The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-07

other moment. IL he found VIVA, she
had hidden. her heart would knock no
| longer, and she would die. For n
second. l wildly counted the chances
| OF overppwering all three men, stun
| ming them into unconsciousness. and
giving Maxine time to escape with the
| letter case. But I knew the attempt
would be useless. Even IL could sue
coed. the noise would arouse the hotel.
People would come Other policemen
would rush In to the help OF their COM
rades. and matters would be worse with
us than before.
The Frenchman, having looked at
Maxine, and seen that tcll-tale beating
of her bodice, deliberately laid the
SILK cushions on the tioor. Then push
| Ing his hand down between the seat
and back OF the sofa, he moved ir
along the crevice inch by inch.
l watched the hand which looked
cruel to me as that Of an executioncr.
i think Maxine watched 1t. too. Sud-
denly 1t stopped. 1t had found son,--
thing. The other hand sprang to It's
assistance. Both worked together.
cropping and pryiDg for a few seconds:
evidently the something hidden had
| been forced deeply and firmly down.
| Then, UP 1t came--a dark red leather
case, which was neither n letter-casc nor
a Jewel case, but might be used for
either. My heart almost stopped beat
ing In the intense relief 1 felt. For
this was not the thing had come from
| London to bring Maxine.
| l could hardly keep back cry OF
| Joy. But did keep 1t back. for sus-
| pense and anxiety had left me d lew
| grains OF sense.
"Voila!'' grunted the Commissary of
! Police. II said that you were
clever. Mademoiselle. But 1t would
lAsa f.on, f.r all q
| you had spared US this trouble"
You alone are to blame for the trou-
| ble," answered Maxine. II never saw
that thing before in my life"
| ] was astonished that there was no
| ring OF satisfaction in her voice. It
sounded hard and defiant, but there
was no triumph in 1t. no Joy that, so
| far. she was sayed-as II by a miracle.
| Rather was her tone that of woman
a: bay. fghting to the last, but with
! out hope
Nor did ever see 1T before 1
echoed her words.
| She glanced at me az IL with graft
| tude. Yet there was no need for graft
| tude. / was not lying for her sake.
but speaking the plain truth, as L
| thought that she must know.
| For the first time. the Conmissary of
Police condescended to laugh. Il sup
| pose you want me to believe that the
last occupant of this room tucked some
valued possession down into SAT.
hiding place and then forgot all about
| it. That is likely, is II not? You shall
have the pleasure, Acknowledgement
| you. MonsIeur-of seeing with me what
| that careless person left behind him.
| He had laid the thing on the table,
| and now he tapped 1t, aggravatlngly.
/ with his hand. But the strain was
over for me. ] looked on with calm
ness, and was amazed when at last Max
| Inc flow to him. no longer scornful.
| tragically Indifferent In her manner.
4 but imploring--a weak, agonized wo-
/ man.
"For the love of God spare me- Nom
! sieur." she sobbed. you don't under
| stand. confess that what you have
1 there is mine. 1 have held myself
/ high. in my own eyes. and the eyes of
| the world. because Ian actrcss--never
| took a lover. but now / am like the
1 Others. This Is my lover. There's the
price I put on my love. Now, Mon
| sieur. ask you on my womanhood to
hold what is in that leather case sa-
cred"
felt the blood rush to my face as
If she had struck me across 1t with a
i whip. My first thought, to my shame,
was selfish one. What If this became
known. this thing that she had said.
and Diana should hear? Then indeed
all hope for me with the girl 1 loved
i would be over. My second thought
was for Maxine herself. But she had
sealed my lips. Since she had chosen
4 the way. I could only be silent.
.'Mademoiselle, 1t is grief to me
i that must refuse such prayer, from
| such woman. But duty before chiv-
i airy. must see the contents OF that
4 case" said tho Commissary OF Police.
i She caught his hand and rained tears
4 upon 1t. NO, mol" she implored. III
4 were rich I would offer you thou
sands to spare mo. I've been eXtrava-
4 giant. haven't saved, but all have in
a the world is yours if
i There can be no such it, Mademois-
i ellie" the man broke In. And wrench
i ing his hand free. he opened the case
i before she could again prevent him.
Out fell a cascade of light, dta-
. mond necklace. 1t flashed to the floor.
where 1t lay on one of the sofa cush-
i ions, sending up a spray of rainbow
colors.
"sacre bleup' muttered the Erench-
man, under his breath, for whatever he
had expected, he had not expected thai.
al But Maxine spoke not a word. Shorn
/ of hope, as, in spite OF her prayers and
tears the leather case was torn open,
| she was shorn of strength asswell; and
!, the beautiful, tall figure crumpling ike
a mower broken Oh lts s'ai ~ 90 "Nut'
have fallen if I had not caught her.
!, holding her up against my shoulder.
lWhen the cataract of diamonds sprans
out OF the case, however, felt her limp
!, body straighten itself. / felt her
pulses leap. felt her begin to live
!, once more She had drunk drauglil
Of hope and life, and fortified by 1t was
i, gathering all her scattered forces TO-
! Eether for new fight, ifsf fight she
! must again.