Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-04-20

The light. gushing from the opaque
hood, made the safe door a glare, and
was thrown back into her intent young
face. Even so, he would have recog-
mixed the sharp silhouette cut by her
lithe, sweet body against the glow, the
Doise of her head, the carriage of her
shoulders, the gracious bosom round
ing her tailored coat.
She was all in black, even to her
gloved hands-no trace of white or any
3 color showing on her person but the
fair curve of her cheek below the
mask and the red Of her lips. And if
that were not enough, the intelligence
with which she attacked the combina-
Fion and the confident, businesslike
precision that distinguished her every
action proved her an apt pupil in that
business.
His thoughts were all weltering in
misery and confusion. He knew what
this encounter meant. appreciated that
pit explained many things he would
have thought questionable had not the
strength Of his infatuation forbade him
TO consider them at all; but in the pain
and anguish Of that moment he could
entertain but one thought, which pos
isessed him a~ltogether-the thought
that she must somehow be saved from
THE crime she contemplated.
But while he delayed, shrinking from
the necessity of discovering himself
I'm har II wac modo cIoor That che hoJ
become sensitive to his presence.
He had made no sound since she en-
tered, had not even stirred; but some
nov she had OWNED that someone was
there, in the recess of the window,
watching her.
In the act of opening the safe
working the combination from that
very sheet Of paper on which he had
made memoranda of its s~equence-he
saw her pause, freeze to a pose of at
rention. then turn to stare directly at
'ahe portiere behind which he was con-
Fcealed. And through an eternal sec
'ond he watched her kneeling there, so
still that she seemed not even to
tASNSASt hOL 6oAC hhGu dllu 1tN6ly Wdll-
ang for some sound, some tremor of
the drapery folds to confirm her sus-
picion.
When at length she stirred it was to
rise in n swift, alert movement.
And now as she paused with her slight
shoulders squared and her head thrown
back %defiantly, c~hallengingly, he knew
she knew he was there.
AS if without will of his own. but
drawn irresistibly by her gaze, he
stepped out from hiding.
And since he was no more the Lone
wolf, but now a simple man in agony,
with no consideration for their situa-
'tion, with no thought for the fact that
they were both housebreakers and that
the slightest sound might raise a hue
and cry upon them. he took a faltering
step toward her, stopped. dung forth a
hand with a gesture of appeal, and
Etammered:
"Lucy-you-"
His voice broke. He waited.
She didn't answer other than to re-
coil as though he had offered to strike
her, and she commenced to retreat,
wearing a look Of utter grief and
rwretchedness, until presently the table
stopped her. and she leaned back
against it, as if glad Of the support.
"Oh!" she cried, trembling-"why-
why did you do it,"
He might have answered her in
lSind, but disqualification passed his
power. He couldn't say: Because to-
might you made me lose faith in life
itself, and l thought to forget you by
going to the devil the quickest way /
knew-this way!"-though that was
true. He couldn't say: Because, a
thief from boyhood, habit proved too
strong for me, and couldn't Withstand
temptationi"-for that was untrue.
He could only hang his head and
wretchedly confess: 81 don't know"
AS if he hadn't spoken, as If she
hadn't heard. she cried again. why
ooh. %why-did you do 1t? / was so proud
4of you, so sure of you-the man who
Ehad turned straight because Of me!
1T compensated. But now!"
Her voice broke in a short, dry sob.
Compensated" he repeated stupid.
lily.
Yes, compensated" She threw
back her head with a gesture Of impa-
f~tience. For this--don't you under
stand?-for this that I'm doing! You
don't suppose I've come here Of my
1own accord?-that l went back to Ban
mon for any reason but to try to save
you from him? / knew something Of
ihis power, and you didn't: | knew, IL I
went away with you he'd never rest
funtil he hid you murdered, il he had
ito follow you round the world to do 1t!
And | thought IL | could mislead him
by lies for q little time-long enough
to give you opportunity to leave
France-I hought-perhaps--if / could
overcome my terror OF him--I might
he able to communicate with the po-
Alec. denounce him"
She hesitated. breathless and ap.
pealing.
AT her first words he had drawn
lclose to her; and all their speech was
couched in muted murmurings. barely
more than ~whisDerings. And this was
quite instructive. for in the passion OF
ithat meeting both had been carried be-
Eyond considerations Of prudence, their
most coherent thought being that now,
once and for all time. all misunder-
standing between them must be done
away with.