The Huttig news., 1908-10-31
SYNOPSIS.


 CHAPTER Mad" Dan Maitland. on reaching his New York bachelor club. nf st an attractive young woman at the c. or Janitor O'Hagan assured him nc One had been within that day. Dan dis ci vered a womans finger prints in dust on his desk, along with a letter from hls attorney.
 CHAPTER U.-Matland dined with Zimmerman. his attorney. Dan set out for Green1elds, to get his family jewels. During his walk to the country seat, he met the young woman in gray, whom he had seen leaving his bachelors club. Her auto had broken. down. He fixed it and by ruse she lost" him.
 Maitland himself was moved by the wonder of it. The jewels seemed to fill the room with flashing, amazing, coruscant glamour, rainbow-like. His breath came hot and fast as he gaZed upon the trove; a queens ransom, fortune inca'culable even to it's owner. As for the girl, he thought that the wonder of it must have struck her dumb. Not a sound came from the spot where she stood.
 Then, abruptly, the sun went out; at least, such was the effect; the light of the hand lamp vanished utterly, leaving partly-colored blur swim ming against the impenetrable black ness, before his eyes.
 His lips opened; but small hand fell firmly upon his own, and a tiny, tremulous whisper shriled in his ear.
 'Eush-ah, hush!
 What"
 "Stea3y -. some one coming. the jewels"
 He heard the dull musical clash of them as her hands swept them back into the bag, and cold, sickening fear rendered him almost faint with the sense of trust misplaced, illusion re- solved into brutal realities. His fingers closed convulsively about her wrists :. but she held passive.
 ''Ah, but I might have expected that," came her reproachful whisper. Take them. then, my-my partner that was Her tone cut like a knife, and the touch of the canvas bag. as she forced it into his hands, was hate ful to him.
 Forgive me" he began.
 But listenl"
 For a space he obeyed, the silence i at first seeming tremendous; then, 1 faint but distinct, he heard the tinkle and slide of the brazen rings support. ing the smoking room portiere.
 His hand sought the girls: she had not moved, and the cool firm pressure i Of her fingers steadied him. He l thought quickly.
 Quick" he told her in the least of whispers. Leave by the window you opened and wait for me by the motor esr.''
 No"
 There was no time to remonstrate with her. Already he had slipped away, sraping a course for the entrance to the passage. But the dominant thought in his mind was that at all costs the girl must be spared the exposure She YVES to be saved, whatever the hazard. Afterwards
 The tapestry rustled, but he was yet too far distant to spring. He crept on with the crouching, vicious attitude, mental and physical, of a panther stalking it's prey.
 Like thunderclap from clear sky the glare of the light broke out from the ceiling. Maitland paused, trans fixed, on tiptoe, eyes incredulous, brain striving to grapple with the astounding discovery that had come to him.
 The third factor stood in the door way, slender and tall, in evening dress as was Maitland-a light, full over coat hanging open from his shoulders; one hand holding back the curtain, the other arrested on the light switch. His lips dropped open and his eyes, too. were protruding with amazement Fea- tEre for feature he was the counter part of the man before him; in a word here was the real Anisty.
 The wonder of it all saved the day for Maitland, Anisty's astonishment was sincere and the more complete in that, unlike Maitland, he had been unprepared to find any one in the library.
 For a mere second his gaze left Maitland and travelled on to the girl, ehSb tC thS oalC-ldhluS III lUS whole significance of the scene. When he sroke, it was as if dazed
 By Go1!" he cried-or, rather, the syllab.es seemed to jump from his lips like bullets from gun.
 The words shattered the tableau. On their echo Maitland sprang and fas- tened his fingers around the others throat. Carried eff his feet by the sheer feracity of the assault Anisty gave ground little. For an instant they were swayiag back and forth, with advantage to neither. Then the burglars collar slipped and somehow tcre from it's stud. giving Maitlaad's hands freer play. His grasp frightened about the mans gullet: he shook him mercilessly. An.sty staggered gasFed, reeled, struck Maitland once or twice upon the chest-feeble, weightless el- bow jabs that went for nothing, then concentrated his energies in vain attempt to wrench the hands from his throat. Keeling. tearing at Maitland's wrists, face empurpling, eyes staring in agony. he stumbled. Merclessly Maitland forced him to his knees and