The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-03-29
Copyright, 1905. by s-Merrill Col
CHAPTER V.-Continued.

of humor
What can 1 do for you?' I asked
blandly.
Firstly, as they say, you might tell
me what you and this lady are doing
in this lonesome cellar"
Say sir, when you address me-
Yes, sir"
THE lady and ! were playing hide
and-seek."
Nice game, sir,"-grinning. Were
you trying to hide under the coal?'
"Oh. no: | was merely exploring 1t.
Say sir when you address me-
Sir"
You're a cool hand, sir
81 am gratified to learn that our ad-
miration is mutual But what are you
doing here?"
Il was ascertaining if the law was
properly observed sir" shaking with
silent laughter.
But what puzzles me- / went on,
lis the fact that you could gather the
gems in that garb." For l was posi-
tive that this was the Galloping Dick
every one was looking for.
II don't understand word you say,
sir. I'm an inspector of cellars, sir,
not a jeweler So you and the lady
was playing hide-andseek? Come,
now, what is your graft? Is all the
push here to-night?'
THAT depends, "-cursing under my
breath that | wore gown which ham,
pered my movements. For, truth to
tell was watching him as cat
watches a mouse.
well. sir, we of the profession
never interferes with gentlemanly
Jobs, sir. All want of you is to help
me out of here"
Il am not burglar
"Oh, understand, sir; understand
completely. A gentleman is always
a gentleman, sir Now, you can re-
turn to that coal bin. l was just about
to make for it when you lit that can
die"
why not leave by the cellar
doors?'
81 have my reasons, sir most salts
factory reasons. sir. | prefer the win
dow. Get along! tones suddenly
hardening.
| got along.
The lady may sit down, sir, he
said courteously.
Thank you, will" replied the girl,
pumping down on an empty winecase.
(She afterward confessed that If she
had not sat down on the box, she would
have sat down on the cellar floor as
sort of paralysis had seized her knees.)
! stepped into the coal bin and rested
The candle on the little shelf for that
uurnose. / was downright anxious to
see the fellow safely away. There
wasn't room in that cellar for the
three of us. His presence doubly en-
dangered us and multiplied the com.
plications. l was in no position TO
force the gems from him. A man who
has ten thousand dollars worth of
Jewels on his person doesn't stop at
shooting; and l possessed healthy
regard for my skin. l opened the win
dow and caught it to the ceiling by
hook I found there.
There is a stout screen, my man"
Take this, sir, and cut it out"
handing me a pair of wire clippers,
holding his lantern under his arm
meanwhile. The muzzle of the re-
volver. during all this time, never
wavered in it's aim at my head.
| went to work at the screen and
presently it fell inward.
rs that satisfactory?'-with i'm
pressive irony.
You are the most perfect gentle
man that l ever see, sir.'
The girl laughed Historically.
Now what?" The fun was begin
ming to pail on me.
step out OF. the bin and stand aside.
Sit down by the lady. Maybe she's
bit frightened"
obeyed him to the letter.
Thanks" With the agility of a
cat he leaped up and wriggled through
the window. He turned. Good night.
sir. Sometime maybe I'll do the same
for you, sir"
60 to the DEVIL" / snarled.
my, my What a temper, sir! l
wouldn't have thought it of you, and
nice lady in speaking distance"
He disappeared.
The girl laid hand on my arm.
You have acted very sensibly, Mr.
Comstalk. II you had not, it is quite
certain he would have shot you"
1T would have been a good thing
for me IL he had. He has gone, and
the jewels have gone with him. /
hadn't the least chance; the wretch!
He probably came disguised as
plumber. and nobody suspected him"
But IL he possessed the ten Of
hearts, why should he have left this
way?'
Possibly my idea was only an imi-
tation of his. There mutt have been
at least a dozen tens OF hearts. Ny
dear young lady, would give a good
Hearts and Masks.