The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-12-16
CHAPTER XIV.


Slowly Maitlapd returned 10 the
study and replaced the lamp upon his
desk: and stood briefly in silence. long
fingers stroklng his well-shaped chin.
his face little thin and worn. look.
Ing. a CLEAN OF pain in his eyes He
sighed.
SO she was gone,
lie laughed a trace harshly This
surprise was nothing more than he
might have discounted. Of course: he
had been a fool 10 expect anything
else OF her. he was enjoying only his
Just deserts both for having dared 10
believe that the good IN human ma,
ture tparucularly In womans nature)
would respond 10 decent treatment.
and for having acted On that asinine
theory.
so she was gone. without a word.
without a sirnl
lie sat down at the desk. sidewise.
one arm extended along It's edge. fin
gers drumming out a dreary little tune
on the hard polished wood: and
thought u all over from the begin
ming. Nor spared himself.
Why. after all. should II be other
wise9 Why should she have stayed?
Why should he compliment himself
by believing that there was aught
about him visible through the veneer
acquired in a score and odd years OF
purposeless existence. 20 attract a
young and pretty woman's heart?
He enumerated his qualities spe-
eifcally: and condemned them all. I'M
prints, he was conceited ass. A
fascinating young criminal had but
10 toss her head at him 10 make him
think that she was pleased with him.
10 make him forget that she was what
she was and believe that. because he
was willing to stoop. she was willing
to climb And he had betrayed him.
self so mercilessly, How she must
have laughed in her sleeve all the
time. while he pranced and bridled and
preened himself under her eyes.
blinded TO his own idiocy by the fame
Of a sudden infatuation-how she must
have laughedl
Undoubtedly she had laughed: and.
measuring his depth--or his shallow.
ness-had determined TO use him TO
her ends. Why not? IL had been her
business. her professional duty. to
make use OF him in order TO accom-
plish her plundering. And because
she had not dared to ask him for the
Jewels when he left her In the morn
Ing. she had naturally returned In the
evening 20 regain them, very con
fident. doubtless. that even II surprised
second time. she would get on scot
free. Unfortunately for her. this fell
low Anisty had interfered. Maitland
presumed cynically that he ought 10
be grateful TO Anlsty. The unaccount-
able scoundrel! Why had he returned?
How the girl had contrlyed TO es-
cape was. OF course, more easy TO un-
derstand. Maitland recalled that sud
den clatter OF hoofs In the street, and
he had only to make a trip TO the
window 10 verify his suspicion that
the cab was gone. She had simply
overheard his concluding remarks TO
the cabby, and taken pardonable ad'
vantage OF them. Maitland had footed
the bill She was welcome to that.
however He, Maitland. was well rid
Of the whole damnable business. Yes,
Jewels and ALL
What were the jewels 10 him? Be
yond their sentimental associations, he
did not hold them greatly In prize. or
course. since they had been worn by
his mother he would spare no ex-
pense or effort to trace ana re-collect
them, for that dim sainted memory's
sake. But in this case. at least. the
traditional usage OF the Maitlands
would never be carried out II had
been faithfully observed when. after
ale mothers death. the stones had