you If You
hadn't been able to dream" He
paused, doubtful, clumsy.
Go on" she told him, family. Since
it must come. as we'll be over with it.
See here" He took heart Of
desperation. You took to Maitland
when you thought he was me. Why
not take to me for myself? I'm as
good a man. better as q man. than he.
If 1 do blow my own horn. You side
with me, little woman. and-and all
that-and Ill treat you square. l
never went back on pal yet. Why"
Frightening with enthusiasm as his
gaze appraised her. with your looks
and your cleserness and my knowl-
edge OF the business. We can sweep
the country. you and l."
"Oh" she cried, breathlessly.
We'll start right now" he plunged
on. misleading her; right now. with
last nights haul. You'll chuck this
added sentimental pangs-of-conscience
lay. hand over the jewels, and-and
I'll hand 'em back to you the day we're
married. all set and--as handsome .
wedding present as any woman ever
got"
She twisted in her chair to hide her
face from him, fairly cornered at last,
brain a-whirl devising a hundred
maneuverS,. each more helpless than
the last. to cheat and divert him for
the time. until-until-
The consciousness Of his presence
near her. Of the sheer strength and
might of will-power Of the man. bore
upon her heavily: she was like a child
In his haAds, helpless. She turned with
hushed gasp to End that he had risen
and come close to he. chair: his face
vas not a foot from hers. his eyes
dangerous: in another moment he
would have his strong arms about
her. She sbrank away. terrified.
NO. no." she begged.
We'll, and why not? Well?-
tensely.
How do know. This afternoon I
outxit:ed yoE. robbed and sold you
for-for what you cal! a scruple. How
can I know that you are not paying me
back in my own coi3?"