The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-03-17
CHAPTER VII.
Illumination.


Illumination.
In a breath was satisfaction
banished; simultaneously the masQue-
raider brought his gaze down from the
ceiling, his thoughts to earth, his vigil
lance to the surface, and himself to his
feet, summoning to his aid all that he
possessed of resource and expedient.
Trapped!-the word blazed mean
descent in his brain. So long had he
foreseen and planned against this very
moment.
Yet panic swayed him for but lit
tie instant; as swiftly as 1t had over
come him it subsidized, leaving him
shocked, a shade more pale. but rapid
ly reasserting control of his faculties.
And with this shade of emotion came
complete reinsurance.
His name had been uttered in no
stern or menacing tone; rather its
syllables had been pitched in lew
and guarded key, with an undernOte
of raillery and cordially. In brief, the
moment that he recognized the voice
as a woman's, he was again master of
himself. and, aware that the result of
his instructive impulse to rise and de-
fend himself, which had brought him
to a standing position, would be in
terpreted as only the natural action Of
a gentleman addressed by feminine
acquaintance, he was confident that
- had not betrayed his primal con-
sternation. He bowed, smiled, and
with eyes in which establishment swift
ly gave place to qualification and COM
plete comprehension, appraised her
who had addressed him.
She seemed to have futtered to the
table, beside which she now stood,
slightly swaying, her walking costume
of gray shot silk falling about her in
soft, tremulous petals. Dainty, chic,
well-poised, serene, flawlessly pretty
iI her miniature fashion: Anisty rec
Ognized her in twinkling. His per-
ceptions, trained to observations as In
Simultaneous as those of a snapshot
camera, and well-nigh as accurate,
had photographed her individuality In
delibly upon the film of his memory.
even in the abbreviated encounter of
the previous night.
BY a similar play of educated reason
ing faculties keyed to the highest pitch
Of immediate action, he had difficulty
as scant in accounting for her pres
ence there. What he did not quite
comprehend was why Maitland had
used her so kindly; for 1t had been
plain enough that that gentleman had
surprised her in the act of safe-break-
ing before conniving at her escape.
But, allowing that Maitland's actions
had been based upon motives vague to
the burglars understanding, it was
quite in the scheme of possibilities
that he, should have arranged to meet
his protegee at the restaurant that
afternoon. She was come to keep an
appointment to which (now that An
isty came to remember) Maitland had
alluded in the beginning Of their con-
versation.
Well and good; once before, within
the past two hours, he had told him
self that he was Good-enough Matt
land. He was be even better now.
But you did surprise mel" he de-
clared, CALAMITY, before she could won
der at his slowness to respond. "You
see, was dreaming"
He permitted her to surmise the OBJ
ject round which his dreams had been
woven.
"And had expected you to be Gag
erly watching for mel" she parried,
archly
Il was mentally. But" he
warned her, seriously, mot that. hame.
Maitland is known here; they call me
Maitland-the walters. It seems I
made bad choice. But with your as
sistance and discretion we can bluff it
out, all right"
Il forgot. Forgive me- But now
she was in the chair opposite him,
tucking the lower ends of her gloves
into their wrists
No matter-nobody heard"
Il very nearly called you Handsome
DAN" She flashed radiant smile at
him from beneath the rim Of her pic.
ture hat
A fire was kindled in Anisty's eyes;
he was conscious of q quickened drum
ming of his pulses
Dan is Maitland's front name.
Also" he remarked, absently.
I thought as much" she responded.
quietly speculative.
The burglar hardly heard. It has
been indicated that he was quick
witted, because he had to be, in the
very nature Of his avocation. Just
now his brain was working rather
more rapidly than usual, even; which
was one reason why the light had
leaped into his eyes.
(TO BE CONTINUED1