Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-22
Illumination.


ished; simultaneously the masquerader
brought his gaze down from the ceiling.
his thoughts to earth. his vigilance to the
surface and himself to his feet, summon
ing to his aid all that he possessed of re-
source and expedient
Trapped.-the word blazed incandescent
In his brain. So long had he foreseen and
planned against this very moment.
Yet panic swayed him for but little
instant; as swiftly as 1t had overcome
him it subsidized, leaving him shocked.
shade more pale. but rapidly reasserting
control of his faculties. And with this
shade of emotion came complete reas-
surance
His name had been uttered in no stern
or menacing tone; rather its sylla bles had
been pitched In a low and guarded key,
diality. In brief. the moment that he
recognized the voice as a woman's he
was again master of himself. and. aware
that the result of his instructive impulse
to rise and defend himself which had
brought him to standing position. would
be interpreted as only the natural action
of a gentleman addressed by feminine
acquaintance. he was confident that he
had not betrayed his primal consterna-.
ton. He bowed. smiled. and with eyes in
qualification and complete comprehension,
appraised her who had addressed him.
She seemed to have fluttered to the table,
beside which she now stood, slightly sway
silk falling about her in soft. tremulous
petals. Dainty, chic. we'll poised. serene.
fiawlessly pretty in her miniature fashion.
Anisty recognized her in a twinkling His
perceptions. trained to observations as
as those Of snapshot
camera. and well nigh as accurate. had
her individuality indelibly
upon the film of his memory. even in the
abbreviated encounter of the previous
night.
faculties keyed to the highest pitch Of
immediate action. he had difficulty as
scant in accounting for her presence
there. What he did not quite compre-
kindly. for 1t had been plain enough that
that gentleman had surprised her in the
act of safe-breaking before conniving at
her escape. But, allowing that Matt
lands actions had been based upon mo-
tives vague to the burglars understand
ing. it was quite in the scheme of posi-
bilities that he should have arranged to
meet his protege at the restaurant that
afternoon. She was come to keep an ap-
pointment to which NOW that Anisty
in the beginning of their conversation.
Well and good: once before, within the
past two hours, he had told himself that
he was Good-enough Maitland He would
be even better now
But you did surprise met he de-
clared. CALAMITY, before she could wonder
at his slowness to respond. You see.
was roaming ~
He permitted her to surn:se the object
round which his dreams had been woven.
And I had expected you to be eagerly,
watching for me!' she parted. archly.
II was 80 mentally. But" he warned
her. seriously. mot that name. Maitland
is known here-they call me Maitland
choice But with your assistance and
discretion we can bluff it out, all right.
II forgot. Forgive me-" BY now she
was in the chair opposite him. tucking
the lower ends of her gloves into their
wrists.
mo matter-nobody heard"
II very nearly called you Handsome
DAN" She flashed radiant smile at
him from beneath the rim of her picture
hat.
A fire was kindled in Anisty's eyes; he
was conscious of a quickened drumming
of his pulses.
Dan is Maitlands front name. Also"
he remarked. absently.
II thought as much" she responded,
quietly speculative.
The burglar hardly heard. 1t has been
indicated that he was quick w.tted, be-
cause he had to be. in the very nature Of
his avocation. Just now his brain was
working rather more rapidly than usual
even which was one reason why the
light had leaped into his eyes.
1t was very plain-to a deductive rea-
soner-from the girls attitude toward
him that she had fallen into relations OF
uncommon friendliness with this Matt
land. young as Anisty believed their &C
quaintance to be. There had plainly been
a flirtation-wherein lay the explanation
of Maitland's forbearance; he had been
fascinated by the woman, had not hest
tated to take Anisty's name (even as
Anisty was then taking his) in order to
prolong their intimacy.
So much the better. Turn about was
still fair play. Maitland had sown as
Anisty: the real Anisty would reap the
harvest. Pretty women interested him
deeply, though he saw little enough Of
partly because of q refinement OF taste
women of the class of this conquest by
proxy were out Of reach of the enemy of
society. That is, under ordinary circum-
stances. This one, on the contrary. was
not: whatever she was or had been. how
ever successful a crackswoman she might
be. her cultivation and breeding were as
apparent as her beauty, and quite as at
tractive.
A criminal is necessarily first a gam
bier. a votary OF chance, and the blind
goddess had always been very kind to
Mr. Anisty. He felt that here again she
was favoring him. Maitland he had
eliminated from this girls life; Maitland
had failed to keep his engagement, and
so would never again be called upon to
play the part Of burglar with her interest
for incentive and guerdon. Anisty him
self could take up where Maitland had
left off. Easily enough. The difficulties
were insignificant he had only to play up
to Maitlands standard for while. to be
Maitland with all that gentleman's ad-
vantages, 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. MOI" he protested. earnestly
II was early-conceive my eagerness!-
and by Ill chance a friend Of mine in
sisted upon lunching with me. I had only
a cup Of coffee and a ROLL. He mo-
toned to the waiter, calling him
Waiter rather than .'Garcon!"-in-
understanding that Maitland
would never have aired his French in a
public place. and that he could not afford
the least slip before a woman as keen as
this.
"Lay,a clean cloth and bring the bill of
fare" he demanded. tempering his lordly
and adding the please that
men of Maitland's stamp use to interiors.
"A fr.endr tardily echoed the girl when
the servant was gone.
We laughed lightly, determined to be