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

Not at ALL" she replied briskly. g"
am entirely serious. My loss of to-
day will prove my gain tomorrow. l
look for incalculable benefit through
study of your methods. My own, l
confess" with a contemptuous toss of
her head toward the burglars kit,
ARE clumsy, ~antiquated, out of date.
. But then, I'm only an ANA
teur."
"Oh, but a woman" he began to
apologize on her behalf.
ooh, but a woman" she raped out,
smartly. Il wish you to understand
that this woman, at least, is no
mean" And she hesitated.
Thief" he supplied, crudely.
Yes, thief! We're two of a feather,
at that"
True enough. But you
were first in the field; l fail to see why
should reap any reward for hardness.
The spoils must be yours"
1t was a test; Maitland watched her
keenly, fascinated by the subtlety of
the game.
But refuse, Mr.. Anisty-positively
refuse to go, to work while you stand
aside and-and laugh"
Pride! He stared, openly amazed,
at this bewilderingly feminine bundle
of Inconsistencies. With each facet of
her character discovered to him, min
ute by minute, the study of her be-
came to him the more engrossing. He
drew nearer, eyes speculative.
Il will agree" he said, slowly, ITO
crack the safe, but upon conditions"
l. She drew back im~perceptibly,
amused, but asserting her dignity.
"Yes?" she led him on, though in no
accent of encouragement.
Back there, in the river" he
drawled deliberately, forcing the pace,
Il found you-beautiful."
She flushed, lip curling. And, back
there, in the river, l thought you-a
gentleman"
Although a burglar?"
"a gentleman for all that"
Il promise you | mean no HARM" he
p%refaced. But don't you see how /
am putting myself in your power?
Every moment you know me better,
while l have not yet ven looked into
your face with the light full upon it.
Honor among thieves. little woman,"
She chose to ignore the intimate
note in his voice. You're wasting
time" she limited, crisply.
Il am aware of that fact. Permit
me to remind you that you are help,
ing me to waste it. l will not go ahead
until / have seen your face. 1t is sim,
ply an ordinary precaution."
"Oh, If it's a matter of business"
Misrepresentation" he corrected,
with magnificent gravity.
She hesitated but a moment longer
then with a quick gesture removed her
mask. Maitland's breath came fast as
he bent forward. peering into her
face; though he schooied his own fea
lures to an expression of intent and
~inoffensive s~tudiousness, he feared the
loud humping of his heart would be
tray him. AS he looked it became evl
dent that the witchery of moonlight
had not served to e~xaggerate the sen
sitiye, the almost miniature, beauty
Of her. If anything, its charm was
greater there in the full glare of the
electric chandelier, as she faced him
giving him glance for glance, quite un
dismayed by the i~ntentness of his
scrutiny.
In the clear light her eyes shone
lustrous, pools of tawny flame: hel
hair showed itself of a rich ant
luminous coppery hue, spun to i'm
| measurable f~ineness; a faint colo
burned in her cheeks, but in contras
her forehead was as snow-the pure
white, close-grained skin that Is thu
:. heritage OF red-headed women the
world over, and their chiefest charm
as we'll; while her lips
: AS for her lips, the most coheren
statement to be extracted from Mr.