The Irish standard., 1908-10-03

e" w6uld'' -chs fool at the other end
never be satisfied that he could get
NO answer? Evidently not; the racket
continued mercilessly. short series Of
shrill calls alternating with imperative
rolls prolonged until one thought that
the tortured metal sounding-cups would
crack. Thought! nay, prayed that
either such would be the case, or else
that ones head might at once merci.
fully be rent asunder.
That anguish so exquisite should
be the means Of releasing him from
his bonds seemed refinement Of
irony. Yet Maitland was aware, be-
tween spasms, that help was on the
way. The telephone instrument. for
obvious convenience. had been
equipped with an extension bell which
rang simultaneously in O'Hagan's
quarters. When Maitland was not at
home the janitor-valet, so warned.
would answer the calls. And now, In
the still intervals. the heavy thud of
unhurried feet could be heard upon
the staircase. O'Hagan was coming
to answer: and taking his time about
IT.. 1t seemed an age before the rattle
Of pass-key in latch announced him:
and another ere, all unconscious of the
figure supine on the divan against the
further study wall, the old man shut.
fed to the instrument, lifted receiver
from the hook, and applied It to
his ear.
impatience characteristic of the illit-
crate for modern methods Of communi-
cation. "Pwhat the divvle ails ye?"
"Rayspicts to ye. ma'am, and tits
sorry am didn't know twas .
leddy."
He's not"
"Wan o'clock, there or thereabouts."
Faith. and he didn't say"
"Pwhat name will be tellin' him ?"
"Kape ut to yersilf, thin. 'Tis none
Of me business"
IF ye do, I'll not answer Sure, am
to be climbin' two lights av sthairs
iv'ry foive minits-"
"Goodby yersilf." hanging up the re-
ceiver. And the divvle fly away wild
ye," grumbled O'Hagan.
As he turned away from the instru.
ment Maitland managed to produce a
sound, something between moan and
Q strangled cough. The old man
whirled on his heel. "Pwhat's thot?"
The next instant he was bending
over Maitland, peering into the face
drawn and disfigured by the gag. THE
saints presarve US! And who the
divide are ye at all? Pwhy don't 70
spake?"
Maitland turned purple; and emitted
. furious snort.
"Misther Maitland, be all thot's
strange! Is ut mad am? Or how
did ye get back here and into this fix.
sor, and me swapin' the halls and
polishin' the brasses fernist the front
dure iv'ry minute since ye wint out?"
Indignation struggling for the upper
hand with mystifcation in the Irish
mans brain, he grumbled and swore;
yet busted his fingers. In a trice the
binding gag was loosed, and ropes and
straps cast free from swollen wrists
aud ankles. And. with the assistance
Of a kindly arm behind his shoulders,
Maitland sat up. grinning with the
pain Of renewing circulation in his
limbs.
"Wfd these two oies mesilf saw 70
lave three hours gone. sor. and I
c'u'd swear no sowl had inferred this
house since thin. Pwhat does ut all
name, be all thot's holy"
1T means." painting. brandy and
soda, O'Hagan, and be quick"
Maitland attempted to rise, but his
legs gave under him, and he sank
back with a stifled oath, resigning him.
self to wait the return of normal con.
ditions. AS for his head. 1t was threat.
ering to split At any moment the tight
wires twanging Internally between his
temples; while the corners of his
mouth we're cracked and sore from the
pressure Of the gag. All of which
totted Up . considerable debit against
Mr.. Anisty's account.
For Maitland, despite his suffering.
had found time to figure 1t out to his
personal satisfaction-or dissatisfac-
ton, IL you prefer-in the interval be-
tween his return to consciousness and
the arrival of O'Hagan. 1t was simple
enough to deduce from the knowledge
In his possession that the burglar, hav-
ing contrived his escape through the
disobedience Of Higgins, should have
engineered this complete revenge for
the indignity Maitland had put upon
him.
How he had OWNED the fact Of the
jewels remaining in their owners pos.
session was less clear; and yet it was
reasonable. after all, to presume that
Maitland should prefer to hold his
own. Possibly Anisty had seen the
girl slip the canvas bag into Maitland's
pocket while the latter was kneeling
aad binding his captive. However
that was, there was no denying that
he had trailed the treasure to It's hid.
ing place, unerringly; and succeeded