Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-20
The Brass
BOIL
Continuation of Chapter III.

aside snd-and laugh"
Pride! He stared, openly amazed, at
this bewilderingly feminine bundle OF In
Inconsistencies. With each facet of her char
acter discovered to him, minute by min
ute. the study of her became to him the
more engrossing. He drew nearer. eyes
speculative.
II will agree" he said slowly. Ito crack
the safe. but upon conditions"
She drew back impercepubiy, amused,
but asserting her dignity. "Yes?' she
led him on. though I'm no accent of en-
cOuragement.
Back there, in the river" he drawled
deliberately. forcing the pace, Il found
ycu-beautiful"
She flushed. lip curling. And, back
there. in the river, thought you-a gen.
/ TENANT
Although a burglar?'
"A gentleman for all that!
II promise you 1 mean no HARM, he
prefaced. But don't you see how am
putting myself in your power? Every mo-
ment you know me better. while / have
not vet even looked into your face with
the light full upon it. Honor among
thieves, little woman!i
She chose to ignore the intimate note
In his voice You're wasting time, she
limited crisply,
II am aware of that fact. Permit me to
remind you that you are helping me TO
waste IT, / viii not go ahead until have
seen your face. 1t is simply an ordinary
precaution."
''Oh, IL it's a matter Of business
'SeIf-preservation," 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. peerlng into her face; though
he schooled his own features to an ex-
preston OF intent and inoffensive studl-
business. he feared the loud humping OF
his heart would betray him. AS he looked
IL became evident that the witchery oil
moonlight had not served to exaggerate
the sensitive, the almost miniature beau
~ of her. II anything. its charm was
greater there in the full glare OF the elec-
trio chandelier, as she faced him, giving
him glance for glance. quite undismayeo
by the intentness of his scrutiny.
In the clear light her eyes shone ius-
trous. pools OF tawny flame; her mar
showed itself of a rich and luminous
connerv nue. spun to immeasurable fine
ness. a faint color burned In her CHEEKS
but in contrast her forehead was as
snow-the pure, white, close-grained skin
that is the heritage of red-headed women
the world over, and their chiefest charH
as we'll: while her lips
As for her lips. the most coherent
statement TO be extracted from MT
Maitland is to the effect that they were
altogether desirable. from the very nrst'
The hauteur Of her pose. the sympa-
: thy and laughter that lurked IN her
mouth, the manifest breeding In the cen
cate modelling of her nostriis, and the
| Arm straight arch of her nose, the as
| tonishing allurement of her eyes, COM
bIned with their spirited womanliness:
these. while they completed the con-
quest of the young man, abashed him.
| He found himself of a sudden endowed
/ with a painful appreciation OF mis- own
| imperfeetions. the littleneSs Of his ego
the inherent coarseness of his masculine
1 fiber. the poor futility Of his ways, con-
! trasted with her projections. He felt as
II rebuked for some unwarrantable pre-
I SUMPTION. For he had looked into
/ eyes that were windows of soul; and
I the soul was that OF child, unsuilied
and Immaculate.
You may smile: but as for Maitland,
he deemed it no laughing matter. From
| that moment his perception was clear
that. whatever she might claim to be.
however dsmning the circumstances in
which she appeared to him, there was
no evil in her.
But what he did not know, and did
not even guess. was that, from the same
! instant, his being was in bondage to her
will. So Love comes. strangely masked.
iIV-MIDsUMMER NIGHTS MADNESS.
! At length awed and not a little shame
faced, II beg your pardon" he stammered
wretchedly.
For what?" she demanded quickly,
lead up and eyes light.
| For insisting. II wasnt-ah-courte-
Gus. I'm sorry" &c.
II was her turn now to wonder; deli
cacy Of perception such as this is not
ordinarily looked for in the person of n
burglar. With laugh and a gibe she
tried TO pass OF her establishment.
THE thief apologies to the theft"
"Unkind!' ., T.
Briefly hesitant, with an impulsive ges-
ture she flung out a generous hand.
You're right; / was unkind For
give me. Won't you shake hands? e.
I do want 10 be a good comrade. since
| It has pleased Fate to throw us together
like this. 500 oddly Her tone was al
most piaintive; unauestionably 1t was ap-
pealing.
Maitland was curiously moved by the
Itouch of the slim, cool fingers that lay
in his palm. Not unpleasantly. He frown-
ed in perplexity. unable to analyze the
sensation.
You're not angry?' she asked.
"No-but-but--"
| "Yes?"
why do you do this. little woman7
Why do you stoop to this-this trade OF
lyo-of ours? Why sully your hands-an6
not only your hands-imperil your good
name. to say nothing OF your liberty
She drew her hand away quickly, inter
ruptIng him with a laugh that rang trug
as coin new from the mint, honest and
genuine.
And this" she cried. this from Dan
Anisty, Positively. sir, you are delight
full. You grow more dangerously original
every minute! Your scruples, your
consideration. your sympathy-they
are touching - in your She
wagged her head daintily In
pretense Of disapprobation. But shall
tell your more seriously, doubtfully
| 81 think I shall 9. truly. 1 do this
sort of thing. since you must know, be-
cause-imprimis. because I like 1t. In
deed and I do! I like the danger, the
excitement, the exercise of cunning and
and like the rewards, too. Besides
The corners of her adorable mouth
dropped ever so slightly.
''Besides-?'
why But this is not business
We must hurry. Will you, or shall
r.
A crisis had been passed; Maitland
understood that he must wait until {
more favorable time to renew his i'm