The Irish standard., 1908-11-14
But ne 'Scd,a nesr! Or was the par

utlon oOO00.prOoI!
AS II in contradiction of the suEges.
tion, there came to her ears very clear.
ly the sound Of the hall door creaking
on its hinges. and then a mans voice,
shrill with anger and anxiety.
You fool! Do you want to ruin
us both? What do you mean"
The door crashed to- interrupting
the protest and drowning Anistys
reply.
Il was passing" the new voice took
up its plaintive remonstrance, "and
the watchman called me in and said
that you were telephoning for me"
Damn the interfering fool!" inter.
rupted Anisty.
But what's this insanity, Anisty :?
What's this about woman? What"
| The newcomers tones ascended high
scale of fright and rage.
Lower your voice, you asst" the
burglar responded, sternly. And"
He took his own advice; and for a
little time the conference was con-
Quoted in guarded tones that did not
penetrate the dividing wall save as q
deep rumbling alternating with an i'm
passioned squeak.
But long ere this had come to pass
the girl was risking all at the tele-
phone. Receiver to ear she was i'm.
ploring central to connect her with
Ninety-eight-nine Madison. II only she
might get Maitland, tell him where the
jewels were hidden. warn him to re-.
move them-then she could escape
further suffering by open confession.
What number?" came central's Ian.
guild query, after space. Did you
say nine-ought-nine.eight?"
mo, no. central. Nine-o.eight-nine
Madison, please. and hurry-hurry!"
"Ah, I'm ringin' EN-. They amt
answered yet. Gimme time. There
they are. Go ahead"
Hello. hello!"
Pwhat is ut?"
Her heart sank; O'Hagan's voice
;; meant that Maitland was out.
"O'Hagan-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 re.
volving chair between her and her
enemy.
"The brass bowl, please-tell him
that" she cried clearly into the re.
ceiver.
And Anisty was upon her, striking
the telephone from her grasp with
one swift blow and selling her savage.
ly 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
topped desk, catching it's edge and
saving herself fall, the burglar
caught up the telephone.
"Who is that?" he shouted, impera-
lively, 1utO the lTanSInlLLer.
Whatever the reply, it seemed to
please him. His brows cleared, the
wrath that had made his face almost
unacceptable subsided; he even
smiled, And the girl trembled, know
Ing 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
significance for his comprehension.
AS, slowly and composedly, he re.
placed the receiver on its hook and
returned the instrument to the desk,
. short and rotund 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 glittered with
excitement like black diamonds, set
in face the hue of yeast, and
clutched the burglars arm.
"Oh, Anisty, Anisty!" he cried,
piteously. What is 1t? What is It?
Tell mel"
IT'S all right" returned the burglar.
Don't you worry, little man. Pull
yourself together" And laughed.
"But what-what--" stammered tho
other.
only that she's given herself away"
chuckled Anisty; beautifully and
completely. The brass BOWL says she
thinking l never saw one on Matt.
lands desk!-and 'O'Hagan, and who
the divvle are your says the man on
the other end of the wire, when ask
who he u.s."
"And? And?" pleaded the little
man, dancing with worry.
"And 1t means that my lady here re-
turned the jewels to Maitland by hid.
ing them under brass ash-receiver on
his desk-ass that was not to know!
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
burglar snatched up his hat and coat,
"what will you do, Anisty?"
do" - contemptuously. "Why,