Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-08-30

floor; il was upturned to his, sardonic-
ally intelligent Hut the lord OF the
manor had little Gime to debate con.
sequences.
Abruptly the door was flung wide
and a short stout man. clutching up
hts trousers with frantic hand, burst
into the library. brandishing over.
head a rampant revolver.
"'Ands hup," he cried. ieVeling at
Maitland. And then. with o fallen
countenance: ''G-r-r-reat 'eavins, sir!
You. Mister Maitland, SIR"
"Ah. Higgins" his employer greeted
the butler blandly.
Higgins pulled up. thunderstruck.
painting and perspiring with agitation
His fat cheeks Quivered like the wat
ties of a gobbler. and his eyes bulged
as. by degrees, he became alive to the
situation.
Maitland began to explain, forestall-
ing the embarrassments Of cross-exam.
nation.
by the merest accident, Higgins.
was passing in my car with party OF
friends. Just for joke thought I'd
steal up to the house and see how you
were behaving yourselves. by chance
--again-I happened to see this light
through the library windows. And
Maitland. putting an incautious hand
uron the bulls-eye on the desk. with
drew It instantly with an exclamation
of annoyance and four scorched fin
gers.
He's been at the safe" he added
quickly. diverting 1rtention from him
self. Il was Just In time"
My wor-r-rd." said Higgins. with
emotion. Then quickly: Did e get
anythin'. do you think. sir?"
Maitland shook his head. scowling
over the buffers burly shoulders at the
rapidly augmenting concourse OF serv-
ants In the hallway-lackeys, grooms.
maids, cooks, aud what-not; back
ground OF pale, scared faces to the
tableau IN the library. This won't
do" considered Maitland. Get back.
all OF you!" he ordered. sternly. indi-
eating the group with dominant and
infiexible foreiinSer. Those who are
wanted will be sent for. Now go.
Higgins. you may stay"
"Yes, sir Yes, cir. But wot an
'orrid 'appenin. sir. II you'll permit
NE"
Il won't. Be quiet and listen. This
man is NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Dan Anisty.
the notorious jewel thief. wanted badly
by the police of a dozen cities. You
understand? I'm going now
to motor to the village and get the
constables; l may" he invented. des-
perately, be delayed-may have to get
a detective from Brooklyn. II this
scoundrel stirs, don't touch him. Let
him alone-he can't escape If you DO.
Above all things. don't you dare TO re-
move that gag"
Most cert'inly. sir. shall bear IN
mind wot you says"
You'd best" grimly. Now I'm on
No; I don't want any attendance
know my way. And-don't-touch-
that man-till return"
Very good, sir"
glanced within, cursorily, replaced
bundle Of papers which he did not re-
call disturbing. closed the door and
twfried the combination.
Nothing gone" he announced An
inarticulate gurgle from the PROSTATE
man drew a black scowl from Matt
land. Recovering. Good morning" he
said politely to the butler, and stridins
out of the house by the front door
was careful to slam that behind him
ere dart;ng into the shadows
The moon was down. the sky a cold
OPAQUE gray, overcast with hgh'
drift of cloud The park seemed very
dark, very dreary; q searching breeze
was sweeping inland from the sound
souehing sadly in the tree tops;
chill humidity permeated the air. pre-
cursor of rain. The young man shiv
cred. both with chill and reaction from
the tension OF the emergency just past
He was aware of an instantaneous
loss of heart. . subsistence OF the
citation which had upheld him through
out the adventure; and to escape this
to forget or overcome II. took imme
d,ately to his heels. scampering madly
for the road, oppressed with fear lest
he should find the girl gone-with the
Jewels.
That she should prove untrue. faith
less, lacking even that honor which
proverSially obtains in the society Of
criminais-a consideration Of such
possibility was intolerable. as much
so az the suspense Of ignorance. He
could not. would not. believe her
Capable Of ingrati,uder so rank: and
fought fiercely, unreasouingly. against
the conviction that she would have fol
lowed her thievfsh Instincts and
|; made Oh with the booty. a
Judgment meet and right upon hin
for his madness!
Heart in month. he reached the
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