Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-31

consequences; diverting, at least, to Ants
ty, who held up his head, giving her back
look for look, jest for jest, platitude Tor
platitude (when the waiter was within
hearing distance): altogether, he felt, ac-
quitting himself very creditably.
AS for the girl, in the course of the
next half or three-quarters of an hour she
demonstrated herself concluslvely a per-
son OF amazing resource, developing with
admirable ingenuity a campaign planned
on the spur of a chance observation The
gentle hammered and self-sufficient crook
was taken captive before he realized 1t,
however willing he may have been. En-
meshed in a hundred uncomprehended
subtleties. he basked, purring, the while
she insinuated herself beneath his guard
and stripped him of his entire armament
of cunning. vigilance, invention, suspi-
cion, and distrust.
He relinquished them without a sigh,
barely conscious of the spoliation. After
all, she was Of his trade herself mired
with guilt she would never dare betray
him, the consequences to herself would be
so dire.
Besides. patiently.-almost too much so,
-she admired him. He was her hero.
Had she not more than limited that such
was the case that his example, his ex-
ploits, had fired her to emulation-how-
ever weakly feminine? He
saw her before him. dainty. allur-
ing. yielding, yet leading him on; alto
9ether desirable. And so long had he,
Anisty, starved for affection! ..
81 am sure you must be dying for q
smoke
Beg pardon!' He awoke abruptly
to find himself twirling the sharp-rib-
bed stem of his empty glass. Abstract
edly he stared into this, as though seek
ing there a clue to what they had
ueen talking about. Hnzily ne under
stood that they had been drifting close
upon the pernous shoals OF intimate
personalities. What had he told herr
What had he not?
No matter. 1t was clearly to be seen
that her regard for him had waxed
rather than->waned as a result Of their
conversation. One had but to look into
her eyes to be reasured as to that. One
did look, breathing heavily.
q. hat an ingenious child 1T was, TO
show him her heart so freely! He won
dered that this should be so, feeling 1T
none the less just and graceful tribute
to his Vaccinations.
She repeated her arch query. She
was sure he wanted to smoke. -.
Indeed he did--if she would permit?
And forthwith Maitland's cigarette case
was produced, with flourish.
Nnat a beautiful case!'
In an instant 1t was in her hands.
"Beautiful!" she lterated, inspecting the
delicate tracery of the monogram en-
graVers art--head Bonded forward, face
shaded by the sroad-brimmed hat.
'1ou ike it, YOU would care to own
ity' Anisty. demanded unsteadily.
TIP The infection of doubtful sur
prise was delight to the ear. "Oh,
|. 1 couldn't think of accepting.
4 F0v
'Uf course you ain't-are not that
sort" An hour back he could have
kicked himself for the grammatical
bIunder; now he was wholly illuded;
besides, she didn't seem to notice but
as little token-between us"
She drew back. pushing the case
across the cloth; couldn't
But II 1 insist"
IF you insist? Why l suppose
!. it's awfuliy good of you" She
flashed him a maddening glance.
You do me pro-honor," he amended
hastily. Then 6aringly II don't ask
much in exchange, only"
- IT." -e''o?''. 80 ~'lgE~~t~Jl h~~'ilv
He laughed, pleased and diverted.
81 nat'h enGdsn now. you'll light
1t for me-
She glanced obviously round the now al
most QGSeIlGu anu a waiter SldTtbu
forward as IL animated by a spring
Anisty motioned him imperiously back.
GO on" be coaxed; mo one can See"
And, watched, fattered, the slim white
fingers that extracted a match from the
stand and drew 1t swiftly down the pre-
pared surface of the box, holding the
pickering flame to the end of a white
tube whose tip lay between lips curved,
Fcarlet. and pouting.
"Therer' A pale wrath OF smoke float
ed away on the fan-churned air. and An
isty 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 smil-
ing and the golden case had disappeared.
She shook her head at him in mock re-
prevail. BOLD mani! she called him; but
the crudity of 1t was lost upon him. as
she had believed it would be. The mo-
ment had come for vigorous measures,
she felt. guile having paved the way.
why do you call me that?"
To appear so openly. running the
gauntlet of the detectives.
"Eh?"-startled.
Continued in Next Issue.