Show 0 7 COPYRIGHT 1507 t aj SYNOPSIS mad dan maitland Malt land on reaching his new york bachelor club met an attract I 1 v ve e young woman at the door jan tor 0 D hagan assured him no one had been within tl at day dan d sc a worn wom an s finger prints in dust on his des c edon w th a letter from h s attorney ma fland d ned w th bannerman his at torne dan set out tor for greenfields to get his fam ly jewels during hi his S walk to the country seat he met the young woman in gray whom he had seen leav ing h s bachelors club her auto had broken down CHAPTER II 11 continued her superb composure claimed his admiration absolutely ignorant though she had been of his proximity the voice from out of the skies evi dently alarmed her not at all still bending over the lifted foot she turned her head slowly and 1001 ed up and oh said a small voice tinged with relief and coolly knotting the laces again she sat up I 1 didn dian t hear you you know nor I 1 see you maitland supplemented unblushingly until a moment ago I 1 er can I 1 be of assi assistance 9 cant youa idiot said maitland severely both to and of himself aloud I 1 think I 1 can I 1 hope so doubtfully its it s very unfortunate I 1 was running rather fast I 1 suppose and t see the slope until too late now open ing her hands in a 4 gesture ingenuously charming with its suggestion of help and dependence I 1 don t know what can be the matter with the machine I 1 in coming down announced maitland briefly wait thank you I 1 shall she laughed and maitland could have blushed tor for his inanity happily he had action to cloak his embarrass ment in a twinkling he was at the waters edge pausing there to listen with admirable docility to her plain tive objection but you 11 get wet and and ruin your things I 1 can cant t that of you he chuckled by way of reply slap ping gallantly into the shallows and courageously wading out to the side of the car whereupon he was advised in tones of fluttered indignation you simply listen to met me and I 1 warned you now you re soak ing wet and will certainly catch your death of cold and and what can I 1 doa truly I 1 am sorry here the young man lost track of her remark he was looking up into the shadow of the motoring cap dis covering things tor for the shadow was set at naught by the moon luster that reflected from the surface of the stream invested with a gentle and glamorous radiance the face that bent above him and he caught at his breath sharply direst fears confirmed she was pretty indeed perilously the firm resolute chin the sensitive sweet line of scarlet lips the straight little nose the brows del irately arched the large alert tawny eyes with the dangerous sweet sha 1 aws beneath the gl nt as of raw cop per where her hair caught the I 1 maitland appreciated them all far too well and clutched nervously the rail of tho seat trying to steady himself to re collect recollect his routed wits and con s der sensibly that it all was due to the magic of the moon belike the witchery of this apparition that looked down into his eyes so gravely of course he mumbled its it s too beautiful to endure of course it will all fade vanish utterly in the cold light of day above him perplexed brows gath ered ominously I 1 beg pardon 9 I 1 er yes he stammered at ran dom doin you er positively sh was laughing at h in he ile maitland the exquisite mad mait malt land the imperturbable was being laughed at by a mere child a girl scarcely out of her teens he glanced upward caught her eye a gleam agleam with merriment and looked away with much vain d anity I 1 was saying he manufactured that I 1 did not mind the wetting in the least I 1 in happy to be of service you t saying anything of the sort she contrad acted calmly how ever she paused significantly maitland experienced an install ganeous sensation as of furtive guilt decidedly the reverse ot of comfortable he ile shuffled huf fled uneasily there was a brief silence on her part expectant on his blank his mental attitude re baided hopeless tor for some mysterious reason his nonchalance had deserted him in the hour of bis his sup ermest need not in all his experience did he remember anything like this as awk ward the river purled indifferently about his calves a vagrant breeze disturbed the tree tops and died of sheer lassi tude time plodded on with measured stride then abruptly full winged ration was born out of the chaos of I 1 Us Is mind listening intently he glanced with covert suspicion at the bridge it proved untenanted sive of mien nor arose there any sound ot of hoot or wheel upon the high way again he looked up at the girl and found her in thoughtful mood la t A 81 LV L V aa 4 he began to wade cautiously shoreward frowning regarding him steadily be neath level brows he assumed a disarming levity ol 01 demeanor smiling winningly there s only one way he suggested