Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-06-10
CHAPTER lIl.-Continued.

Now, if ever they get hold of my
portrait and print Well"
sighed the girl wickedly, lifting slim,
bare fingers in affected concern to the
mass of ruddy hair, lin that event |
natural blonde!'
Her humor, her splendid fearless
ness, the lightness of her tone, com
bined with the ha~lf-laugning. half-se-
rious look that she swept up at him, to
ease the tension of his emotions. For
the first time since entering the room,
he smiled; then in silence for a time
regarded her steadfastly, thinking.
So he resembled this burglar, Anis-
ty, strongly enough to be mistaken for
him-eh? Plainly enough the girl be-
lieved him to be Anisty. Well,
and why not? Why shouldn't he be
Anisty for the time being, If it suited
his purpose SO to masquerade?
1t might possibly suit his purpose.
He thought his position one uncommon
ly difficult. AS Maitland, he had on his
hands a female thief, a hardened char
acter, a common malefactor (strange
that he got so little relish of the
terms!), caught r%ed-handed; as Matt
land, his duty was TO hand her over
to the law, to be dealt with as-what
she was. Yet, wen while these consid-
eTatiCns were urging themselves upon
him, he knew his eyes appraised her
with open admiration and interest. She
stood before him, slight, delicate, pref
ty, appealing in her ingenious candor;
and at his mercy. How could he bring
himself to deal with her as he might
with-well, Anisty himself? She was
i woman, he a gentleman. =
AS Anigty, however, he chose to
assume that experts identity for the
nonce-he would be placed at once on
a plane of equality with the girl; from
a fellow of her craft she could hardly
refuse attentions. AS Anisty, he would
put himself in a position to earn her
friendship, to gain-perhaps-her con-
fidence, to learn something of her
necessities, to aid and protect her from
the consequences of her misdeeds;
possibly--to sum up-to divert her
footsteps to the paths of a calling less
hazardous and more honorable.
Worthy ambition-to reform a bur-
glar! Maitland regained something of
his lost self-esteem, applauding him.
self for entertaining a motive so
laudable. And he chose his course, for
better or worse, in these few seconds.
Thereby proving his inc ntestable title
to the name and repute of Mad Matt,
land.
His face lightered; his manner
changed; he assumed with avidity the
role for which she had cast him an
which he stood so ready to accept and
act.
We'll and good" he conceded with
an air. Il suppose l may as we'll
own up"
ooh, | know you" she assured him,
with a little, confident shake of her
head. There's no deceiving me. But, -
and her smile became rueful, IF only
you'd waited ten minutes more. OF
course l recognized you from the first
down, there by the river; and knew
very well what was your-lay; you
gave yourself away completely by
mentioning the distance from the river
to the Manor. And l did so want to
get ahead of you on this job! What d
feather in ones cap, to have fore
stalled Dan Anisty! But
hadn't you better be a little careful
with those lights? You seem to forget
that there are servants in the house
Really, you know, | find you most TO
mantically audacious, Mr.. Anisty-
quite in keeping with your reputation
You overWhelm me-" he murmured
Believe me, ! have little conceit il
my fame, such as it Is" And, CROSSING
to the windows, he loosed the heavy
velvet hangings and let them fall to
gether, drawing their edges close 81
that no ray of light might escape.
She watched him with interest. "Yo,
seem well acquainted here"
"Of course. ANY man of magma
ton is at pains to study every house
he enters. l have a map of the prem
~ises-house and grounds-here." HI
indicated his forehead with a Ions
forefinger.
quite right, too-and worth one!
while. II umo is to be believed, yo,
have ordinarily more than your labo,
for your pains. You have taught me
something already. All, Welt
she sighed, Il suppose | may as wei
acknowledge my inferiority-as nee
phyte to hierophant. Master!" Sh,
CONTESTED low. Il beg you process
and let thy cheela profit through obsel
vation!" And a small white hand ges
tured significantly toward the collec
tion of burglars tools-drills an
chisels, skeleton keys, putty, and all
neatly displayed upon the rug befor
the massive safe.
You mean that you wish me {
crack this safe for you?" he inquired
with inward CONSERVATION.
mot for me. Disappointment / az
NIT is mine: but not for the loss SUI
tain. In the presence of the master
am content to stand humbly to on
side, as BELTS n of my lowly state |
rim the ranks Of our profession. / r.
sign, | abdicate in your favor; claim
Ing nothing by right of priority"
You are too generous" he nun
bled, confused by her thinly yelled rit
icula.