The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-08-10

he's nothing to you, and never will be,
and you won't lose anything
illusions"
She remained quiescent for little,
hands twitching in her lap, torn by
conflicting emotions-fear of and aver
sion 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
attempt at a smile. ooh, but 1 must
have lost them, long ago; else I
shouldn't be-"
Here and what you are. That's
what I'm telling you"
She shuddered imperceptibly; looked
down and up again, swiftly, her express
sion inscrutable, her voice a-tremble
between laughter and tears: ''Wen?'
"Eh?" The directness of her query
figuratively brought him up all stand
ing, canvas tapping and wind out Of
his sails.
What are you offering me in ex-
change for my silly dream?" she in
CURED. trace of spirit quickening her
tone
"a fair exchange, I think-some-
thing that I wouldn't offer you If you
hadn't been able to dream" He
paused, doubtful, clumsy.
Go on" she told him, family. Since
It must come, as well be over with it.
see here" He took heart of
desperation 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 I do blow my own horn. You side
with me, little woman, and-and all
that-and I'll treat you square.
never went back on a pal yet. Why"
Frightening with enthusiasm as his
gaze appraised her, with your looks
and your cleverness and my knowl-
edge Of the business, we can sweep
the country, you and L"
oh" she cried, breathlessly.
We'll start right now" he plunged
on, misleading her; right now, with
last nights haul You'll chuck this
added sentimental pangs-ofconscience
lay, hand over the jewels, and-and
I'll hand 'em back to you the day we're
married, all set and-as handsome 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-whirl devising a hundred
maneuvers, 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 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. mol" she begged.
well, and why not? Well?-
tenseIy-
How do 1 know? This afternoon I
outwitted you, robbed and sold you
for-for what you call scruple. How
can know that you are not paying me
back in my own coin?'
"Oh, but little woman!" he laughed,
tenderly. coming nearer. TT is be-
cause you did that, because you could
hold those scruples and make a fool
Of me for their sake, that I want you.
Don't think I'm capable Of playing
with you-it takes a woman to do that
Don't you know,"-he bent nearer and
his breath was warm upon her cheek
don't you know that you're too rare
and fine and precious for q man to
risk losing? Come now!"
mot yet" She started to her feet
and away wait. There's a cab!"
The street without was echoing with
the Gathering drum of galloping hoofs.
Gould it be"
NO fear Besides-there, it's
stopped"
In front of this housed"
mo, three doors up the street, at
least That's something you must
learn, and can teach you--to judge
distance by sound in the darkness"
But / tell you" she insisted, re
Eating before him, its risk. There,
YOU hear that?"
hat was the duIled crash of the
door,
stepped to the table on the In
ing Of the address, in all likelihood,
the horse was refined in on its
launches some three houses distant
from the apartment building. Matt
land found himself sprawling on his
hands and knees on the sidewalk,
picked himself up, shouting: You'll
waltz" to the driver, and sprinted
madly the few yards separating him
from his own front door, keys ready in
hand.