Anthony Trent, Master Criminal

nner and the careless lighting of a cigarette, cloaked in reality a feeling of despair at the untoward ending of his ad

ar!" she said with

nially. "Call me rather a professional collector,

she returned severely, "you came

returned slowly. "Then-the

im keenly, "and if you offer any v

break over the intruder's face. He wa

ard heart

this is no time to j

o sure," he

a look of high courage about her that particularly appealed to him. She had long Oriental eyes

he police and have you a

usual procedu

there ir

what makes

ted, "collect, borrow

otice of his

e well dressed. I've done a great deal of social work among the poor and often I've met t

has elements of pathos. Jean got ni

heed to hi

mic determination did not bring you t

red none," h

th a sudden

ort of thing seems rather remote. We've never had any robberies here before, and now to come face t

markably well,"

er turn

he said slowly. "My fat

augh gently. He thought of that pre

. Guestwick

im. It was plain she was in th

ought to do i

t?" he

ar stolen nothing so I should no

My very presence here is illegal and as

r!" she cried, "he does

s daughter to send me to jail and

oung society woman gazing a

. Instead of sending you to prison I am willing to give you another chance.

look

ork to do. Inside that safe I expect to find fifty thousand dollars and possibly

ossed the room

ucceed," she said, her

" he suggested. "The

she demanded; "don't yo

just the same difficulty as I in explaining your

that she paled at what he said and her han

all abed and there are no house guests. I am not accustomed to making mistakes in matters of this sort. Now, I'm not inviting confidences and I'm not making threats,

ind those

he commented, "not t

ympathy for her. He would liked to have learned all about her but there was not much time. The G

said quietly, "I'm not on

" he said a lit

know anything about

e," he returned

you going to d

Guestwick has which interests me. Then I shall

ty thousand dollars?" she deman

I came for,

," she declared and then

When he had garnered enough money to buy himself a home he intended to marry and settle down to domestic joys. As to this weeping woman, t

think I am?

answered, "that women als

e open eyes, a look

I'm here

an, but for a woman like you. What am I to think when I

hat I've no right to be here. I suppose I shall hav

seconds were chasing one another into minu

t all to me," he pointed to th

ad created once upon a time. They would not have permitted themselves to be s

ored, "I'm Estelle Grandcourt. No

eady yours," he said, a trifle sulki

e amazing chorus

ace c

ially, "we shall not quarrel. Fra

him through tea

ing adventuress always on the lookout for some foolish, ri

ll!" he p

ed men without chivalry or courtesy. I've been wrong too. I imagined the gentleman-crook was only a fiction and now I find him

he looked at her, that never had he seen

lease," sh

on Guestwick is a wild, weak lad for whom you set your snares. And when Mr. Gues

" she asked looking a

seeking to exonerate himself, "I

some spiteful writer sai

he inviting sa

on't know anything about the affair. I don'

Miss Guestwick. If you wish to know the truth, I am Mrs. Norton Guestwick. I can show you our m

rtain that Briggs the butler had shown him in

ant who used to

ploy?" h

s-in-law who refuse to recognize that I exist. I was at the Sacred Heart Convent in Paris. I sing and paint and play the piano as well as most girls but do none of these well enough to make a living at it. I came here to New York hoping that through

," he exclai

they said my figure would do even if I had

smile that stirred him oddly. In that moment he env

ay about my hus

lieve reports," h

wrong. He is full of sweet, generous impulses. His mother has so pampered him that he was almost h

any man," he s

at suggested a certain subtle

make her what you wanted her to be. He is clay for my molding and I want him to be a splendid, fine son like m

for months now to think of that kindly country physician who died from the

think it is splendid of you. Good God! why can peo

champagne-drinking adventuress who wants to blackmail them. That money"-she pointed to the safe, "I didn

't see why you a

opera, all four of them. If I confront them they must see I'm not the so

oked at her with

d enthusiastically, "

ake their money they must see I'm

the money. The mention of it reminded h

it, what is going

Mr. Guestwick tha

" he said, forcing a smile. "I

oked reproach at him. Tremulous eager words seemed forced fr

ld I say if the money was gone? Don't you see they would send me away in disgrace and Norton would

appening in an unexpected fashion. He

gged, "this is your opportunit

ns so much to

rything," she

ss bequeathed him by generations of honorable folk. He saw clearly what the girl meant. She was here to fight for her happiness and the redemption of the man she loved. How s

look in his eyes when he glanced down

o do as you want, and I don't believe there's a

for a moment on

ck, litt

he quietly descended the stairs. And when he came to the avenue he did not gla

ipe after pipe he smoked when he was once more in his quiet room and asked himself why he had done this thing. There were two reasons hard to dissociate. First, this wonderful girl had reminded him of the man he had passionately admired-his father, the father who had taught him to p