Show v f L 1 vz 0 COPYRIGHT 1007 k SYNOPSIS maa dan 11 malland Ma a lUand on reaching his I 1 1 I 1 new tork bachelor bache lor club met an attractive younik woman an at the door janitor jaril or agail I 1 him am no one had been be within vl aln that 1 1 lay da dun n discovered J acco e ed a wom ant da r ns fl inger r t in dust duat on his de desk sk along alon with a letter from rom hla his attorney maitland Malt land dined with bannerman lits his attorney dan an set et out for or to g get afa family any jewels lite lila walk to the country so fat at he ha met the ilia young woman tn in bray ra whom he had bad sf seen eti leav aalf akeli I 1 his bachelors z I 1 club iler her auto had broken down ife he fixed it 13 lly a ruse she lost him film maitland on reaching home ii me larty lady in gray cracking ui bate containing onta ining his ha ami g ms she apparently apparent y took him for cor a well known crook daniel t anesty halt hypnotized maitland Malt land opened alb sato at took the jewels and rave gave them to her first fo rilling a partnership in crime the real ian dan anisey tl crime sough b by y po police ce of 0 the world appeared appeared 0 on n the name ame mission maitland Malt land overcame him ira CHAPTER IV Continued you doubted me after all the she commented a trifle bitterly 1 I not nol you misunderstand me belleve believe me 1 I ah dont protest pro what does it make or mat mar whether or not you trusted me you have she added quietly the jewels sate safe enough I 1 suppose T lie he stopped short aghast 11 11 II the jewels Jewel sl 1 I slipped them in your coat pocket before instantly her hand was free malt land ramming both hla his own into the sado pockets of his top coat safe she smiled uncertainly wo we have no time said she can you drive they were standing by the side of her car which had been cunningly hidden in the gloom beneath a spreading tree on the further side odthe coarl ran maitland crestfallen offered hla his hand tho the tips ot of her bar fingers touched his palm lightly as she jumped in ila ha hesitated at the step you wish me to sho she laughed lightly most assuredly you may assure yourself that I 1 shant try to elude you again 1 I would I 1 might be sure of that he be said steadying stet Laying hla his voice and seek ing her eyes j procrastination wont make it any moro assured lie he stepped up and nd settled himself in the drivers seat gras grasping plug throttle and steering wheel the great machine thrilled to hta his touch like a live thing then began slowly to back 0 out ut into aba road aik t hang bang on dead dad center then shot out like a hound unleashed ven tre ii terre brooklyn miles away over the hood it seemed but a minute ere they were thundering over the 11 bridge A little further on maitland Malt land slowed down and jumping out lighted the lamps in the seat again no words had passed he threw in the high speed clutch and the world flung behind them roaring thereafter breathless stunned by the frenzy of speed perforce silent they bored on through the tae night crashing along deserted highways in the east a band of pallid light lifted up out of the night and the horizon took shape against it stark and black slowly stealthily the formless orm lesa dawn dusk spread over the sleeping world to the zenith the light smitten stars reeled and died and houses fields and thoroughfares lay a glimmer with ghostly twilight as the car tore pre headlong through the grim unlovely silent hinterland of long island city the gates of the terry ferry house bouse were ln ins exor ably shut against them when at last maitland Malt land brought the big machine to a tremulous ani and panting halt like that of an overdriven thoroughbred and though they perforce endured a wait of fully 15 minutes neither found aught worth saying or else the words wherewith fitly to clothe their thoughts were denied them the girl seemed very weary and sat with head drooping and hinds hands clasped idly in her lap lall to to maitlandt Mall Mait landa lands hesitant query as to 0 o her comfort she return a monosyllable monosyllabic reassurance he did not again venture to disturb tier her on his own part he was conscious of a clogging sense of exhaustion ha of a drawn and haggard feeling about the eyes and temples and knew that he be was keeping awake automatically his being already the fresh wind orf off the sullen river served in some measure to revive thorn them brice once the gates gateff il were opened and the car had bad taken a place on the terry boats forward extreme day was vias now tall full upon the world above a hort horl zen lon belted with bright magenta the cloudless sky sir was soft turquoise and sapphire and abruptly while the big unwieldy boat surged across the narrow ribbon of green water tho the sun shot up with a shout about and turned to an evanescent dream of fairyland fairy land the gaunt rock ribbed profile of manhattan island bulking balking above them in tier upon tier of at monstrous buildings on the manhattan side in deference to the girls low spoken wish mateland Malt Matt land ran the machine up to second avenue turned north and brought it to a stop by the curb ft a little north of thirty fifth street and now new whither he inquired handi somewhat impatiently ready imps n the driving and steering gear ell