Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-23

VII-Continued.
Author Of 1.-THE Private Y

VII-Continued.
There followed a lull while Anisty was
ordering the luncheon something he did
deliberately and with success, telling him
self. humorously, Hang the expense.
Maitland pays" OF which fact the
weight in his pocket was assurance
|. Maitland. . Anistys thoughts verged
off upon an interesting tangent. What
was Maitlands motive in arranging this
meeting? 1t was self-evident that the
twain were of one world-tlle girl and the
man of fashion. But. whatever her right
of heritage. she had renounced it, de-
chasing herelf by yielding to thievish in
stincts. voluntarily placing herself on the
level of Anisty. Where she must remain
forever.
There was comfort in that reflection. He
glanced UP to find her eyes bent in grav-
ity upon him. She. too, it appeared, had
fallen a prey to reverie. Upon what SUBJ
ject? An absorbing one. doubtless. since
it held her distracted despite her COM
panion's direct, unequivocally admiring
stare.
The odd light was Pickering again in
more beautiful than aught that ever he
had dreamed Of Such hair as was hers.
woven seemingly of dull flames. lambert,
witching. And eyes!-beautiful always.
, but never more so than at this moment.
when filled with sweetly pensive contem-
plation !" Was she reviewing the las:
twenty-four hours. dreaming Of what had
! pa ssed between her and that silly fool.
Maitland? If only Anisty could surmise
what they had said to each other. how
fhn1r had
she would give him hint, leading
word.
! If he could have read her mind. have
seen behind the film of thought that
clouded her eyes. one fears Mr.. Anisty
might have lost appetite for an excellent
| luncheon.
For she was studying his hands. her
memory barking back to the moment
when she had stood beside the safe, hold
ing the bull's-eye. .
In the blackness of that hour disk OF
light shone out luridly against the tap
estry of memory. Within it's radius ap-
peared two hands. long. supple. strong,
| Immediately white. graceful and dexter
Gus, as delicate of contour as woman S,
yet lacking nothing of masculine vigor
and modelling; hands that wavered
against the blackness, fumbling with the
shining nickeled disk of a combination
lock. The impression had been and
remained one extraordinarily vivid. Could
her eyes have deceived her SO?
"Thoughtful?'
She nodded alertly. instantaneously
mistress of self. and let her gaze serious
yet half smiling. linger upon his the ex-
act fractional shade of an instant longer
than had been, perhaps. discreet Then
lashes dropped long upon her cheeks and
her color deepened all but imperceptibly.
The mans breath halted, then came a
trace more rapidly than before. He bent
forward impulsively. 1" The girl sighed,
ever SO gently.
Il was thoughtful. It's all so
strange, you know
His attitude was an eager question.
II mean our meetfng-that way, last
night She held his gaze again, mo-
mentarily. and
"D-n the waiter" quoth. savagely. Mr..
Anisty to his inner man. sitting back to
facilitate the service of their meal.
The girl placated him with an insignifi-
cant remark, which led both into a maze
of meaningless. but infinitely diverting in
consequences: diverting, at least. to
Anisty. who held up his head. giving her
back look for look, jest for jest, platitude
for platitude (when the waiter was within
hearing distance). altogether, he felt, ac-
quitting himself very creditably.
AS for the girl, in the course of the
demonstrated herself conclusively per
son of anna Zing resource, developing with
admirable ingenuity a campaign planned
| on the spur of a chance observation. The
gentle-mannered and self-sufficient crook
was taken captive before he realized it,
however willing he may have been. En-
meshed in a hundred uncOmprehended
| subtleties. he basked. purring, the while
she insinuated herself beneath his guard
and stripped him of his entire armament
of cunning. vigilance, invention, Sus-
picion and distrust
He relinquished them without a sigh
barely conscious of the spoliation. After
all. she was of his trade. herself mired
with guilt; she would never dare betray
| him. the consequences to herself would be
so dire
| Besides. patently-almost too much So
| she admired him. He was her hero. Had
she not more than limited that such was
| the case, that his example, his exploits,
| had fired her to emulation-however
weakly feminine? He saw her be-
fore him. dainty alluring. yielding. yet
| leading him -on--altogether desirable. And
so long had he, Anisty, starved for af-
II am sure you must be dying for a
smoke
Beg pardon!'' He awoke abruptly. to
find himself twirling the sharp-ribbed
he stared into this. as though seeking
there a clue to what they had been talk
ing about HaZily he understood that
they had been drifting close upon the
perilous shoals of intimate personalities.
What had he told her? What had he
not?
No matter. 1t was clearly to be seen
that her regard for him had waxed rather
| than waned as a result of their CONVEX
sation One had but to look into her eyes
to be treasured as to that. One did look.
breathing heavily. What ana in
genuous child 1t was, to show him her
heart SO freely! He wondered that this
should be so. feeling it none the less a
just and graceful tribute to his fascina-
tions.
She repeated her arch query. She was
| sure he wanted to smoke.
| Indeed he did-if she would permit? And
| forthwith Maitland's cigarette case was
produced with flourish.
What beautiful easel"
| In an instant 1t was in her hands.
| Beautifully she iterated, inspecting the
delicate tracery % the monogram en-
grayer's art-head banded forward. face
Shaded by the broad-brimmed hat.
You like it? You would care to own
| it," Anisty demanded, unsteadily.
I?" The infection of doubtful sur
prise was delight to the ear. "Oh!
- 1 couldn't think of accepting.
Besides, have no use for it,
"Of course you ain't-are not that sort -
An hour back he could have kicked him
self for the grammatical blunder, now he
was wholly illuded besides she didn't
seem to notice. But as little token
between us
She drew back, pushing the case across
the cloth: IT couldn't dream. -
but If / INSIST?
IF you insist? Why 1 suppose
it's awfuliy good Of YOU" She