The newspaper., 1909-01-29

saw, directly before him and some six
feet distant. woman's slight figure.
dark cloaked. resolute upon its two
feet. head framed in yelling, features
effectually disguised in a motor mask
whose round. staring goggles shone
blankly in the warm white light.
On her part, she seemed to recog-
nize him simultaneously. On his. e.
1t may as we'll be admitted that
Maitland's wits were gone wool-gath-
ering, temporarily at least; state of
mind not objectionable when it is
taken into consideration that he was
called upon to grapple with and stimuli
taneously to assimilate three momen-
tous facts. For the first time in his life
he found himself nose to nose with
revolver, and that one of able-bodied
and respect-compelling proportions.
For the first time in his life. again. he
was under necessity of dealing with
housebreaker. But most stupefying
of all he found the fact that this house
breaker, this armed midnight maraud
er. was a woman, And so it was not
altogether fearlessness that made him
to all intents and purposes ignore the
weapon; 1t Is nothing to his credit for
courage II his eyes struck past the
black and deadly mouth OF the revolver
and looked only into the blank and ex-
pressionless eyes of the wind mask II
was not lack of respect for his skins
integrity, but the sheer, tremendous
wonder OF it all. that rendered him
oblivious to the eternity that lay the
other side of slender, trembling fin
ger tip.
And so he stared. agape. until pres
emily the weapon wavered and was
lowered and the woman's voice.
touched with irony. brought him to his
senses.
oh" she remarked. coolly. ITS
only you
Thunderstruck. he was able no more
than to parrot the pronoun: You
you"
Were you expecting to meet any
one else. here. tonight" she inquired
In suavest mockery.
He lefted his shoulders helplessly.
and tried to school his tongue to CO.
herence. Il confess. Well.
certainly didn't count on finding you
here Miss Wentworth. And the black
CLOAK. you KNOW
Reversible. of course: gray inside.
as you see-Handsome Dam" The
girl laughed quietly. drawing aside an
edge OF the garment to reveal its in
ner face of silken gray aud the huted
rufies Of the gray skirt underneath.
He nodded appreciation OF the de
vice. his mind now busy with specula-
tions as to what he should do with the
girl. now that he had caught her. At
the same time he was vaguely vexed
by her persistent repetition Of the OBJ
sciescent nickname.
Handsome Dam he iterated all but
mechanically. why do you call me
that please. Have We met before7 ]
could swear. never before this night"
"cut you are altogether too modest.
sne laughed Not that MS bad trait
in tine character of a professional.
. But really. II seems bit in
credible that any one SO widely ad-
vert.sed "a Handsome Dan Anisty
shouli 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 a servant-or even Malt
land" she diverted the subject. with
nod.
"But-bui II you recognized me as
Anisty. back there by the ford. didn't
you SUSPECT Id drop I'm on you
why. Of course, Didn't you all but
tell me that you were coming here?''
But"
Il thought perhaps ! might get
through before you came. Mr.. Anisty.
but knew all the time that. even II
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 very
bold man. and as surely "A very care
less one. to run around the way you
do without so much as troubling to
grow a beard or a mustache, after
your picture has been published broad
cast"
Did he catch a CLEAN of admiration
in the eyes behind the goggles?
Now, II ever they get hold OF my
portrait and print Well"
sighed the girl wickedly, lifting slim.
bare fingers in affected concern to the
mass of ruddy hair. "in that event |
suppose / shall have to become n