The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-01-07
(Continued.)

She did not speak at first, but sat
and smiled, studying, l presume, to
find what stuff / was made of.
BE seated. pray" she said at
last. Let us talk over this mat
ter"
Obedient to her gesture, drop
ped into a chair opposite to her,
she herself not varying her posture
and still regarding me with the
laugh in her half-closed eyes.
what do you think of my little
place." she asked finally.
Two things, Madam" said l,
half sternly. IF it belonged to a
man, and to a minister plenipoten-
tiary, | should not approve it. il
it belonged to lady of means and
desire to see the lands of this
little world, l should approve it
very much"
She looked at me with eyes
slightly narrowed, but no trace Of
perturbation crossed her face. |
saw it was no ordinary woman with
whom we had to do.
But" l. went on, Gin any case
and at all events, should say that
the bird confined in such a cage,
where secrecy is so imperative.
would at times find weariness-
would, in fact, wish escape to other
employment You, Madam l
looked at her directly-"are a
woman of so much intellect that
you could not be content merely
to live"
NO. she said, 81 would not be
content merely to live"
Precisely. Therefore. since to
make life worth the living there
must be occasionally a trifle OF
spice, bit of adventure, either for
man or woman, suggest to you, as
something offering amusement,
this little journey with me tonight
to meet my chief. You have his
message. | am his messenger,
and. believe me, quite at your
service in any way you may sug-
gest. Let us be frank. If you are an
agent. so am l. See; | have come
into Your camp. Dare you not
come into ours? Come; it is an adj
venture to see tall, thin old man
in a dressing-gown and red wool
en- nightcap. So you will find my
chief; and in apartments much diff
ferent from these
She took up the missive with it's
broken seal. 80 your chief, as you
call him. asks me to come to him.
at midnight, with you, a stranger"
"Precisely. Could you go to the
office of a United States senator
aud possible cabinet minister in
broad daylight and that fact not be
known? Could he come to your
apartments in broad daylight and
that fact not be known? What
would that man Pakenham' suspect
in either case? Believe me, my
master is wise. Great necessity sets
aside conventions, sets aside any
thing. Come. then!"
But still she only sat and smiled
at me. felt that purple and am
Der glow, the emanation of her per-
-sonality, of her, senses, creeping
around me again as she leaned for
ward finally, her parted red bowed
lips disclosing her delicate white
teeth. | saw the little heave Of her
bosom, whether in laughter or emo
ton could not tell. | was young.
Resenting the spell which l felt
coming upon me, all | could do was
to reiterate my demand for haste
She was not in the least impressed
by this.
"Come." she said. Il am pleased
with these Americans. Yes, ! am
not displeased with this little adj
venture"
rose impatiently. and walked
apart in the room. you can not
evade me. madam. so easily as you
did the Mexican gentleman who
followed you. You have him in the
net also? Is not the net full
enough
"Never." she said, her head
swaying slowly from side to side.
her face inscrutable. "Am l not
woman? All, am l not?"
Madam said |, whirling upon
her, "let me, at least. alone. l am
too small game for you. l am but
messenger. Time passes. Let us
arrive at our business"
What would you do IL I refused
to go with you?' she asked. still
smiling at me. But I saw that her
attitude toward me held no more
than that of a bird of prey and