The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-07-30

at the other end. In the natural order
of things a burglar would overlook
this.
Inch by inch the young man edged
into the smoking room, the door to
which providentially stood Enclosed
Once within, it was but moments
work to feel his way to the velvet
folds and draw them aside, fortunately
without rafting the brass rings from
which the curtain depended. And then
Maitland was in the passage, acutely
on the alert, recognizing from the cen
tinued click Of metal that his antagon-
ist-to-be was still at his difficult task.
Inch by inch-there was the tapestry
Very gently the householder pushed it
aside
An insidious aroma of scorching var
nish (the dark lantern) penetrated the
passage while he stood on its thresh-
old, feeling for the electric light
switch Unhappily he missed this at
the first cast, and--heard from within
a quick, deep hiss of breath. Some
thing had put the burglar on guard.
Another instant wasted, and it
would be too late The young man
had to chance it. And he did, without
further hesitation stepping boldly into
the danger zone, at the same time
making one final, desperate pass at the
spot where the switch should have
been-and missing it. On the inste1t
there came a click OF a different cali
Der from those that had preceded it.
A revolver had been cooked, some
where there in the blank darkness.
Maitland knew enough not to move
In another respect the warning came
too late; his fingers had found the
switch at last, and automatically had
turned it.
The glare was binding. momentari-
": but the fash and report for which
Maitland waited did not come. When
his eyes had adjusted themselves to
the suddenly altered conditions. he
saw, directly before him and some six
feet distant, a woman's slight figure,
dark cIoaked, resolute upon its two
feet, head framed in yelling, features
effectually disguised in a motor mask
whose round, staring goggles shone
blankly in the warm white light
On her part, she seemed to recog-
nize him instantaneously. On his.
It may as well be admitted that
Maitland's wits were gone woel-gath-
ering, temporarily at least; state of
mind not objectionable when it is
taken into consideration that he was
calI.d upon to grapple with and stimuli
taneously to assimilate three momen-
tous facts. For the first time in his life
he found himself nose to nose with
revolver, and that one of able-bodied
and respect-compelling proportions.
For the first time in his life, again, he
was under necessity of dealing with
housebreaker. But most supplying
Of all he found the fact that this house
breaker, this armed midnight maraud-
er. was a womani And so it was not
altogether fearlessness that made him
to all intents and purposes ignore the
weapon; it is nothing to his credit for
courage If his eyes struck past the
black and deadly mouth of the revolver
and looked only into the blank and ex-
pressionless eyes OF the wind mask; 1t
was not lack Of respect for his skins
integrity, but the sheer, tremendous
wonder Of it all, that rendered him
oblivious to the eternity that lay the
other side Of g slender, trembling fin
ger tip.
And so he stared, agape. until pres
emily the weapon wavered and was
lowered and the woman's voice,
touched with irony. brought him to his
senses.
on" she remarked. coolly, its
only you"
Thunderstruck, he was able no more
than to parrot the pronoun: You
you!"
Were you expecting to meet any
one else, here, tonight" she inquired
in suavest moekery.
He lefted his shoulders helplessly,
and tried to school his tongue - oe-
herence. 81 confess.
T certainly I didn't count on fnding soa
here, Miss Wentworth. And the black
cloak. you know"
Reversible, of course; gray inside,
as you see-Handsome DAM" The
girl laughed quietly, drawing aside an
] edge OF the garment to reveal its in
ner face of silken gray and the futed
rufTes Of the gray skirt underneath.
( He nodded appreciation Of the de
vice, his mind now busy with specula-
tons as to what be should do with the
girl, now that he. had caught her. At
the same time he was vaguely vexed
by her persistent repetition Of the OBJ
solescent nickname.
Handsome Dam he iterated all but
mechanically. Why do you call me
that. please? Have we met before? J
could swear, never before this night"
(To be Gontinued)