Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1911-06-29
CHAPTER iII.-Continued.


Did he catch CLEAN of admiration
in the eyes behind the goggles?
Now, If ever they get hold o. my
portrait and print Well"
sighed the girl wiclSedly, lifting slim.
bare fingers in affected concern to the
mass of ruddy hair, 'in that event l
suppose l 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, 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 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 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, pref
fy. 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
q woman. he gentleman.
AS Anisty, however-if he chose to
assume that experts identity for the
nonce-he would be placed at once on
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-
giar! 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 manne,
changed; he assumed with avidity the
role for which she had cast him anf
which he stood so ready to accent ant
act.
well and good" he conceded will
An air. Il suppose 1 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 opI,
you'd waited ten minutes morel O
course I recognized you from the frs
down there by the river; and kne,
worry we'll what was your-lay: yo
gave yourself away completely b
mentioning the distance from the rive
To thu Manor. And did 30 want
~ ahead Of you ON this job! What
feather In ones cap. to have for,
stalled Dan Anistyl 81
haAa't you better be a little carsf,
WIN those lights7 You seem to forg,
49, there are servants In the hous