The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1909-07-01
CHAPTER VII.
Illumination.

In a breath was selfsatisfaction
banished: simultaneously the masQue-
raider brought his gaze down from the
ceiling, his thoughts to earth. HIS vigi. |
lance to the surface, and himself to his |
feet, summoning TO his aid all that he |
possessed of resource and eXpcdent.
Trapped.-thc word blazcd mean
descent in his brain. SO long had he |
foreseen and planned against this very
moment.
Yet panic swayed him for but lit |
tie instant; as swiftly as 1t had over.
come him IL subsidized, leaving him
shocked, Il shade more pale, but rapid
~ reassertinE control Of his faculties
And with this shade Of emotion came
complete reinsurance.
His name had been uttered In no
stern or monacing tone; rather its
syllables had been pitched in low
and guarded key, with an undornote
of raillery and cordially. In brief, the
moment that he recognized the voice
as woman's, he was again master OF
himself, and. aware that the result of
| his instructive impulse to rise and de-
| fend himself, which had brought him
| to IA standing position, would be in
| terpreted as only the natural action Of
| a gentleman addressed by a feminine
| acquaintance, he was confident that
he had not betrayed his primal con
sternation. He bowed smiled, and
with eyes in which establishment swift
ly gave place to qualification and com
plete comprehension, appraised her
who had addressed him.
She seemed to have huttered to the
table, beside which she now stood,
slightly swaying, her walking costume
Of gray shot silk falling about her in
soft, tremulous petals. Dainty, chic,
well-poised. serene. tlawlessly pretty
in her miniature fashion Anisty rec
ognized her in twnkling. His per
ceptions, trained to observations as in
Simultaneous as those of snapshot
camera, and well.nigh as accurate,
had photographed her individuality in
delibly upon the film of his memory,
even in the abbreviated encounter Of
the previous night.
BY a similar play of educated reason
ing faculties keyed to the highest pitch
of immediate action, he had difficulty
as scant in accounting for her pres.
ence there. What he did not quite
comprehend was why Maitland had
used her so kindly; for it had been
plain enough that that gentleman had
surprised her in the act OF safe-break.
ing before cOnniving at her escape
But. allowing that Maitland's actions
had been based upon motives vague to
the burglars understanding, II was
quite in the scheme of possibilities
that he should have arranged to meet
his protegee at the restaurant that
afternoon. She was come to keep an
appointment to which (now that An
isty came to remenber) Maitland had
alluded in the beginning OF their con-
versation.
: Well and good once before, within
the past two hours, he had told him
: self that he was Good.enough Matt
! land. He was be even better now.
But you did surprise mel" he de-
clared, CALAMITY, before she could won
der at his slowness to respond. "You
l see, | was dreaming"
He permitted her to surmise the oh
ject round which his dreams had been
/ woven.
"And | had expected you to be Gag
: erly watching for me-" she parted
r archly.
I IL was mentally. But" hi
: wd&ned her, seriously, mot that name
( Maitland is known here; they call mC
| nd II
made a bad choice. But with your as
g sistance and discretion we can bluff 4
}, out all right"
,. Il forgot Forgive me-" But nov
g she was in the chair opposite him
! tucking the lower ends of her gloves
n into their wrists.
S mo matter-nobody heard"
Il very nearly called you Handsom,
r Dan" She flashed a radiant smile a
d him from beneath the rim of her pic
S ture hat.
e A fire was kindled in Anistys eyes
l. he was conscious of a quickened drum
II ming Of his pulses.
J. Dan is Maitland's front name
also" he remarked absently.
Il thought as much, she responded
: quietly speculative.
The burglar hardly heard. 1t ha
been indicated that he was quick
q witted, because he had to be, in tn,
= very nature OF his avocation Jus
. now his brain wa. working rattle
II more rapidly than usual, even; whicl
l. was one reason why the light hat
u leaped into his eyes.
(TO BE CONTINUEDD
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