The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-09-30

4
verged on upon an interesting tan
gent What was Maitland's motive In
arranging this meetlng9 II was self
evident that the twain were Of one
world-the girl and the man Of fash.
| fen. But, whatever her right Of her
itage. she had renowned n. deciassing
herself by yielding TO thIevish In
stincts. voluntarily placing herself on
tie 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. II ap-
peared. had fallen prey to reverie
Upon what subject An absorbing
one. doubtless. since u 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
lambert. witchingl And eyes--beauti
fll always. but never more so than at
this moment. when filled with sweetly
ponsive contemplation. Was
she reviewing the last "a hours, dream.
ing OF what had passed between her
and that silly fool. Maitland7 II only
Anisty could surmise what they had
said to each other. how long they had
been acquainted: II only she would
give him a hint. leading word,
II 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
lent luncheon.
For she was studying his hands. her
memory barking back to the moment
when she had stood beside the safe
holding the suil's-eye.
In the blackness OF that hour a disk
o. light shone out luridly against the
tapestry OF memory. Within its radius
appeared two hands. long. supple.
strong. Immediately white. graceful
ard dexterous,- as delicate Of contour
as a woman's, yet lacking nothing OF
masculine vigor and modelling; hands
that wavered against the blackness.
fumbling with the shining nlckeled
| dlsk OF a combination lock.
The impression had been and re-
mained one extraordinarily vivid.
Could her eyes have deceived her so
Thoughtful"
She nodded alertly. instantaneously
mistress OF self; and let her gaze.
serious yet half smiling. linger upon
his the exact fractional shade OF an in
slant longer than had been. perhaps.
discreet. Then lashes dropped long
upon her cheeks. and her color deep
ened all but imperceptibly.
The mans breath halted. then came
a trace more rapidly than before. lie
bent forward impulsively. e.. The
girl sighed. ever so gently.
Il was thoughtful. It's all
so strange. you know"
His attitude was an eager question.
Il mean our meetlng-that way. last
night" She held his gaze again. mo-
mentarily. and
Damn the waiter!" quoth savagely
Mr.. Anisty to his inner man. sitting
back to facilitate the service OF their
neal
The girl placated him with an insig-
n!ficant remark which led both into n
maze Of meaningless but Infinitely di.
verting inconsequences: divertlng. AT
least, to Anisty. who held up his head.
giving her back look for look. Jest for
| Jest, platitude for platitude when the
waiter was within hearing distance) /;
altogether, he felt, acquitting himself
very creditably.
AS for the girl, in the course OF the
next half or three-quarters OF an hour
she demonstrated herself conclusiyely
person Of amazing resource. de-
veloping with admirable ingenuity a
campaign planned on the spur of a
chance observation. The gentle man.
nered and self.sufiicient crook was
taken captive before he realized II,
however willing he may have been.
| Enmeshed In a hundred uncompre.
hended subtleties, he basked. purring
the while she insinuated herself be
meath his guard and stripped him OF
his entire armament OF cunning. vigi
lance, invention. suspicion. and dis
trust.
He relinquished them without a
sigh, barely conscious Of the spolla
ton. After all. she was OF his trade
herself mired with guilt; she would
never dare betray him. the conse
quences to herself would be so dire.
Besides, pstently-almost too much
so--she admired him. He was her
hero. Had she not more than limited
that such was the case. that his ex
ample. his exploits. had fired her "a
mulation-howeyer weakly feminine
lie saw her before him, dainty
alluring, yielding, yet leading him on
altogether desirable. And so long had
he. Anisty. starved for aifectloni
Il am sure you must be dying for a
smoke"
BEG pardon!" He awoke abruptly
TO find himself twirling the sharp.
ribbed stem of his empty glass. Alb
s,raetedly he stared into this. as