Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-14

They're here" he nodded thoughtfully.
You wouldn't have stood for that II
| they weren't. And since they are, l can
/ find them without your assistance. Sit
down. I shan't touch you again.
She had scant choice other than to obey.
/ Desperate as she was. her strength had
been severely overtaxed, and she might
not presume upon il too greatly. Fasci-
| mated with terror. she let herself down
/ into an easy chair.
/ Anisty thought for a moment, then
went over TO the desk and sat himself
before II.
Keys" he commented, rapidly inven-
torying what he saw. How'd you get
hold of themg'
/ They are Mr. Maitland's. He must
have forgotten them"
The burglar chCckled grimly. "Coipci-
dences multiply. II is odd. That harp.
O'Hagan, was coming in with a can of
beer while 1 was picking the lock, and
caught me. He wanted to know II I'd
missed my train for GreenfeldS, and 1
gave him my word of honor 1 had. More
over. I'd mislaid my keys and had been
ringing for him for the past ten minutes.
He swallowed every word Of it. 4.
BY the way, here's a glove of yours. You
certainly managed to leave enough clues
TO insure your being nabbed even by a
, New York detective"
He faced about. tossing her the glove,
and with ii so keen and penetrating
glance that her heart sank for fear that
he had guessed the secret. But as he
continued she regained confidence.
"I could teach you thing or two" he
suggested pleasantly. You make about
as many mistakes as the average begin
ner. And, on the other hand, you've
got the majority beaten TO a finish for
'cuteness. You're as quick as they make
them"
she Strengthened up, uneasy, oppressed
by a vague surmise as to whittier this
tended.
THANK you" she said breathlessly,
''but hadn't you better
PLENTY of time my dear. Maitland
has gone to Greenfields and we've several
hours before us. - Look here, little
woman, why don't you take tumble to
yourself. cut out all this nonsense, and
look to your own interests?"
''I don't understand you," she faltered'
"but if"
''Tm talking about this Maitland af-
fair. Cut it out and forget 1t. you're TOO
good-looking and valuable to yourself to
lose your head just all on account of
little moonlight Irritation with a good
looking millionaire. You don't suppose
for an instant that there's anything in n
for yours, do you? You're nothing TO
Maitland-just an incident; next time he
meets you, the baby-stare for yours. You
can thank your lucky stars he happened
to have a reputation to sustain as VII
lage cut-up. a gay sad dog, always out
for a good time and hang the EXPENSE
otherwise he'd have handed you yours
without a moments hesitation. I'm not
doing this up in tin-foil. and tying vio-
let ribbon with tassels on it, but I'm
handing it straight to you; something you
don't want to forget. You just SINK
your hooks in the fact that you're moth
ing to Maitland and that he's nothing
to you, and never will be, and you won't
lose anything-except illusions.
She remained quiescent for little
hands twitching in her lap, torn by con-
hicting emotions-fear of and aversion for
the man, amusement, chill horror bred
of the knowledge that he was voicing the
truth about her, the truth, at least, as
he saw it, and-and as Maitland would
see it.
''Illusions?" she echoed family. and
raised her eyes to his with a pitiful at
tempt at a smile. "Oh, but 1 must have
lost them, long ago; else 1 shouldn't
be. ="
Here and what you are That's what
I'm telling you"
She shuddered imperceptiby; looked
down and up again, swiftly. her express
sion inscrutable, her voice a-tremble be-
tween laughter and tears; ''Well?'
"Eh?" The directness of her query fig
uratively brought him up all standing,
canvas tapping and wind out of his sails
what are you Offering me Il.
exchange for my silly dream?" she
inquired, a trace Of spirit quickening
her tone.
"A fair exchange. I think 9.
something that I wouldn't offer you II
YOU hadn't been able to dream" He
paused, doubtful clumsy.
Go on" she told him family. q.
"Since 1t must come, as well be over
with it."
"See here" He took heart of des-
peration. You took to Maitland when
you thought he was me. Why not take
to me for myself? I'm as good a
man, better as a man, than he. If 10
with me. little woman, and-and all
that-and I'll treat you square. I
never went back on a pal yet. Why
Frightening with enthusiasm as his
gaze appraised her, with your looks
and your cleverness and my knowled ge
of the business, we can sweep the
country, you and :"
on she cried breathlessly.
Wen start right now" he plunged
on, misleading her; right now, with
last nights haul. You'll chuck this ad-
died sentimental pangs-of-conscience
lay, hand over the jewels, and-and
| I'll hand 'em back to you the day we've
married, all set and as hand
some a wedding present as any woman
! ever got :"
She twisted in her chair to hide her
face from him, fairly cornered at last,
brain a-wnirl devising a hundred man
euvers. each more helpless than the
| last, to cheat and divert him for the
time, until until
The consciousness Of his presence
| near her, Of the sheer strength and
might of will-power Of the man, bore
upon her heavily; she was like a child
| In his hands, helpless. :. She
| turned with a hushed gasp to find that
| he had risen and come close to her
chair; his face was not a foot from
hers, his eyes dangerous; in another
moment he would have his strong arms
about her. She shrank away, terrified
mo, nor she begged.
well, and why not? WellT-tensely
How do I know? This aft.
ernoon 1 outwitted you, robbed and sold
you for-for what you call a scruple
| How can know that you are not pay