Mischievous Maid Faynie | Page 6

first test will be with the people of this house," he muttered,
shutting his teeth hard.
Thrusting the money still deeper in his pocket, he walked boldly down
the stairs, tapping at the door to the right, which he knew to be the

living room of the family.
"I am going to give up my room," he said.
"Laws a mercy, Mr. Armstrong!" exclaimed the old lady. "What
sudden notice! I am so sorry to lose you!"
He chatted for a few moments, paid what was due her, then turned
hastily and left the place, remarking before he went that he should not
need the few things that he left in his room; that she could keep them if
she liked as remembrances.
Once again he was out on the street, with the cold wind blowing on his
face.
"Nothing ventured, nothing won!" he said, under his breath. "Now for
the heiress and the million of money. By Jove! it's better to be born
lucky than rich. I shall need an accomplice in this affair, and that imp
of Satan, Halloran, is just the one to help me out with my scheme. It's
lucky I have an appointment with him to-night. I shall be sure to catch
him. I think it was a stroke of fate that I wasn't in the cast for the rest of
the week, though I kicked pretty hard against it at the time. Good-by,
footlights and freezing dressing-rooms. I can make a million of money
ere the day dawns."
He hailed a passing cab, jumped into it and was driven across the city.
Halloran, the comedian at the same theatre, was sitting in his room half
asleep over a half-emptied rum bottle. He always resorted to this course
to drown his sorrows when he was laid off.
An hour later the two men were driving with lightning-like rapidity
toward the direction of Beechwood.
"Ten," sounded from the belfry of a far-off church as the horses,
plunging and panting, struggled up the road that led to the Fairfax
mansion.

"Now see that you play your cards right," warned Halloran.
"Trust me for that," replied his companion, removing a cigar from his
white teeth, and blowing forth a cloud of smoke. He was about to draw
a flask from his breast pocket, but Halloran put a restraining hand on
his arm.
"Remember that is your besetting sin," he said. "You have had enough
of that already. It will require a steady nerve to meet the girl and carry
out the deception, for the eyes of love are quick to discern. If she
should for an instant suspect that you are not her lover, Lester
Armstrong, the game is up, and you have lost the high stake you are
playing for."
"You are right," exclaimed the other, "nothing must interfere with the
marriage."
"This must be the place," exclaimed Halloran, in a low voice; "large
gabled house, arched gate, serpentine walk; yes, there is the figure of a
woman in the shadow of the stone post this way. You are actually
trembling. Remember, it's only a young girl you are to face on this
occasion, and a deucedly pretty one, at that. The time that you will be
more apt to be shaky is when you face her father; but I guess you're
equal to it."
A low laugh was his companion's only answer. The next moment
Kendale called to the driver to halt, threw open the door and sprang out
into the main road, hastening toward the little figure that had emerged
out of the shadow.
"Oh, Lester, you have been so long," cried the girl, springing into his
arms with a little sobbing cry. "I have been waiting here almost half an
hour."
"It took longer to come than I had reckoned on, my darling," he
answered. "You know I had to stop at the village below and make
arrangements for the wedding."

The girl drew back and looked at him.
"Your voice sounds so hoarse and strange, Lester," she said. "Have you
been crying?"
His arms fell from her; he drew back, laughing immoderately.
"What, weeping on the happiest day of my life?" he cried. "Well, that's
pretty good. I've been up to my ears in business, rushing around, to get
everything in shipshape order, but, good Lord! what am I thinking
about, to keep you standing here in the snow? Here is the coach, and by
the way, I've brought along an old friend of mine, who was wild to
witness the marriage ceremony."
As he spoke he took her by the arm and drew the girl toward the
carriage in waiting.
What was there about her lover that seemed so changed to the girl, that
caused the love to suddenly die out of her heart?
"Lester,"