Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-06-24
CHAPTER lll.-contInued.


Did he catch CLEAN of admiration
In the eyes behind the goggles?
Nov, If ever they get hold OF my |
portrait and print Well"
sighed the girl wickedly, lifting slim,
bare fingers in affected concern to the
mass of rudy hair, 'in that event l
suppose l shall have to become a
natural blondel"
Her humor, her splendid fearless
ness, the lightness of her tone, com
bined with the half-laughing, half-se-
rious look that she swept up at him, to
ease the tension of his emotions. For
the first time since entering the room,
he smiled; then in silence for time
regarded her steadfastly, thinking.
So he resembed this burglar Ants
ty, strongly enough to be mistaken for
him-eh? Plainly enough the girl be-
lieved him to be Anisty. Well,
and why not? Why shouldn't he be
Anisty for the time being, If 1t suited
his purpose so to masquerade?
1t might possibly suit his purpose.
He thought his position one uncommon
ly difficult. AS Maitland, he had on his
hands female thief. hardened char
acter, a common malefactor (strange
that he got so little relish OF the
termsD, caught red-handed as Matt
land, his duty was to hand her over
to the law, to be dealt with as-what
she was. Yet, even while these consid-
erations were urging themselves upon
him, he knew his eyes appraised her
with open admiration and interest. She
stood before him. slight, delicate, pref
ty. appealing in her ingenious candor;
and at his mercy. How could he bring
himself to deal with her as he might
with-well. Anisty himself? She was
a woman. he gentleman.
AS Anisty, however-if he chose to
assume that experts identity for the
nonce-he would be placed at once on
a plane of equality with the girl; from
fellow OF her craft she could hardly
refuse attentions. AS Anisty, he would
put himself In a position to earn her
friendship, to gain-perhaps-her con-
ndence, to learn something OF her
necessities, to aid and protect her from
the consequences of her misdeeds;
possibly-to sum up-to divert her
footsteps to the paths of a calling less
hazardous and more honorable.
Worthy ambition-to reform a bur
glarl Maitland regained something Of
his lost self-esteem, applauding him
self for entertaining a motive so
laudable. And he chose his course, for
better or worse. in these few seconds
l,y hfc ~
TO the name and repute of Mad Matt
land.
His face lightened; his manner
changed: he assumed with avidity the
role for which she had cast him and
which he stood so ready to accept and
act
well and good" he conceded with
an air. Il suppose l may as well
own up"
"Oh, l know you" she assured him.
with a little, confident shake Of her
head There's no deceiving me. But"
and her smile became rueful, If only
you'd waited ten minutes morel or
course 1 recognized you from the first
down there by the river; and knew
very well what was your-lay; you
gave yourself away completely by
mentioning the distance from the river
TO the Manor. And l did so want TO
get ahead of you on this job What a
feather in ones cap. to have fore
stalled Dan Anistyl But
hadn't you better be a little careful
with those lights? You seem to forget
that there are servants in the house.