The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-08-06


verting inconsequences diverting, at
least, to Anisty, who held up his head,
giving her back look for look, jest for
Jest, platitude for platitude when the
waiter was within hearing distance);
altogether, he felt, acquitting himself
very creditably.
AS for the girl, in the course Of the
next half or quarters of an hour
she demonstrated herself conclusiyely
a person of amazing resource, de-
Yeloping with admirable ingenuity
campaign planned on the spur Of
chance observation. The gentle man
nered and self-suf1cient crook was
taken captive before he realized it,
however willing he may have been.
Enmeshed in a hundred uncompre-
hended subtleties, he basked, purring,
the while she insinuated herself be-
meath his guard and stripped him of
his entire armament of cunning, vigi-
lance, invention, suspicion, and dis
trust.
He relinquished them without a
sigh, barely conscious Of the spolia-
ton, After all, she was of his trade,
herself mired with guilt; she would
never dare betray him, the conse-
quences to herself would be SO dire.
Besides. patently-almost too much
so-she admired him. He was her
hero. Had she not more than limited
that such was the case, that his ex-
ample, his exploits, had fired her to
emulation-however weakly feminine?
-. He saw her before him, dainty,
alluring, yielding, yet leading him on
altogether desirable. And so long had
he, Anisty, starved for affection!
II am sure sou must be dying for a
smoke"
BEG pardon," He awoke abruptly.
to find himself twirling the sharp
ribbed stem of his empty glass. Alb
s.ractedly he stared into this, as
though seeking there clue to what
they had been talking about. Hazily
he understood that they had been
drifting close upon the perilous shoals
of intimate personalities. What had
he told her? What had he not?
No matter. 1t was clearly to be seen
that her regard for him had waxed
rather than waned as a result Of their
conversation. One had but to look
into her eyes to be treasured as to
that. One did look, breathing heavily.
What an ingenious child 1t
III !, w "
He. wondered that this should be so.
feeling it none the less a just and
graceful tribute to his Vaccinations.
She repeated her arch query. She
was sure ne wanted to smoke.
Indeed he did-if she would permit?
And forthwith Maitland's cigarette
case was produced, with a flourish.
what a beautiful easel"
In an instant 1t was in her hands.
Beautiful" she .iterated, inspecting
the delicate tracery of the monogram
engraver's art-head Bonded forward,
face shaded by the broad-brimmed hat.
You like it? You would care to
own it," Anisty demanded, unsteadily.
+ ~" The infection of doubtful sur
prise was a delight to the ear. "oh!
] couldn't think of accepting.
Besides, l have no use for it. F"
"Of course you ain't-are not that
Sort An hour back he could have
kicked himself for the grammatical
b:under; now he was wholly illuded;
besides, she didn't seem to notice.
"But as a little token-between u.s.
She drew back. pushing the case
across the cloth; 81 couldn't dream"
''But if I insist"
IF you insist? Why. sup
pose it's awfully good OF
you" She flashed him maddening
glance.
You do ME pro-honor," he amend
ed. hastily. Then, daringly: 81 don't
ask much in exchange, only"
"A cigarette?" she suggested,
hastily.
He laughed. pleased and diverted.
''That'n be enough now-if you'll light
1t for me-"
She glanced obviously round the now
almost deserted room; and a waiter
started forward as If animated by q
spring. Anisty motioned him imperi-
ousIy back. go on" he coaxed; INC
one can see" And watched, fattered
the slim white fingers that extracted g
match from the stand and Grew II
swiftly down the prepared surface OF
the box. holding the Pickering fame
TO the end of a white tube whose tiI
Law between lips curved, scarlet, and
pouting.
.sThere." A pale wrath of smoke
hoated away on the fan-churned air
and Anisty was vaguely conscious Of
receiving the glowing cigarette from
a hand whose sheer perfection was but
enhanced by the ripe curves of
rounded forearm. He inhaled
deepIy. with satisfaction.
Undecided by him, the girl swiftly
passed a furtive handkerchief acros:
her lips. When he looked again she
was smiling and the golden case had
disappeared.
She shook her head at him in noci