Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-07-22

Aou IKE Is lou WOulu care To
own liz" Anisty demanded. ~unsteadily.
IT. The infection of doubtful sur.
prise was a delight to the ear. "Ohl
/ couldn't think Of accepting.
\. Besides, l have no use for It."
"Of course you ain't-are not that
sort" An hour back he could have
kicked himself for the grammatical
b'under; now he was wholly illuded;
besides, she didn't seem to notice.
But as a little token-between us"
She drew back, pushing the case
across the cloth; Il couldn't dream"
but II | INSIST"
IF you insist? Why, | sup.
pose it's awfully good OF
you" She flashed him a rladdening
glance.
you do me pro--honor." he amend.
ed, hastily. Then, daringly: II don't
ask much in exchange, only"
"a cigarette?" she suggested,
hastily.
He laughed, pleased E d diverted.
"That1l be enough now you'll light
II for me-"
She glanced obviously ound the now
almost deserted room: and a waiter
started forward as II minated by a
spring. Anisty motioncd him imperi-
ously back. Go on" he coaxed; mo
n a see." And watched, battered.
the slim white fingers that extracted a
match from the stand and drew II
swiftly down the prepared surface OF
the box, holding tie iickering flame
to the end of a white tube whose tip
lay between lips carved, scarlet, and
pouting.
"There!" A pee wrath OF smoke
fioated away IN the ~fan-churned air,
and Anisty was vaguely conscious of
receiving the glowing cigarette from
a hand whose sheer perfection was but
enhanced by the ripe curves OF a
rounded forearm. He inhaled
deeply. with satisfaction.
Undetected by him, the girl swiftly
passed a furtive handkerchief across
her lips. When he looked again she
was smiling and the golden case had
disappeared.
She shook her head at him in mock
reproval. Bold mani" she called him;
but the crudity of 1t was lost upon him,
as she had believed It would be. The
moment had come for vigorous meas.
ures, she felt, guile having paved the
way.
why do you call me that?"
ITO appear so openly running the
gauntlet of the detectives"
Eh?'-startled.
"Of course you saw" she insisted.
Saw? No. Saw what?"
why. . . perhaps ! am mis-.
taken, but / thought you knew and
trusted to your likeness to Mr.. Matt.
land"
Anisty frowned, collecting himself,
b~ewildered. What are you driving at,
anyhow" he demanded, roughly.
Didn't you see the detectives? |
should have thought your man would
have warned you. | noticed four lott
ing round the entrance, as | came In,
and feared"
why didn't you tell me, then? ?"
81 have just told you the reason. |
supposed you were In your Disguise"
That's So" The alarmed expires.
sion gradually faded, although he re-
NAMED troubled. Il sure am Maitland
to the life he continued with salts.
faction. Even the head-waiter-"
And of course she insinuated, deli
cately, you have disposed Of the
loot?"
He shook his head gloomily. mo
time, as yet"
Her dismay was evident. "You don't
mean to say"
I'm my pocket"
Obi" She glanced stealthily
around. In your pocket she whis-
pered. "And-and IL they stopped
you"
II am Maitland"
But II they insisted on searching
you. :" She was round-eyed with
apprehension.
That's SOL" Her perturbation was
infectious. His jaw dropped.
They would find the jewels-known
to be stolen"
by Cod" he cried, s~avagely.
DAM"
Il beg your pardon. But . :.
what am | to do? You are sure"
"McClusky himself Is on the nearest
%corner!"
"Phew!" he whistled; and stared at
her, s~earchingly, through a %lengthen.
ing pause.
Dan :" said she at length.
"Yes?"
There is a way"
Go on"
Last night, Dan'-she raised her
glorious eyes to his-"last night, /
\. / trusted you"
His face hardened eve SO slightly;
yet when he took thought. the tense
lines about his eyes and mouth soft
ened. And she drew a deep breath,
knowing that she had all but won.
Il trusted you,' she continued soft.
ly do you know what that means!
l trusted you"
CTo BE CoNTINUED)