Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-06-10
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frowned in p~erplexity, unable to ana
lyze the sensation.
You're not angry?" she asked.
"No-but-but-"
"Yes?"
why do you do this, little woman:
Why do you stoop to this--this trade
of yo-of ours? Why sully your hands
and not only your hands-imperil
your good name, to say nothing of your
liberty"
She drew her hand away quickly, in.
%terrupting him with a laugh that rang
true as a coin new from the mint, hon.
est and genuine.
"And this" she cried, this from
Dan Anisty! Positively, sir, you are
delightful! You grow more danger.
ously original every minute! Your
scruples, your consideration, your sym.
pathy-they are touching-in you!"
She wagged her head daintily in pre-.
tense of disapprobation. But shall
| tell you?" more seriously, d%oubtfully.
II think / shall . truly. / do
this sort of thing, since you must
know, because-imprimis, because !
like it. Indeed and do! / like the
danger, the excitement, the exercise OF
cunning and-and | like the rewards,
too. Besides"
The corners of her adorable mouth
dropped eve SO slightly.
Besides"
"Why But this is not bust
ness! We must hurry. Will you, OF
shall ID"
A crisis had been passed; Maitland
understood that he must wait until 8
more favorable time to renew his
opportunities.
Il will" he said, dropping on his
knees by the safe. I'm my lady's
service!"
mot at all" she in%terposed. 81 in
sist. The job is now yours; yours
must be the profits"
Then l wash my hands of the whole
affair" he stated in accents of ~finality
Il refuse. l shall go, and you ear de-
as you will-blunder on" s%cornfully
with your nitroglycerin, your rags
and drills and-and rouse the entire
countryside, if you will"
"Ah, but"
"Will you accept my aid?"
"On conditions, only" she stipulated
"Halvers?"
He shook his head.
Half shares, or not at ALL" She
was firm.
"a partnership"
This. educed a moue of doubt, with:
I'm not worthy the honor"
But" he promised rashly, Il can
save you-oh, heaps of trouble in other
-ah-lays."
She shrugged helplessly. IF I must
then l do accept. We r partners,
Dan Anisty and T."
He nodded mute satisfaction, brushed
the tools out of his way, and bent an
attentive ear to the combination.
The girl swept across the room, and
there followed a click simultaneous
with the total extinction of light.
Startled, why" he demanded.
"The risk" she replied. 1--WE have
been frightfully careless and thought.
less"
Helplessly Maitland twirled the com,
biration dial; without the light he was
wholly at a loss. But a breath later
| c1r;rIe r,,cf1nl nnar him , fho Cl;ln ~
the bulI's-eye was jerked back, and a
circle of illumination thrown upon the
lock. He bent his head again, pretend
ing to listen to the fall of the tum,
blers as the dial was turned, but in
point of fact %covertly watching the
letters and figures upon it.
The room grew very silent, save for
the family regular respiration of the
girl who bent near his shoulder. Her
breath was fragrant upon his cheek
The consciousness of her propinquity
almost stiied him. One fears
that Maitland prolonged the counter
felt study of the combination unneces
sarily. VI
Notwithstanding this, she seemed
amazed by the ease with which he
solved it. Wonderful" she ap
plauded, whispering, as the heavy door
swung outward without a jar.
"Hush!" he cautioned her.
In his veins that night madness was
running riot, swaying him at it's will
With never a doubt, a thought
OF hesitancy, he forged ahead, willfully
blind to consequences. On the face
of it he was playing a FOOLS part; he
knew it; the truth is simply that he
could not have done other than as he
did. Consciously he believed himself
to be merely testing the girl; subcon
sriously he was plastic in the grip Of
an emotion stronger than he-moist
clay upon the potter's whirling wheel
CTO BE CONTINUED.)