The Irish standard., 1908-10-03

Oe MAITLAND with all that gentleman's
advantages, educational and social,
then gradually drop back to his own
level and be himself, Dan Anisty,
Handsome Dan" the professional, the
fit mate for the girl.
What was she saying?
"But you have lunched already!"
with an appealing pout.
Indeed, no." he protested, earnest
~. II was early-conceive my eager.
ness!-and by i'll chance a friend of
mine insisted upon lunching with me.
had only a cup of coffee and roll"
He motioned to the waiter, calling
him "Waiter!" rather than "Garcon!"
-intuitively understanding that Matt.
land would never have aired his
French in q public place. and that
he could not afford the least slip be-
fore a woman as keen as this.
Lay clean cloth and bring the
bill of fare" he demanded, tempering
his lordly instincts and adding the
''please" that men Of Maitland's stamp
use to interiors.
"A friend!" tardily echoed the girl
when the servant was gone.
He laughed lightly, determined to
be frank. "a detective, in point of
fact" said he. And he enjoyed her sur
prise.
"You have many such?"
For convenience one tries to have
one in each CITY,"
"And this"
"Oh, have him fixed, all right. He
ccnfided to me all the latest develop
ments and official intentions with re-
gard to the Maitland arrest"
Her eyes danced. Tell mel" she
demanded, imperious; the emphasis of
intimacy irresistible as she bent for
ward, forearms on the cloth, slim
white hands clasped with tense i'm
patience, eyes seeking his.
why of course Maitland
escaped"
"No!"
Fact. Scared the butler into I'M
gagging him; then, in a fit of pardon
able rage, knocked that fool down and
dashed out of the window-presum-
ably in pursuit of us. UP to a late
hour he hadn't returned, and police
opinion is divided as to whether Matt
land arrested Anisty, and Anisty got
away, or vice versa"
. Excellent" She clasped her hands
noiselessly, gay little gesture.
$50, whatever the outcome, one thing
is certain: Higgins will presently be
seeking another BERTH"
She lifted her brows prettily. "Hig-
gins?"-with the rising infection:
"The butler. Didn't you hear-?"
Eyes wondering, she moved her head
slowly from side to side. Hear what?"
Il fancied that you had waited
moment on the veranda," he finessed.
"Oh, was quite too frightened"
He took this for complete denial.
Better and better! He had actually
feared she had eavesdropped, how
ever warrantably; and Maitlands
authoritative way with the servants
had been too convincingly natural to
have deceived . woman of her keen
wits.
There followed lull while Anisty
was ordering the luncheon; something
he did elaborately and with success,
telling himself humorously: Hang
the expense! Maitland pays" OF
which fact the weight in his pocket
was assurance.
; Maitland. Anisty's thoughts
:verged of upon an interesting tan
gent. What was Maitland's motive in
arranging this meeting? 1t was self
evident that the twain were Of one
world-the girl and the man Of fash
ion. But, whatever her right Of her
itage, she had renounced it, declassing
'harself by yielding to thievish in
stincts, voluntarily placing herself on
the level of Anisty. Where she must
remain, for ever.
There was comfort in that reflection.
He glanced up to find her eyes bent in
gravity upon him. She, too, it ap-
peared, had fallen prey to reverie.
Upon what subject! An absorbing
ene, doubtless, since It held her alb.
stracted despite her companions d.
rect, unequivocally admiring stare.
The odd light was Pickering again in
the cracksman's glace. She was then
more beautiful than aught that ever
he had dreamed Of. Such hair as was
hers, woven seemingly of dull flames.
lambent, witching! And eyes-beauti.
fiji always, but never rsore SO than at
this moment, when filled with sweetly
pcnsive contemplation. Was
she reviewing the last "a hours, dream
ing of what had passed between her
and that silly fool, Maitland? II only
Anisty could surmise what they had
said to each other, how long they had
been acquainted; If only she would
give him a hint, leading word!
u 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 excel
leht luncheon:
For she was studying his hands, he~
memory barking back to the momeu.
when she had stood beside the safe,
holding the bull's-eye.