The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-06-09
CHAPTER XIV.
ILL., nni

Slowly Maitland returned to the
study and replaced the lamp upon his
desk; and stood briefly in silence, long
Fingers stroking his well-shaped chin,
1ais face a little thin and worn-look-
Nag, CLEAN of pain in his eyes. He
sighed.
Sc she was gone!
He aaughed a trace harshly This
zHUrpyise was nothing more than he
might have discounted, of course; he
rad been fool to expect anything
~aRse of her, he was enjoying only his
vust deserts both for having dared to
HEeaiepa that the good in human ma
cure particularly in woman's nature)
would respond to decent treatment,
GbeOry.
So she was gone, without a word,
without sign!
Vie sat down at the desk, sidewise,
rsne arm extended along it's edge, fin
gers drumming out dreary little tune
eazn the hard polished wood; and
s1ought it all over from the begin
szing- Nor spared himself.
WEly, after all. should it be other
wise? Why should she have stayed ?
Wzsg should he compliment himself
Try believing that there was aught
abonf him visible through the veneer
sAcGuired in a score and odd years of
TssUrSpse]ess existence, to attract a
young and pretty woman's heart?
He enumerated his qualities spe-
esddaGzily- and condemned them all. I'm
EyrfrUiS, he was conceited ass. A
fascinating young criminal had but
to- toss her head at him to make him
EHiBk that she was pleased with him,
I'D make him forget that she was what
sine was and believe that, because he
Was willing to stoop, she was willing
far climb. And he had betrayed him
wek SO lnercilessly! How she must
have laughed in her sleeve all the
time. while he pranced and bridled and
preened himself under her eyes,
blinded to his own idiocy by the flame
GEE a sudden infatuation-how she must
fgAve laughed
Undoubtedly she had laughed and,
measuring his depth-or his shallow.
uOsss-had determined to use him to
Aaer ends. Why not? 1t had been her
business, her professional duty, to
make use of him in order to accom-.
NEsa her plundering And because
SHE had not dared to ask him for the
yewelS when he left her in the morn
Eng. she had naturally returned in the
ssvening to regain them, very con.
HscaSf, doubtless that even if surprised
n second time, she would get off scot
Aree- Unfortunately for her, this fel
a9E Anisty had interfered. Maitland
presumed cynically that he ought te
ne grateful to Anisty The unaccount
:Hbie sconndrel! Why had he returned
Now the girl had contrived to es
''ssal,e was, of course, more easy to nm
sherszand. Maitland recalled that sud
den clatter of hOofs in the street. anG
Ne had only to make a trip to the
Nlndow to verify his suspicion thai
me cab was gone. She had simpl,
overheard his concluding remarks t.
She cabby, and taken pardonable ad
vantage OF them. Maitland had footed
Ane Dill. She was welcome to that
h0xever. He, Maitland, was well rit
az the whole damnable business. Yes
Jewels and all!
what were the jewels to him? Be
SOnd their sentimental associations. h,
did not hold them greatly in prize. O
ccuse. since they had been worn b,
his mother. he would spare no ez
pease or effort to trace and re-collec
maem. for that dim sainted memory,
zakn- But in this case, at least tn
aEadifional usage of the Maitland
onld never be carried out. It ha
heen faithfully observed when. afte
~ mothers death. the stones ha