Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-07-10
CHAPTER VII.
Illumination

illumination.
In a breath was self-satisfaction
banished; simultaneously the masoue-
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 expedient
Trapped,-the word blazed 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 it had over
come him it subsidized, leaving him
shocked, a shade more pale, but rapid
ly reasserting control of his faculties.
And with this shade of emotion came
complete reinsurance.
His name had been uttered in no
stern or menacing tone; rather its
syllables had been pitched in a low
and guarded key, with an undernote
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 a 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 f1uttered to the
n WI he
slightly swaying. her walking costume
OF gray shot silk falling about her in
soft, tremulous petals. Dainty, chic,
well-poised, serene, fawlessly pretty
in her miniature fashion: Anisty rec
ogniZed her in a twinkling. His per-
ceptions, trained to observations as in
Simultaneous as those of a 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 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, it 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 remember) 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, gallantly, before she could won
der at his slowness to respond You
see, 1 was dreaming
He permitted her to surmiSe the OBJ
ject round which his dreams had been
woven
"And 1 had expected you to be Gag
erly watching for mel" she parted,
arch1y.
Il was mentally. But" he
warned her, seriously, mot that name.
Maitland is known here; they call me
Maitland-the walters. 1t seems |
made a bad choice. But with your as
s1stance and discretion we can bluff it
out, all right
IT forgot Forgive me-" But now
she was in the chair opposite him.
tucking the lower ends of her gloves
into their wrists.
NO matter-nobody heard
3T very nearly called you Handsome
Dan'' She flashed a radiant smile at
him from beneath the rim of her pic
| ture hat.
A fire was kindIed in Anisty's eyes;
| he was conscious of a quickened drum
ming of his pulses
Dan is Maitland's front name.
! Also" he remarked, absently.
Il thought as much" she responded,
| quietly speculative
| The burglar hardly heard. 1t has
| been indicated that he was quick
| witted, because he hal to be, in the
| very nature of his avocation- Just
now his brain was working rather
more rapidly than usual, even; which
was one reason why the light had
leaped into his eyes.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)