Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-31
BY
LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
Author OF The Private War
Terence O'RourKe. Gentleman
s1dventurer
,opyrigh'. 1901, The Dobhs-Merri1 Company

I level ana be himself. Dan AnlSty, HAND
some DAN" the professional. the fit mate
for the girl q.
What was she saying?
/ But you have lunched already" with
an appealing pout
| Indeed, nor' he protested earnestly. 81
was early--conceive my eagerness!-and
I by I'll chance q friend OF mine insisted
upon lunching with me. had only a cup
OF coffee and a roll" He motioned to
the waiter, calling him Waiter rather
than Overwhelmingly understand
ing that Maitland would never have aired
his French IN a public place. and that he
could not afford the least slip before a
woman as keen as this.
! Lay a clean cloth and bring the bill
/ OF fare" he demanded, tempering his
lordly instincts and adding the please"
/ feriors.
a friend-' tardily echoed the girI
when the servant was gone.
/ He laughed lightly. determined TO be
frank. "A detective. in point of fact"
said he. And enjoyed her surprise.
You have many such?''
For convenience one tries TO have one
In each city"
"oh. have him fixed all
right. He conided to me all
the latest developments and official in
/ tentions with regard to the Maitland Nar-
rest"
Her eyes danced. ''Ten met she de-
uianded. imperious: the emphasis of In
/ timacy irresistible as she bent forward,
forearms on the cloth. slim white hands
, clasped with tense Impotence. eyes seek
I ing his.
''why of course Maitland es-
capped"
Nor
Fact Scared the butler into ungag-
ging him; then. in a At of pardonable
rage. knocked that fool down and dashed
out OF the INDEPENDENTLY in pursuit
Of US. Up to a late hour he hadn't re-
i turned, and police opinion is divided as to
whether Maitland arrested Anisty, and
Anisty got away, or vice versa"
"Excellent!" She clasped her hands
noiselessly. a say little gesture.
80, whatever the outcome. one thing is
certain: Higgins will presently be seek
ing another BERTH
; She LITE her brows prettily. "Higgins?"
! with the rising infection.
The butler. Didn't you hear-T'
Eyes wondering, she moved her head
slowly from side to side. Hear what?"
81 fancied that you had waited mo-
ment on the veranda," he finessed.
. ''Oh. 1 was quite too frightened. :"
He took this for a complete denial Bet
ter and betteTi He had actually feared
that she had eavesdropped, however war
rantably; and Maitland's authoritative
way with the servants had been too con-
vincingly natural 10 have deceived a wom-
an of her keen wits.
There followed a lull while Anisty was
ordering the luncheon: something he did
! DELIBERATELY and with success. telling him
-.
Maitland pays" or which fact the
weight in his pocket was assurance.
Maitland. Anisty's thoughts
verged on upon an interesting tangent.
What was MRitland's motive in arrang-
ing this meeting? 1t was self-evident
that the twain were of one world-the girl
and the man Of fashion. But.
/ whatever her right OF heritage, she
had renowned II. declassing herself by
yielding to thievish INSTINCTS. voluntarily
! placing herself on the level OF Anisty.
! Where she must remain, forever.
} There was comfort in that reflection.
! He glanced up to find her eyes bent in
/ gravity upon him. She. too, II appeared.
had fallen a prey to reverie. Upon what
subject? An absorbing one. doubtless,
/ since it held her distracted despite her
I companions direct unequivocally admir-
| ing stare.
The odd light was Pickering again in
/ the cracksman's glance. She was then
more beautiful than aught that ever he
had dreamed of. Such hair as was hers,
woven seemingly OF dull flames. lambert,
witching. And eyes!-beautiful always,
/ but never more so than at this moment,
when filled with sweetly pensive contem-
plation. . Was she reviewing the
| last twenty-four hours, dreaming OF what
! had passed between her and that silly
| fool, Maitland? II only Anisty could sur
/ mise what they had said to each other,
| how long they had been acquainted; II
I only she would give him a hint, a leading
word,
II he could have read her mind, have
seen behind the film of thought that
/ clouded her eyes. one fears Mr.. Anisty
might have lost appetite for an excellent
/ luncheon.
For she was studying his hands her
memory barking back to the moment
when she had stood beside the safe, hold
: ing the bulrs-eye. -.
In the blackness OF that hour a disk
OF light shone out luridly against the tap
estry Of memory. Within it's radius APP
peared two hands. long, supple, strong.
! immediately white, graceful and dexter
/ GUS as delicate OF contour as a woman's:
. YET AdNhAAE HoAllAne VI HAdSSuAliC NAbOi
and modelling; hands that wavered against
the blackness, fumbling with the shining
nickeled disk OF a combination lock.
The impression had been and remained
one extraordinarily vivid. Could her eyes
have deceived her so?
"Thoughtful?'
She nodded alertly. instantaneously mis-
, tress OF self; and let her gaze. serious
yet half smiling linger upon his
I the exact fractional shade OF an in
slant longer than had been, per-
haps discreet. Then lashes
dropped long upon her cheeks, and her
color deepened all but imperceptibly.
The mans breath halted, then came
trace more rapidly than before. He
bent forward impulsively. The
girl sighed. ever so gently.
Il was thoughtful. It's all so
a., strange. you know"
His attitude was an eager question.
Il mean our meeting-that way, last
night" She held his gaze again, mo-
mentarily and
Damn the waiter!" quoth savagely Mr.
Anisty to his inner man, sitting back to
facilitate the service Of their meal.
| The girl placated him with an insignia
cant remark which led both into a maze
Of meaningless but infinitely diverting in