The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-26

could not permit OF her exposure to
such a risk; the scheme was imprac.
ticaole, absurd. But was it3 Did It
not offer fair chance Of successf
And was not the possible result
worthy the risk assumed? He choked
back the earlier words OF protest un.
uttered. puzzled as to what he had
best say. A quickwitted resourceful
woman might accomplish all she pro-
posed
1T looks 50 simple" she broke In
impulsively, moving nearer him.
Don't you think l could DO It? Would
1t be unwomanly?"
Tho result, If accomplished, would
abundantly Justify the MEANS, Hope"
he acknowledged at last ri was not
hesitating on that account, but con-
sidering the risk you would incur"
THAT would be 80 smalhmerely
the short walk alone with him from
the theater to the hotel" she plead.
ed. "Onoe here It could make no DIFF.
ference II he did discover my identity,
for there would be plenty OF men near
at hand to come To my defence Oh,
please say yes"
If / do. then We must make the II.
lusion perfect, and take as few
chances Of discovery as possible I
must learn exactly how the other
dresses, and when she leaves the the.
ater. Fortunately for the success of
your plan the Trocadero permits no
one but performers to come behind
the scenes, so that Hawley will be
compelled to wait for the lady outside
the stage door. had better go at
once, and see to these details"
Yes" she said. her eyes sparkling
with anticipation, "and am 30 glad
you are willing. I Will be most dis.
Greet You are not sorry made the
proposalT"
Certainly not. At first 1t struck me
as altogether wrong. but the more
think Of It the stronger II appeals to
me. II may reveal to us the whole
conspiracy. and l cannot believe Haw.
ley would venture upon any gross
familiarity likely to cost him the &c cd
opiuion Of his ally. There Is too much
at etake Wait here, Hope, and l will
be back the very moment learn all
that is necessary"
A glance at the ONCE clock con-
vinced Keith that, In all probability,
Miss Maclaire had not, as yet, de-
parted for the scene Of her evening
triumph Still, It could not be long
before she would. and he lit q cigar.
sitting down in a corner partially
concealed by the clerks desk to wait
her appearance This required longer
than anticipated, and fearing lest he
might have missed the departure en-
0rely. he was about to question the
busy Thomas, when he beheld Hawley
enter hurriedly from the street and
run up the stairs. He, then, had been
the laggard. All the better, as he
would now have no opportunity to un-
fold his tale to the lady, as It would
be necessary for them to hurry to the
theater. Whatever the nature of the
revelation It would have to wait until
the walk home. The excit sment of
the adventure was already creeping
into Keiths blood. his pulse quicken
ing.
The two returned almost immedi-
ately. conclusively proving that Miss
Maclaire. fully dressed for the street,
had been awaiting the arrival OF her
gallant with some impatience. Hawley
was busily explaining his delay as
they came down the stairs, and paid
little attention to the seemingly de-
serted Office Indeed. Miss Christie
morOpolized all his thoughts. With
quick scrutiny the watcher noted the
more conspicuous articles Of apparel
constituting her costume-the white
mantilla thrown over her head, the
neatly fitting blue dress, the light
cape covering the shoulders-surely
II would not be difficult TO duplicate
these, 20 as to pass muster under the
dim light OF the streets. Far enough
In their rear TO feel safe from obser-
walton he followed, noting with in
creased pleasure the rapidity with
which they covered the required dis
tance. Clearly Miss Christie was al.
ready nervous lest she have not suf.
hcient time remaining In which to
properly dress for her act, and there
would be no exchange Of condolences
On the outward Journey. Hawley left
her, AS Keith anticipated, at the stage
entrance. the Lady Fastening within.
Her escort strOlled leisurely back to
the front OF the house. and finally.
purchasing ticket, entered, the per-
formance already having begun.
Keith knew perfectly the arrange.
ment of the theater-the seats In
front; tables all through the center:
gallery filled with benches; q noisy
orchestra beneath the stage; a crowd.
ed audience Of men. with only here
and there a scattered representative
OF the gentler sex: busy walters dodg-
Ing In and out among the tables, and
down the aisles, filing orders for
liquids from the nearby saloon. The
air would ba Dunpent uttb tho odo.