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Cutty's affair now； not hers。 He had a legal right to examine the
contents。 He was an agent of the Federal Government。 The drums of
jeopardy and Stefani Gregor and Johnny Two…Hawks； all interwoven。
She had waited in vain for Cutty to mention the emeralds。 What
signified his silence？ She had indirectly apprised him of the fact
that she knew the author of that advertisement offering to purchase
the drums； no questions asked。 Who but Cutty in New York would know
about them？ The mark of the thong。 Johnny Two…Hawks had been
carrying the drums； and Karlov's men had torn them from their
victim's neck during the battle。 Was there any reason why Cutty
should not have taken her completely into his confidence？ Palaces
looted。 If Stefani Gregor had lived in a palace； why not his
protege？ Still； it was possible Cutty was holding back until he
could tell her everything。
But what to do with it？ If she called him up and made known her
discovery； Cutty would rush up as fast as a taxicab could bring him。
He had peremptorily ordered her not to come to his apartment for
the present。 But to sit here and wait； to be alone again after he
had gone！ It was not to be borne。 Orders or no orders； she would
carry the wallet to him。 He could lecture her as much as he pleased。
To…night； at least； she would lay aside her part as parlour maid
in the drama。 It would give her something to do； keep her mind
off herself。 Nothing but excitement would pull her out of this
semi…hysterical doldrum。
She hid the wallet in the pocket of her underskirt。 Already her
blood was beginning to dance。 She ran into her bedroom for two
veils； a gray automobile puggree and one of those heavy black
affairs with butterflies scattered over it； quite as effectual as
a mask。 She wound the puggree about her hat。 When the right
moment came she would discard the puggree and drop the black veil。
Her coat was of dark blue； lined with steel…gray taffeta。 Turned
inside out it would fool any man。 She wore spats。 These she would
leave behind when she made the change。
Someone might follow her as far as the Knickerbocker； but beyond
there； never。 She was sorry； but she dared not warn Bernini。 He
might object； notify Cutty； and spoil everything。
By the time she reached the street exhilaration suffused her。 The
melancholia was gone。 The sinister and cynical idea had vanished
apparently。 Apparently。 Merely it had found a hiding place and
was content to abide there for the present。 Such ideas are not
without avenues of retreat； they know the hours of attack。 Kitty
was alive to but one fact： The game of hide and seek was on again。
She was going to have some excitement。 She was going into the
night on an adventure； as children play at bears in the dark。 The
youth in her still rejected the fact that the woof and warp of this
adventure were murder and loot and pain。
En route to the Subway she never looked back。 At Forty…second Street
she detrained； walked into the Knickerbocker； entered the ladies
dressing room； turned her coat； redraped her hat； checked her
gaiters； and sought a taxi。 Within two blocks of Cutty's she
dismissed the cab and finished the journey on foot。
At the left of the lobby was an all…night apothecary's； with a door
going into the lobby。 Kitty proceeded to the elevator through this
avenue。 Number Four was down； and she stepped inside； raising her
veil。
〃You； miss？〃
〃Very important。 Take me up。〃
〃The boss is out。〃
〃No matter。 Take me up。
〃You're the doctor！〃 What a pretty girl she was。 No come…on in her
eyes； though。 〃The boss may not get back until morning。 He just
went out in his engineer's togs。 He sure wasn't expecting you。
〃Do you know where he went？〃
〃Never know。 But I'll be in this bird cage until he comes back。〃
〃I shall have to wait for him。〃
〃Up she goes！〃
As Kitty stepped out into the corridor a wave of confusion assailed
her。 She hadn't planned against Cutty's absence。 There was nothing
she could say to the nurse； and if Johnny Two…Hawks was asleep
… why； all she could do would be to curl up on a divan and await
Cutty's return。
The nurse appeared。 〃You； Miss Conover？〃
〃Yes。〃 Kitty realized at once that she must take the nurse into her
confidence。 〃I have made a really important discovery。 Did Cutty
say when he would return？〃
〃No。 I am not in his confidence to that extent。 But I do know that
you assumed unnecessary risks in coming here。〃
Kitty shrugged and produced the wallet。 〃Is Mr。 Hawksley awake？〃
〃He is。〃
〃It appears that he left this wallet in my kitchen that night。 It
might buck him up if I gave it to him。〃
The nurse； eyeing the lovely animated face； conceded that it might。
〃Come； I've been trying futilely to read him asleep； but he is
restless。 No excitement； please。〃
〃I'll try not to。 Perhaps； after all； you had better give him the
wallet。〃
〃On the contrary； that would start a series of questions I could
not answer。 Come along。〃
When Kitty saw Hawksley she gave a little gasp of astonishment。 Why；
he was positively handsome！ His dark head； standing out boldly
against the bolstering pillows； the fine lines of his face definite；
the pallor … he was like a Roman cameo。 Who and what could he be；
this picturesque foundling？
His glance flashed into hers delightedly。 For hours and hours the
constant wonder where she was； why no one mentioned her； why they
evaded his apparently casual questions。 To burst upon his vision
in the nadir of his boredom and loneliness like this！ She was
glorious； this American girl。 She made him think of a golden
scabbard housing a fine Toledo blade。 Hadn't she saved his life？
More； hadn't she assumed a responsibility in so doing？ Instantly
he purposed that she should not be permitted to resign the office
of good Samaritan。 He motioned toward the nurse's chair； and Kitty
sat down； her errand in total eclipse。
〃Just when I never felt so lonely！ Ripping！〃
His quick smile was so engaging that Kitty answered it … kindred
spirits； subconsciously recognizing each other。 Fire； but neither
of them knew that； or that two lonely human beings of opposite sex；
in touch； constitute a first…rate combustible。
Quietly the nurse withdrew。 There would be a tonic in this meeting
for the patient。 Her own presence might neutralize the effect。 She
had not spent all those dreadful months in base hospitals without
acquiring a keen insight into the needs of sick men。 No harm in
letting him have this pretty； self…reliant girl alone to himself for
a quarter of an hour。 She would then return with some broth。
〃How … how are you？〃 asked Kitty； inanely。
〃Top…hole； considering。 Quite ready to be killed all over again。〃
〃You mustn't talk like that！〃 she protested。
〃Only to show you I was bucking up。 Thank you for doing what you
did。〃
〃I had to do it。〃
〃Most women would have run away and left me to my fate。〃
〃Not my kind。〃
〃Rather not！ Your kind would risk its neck to help a stray cat。
I say； what's that you have in your hand？〃
〃Good gracious！〃 Kitty extended the wallet。 〃It is yours； i