Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-03
XIV-Continued.

"SOASAA0
He removed his overcoat and hat.
throwing them over the back of a con-
venient chair. drew his fingers thought
fully across his chin and. standing at
little distance. regarded the girl with
shadow of a saturnine smile softening the
hard line of his lips
She stood where he had left her, as il
volition was no longer hers. Her arms
hung slack at her sides and she was
swaying a trife, her face vacant eyes
blank; very near the breaking-down
point.
The man was not without perception.
and recognized her state-one in which.
he felt assured. he could get very little
out of her She must be strengthened
and revived before she would or could
respond to the direct catechism he had in
fore. more than through any yielding to
motives of pity and compassion. he piloted
her to a chair by window and brought
her a glass OF clear cold water from the
filter In the adjoining room.
The cold. fresh breeze blowing in her
face proved wonderfully invfgorating. She
let her head sink back upon the cushions
of the easy. comfortable leather chair
and drank i'm the clean air I'm great deep
draughts. with sense of renewing vigor.
both bodily and spiritual The water
helped. too; she dabbled the tip of
ridiculously small handkerchief in 1t and
bathed her throbbing temples The while
Anisty stood over her. waiting with dis
elimination. If with scant patience.
What was to come she neither knew nor
greatly cared but with an instructive de-
sire to postpone the inevitable moment OF
trial. she simulated deadly languor for
some moments after becoming conscious
of her position, and lay passive. long
lashes all but touching her cheeks-in
which now a faint color was growing
gaze wandering at random out over a
dreary wilderness of fiat, rectangular
roofs. livid in the moonlight, broken by
long. straight clefts of darkness. in whose
depths lights cleaned family. Far In the
south the sky came down purple and
black to the horizon. where silver spark
glittered like low-swung star-the torch
of Liberty. -"
81 think Anisty's clear.cut tones. in
csive as a razor edge. crossed the listless
trend of her thoughts. Il think We VIII
now get down. to business. my LADY,!
She lifted her lashes. meeting his mas
terful stare with look of calm inquiry.
"Well?''
so you're better now? /" Possibly it
was mistake to give you that rest. my
lady. Still. when ones gentleman
cracksman-.'' He chuckled unpleas-
antly, not troubling to finish his SEN
tence.
"Well?' he Knocked. seating himself
easily upon an adjacent table. We're
here at last. where we'll suffer no inter-
yond the Waterman there's probably not
another soul in the building. and from
that window there it is a straight drop
of twentyfour stories to Broadway. while
may be resigned to stay here until I get
ready to let you go. If you scream for
help. no one will hear you
Very WELL" she assented. mechanically.
turning her head away with shiver of
disgust. What is it you want?'
1.-The jewels" he said bluntly. you
might have guessed that"
II did . -
And have saved yourself and me con-
siderable trouble by speaking ten minutes
| ago."
Yes she agreed. abstractedly.
Now" he continued. with a hint of
anger in his voice, you are going to
tell
She shook her head slightly.
"Oh. but you are. my lady. And his
tone rasped. quickened with the latent
brutality of the natural criminal And
know that you'll not force me to extreme
you. you know. and promise you l shall
stop at nothing whatever to make you
speak"
No answer; in absolute Indifference. she
felt. lay her strongest weapon. She must
keep calm and self-possessed. refusing to
be terrified into quick and thoughtleSs
answer.
This afternoon" he said. 'harshly.
YOU stole from me the Maitland jewels.
Where are they?"
II shall not tell"
He bent swiftly forward and took one
of her hands in his. Instinctively she
clenched it. and he wrapped his strong,
hard fingers around the small white fist,
joint between her second and third knuc-
kles. slowly increasing the pressure. And
wal ched with absolute Indifference the
lines Of agony grave themselves upon her
smooth. unwrinkled forehead and the
color leave her cheeks, as the pain grew
too exquisite. Then. suddenly discon-
tinuing the pressure, but retaining her
hand. he laughed shortly.
will you speak, my lady. or will you
have mcre?"
Don't" she gasped. please 49,
Where are the jewels? Will your
No
Have you given them to Maitland"
Where are they?"
Il don't know
Stop that nonsense unless - Where
did YOU leave them"
Il won't tell won't. -" All. please
plea Se,''
Never. Ah-h,' - ."
An abrupt and resounding hammer ng
at the outer door forced him to leave off
He dropped her hand with an oath and
springing 10 his feet drew his revolver
silently weeping. tears of pain rolling
down her cheeks. mouth set in trim.
pale line of determination. strobe out and
shut the door after him.
AS it closed the girl leaped to her feet
maddened with torture. wild eyes casting
about the room for a weapon of sorle
sort. of offense or defense, for she could
not have endured the torture an instant
longer. If forced to il, to fight. fight she
would If only she had something. a
stick of wood to defend herself with.
But there was nothing, nothing at
all.
The room was a typical Office. well but
severely furnished. The rug that COW
cred the tile floor was of rich quality
and rare design. The neutral-tinted walls
were bare. but for a couple of steel en-
cravings in heavy wooden frames. There
were three heavily upholstered leather
armchairs and one revolving desk chair
roll-top desk. against the partition wall
waste-paper basket and fiat-.opped
desk or table. And that was all.
Or not quite all. else the Office equip
ment had not been complete. There was
the telephone!
But he would hear! Or was the parti-
ton soundproof?
AS If in contradiction of the suggestion.
there came to her ears very clearly the
sound of the hall door creaking on its
hinges. and then a mans voice, shrill
with anger and anxiety.
You fool! Do you want to ruin us
both? What do you mean--'
The door crashed to. interrupting the
protest and drowning Anisty's reply.