Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-03

nine-ought- e-eight?"
NO. no. central. Nine-o-eight-ninc'
Madison. please. and hurry-hurry!''
"Ah. I'm ringin' EN-: They amt an
they are. Go ahead
Hello. hello
'Phwat is ut"
Her heart sank-OHagans voice meant
that Maitland was out.
''OHagan-is that you? - Tell Mr..
Maitland
Hes GAVIN out for the noight an"
Tell him. please
But he's out. Ring up in the
marnin.''
But can't you take this message for
him? Please. -
The door was suddenly jerked open and
Anisty leaped into the room. face white
with passion. Terrified. the girl sprang
from the desk. carrying the instrument
with her. placing the revolving chair he
tween her and her enemy.
THE brass bowl. please-tell him that.
she cried clearly into the receiver.
And Anisty was upon her. striking the
telephone from her grasp with one swift
blow and sezng her savagely by the
wrist. AS the instrument clattered and
pounded on the floor she was sent reeling
and staggering half way across the room.
AS she brought up against the fiat-top-
ped desk. catching its edge and saving
herself fall. the burglar caught up the
telephone.
who is that ?" he shouted imperatively
into the transmitter.
Whatever the reply. 1t seemed to please
him. His brows cleared. the wrath that
had made his face almost unrecogni "a BILE
subsidized: he even smiled. And the girl
trembled. knowing that he had solved her
secret: for she had hoped against hope
that the only words he could have heard
her speak would have had too cryptic a
fGnop for IN C nrotan anglo
| AS. slowly and composedly. he replaced
the receiver on it's hook and returned the
instrument to the desk, a short and ro-
| tund figure of man. in rumpled evening
dress and wearing a wilted collar. hoped
excitedly into the room. cast at the girl
one terrified glance out OF eyes that gilt
tered with excitement like black dia-
monds. set I'm a face the hue of yeast and
clutched the burglars arm.
"Oh. Anisty, Anisty!" he cried. piteous-
| ly. What is 1t? What is it? Tell me-"
Its all right" returned the burglar.
Don't you worry. little man. Pull your
| self together" And laughed.
But what-what-" stammered the
other.
"Only that she's given herself away"
| chuckled Anisty. beautifully and COM
| pletely. The brass bowl says She
thinking 1 never saw one on Maitland's
| desk-and 'O'Hagan. and who the divvle
are your says the man on the other end
of the wire when ask who he is
| dancing with worry.
And ii means that my lady here re-
turned the Jewels to Maitland by hiding
| them under brass ash receiver on his
| desk-ass that I was not TO know! I"
| You are cute. my LADY, with an ironic
salute to the girl. but you've met your
match in Anisty."
And" demanded the other as the bur-
| glar snatched up his hat and coat, what
| will you do. Anisty?"
| "Do?'-contemptuously "Why. what is
there to do but go and get them? We've
| risked too much and made New York too
| hot for the two of u.s. my dear sir to get
out of the game without the profits"
But beg of you
You needn't" grimly. eft won't bring
you in any money"
But Maitland"
lis out. O'Hagan answered the phone.
| Don't you understands
| But he may returni
| That's his lookout. I'm sorry for him
volver from his pocket and twirled the
| cylinder significantly. Il owe Mr.. Matt
land something he said. nodding to the
white-faced girl by the table, land I
| shouldn't be sorry to-
And what" broke in the newcomer.
| what am / going to do meanwhile ?"
| Devil the biz I care, Stay here and
keep this impe ,uous female from calling up
-. . Speaking of which. think we had
| best settle this telephone business once
and for ALL"
The burglar turned again to the desk
and began to work over the instrument
| with a small screwdriver which he pro-
duced from his coat pocket, talking the
while.
I Our best plan. my dear Bannerman is
for you 10 come with me. at least as far
as the nearest corner You can wait
| there. if you're too cowardly to so the
| limit like a man. ." I'll get the loot
and join You. and can make a II
hike for the first train that goes farthest
out of town. pity. for we've done
pretty well. you and /. old boy-you with
your social entree and bump of locality
to locate the spoils me with my courage
| and skill TO lift EN-. and an equitable
division. oh. don't worry about her.
Bannerman! She's as deep in IL as either
of us. only she happens to be sentimental.
| and outsider on this deal She won't
! far as New York's concerned. -" Come
along. That's finished she won't send
any important messages over that wire
tonight. | guess.
My dear young lady, Rising and
/ throwing the overcoat over his arm. he
waved his hat at her in sardonic cour-
! tesv. Il can't say it has been a pleasure
| to know you. but-you have made IL in
teresting / admit. And 1 bid You very
good night. The charwoman will let YOU
out when she comes to clean up in the
morning. Adieu. nv dear.'
The little man hustled after him. bleat-
ing and fidgetng, and the lock clicked
! She was alone utterly and for
| lornly alone - and had lost lost
| all all that she had priced and hoped to
| win even - even him. -
| She raised huttering, impotent white
! hands to her temples, trying to collect
! herself.
In the outer room a clock was ticking.
| ITnconsciously she moved to the doorway
and stood looking for time at the white,
| expressionless dial. 1t was some time
| minute or two-before she deciphered
! the hour.
Ten minutes past two. - All, the life
| time she had lived in the past seventy
| minutes, And the futility of it all.