Has the folly of looking
into A woman’s eyes by way
of text.
“This is the woman, captain,” one of the
policemen said in triumph; “and, begging your
pardon, will you keep a grip of her till the sheriff
comes back?”
Halliwell did not turn his head.
“You can leave her here.” he said carelessly,
“Three of us are not needed to guard a woman.”
“But she’s a slippery customer.”
“You can go,” said Halliwell; and the
policemen withdrew slowly, eyeing their prisoner doubtfully
until the door closed. Then the officer wheeled
round languidly, expecting to find the Egyptian gaunt
and muscular.
“Now then,” he drawled, “why—By
Jove!”
The gallant soldier was as much taken aback as if
he had turned to find a pistol at his ear. He
took his feet off the table. Yet he only saw
the gypsy’s girlish figure in its red and green,
for she had covered her face with her hands.
She was looking at him intently between her fingers,
but he did not know this. All he did want to
know just then was what was behind the hands.
Before he spoke again she had perhaps made up her
mind about him, for she began to sob bitterly.
At the same time she slipped a finger over her ring.
“Why don’t you look at me?” asked
Halliwell, selfishly.
“I daurna.”
“Am I so fearsome?”
“You’re a sojer, and you would shoot me
like a craw.”
Halliwell laughed, and taking her wrists in his hands,
uncovered her face.
“Oh, by Jove!” he said again, but this
time to himself.
As for the Egyptian, she slid the ring into her pocket,
and fell back before the officer’s magnificence.
“Oh,” she cried, “is all sojers
like you?”
There was such admiration in her eyes that it would
have been self-contempt to doubt her. Yet having
smiled complacently, Halliwell became uneasy.
“Who on earth are you?” he asked, finding
it wise not to look her in the face. “Why
do you not answer me more quickly?”
“Dinna be angry at that, captain,” the
Egyptian implored. “I promised my mither
aye to count twenty afore I spoke, because she thocht
I was ower glib. Captain, how is’t that
you’re so fleid to look at me?”
Thus put on his mettle, Halliwell again faced her,
with the result that his question changed to “Where
did you get those eyes?” Then was he indignant
with himself.
“What I want to know,” he explained severely,
“is how you were able to acquaint the Thrums
people with our movements? That you must tell
me at once, for the sheriff blames my soldiers.
Come now, no counting twenty!”
He was pacing the room now, and she had her face to
herself. It said several things, among them that
the officer evidently did not like this charge against
his men.
