Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-10-23

| IudL ldy DeSouu llle pldsu VI AAiaA'AiAs@
ton beneath the lamp. the furniture
| began to take on familiar shapes; the
divans. the heavy leather-cushioned
easy chairs, the tall clock with its pal
lid staring face, the small tables ana
tabourettes, handily disposed for the
| pipes and glasses, the towering, OLD
fashioned mahogany book case, the
useless, ornamental, beautiful Chip
pendale escritoire. in one corner; all
somberly Swallowed and all combining
to diffuse an impression OF quiet, easy
going comfort.
Just such study As he would natur-
ally have She nodded silent approba-
| ton of it as a whole. And, nodding,
sat down at the desk, planting elbows
on it's polished surface, interlacinS her
fingers and grading her chin upon
their backs, turned suddenly pensive.
| The mood held her but briefly. She
had no time to waste, and much to
accomplish. Sitting back,
| her fingers sought and pressed the
clasp of her handbag and produced
two articles-a golden cigarette case
and slightly soiled canvas bag. The
+, Maitland jewels were returning by a
devious way, to the their owner.
But where to put them, that he
might find them without delay? 1t
must be no conspicuous place, where
| O'Hagan would be apt to happen upon
! them; doubtless the janitor was trust
worthy, but still Misplaced
| opportunities breed criminals.
1t was all a risk TO leave the treas
ure there, without the protection of
1 nickeled-stee! walls and timelocks;
but a risk that must be taken. She
dared not retain it longer N her pos
session; and she would contrive way
/ in the morning to communicate with
| Maitland and warn him.
Her gaze searched the area where
the lamplight fell soft yet strong upon
| the dark shining wood and heavy
brass desk fittings: and paused, ar
| rested by the unusual combination OF
| inverted bowl and super-amposed book.
! A riddle to be read with facility; in a
twinkling she had uncovered the in
eliminating Observation-Disclosures
if it could be traced, that is to say.
obi" she cried, softly. And laughed
(, little ooh, how careless!"
Fine brows puckered, she pondered
the matter, and ended by placing her
own hand over the print; this one
! fitted the other exactly.
How he must have wondered! .
He is sure to look again, espe-
cially if"
No need to conclude the sentence.
| Quickly she placed bag and case
squarely on top of the impression, the
bowl over all, and the book upon the
bowl; then, drawing from her pocket
a pair of long gray silk gloves, draped
one across the book; and, head tilted
to one side, admired the effect.
1t seemed decidedly an artistic eff
feet, admirably calculated to attract
attention She was satisfied to the
point of being pleased with herself; a
] fact Indicated by an expressive tlutter
of slim, fair hands. And now, to work!
Time pressed, and A cloud dimmed
the radiance of her eyes; irresolutely
she shifted in her chair, troubled
frowping, lips woefully dropping. And
sighed. And still small whisper,
broken and wretched, disturbed the
quiet Of the study.
81 can not! o, can not! To spoil
1t all, now, when"
Yet she must. She must forget her
self and steel her determination with
the memory that another's happiness
hung in the balance, depended upon
her success. Twice she had tried and
failed. This third time she must sue
coed.
And bowling her head in token of her
resignation, she turned back squarely
to face the desk AS she did so the
toe of one small shoe caught against
something on the floor, causing a
dull jingling sound. She stopped, with
a low exclamation, and Strengthened
up, small bunch of keys in her hand;
eight or ten of them dangling from q
silver ring; Maitland's keys.
He must have dropped them there
forgetting them altogether. A find OF
value and one to save her deal OF
trouble; skeleton keys are SO exas
peratingly slow, particularly when used
by ineXpert hands But how to bring
herself to make use of these? ALPS
fair in war (and this was sort OF
war, war of wits at least); but one
should fight with ones own arms, not
pi1fer the enemny's and turn them
against him. To use these keys tc
ransack Maitland's desk seemed ar
action ever more blacllly dishonorable
than this clandestine visit, this mid
night foray.
Swinging the notched metal slips
from a slender finger, she contem
plated them; and laughed ruefully
What qualms of conscience in burg
lar, self-confessed! She was there fol
a purpose, recognized, nefarious pur
pose. Granted. Then why bubble
She would not bubble. She would be
firm, resolute. determined, cold
blooded, unmindful of all kindness anC
courtesy and She would use them
accomplish her purpose, and have
done, finally and for ever, with the
whole hateful business!
There was a bright spot of color or
either cheek and hot light Of anger
in her eyes as she set about her task
It would never be less hideous, never