The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-14
CHAPTER XVII.
(Continued)
lex stood aside, looking mp
He caught his breath

1n6lE eyes met dItu, Ava SSSVAAN
there was curious taut silence.
Then she came forward quickly.
"Youp' she said. "But heard
that you had been captured by
some raider"
He was thrilling at the touch of
her cool, slender hand.
'sYou have escaped!" she said.
'aThat is splendid"
Her eyes played over his face
with certain unconcealed anx-
iety.
He, too, was looking keenly at
her. The same thought occurred
to both.
"She is as lovely as ever
lovelier-only she looks-tired
little" he told himself.
ooh. but how i'll he looks
worn out and haggard," she was
saying in her heart. He has had
q terrible time.
"Our trip was failurea
failure from the very beginning.
he said, and a slow flush stole into
his thin brown cheeks as he made
one reservation. Except for one
thing-the trophy for you. | have
ia really fine leopard skin"
She smiled, with shining eyes.
''Thatl You remembered that
in all your troubles?"
81 remembered my promise
but it was only by. chance that /
was able to keep it, he confessed.
His hands were clenched tightly.
She saw that and knew that he was
quite unconscious of it. But it
told her that his nerves had been
badly shaken.
There was queer silence OF
seconds. Hoodless, by the office,
was watching them closely. They
seemed quite unaware of his pres
ence and he did not desire to join
them yet. He whispered few
words to the hotel clerk and went
quietly out.
Louise Lammarsh broke the
silence with an effort.
eff you have dined shall we
have coffee together?" she said. Il
have been so interested in your
expedition from the first. And if
you would care to tell me of it /
should like so much TO hear.
He accepted gratefully.
eff only you knew how have
looked forward to- mean, hoped
to have the great luck to be able
TO tell you. -" he said inn
pulsively, then stopped, remember
ing Hoodless.
"Why, we have forgotten erich
ton-he's here, too"
He turned to meet the hotel
clerk, glib Alsatian, who ex-
planned that Hoodless had gone
back to the Villa Blanche to get
the leopard skin and that he
would return almost Immediately.
"You are not staying at the
/hotel?" she asked, surprised, for
at that period there was less ac-
commodation at Luxor than to-
day.
'No. / have-taken small
villa, here. For little. to
rest" he said in a low strained
tone, almost muttering. He did
not shirk her gaze-rather, he
sought it, but she saw with
curious, poignant sense OF shock
that his blue eyes were full OF un-
happiness, usefulness or-was it
something akin TO shame?
"a small villa-to rest quietly
: for a time," he said. 81 planned
to be here for some weeks. 80"
His hands gripped again.
"And you-is yours just a fly
ing yisit-with your people-to
see the ruins?" he asked, still in
that low, strange, half-reluctant
voice.
Her. wonderful eyes darkened
suddenly, and tint of rose family
misted the ivory of her cheeks.
She did not answer at once. She
stood before him, slim, beautiful,
perfect. Her lids dropped little
half closing for an instant, as
those of one suddenly thinking,
concentrating intently on some
elusive point.
Then she drew long breath,
and her lips parted.
mo. l am not here on a flying
VISIT" she said, softly. "And l am
quite alone.
She realized that the clerk was
staring greedily, and she half
turned, with a little low laugh.