The Mission of Poubalov — page 99: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

j LITIZKI BREAKS HIS APPOINTMENT. 95 | CHAPTER XII. LITIZKI BREAKS HIS APPOINTMENT. In the brief interval that elasped between ths time when she turned from Poubalovy and the moment she en- tered the library, Clara reflected that while her loyal heart would rebel at the story to be told by Billings, she ‘must hear him patiently, and not permit her distrust of him to manifest itself. One can think to good purpose in even so short a time as it takes to walk across a room. Clara was fully resolved to be guided by her reason alone in dealing with Billings, and not to permit herself to doubt his story if it should prove, as was probable, that what he had to say tended to corroborate the detective’s theory. Yet, when she looked at him, all her woman’s intuition rebelled. She saw a man perhaps twenty-five years old, with nothing whatever remarkable in his appearance; but in his eyes and attitude there seemed to be a conscious- ‘ness of antagonism, as if he expected to be doubted, sharply cross-examined, and as if he were determined that nothing should shake his story. His sullen, dogged expression was a help to Clara in conquering her immedi- ‘ate aversion to him, and she began the critical interview with a move that surprised and embarrassed him. _ Hewas sitting, holding his hat on his knees, at the farther side of the room. Clara crossed directly to him with outstretched hand, saying: _ “‘Tam Miss Hilman. Youare Mr. Billings, I believe. I cannot tell you how glad I am tosee you. Mr. Bowker may have told you how I hunted the city over to find you. Sit down, please; let me take your hat.” - Billings had risen awkwardly as he saw that_ she was_