aa f A 3 r 10 j have no time said she can you drive the tha girl smiled faintly through her veil 7 ym iti have been most kind she told him in a tired voice thank you from my heart sir air anisey ind and made a move as it if to relieve him of his charge charee Is that oil all he demanded blankly can C I 1 say any more 1 I I 1 am to go no fur further ther with you sick with disappointment he rose and dropped to tho the sidewalk anticipating her affirmative answer it you would please me said the girl you wont vont insist 1 I dont he returned ruefully but are you quite sure that youre all right now bulte quite thank you dear mr anisey with a pretty gesture ot of conquering impulse she swept h her er veil aside and the warm rose glow ot of the newborn new born day tinted her bar wan van young cheeks with color and her eyes were as stars bright with a mist ot at emotion brimming with gratitude and something else lie he could not say what but one thing he knew and that was that she was worn with excitement and fatigue near to the point ot of breaking down youre tired ha be insisted solicitous cant you let me 1 I am tired she admitted admitted wistfully voice subdued yet rich and vibrant no please please let mo me go dont ask me any questions now only one he mado made supplication ive done nothing nothing but be more kind than I 1 con say bayl 11 and youre riot not going to back out of our partnership ohl and now the role color p in her cheeks cheeka was warmer than that which the dawn had lent them no I 1 shant back out and she smiled and it if I 1 call a meeting of the board of management of anasty and wentworth Limit limited cl you will promise to N attend ye lye es will it he be too early if I 1 call one for today to day I 1 why aby say at two this afternoon at eugenes you know the place 1 I have lunched there then you shall again today to day you wont disappoint me 1 I will be there I 1 I 1 shall be glad to come now pl plea easel sol youve promised dont forget lie ile stepped back and stood in a sort of dreamy dazo daze while with one final wonderful smile at parting the girl ap burned control of the machine and swung it out from the curb maitland Malt land watched it forge slowly up the avenue and vanish round the thirty sixth street t beet 1 corner then thea turned his face tu southward tl ivard sighing with weariness and discontent at thirty fourth street a policeman loun bounting ting beneath the corr corrugated corrugate aman iron awning of a corner saloon faced about with a low whistle to stare stara after him maitland Malt land experienced a chill sense of crim criminal laal guilt he was painfully con can of at those two shrewd eyes boring gimlet like into hla his back overlooking no detail of the wreck of his evening clothes othea cl involuntarily he be glanced down at his legs and they firoved mechanically bereath the edge 44 ot at his overcoat like twin animated columns of mud and dust openly ad ver his mis adventures ile he felt in his soul that they shrieked aloud talat they would presently succeed in dinning all the town awake so BO that the startled populace would come tr in tile the windows ta blare in wonder as he li ha passed passe d by an and inwardly he groaned and quaked As tor for the policeman after some reluctant hesitation he overcame the inherent indisposition to exertion exerson that affects his kind and swinging his stick stalked after maitland Malt land happily and with heartfelt thanksgiving tho the young man chanced upon a somnolent and bedraggled hack back at rest in the stenciled shadows of 0 the third avenue elevated structure its pilot was snoring lustily the sleep of the belated on the box with some difficulty li he was awakened and malt land dodged into the musty dusty body of the vehicle grateful to escape the unprejudiced stare of the guardian of tho the peace who in another moment would have overtaken him and doubtless subjected him to embarrassing inquisition As the ancient four wheeler rattled noisily over the cobbles some of the shops were taking down their shutters the surface cars were beginning to run with increasing frequency and the sidewalks were becoming sparsely populated familiar as the sights were they were yet somehow strangely unrest unreal to the young man in ili a night the face of the world had bad changed for him its features tei tures loomed weirdly blurred and contorted through the mystical gray gold atmosphere of the land of Ito mance wherein lie he really lived and moved end cud had his being the blatant day was waa altogether preposterous post erous today to day was a dream some thing nightmarish last night lie he had been awake last night for the first time in twenty odd years of existence he ha had lived ile he slipped unthinkingly one hanu hand into his coat pocket seeking instine U lve vell his cigarette case and his ringers fingers bru brushed sled the coarse grained surface of a canvas bag lie he jumped as it if electrified ile ho had managed altogether to forget them yet in hla his keeping were the jewels maitland Malt land heirlooms heir looms the swag and booty tho the loot and plunder of the nights night adventure and lie he smiled happily to think that his interest in them was 50 per cent depreciated in 24 hours now he be owned only halt half suddenly he sat up with