Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-12

still fingered. O'Dare judged that he was
anxious to make his peace with her.
''The story'of the accident was false"
he said. cit was part Of our plan. The
senorita's friend Is safe and well, SO far
as I know"
She took no notice of the Information.
Il trust YOU, Dona BeatriZ," he once
more reminded her impresSively, and shut
her in. alone. Then her eyes frightened
with relief, not altogether due to his
withdrawal. His news had evidently been
of much more import to her than she was
willing to admit to him.
She rose. that she might reach more
easily the pocket of her extensively SIM
pie gown, but her hand came out Of II
empty. She swept her skirts to one side
with silken swish. and looked down as
If in search of something she might have
dropped. There was nothing upon the
floor but a pair of small feet trinity shod
In patent leather. She sank back into
her seat with an expression of puzzled
disappointment and sat still. thinking,
one elbow on an arm of the chair. chin
on palm. O'Dare gazed at her as though
she had bewitched him.
Her young beauty was sufficient excuse.
She was fair. of the north. whose snow
drops and roses had lent her pure face
their most tender tints. Her troubled
eyes were of misty blue. underneath long
lashes. The curve of the crimson cupid S
bow that her lips made, compressed as
they were. would have drawn an anchor
lite from his desert, and yet the aptest
description that Dennis O'Dare could
supply from memory we'll stocked with
such quotations was the old one of
sweet. cold. chaste lips, a mouth that
had not yet dreamed Of kisses, most hon
est eyes
And her hair.
Hair. such a wonder Of dix and hoss
Freshness and frasrance-noods Of 1t, too!
her hair was loose under her broad
black hat A curl as thick as his wrist
flowed distractingly past the blue bow
beneath q chin curved to that true oval
which artists love but so seldom see She
was so unconsci6usly lovely in her aban-
don that sudden conjunction for his
esp!al smote the enraptured Dennis. He
blushed in the darkness, bethought him.
self OF how he might serve her.
II must have a word with her before
wake those Rip Van Wrinkles" he told
himself. only half repentant. and. putting
his lips to the opening, he whistled softly.
She did not seem to hear. He tried
again. a little louder. and. looking
through. saw her scanning the blank wall
with anxious glance.
He made megaphone Of his two
hands. and. I'm friend" he whispered,
sibilantly.
She overcame her startled impulse TO
call out. and turned one shell-like ear to-
ward the spot behind which he was stand
ing.
Draw your chair closer so that 1 can
speak to you he begged, but she did
not at once comply. She rose instead,
and took turn or two about her cell.
A light knock sounded on the door.
Come In" she said indifferently. 1t
was partly opened and Gonzalez's face
appeared.
THE senOrita is restless" he remarked
suspiciousiy, and she stopped short
Must l ait still?' she asked. with as
sumed petulance, and. pushing her chair
back to the wall. sank into 1t again while
O'Dare grinned delightedly In the dark
ness.
''She's wise" he told himself.
The brown wig disappeared. the door
was shut. She leaned back against the
cracked plaster with a gesture of weari-
ness. and put a hand to her lips lest any
one should see them move.
who are you?' she inquired. eagerly.
My name Is O'Dare," explained that
gentleman. Dennis ODare. Is there
anything ] can do for you? There are
three Of us I'm here, and we're more than
A match for
Are the other two listening she in
terrupted.