Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-01-15

kU10l3y like fascination, even while
G4HAdD he repealed her. 1t flashed
across her consciousness that he was
something more than human, some
thing worse-the embodiment of malev-
the devil himself.
He came from behind the chair, and
as he moved toward her his every &C
tiOn heightened the impression she
had received. In situation where
any man might have been confused he
was perfectly self possessed. His atti-
tude was neither offensive nor ingrati-
ating He became at once part Of
her surroundings, Of her thoughts
yes, of her soul 1t was this influence
that she felt herself combating with
growing weakness.
Il hope you will forgive me-" his
smooth, suave voice went ON, break
ing the stiffness almost melodiously,
and he bowed again. II permitted
myself to fall asleep"
Still Olga could not find tongue, and
she drew yet farther away. The man,
or the devil, watched her as she CROPPED
for the shawl, found it and quickly
wound its filmy length around her
beautiful shoulders and arms. An
expression Of cynical amusement
crossed his face.
Excuse me. but awoke Just as you
were about to intuition your blouse"
he said. "Propriety should have made
me close my eyes. butt
"Ohw Olga cried, shocked iuto
speech.
ooh, know, madame" he said, with
a deprecating gesture and another pro-
found bow, you think am suspicious,
and you only came here
ITO have my portrait painted" Olga
said quickly.
Precisely" he acquiesced, with the
same cynical expression. "Only yes
terday I met lady at the dentists,
and observed that she permitted him
to extract perfectly good and very
pretty TOOTH"
But r. Olga began. accepting the
defensive position into which he placed
her when he interrupted her.
Yes, you, know. speak the truth.
I am even at liberty to believe you,
but I cannot"
For an instant Olga recovered her
self possession, and her Indignation
sprang into q fame that she should be
addressed in this manner by q man
whom she had never seen before-an
intruder.
II don't know why permit stran-
ger to talk to me In this fashion," she
exclaimed. 1T amaZes me-"
The-man stepped toward her. Terri
fed, she turned and fed toward the
door of the studio.
"Karl! KARL" she called.
The stranger smiled as the doors
were flung open and Karl burst into
the room. The young artist paused,
astonlshed at the presence Of the stran-
ger. He was more amazed when the
man cried out in the voice Of genial
cOmradeship:
= Hello, Karl! How do you do?'
"Why, how do you dor Karl falter-
cd, looking blankly from Olga to the
mysterious visitor. II DON'T
"You don't remember me-" the other
said. Don't you recall me at Monte
Carlo?"
"Oh, yes. at Monte Carlo" Karl said.
with dawning recollection.
ut was an eventful day" the stran-
ger said.
YES, yes, Of course remember. It
was last fall, when had lost all my
money playing roulette. Some one
stood behind me, and 1t was you.
was afraid when l turned and saw
you. because fancied had seen you
a moment before beside the croupier
grinning at me as my gold pieces were
swept away. But when l had lost
everything you offered me a handful
Of gold
(Which you refused, but l saw the
longing TO accept In your eyes"
Il did not know YOU"
But l offered 1t again and you &C.
cepted.."
Yes, and In ten minutes / had re-
couped my losses and won $4,000 be-
Sides" Karl cried. with growing en-
thusiasm. Il remember indeed Your
money seemed to possess mystic luck.
When you put It in my hands Il glow
ed, and l thought 1t was hot. 1t seem
ed TO burn ne
"You were excited. my boy" said the
other Genially. But you repaid me
and invited ne to dine. l could not
accept because was forced to leave
fer Spain that same evening. ! prom.