happy eyes and a glowing face she had trusted himl him CHAPTER V incognito at noon precisely maitland Malt land stirred between the sheets for or the first time sin be had thrown himself into his bed atI stirred and confused cont used by whatever alarm had awakened awaken td him yawned dawned stupendously and sat up rubbing elenchek cien elen ched fists ln in his bis ejea to clear them of sleeps cobwebs then he bent forward clasping his knees smiled largely replaced the smile with a thoughtful frown and in such wise contemplated the toot ot of the bed for several minutes hla his first fir t conscious con imbres ston aton that ho he ha had is something am ething delightful to look forward to yielding to a vague recollection ot of a prolonged shrill tintinnabulation as it the telephone tell boll in tho the front room had bad been ringing rot for sonio some time nut but lie he waited in vain for a reve repetition ot of tho the sound and eventually concluded that ho he had bad been mistaken it had been an echo from his dreams dreama most likely besides who should call him up not two people know that lie h was in town not even ohagan Ol lagan was waa aware that he had bad returned to his hl rooms that hat morning ile he raped gaped again stretching wide hi his arms sat up on tho the edge of 0 the bad arid and heard the clock strike 12 noon and lie had an engagement ga at two ile he brightened nt at the memory and lumping jumping up pressed an electric call button on the wall by the tirrie time he had padded barefoot bathroom and turned on the cold wa ter tap OH Olla agana gaull knock summoned him to the hall door dack back again OI lagan and in a desperate rush ill want you to abaye shave me ine and send some tiLle grams please must be off by you may get out my gray striped flannels here bere ha be paused calculating his costume with careful discrimination and a black striped negligee shirt gray socks russet low choos black and white aneck tie broad wings you know where to find them all shuro aiss sor 11 Ol lagan showed no evidence ot of aur 1 prise the eccentricities ot at mr air malt land could not move him who was inured to them through long association and observation ile ho moved away to execute hta his instructions quietly et at fl clent dy by the time maitland Malt land had splashing and gasping in the bathtub everything was waa ready for the tha ceremony ot of dressing in other words 20 later maitland Malt land bathed shaved but still la in dressing gown and slippers was seated at his desk a cup of b lack blach correa coffee steaming at hla his elbow a number ot of bollow flow telegraph blanks before him a pen poised between his fingers it was waa in his mind to send a wire to cressy cresay apologizing for his desertion of the night just gone and announcing noun cing his intention to rejoin the tha party from which the motor trip to new york had been as planned but a temporary defection in time for dinner that same evening ile he nibbled the end of at the penholder selecting phrases then looked up at the attentive ohagan bring brigg me A a new ew haven time table ale please we he began and the door boll bell abrupt ed hla his words worda clamoring shrilly what the deuce he demanded who can that be bet answer it will you Ol ohagan lagan 7 down the pen swallowed his coffee and lita ilta cigarette listening to the murmurs at the ball door an instant later ohagan returned bearing a slip of white pasteboard which he bo de posited on the desk before maitland Malt land james furleson snaith malt land read aloud from the faultlessly engraved card 1 I dont know him what toes does he want say sor sat seemed our bur I 1 bowld dim ye were in an said he was glad to hear it bustness business pr cressin pres essin aln says he be snaith Sn alth hut but I 1 never heard the th namo came before what does he look like A gintle gentleman dintleman man sat eor be th clothes av him an th way he talks well devil talk lake the mani man I 1 show him in very good sor sat maitland Malt land swung around in hla his desk chair his back to the window expression politely curious as his caller entered the room pausing hat in hand just across the threshold ile he proved to be a man apparently 0 oi middle age of height approximating maitlandt Malt Mait lands hla his shoulders were slightly rounded as if front from habitual bending beading over a desk his poso pose mild and deferential by his fits eyeglasses and peering took look he be was nearsighted near sighted by his dress a gentleman ot of taste and judg as well as of means to gratify both A certain jaunty and su summery minery touch in his attire suggested a person of leisure who had just run down from his country place for a day in town ills his voice when he spoke did nothing to dispel the illusion mr maitland Malt land he opened the conversation ver eatton briskly 1 I 1 trust I 1 do not intrude I 1 chall be brief as possible pos athle it if you will favor me ma with a private interview ter view maitland Malt land remarked a voice well mod dilated and a good choice of words lie rose courteously 1 I should be pleased to do so BO ho he suggested ill it you could advance any reason for such a request mr snaith smiled discreetly turn I 1 bling in hta his aide pocket A 4 second slip of cardboard appeared between |