Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1911-03-24
CHAPTER III.-continued.


Did he catch a CLEAN of admiration
in the eyes behind the goggles2
Now, 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 ruddy hair, 'in that event l
suppose | shall have to become a
natural blonde!"
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 resembled this burglar, Anis-
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 it 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 a female thief. hardened char
acter, 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, pret-
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 a 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
a fellow Of her craft she could hardly
refuse attentions AS Anisty, he would
put himself in position to earn her
fidence, 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 calling less
hazardous and more honorable.
Worthy ambition-to reform bur.
glar! 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
Thereby proving his incontestable title
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 ant
act.
well and good" he Conceded with
an air. 81 suppose l may as vel
own up"
"Oh, know you," she assured him
with little, confident shake of he.
head. There's no deceiving me- But,
and her smile became rueful, 'if onl,
you'd waited ten minutes more! D
course I recognized you from the frs
down there by the river; and knew
very we'll what was your-lay; yol
gave yourself away completely b!
mentioning the distance from the rive
to the Manor. And did so want t
get ahead of you on this job! What
feather in ones cap, to have fore
stalled Dan Anisty! 49,. Blu
hadn't you better be little careful
with those lights? You seem to forge
that there are servants in the house