not toe too archly and extended his arms indeed she considered him with pardonable dubiety instantly his purpose became as adamant I 1 must carry you it its s the only way oh indeed no I 1 I 1 t impose upon you I 1 m very heavy you know never ever mind firmly insistent you cant can t stay here all n of course B it are you sure she was yield ing I 1 don t like to he shook h s head careful to re strain the twitching corners of his I 1 ps it will tal e but a moment he urged gravely and be quite careful well she perceived that it if not right he was stubborn and with a fl ft nal small gesture of deprecation weakly surrendered I 1 im in sorry to be such a nuisance she murmured ris ing and gathering about her maitland stoutly den ed the hideous ansin bat on I 1 am only too glad she balanced herself lightly upon the step he moved nearer and as himself of a firm foothold on the pebbly river bed she sank gracefully into his arms aims proving a considerable burden weightier in tact fact than he I 1 ad anticipated he wa somewhat staggered it seemed that he embraced countless yards of raffles ruffles and things ballasted with at a shrewd guess lead he ile swayed then recovering his equilibrium he I 1 incautiously glanced into her eyes and lost it again completely I 1 was mistaken he told himself daylight dav light will but enhance she held herself considerately still perhaps wondering why he made no move perhaps otherwise there is reason to believe that she may have suspected being a woman at length Is there anything I 1 can do she inquired meekly to make it easier for 7 I 1 in afra d he replied attitude apologetic that I 1 must ask you to put your arm around jay my ne my ders it would be more natural oh the monosyllable was heavy with meaning with any one of a dozen mean in truth maitland debated the most obvious did she conceive he had insinuated that it was his habit to ferry armfuls of attractive femin te int ty over ricly fords by the light of a midnight moon moona 0 no o matter while he thought it out she was consenting presently a slender arm was passed round his neck having awaited only that he began to wade cautiously the distance lessened perceptibly but he contemplated the ng inter val without joy tor for all that she was of an appreciable weight for all bur dens there are compensations unconsciously inevitably her head sank toward his shoulder he was aware of her breath fragrant and warm warin upon his cheek he A stopped abruptly cold chills running up and down bis his back he gritted his teeth he shuddered perceptibly what Is the matter she de banded deeply concerned but at pains not to stir maitland Malt land made a noise with his bongie behind clenched teeth he said distinctly she lifted her head startled relief fo followed rowed intense and instantaneous I 1 in sorry he muttered humbly face aflame but vou tickled I 1 in so sorry she gasped vio bently agitated and laughed a low almost a silent little laugh as with deft fingers she tucked away the er rant lock of hair ass maitland told himself fierce ly striding forward in another moment they were on dry land the girl slipped from his arms and faced him e ees es dancing cheeks crimson I 1 ps a tense quivering scar let line he met this with a rueful smile but thank you but she gasped explosively it was so funny wounded d anity melted before her laugh tel tei for a time there in the moonlight under the scornful regard of the disabled motor car s twin head lights these tw two a rocked and shrieked while the silent night flung back dis gainful echoes of their mad laughter perhaps the insane incongruity of their perform performance aiice first became ap mirent to the g rl A she at all events was the first to control herself malt land subsided rumbling while she dabbed at her eyes with a wisp of lace and linen forgive me she said faintly at length I 1 didn dian t mean to aw how conald you help it if who d ex hect a hulking brute like myself to be ticklish 7 9 you are awfully good she coun more calmly don t say that I 1 in a clumsy lout but he held her gaze inquiringly but may I 1 ask oh of course certainly I 1 am was bound tor for greenpoint Green point on the sound ten miles he interrupted the corners of her red lips drooped her brows puckered with dismay in she glanced toward the water bound car what am I 1 to do doa she cried ten miles mile I 1 could never walk it never in the world you see I 1 went to town to day to do a little shopping As we were coming home the chaut beur was arrested for careless driving he had bumped a delivery wagon over it wasn gasn t really his fault I 1 telephoned home for somebody to ball bail him out and my father said he would come in then I 1 dined returned to the police station and waited nobody came I 1 couldn coulden t stay there all night I 1 phoned to everybody I 1 knew until my money gave