The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-07-31

But really! it seems bit in
credible that any one SO widely adj
Fertised as Handsome Dan Anisty
should feel surprise at being recog-
nized- Why, your portrait and biog-
raphy have commanded space in every
yellow journal in America recently"
And, dropping the revolver into a
pocket in her cloak, Il was afraid you
might be q servant-or even Matt
land, she diverted the subject, with
= nod
~But-but If you recognized me as
Anisty, back there by the ford, didn't
you suspect I'd drop in on you
Why, Of course Didn't you all but
tell me that you were coming here?"
But"
4 thought perhaps might get
through before you came, Mr.. Anisty;
but I knew all the time that, even if
you did manage to surprise me-er-
on the job. you wouldn't call the po-
lice" She laughed confidently, and
oddly enough-at the same time
nervously. You are certainly a very
bold man, and as surely very care
less one, to run around the way you
do without so much as troubling to
grow a beard or a mIstache, after
your picture has been published broad
cast"
Did he catch a CLEAN of admiration
in the eyes behind the goggles?
Now, If ever they get hold of my
portrait and print -. Welli"
sighed the girl wickedly, lifting slim,
bare fingers in affected concern to the
mass Of rudy hair. "in that event l
suppose shall have to become q
natural blondei"
Her humor, her splendid fearless
ness, the lightness of her tone, COM
bEned with the half-laughing, 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-eh2 Plainly enough the girl be-
lieYed him to be Anisty Well,
and why not? Why shouldn't he be
ADisty for the time being. if it suited
his purpose SO TO masquerade
: X might possibly suit his purpose.
He thought his position one uncommon
" difHcult AS Maitland, he had on his
hands female thief, a hardened char
acter, a common malefactor strange
that he got so little relish Of the
termsi), caught red-handed; as Matt
land, his duty was to hand her over
to the law. TO be dealt with as-what
she was Yet, even while these consid-
erations were urging themselves upon
him, he knew his eyes appraised heR
with open admiration and interest She
stood before him, slight, delicate, pref
fy, appealing in her ingenious eandor;
and at his mercy. How could he bring
himself to deal with her as he might
with-well, Anisty himself? She was
q woman, he a gentleman.
AS Anisty, 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 q calling less
hazardous and more honorable.
Worthy ambition-to reform bur
glarl 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 incontestable title
to the name and repute Of Mad Matt
land.
His face lightened; his manner
changed; he assumed with ayidity the
role for which she had cast him and
which he stood SO ready to accept and
act.
We'll and good" he conceded with
an air. Il suppose I may as well
own up"
"oh, know you, she assured him,
with a little, confident shake Of her
head. There's no deceiEing me. But
and her smile became rueful, 'ff only
you'd waited ten minutes morel OF
course I 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
n the Manor. And I did so want to
Get ahead OF you on this job What z
feather in ones cap. to have fore
stalled Dan Anistyl But
bsdu't YOU better be little careful
With those lights7 You seem to forget
nat there are servants in the house.
Really. you know, hnd you most TO
7,anfically audacious, Mr.. Anisty-
cuite in keeping with your reputation.
lyon overwhelm me-" he murmured.
- -. - have little cOnceit in