Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-10-12
CHAPTER ~.
Midsummer Nights Madness.

head up and eyes alight.
For insisting. 1t wasn't-ah-
courteous. I'm sorry"
1t was her turn now to wonder;
delicacy of perception such as this
was not ordinarily looked for in the
person Of a burglar. With a laugh and
. gibe she tried to pass off her aston
ishment.
''The thief apologies to the thief"
"Unkind!"
Briefly hesitant, with an impulsive
gesture she flung out a generous hand.
You're right; l was unkind. For
give me, Won't you shake hands? l
!. l do want to be a good COM
rade, since it has pleased Fate to
throw us together like this, $3.50
oddly" Her tone was almost plain
tive; unquestionably tt was appealing.
Maitland was curiously moved by
the touch Of the slim, cool fingers that
lay In his palm. Not unpleasantly. He
frowned in perplexity, unable to ana
lyze the sensation.
You're not angry?" she asked.
"No-but-but-"
"Yes?"
Why do you do this, little woman!
Why do you stoop to this-this trade
OF yo-of ours? Why sully your hands
and not only your hands-imperil
your good name. to say nothing OF your
liberty"
She drew her hand away quickly, in.
tcrrupting him with a laugh that rang
true as n coin new from the mint, hon
est and genuine.
And this" she cried, this from
Dan Anisty! Positively, sir, you are
delightful! You grow danger.
ously original every minute! Your
scruples, your consideration, your SYM
pathy-they are touching-in you!"
She wagged her head daintily In pre-
tense OF disapprobation. But shall
l tell you?" seriously, doubtfully.
IT think / shall truly. l do
this sort of thing, since you must
know, because-imprimis, because |
like it. Indeed and l do! l like the
danger, the excitement, the exercise Of
cunning and-and / like the rewards,
too. Besides
The of her adorable mouth
dropped ever so slightly.
"Besides-?"
"Why But this is not bust
ness! We must hurry. VIII you, or
shall Is"
A crisis had been passed; Maitland
understood that he must welt until a
more favorable time to enc his
opportunities.
Il WILL" he said, dropping on his
knees by the safe. I'm my lady's
seryice!"
Not at ALL, she interposed. II IN.
sist. The job is now yours; yours
must be the pl fits"
Then l wash my hands OF the whole
affair."" he stated in accents OF inality.
II refuse. I shall go, and you can do
as you wil-blunder on" s%cornfully,
with your nitroglycerin, your rags,
and drills and-and rouse the entire
countryside, If you will"
"Ah, but"
"Will you accept my add"
"On conditions, only she stipulated.
"Halvers?"
He shook his head.
Half shares, or not at ALI" She
was firm.
"a partnership"
This educed a moue of doubt, with:
I'm not worthy the honor"
But" he promised rashly, Il can
save you-oh, heaps Of trouble in other
-ah-lays."
She shrugged helplessly. "K ! must
/ do accept. We are partners,
Dan Anisty and II"
He nodded mute satisfaction, brushed
the tools out of his way, and bent an
attentive ear to the combination.
The girl swept across the room, and
there followed a click simultaneous
with the total extinction of light.
Startled, why" he demanded.
1.-THE risk" she replied. I'VE have
been frightfully careless and thought
Helplessly Maitland twirled the COM
bination dial; without the light he was
wholly at a loss. But a breath later
skirts rustled rear him; the slide Of
the bull's-eye was jerked back, and a
circle Of illumination thrown upon the
lock. He bent his head again, pretend
ing to listen to the fall OF the tum-
blers as the dial was turned. but in
point of fact covertly watching the
and figures upon it.
The room grew very silent, save for
the family regular respiration of the
girl who bent near his shoulder. Her
breath was fragrant upon his cheek.
The consciousness of her propinquity
stif1ed him. . One fears
that Maitland prolonged the counter
felt study of the combination unneces-
Notwithstanding this, she seemed
amazed by the ease with which he
solved it. Wonderful" she ap-
plauded, whispering, as the heavy door
swung outward without a jar.
'Hush!" he cautioned her.
In his veins that night madness was
riot. swaying him at its will.
With a doubt, a thought
Of hesitancy, he forged ahead, willfully
blind to consequences. On the face
Of it he was playing a FOOLS part; he
knew 1t; the truth is simply that he
could not have done other than as he
did. Consciously he believed himself
10 be merely testing the girl; subcon-