out no one was in town at last in desperation I 1 started home alone maitland nodded his your father 9 he hinted delicately judge wentworth she explained hastily we ve taken the grover place at greenpoint Green point for the season I 1 see thoughtfully and this wag was 1 t the girl who he had believed had bee in bis his rooms that evening in bis his absence oh clearly that was impo sible her tone rang with truth t she interrupted his train of though thought with a cry ot of despair what will they think I 1 dare say he venture I 1 hopefully t I 1 could hire a team at k ome aaers IAD ft A house f but the delay 1 its g si late al ready undeniably late one belock lock at the earliest A thought long r maitland Malt land hung in lack ot of purpose den tien without a word of explanation tu ned and again began to wade out what do you mean to do she cried surprised see what s the trouble he called back I 1 know a bit about motors perhaps then but why she stopped and maitland Malt land forbore lf V to encourage her to round out her quest question ton it was no difficult matter to supply the missing words why had he not thought of investigating the motor before insisting that he must carry her ashore the humiliating conviction forced itself upon him that he was not figur ing to great advantage in this adaven ture distinctly a humiliating sensa tion to one who ordinarily was by way of having a fine conceit of himself it requires a certain amount of egotism to enable one to play the ex to one ones s personal satisfaction maitland Malt land had enjoyed the possession of that certain amount theretofore his approval of self had been passably en tire now he could not deny the boor had shown up through the polish of the beau intolerable i thought cad ex claimed maitland bitterly this all was due to hasty jumping at alons it if he had not chosen to believe a young and charming girl identical with an an adventuress this thing had not happened and he had still retained his own good will for one lit tie tle moment he despised himself hearal ly one little moment of clear insight into self was his and forthwith he began to meditate apologies formu lating phrases designed to prove ade quate without sounding exaggerated and insincere by this time he had reached the car and through sheer blundering luck at once stumbled upon the seat of trouble a clogged valve in the car bumeter no serious matter with the assistance stance of a repair kit more than commonly complete he had the valve clear in a jiffy news of this triumph he shouted to the girl receiving in reply an oh S thank ou so fervently grateful that 4 he felt more guilty than ever ruminating unhappily on the end ot of contemplated abasement he waded round the car satisfying himself that there was nothing else out of gear a and apprehensively cranked up K Nv whereupon hereupon the motor began to hum y contentedly all was well flushed with this success maitland Malt land climbed aboard and opened the throttle a flifle rifle the car moved and then with a swish a gurgle and a watery whoosh it surged forward up out of the river gallantly up the slope at the top the amateur chauffeur J K shut down the throttle and jumped out turning to face the girl she was by the step almost before he could offer a hand to help her in and as she plu paused sed to render him his due meed of thanks it became evident that she bar har bored little it if any resentment eyes shining face aglow with gratitude she dropped him a droll but graceful courtesy vou are too good olie lie declared with spirit how can I 1 thank you youa TOU iou might he suggested looking down into her face from his superior height give me a bit of a lift just a couple of miles up the road though he supplemented eagerly it if you d really prefer I 1 should be only too happy to drive the car home for youa two miles did you say he fancied something odd in her tone besides the question was super flukus his eyes informed with he replied why yes that much more or less I 1 live of course she put in quickly give you the lift only too glad but as for your taking me home at this hour I 1 cant can t hear ot of that but besides what woud people say she countered obstinately oh no she decided and he felt that from this decision there would be no appeal I 1 t think ot of interfering with your arrangements her eyes held his for a single in stant instinct with mischief gleaming with bewildering light from out a face schooled to gravity maitland Malt land experienced a sensation of having grasped after and missed a subtlety of allusion his wits keen as they were recoiled baffled by her finesse and the more he divined that she was playing with him as an experienced swords man might play with an impertinent novice the denser his confusion grew but I 1 have so no arrangements he stammered TO BE CONTINUED dp lafit st |