New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04
IN TWO PARTS PART ii.

Q KEEL thought at first that II wa' the same woman
- ne had seen before, the same woman IN somewhat
different apparel; but. hc gapci ont INTO the dl'hy
lighted room. he SAW that he WAS mistaken.
II was a young woman. ne could plainly enough see;
bu, IT was entirely different woman she was less
an .llr than the first woman, and not SD dark Nnc
seemed les fitted for secret entrance, and silent de-
pariurcs Her very audaCty seemed something corrccI
and achieved. Skcc me stared ont al her. could see
there something softer. something more fouuucl
Something less mature about tins second Inquire How
ever dubious or unslvory the hazard in which she was
engaged, she seemed without the metallic hardness. the
worldly wise sophstication, of her sister conspraor
There was something incongruous in even her costume;
for she was gowncd in what Skcc took 10 be chiffon over
blue silk low cut at the throat, and with blue cloak
braided with gold hanging loose over one arm Her bare
neck and shoulders and her tree arm ahonc white dlr-
ngly white, against the green OF the pprucrc llcreycs,
wide and yet rcsoutc had the stare Of child advenur
ing unlightcd passagcway, and through her slightly
parted lips her breath was coming quick ami short rs
though her spirit was conscious ct some peru she could
not define.
Skccl watched her as she stood there staring into the
room He watched her and promptly forgot his own
prrdcancn in the contemplation OF figure so radiant
and So touched with mystery He watched her as she
turned and stopped and quietly locked the door and adj
scd the green velour curtain behind her. He watched
her rs she advanced slowly into the room, listening
every now and then. with her head li'e on one side,
in 4 movement strangely timorouS and bir,llikc.
\ touch Of self possession seemed 10 come to her
her stare slowly crclcd the chamber in which she stood
Then she dropped her cloak a chair and crossed
QUICKLY To llc Itl 81 inc Stlt on INC 81 tIN bttl
Skccl slowly swung bach; his door inch or two TO
get 4 better view OF her He her thrust hand into
the bosom Of her gown and from it draw slip Of paper
This she bent over for a moment and placed the safe
top in front Of her. Then She dropped one knee be-
fore the safe and Slicc could her fingers. white
against the black cnamccd steel as thcy slowly and
sudousy rcyolycd the disl; Of the combination lock-
She stopped once twice consult the Sip OF paper
the sactop; then her hand passed from the lock dial to
the metal knob. II seemed 10 take al her strength TO
swing back the two narrow steel doors.
She was down now on both knees before the opened
safe Skcc could see the white iutcr OF her hands
she dabcd and explored about the dark interior Of the
srongbox. rustlng through papers closing and opening
drawers, bending lower and lower over her work. He
heard her catch her breath in something that al
most Sob as she continued her search. He seemed to
participate in her anxiety TO be sharing her peril with
her He seemed to feel the weight Of some vast and
comprchcndcd responsibility his narrow shoulders.
He found himself initiating her posture. though he
was intent the discovery Of the hidden secret that
dcici her. The mere posc OF the STOPPING figure the
snowy Sofncss Of the dropping shoulders. seemed to
win and claim his sympathy. The two Of them. he and
She seemed bound together in fraternity Of guilt.
They fellow trcSpaSscrS
He tried TO carpenter together contingencies that
could make her invasion Of that chamber innocent as
his own He tried to tell himself that the two Of them
were in the same boat that they involved in el-
lowship of oifcnsc which should make him willing to
share ANYTHING she might be called on to face. And, as
he peered ont At her. blur OF moving white and azure
against the black OF the safe he vaguely
Oppressed by sense # her ragty at the time that
he vaguely eatcd at the thought OF her ovclncs5