Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1910-01-21

matter OF this sort he was by far the
quicker. In an instant he had caught
her by the wrist. at the same time
drawing her irresistibly round the Ia
Bile toward him.
Il must see your face. shall never
be at peace II do not.
Certainly you will never know any
peace If you do. Be careful
His free hand stole toward the
strings of her mask. She moved not
His face was very close to hers now
II only she would STRUGGLED He re-
leased her wrist
NO: haven't the courage II | take
that mask from your face it will be
the end. And l do not want tins ever
to end If you will not let me see your
face of your own free will. so be it,
shall see it some day. mark me. Fate
does not cross two paths In this man
ner without a purpose He stepped
back slowly. "Yeu do not understand
the lure Of that masS."
Perhaps | do. l am beginning to
admire your self control. Mr.. Hillard.
But l am tired now. and l must ask
you to go"
"0nee more. Will you let me see
your facef"
No. If as you say, fate intends for
us TO meet again you will see 1t. But
l have my doubts. So 1t is my will to
pass out Of your life as completely as
one fog into another. No. l am not
happy woman. l am not happy in my
friendships. Listen to me-" and her
voice grew low and sweet Let me
appeal to your imagination. This light
adventure shall be souvenir for your
old age. One night romance stepped
into your life and out of 1t. Think,
There will always be the same charm.
the same mystery, the same enchant-
ment l shall always be Cinderella
or the sleeping beauty or what your
fancy wills. Do you understand me?
Nothing" she proceeded. nothing
lasts so long In the recollection as
pleasant mystery-in other days, In
other times. Well on my side l shall
recall this night pleasantly. Without
knowing it you have given me new
foothold in life. | did not believe that
there lived a single man who could
keep to the letter of his bargain.
Good night, And do not lean out of
any more windows" she added lightly.
You are right" he said reluctantly.
something to dream over in my old
age. And certainly | shall dream of
tia fash of sunlight in the window"
Then. slowly lie reached down to-
ward her wineglass She understood
his purpose and essayed to stop him.
do not deny me this little thing"
he said
She let her hand fall. He took the
glass. held IL against the light to see
where her lips had touched 1t. Care
fully he poured out the wine from the
opposite side and kissed the rim.
II shall keep this glass. l must have
some visible object to make sure that
this hasn't been a dream
you may kiss my hand. Mr.. Hillard.'
He bent quickly and kissed not the
hand. but the wrist where the marks
of his fingers still remained family.
and steadfastly into her eyes. There
was futter in her heart that she
was unable 20 define. On his part he
realized the sooner he was gone the
better There was limit to his self
control He gained the street some
how There he STOPPED and turned
Did the curtain move? He wasn't
sure. but be raised his hat. settled it
firmly on his head and walked rapidly
away.
There was little sleep for him that
night. and in the morning the first
thing he did was TO pick up the wine
glass. 1t was all true. And then his
good resolutions melted and vanished
He must have one more word with her.
happen what might. So at 10 o'clock
he called a cab and drove rapidly to
the Sanford place. Snow had fallen
during the night. and many OF the
steps were still spotless white. lmpos-
sible, He leaned from the cab and
rubbed his eyes Absolutely impossi-
blel For what did he see? Wooden
shutters over ali the lower windows
and the iron gates closed before the
doors, And not a footprint anywhere
This was extraordinary. He jumped
from the cab. ran up the steps and
rang the belI-rang 1t ten times with
minute intervals. And no one an
swered. Then he heard call from
across the street. A man stood in one
of the areaways.
Nobody homer he shouted. Gone
10 Egypt
But there was some one here last
night Hnlard shouted back
dreaming. That house has been
empty since November. / happen 10
be the caretaker.'
Hillard went back 10 his cab dazed-
No one there last night? Come. come:
there was a mistake somewhere. He
would soon find cut whether or not he
had dlned there the night before.
"A cable Officer be cried TO the
cabby. Hurry"
Once there he telephoned downtown
and secured Sandfords cable address
Then he alied cut a blank. which cost
him $40 Late that night at the club
he received his reply 1t was terse-
lou are crazy. House absolutely empty.
SANFORD.