Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-10-12

The interior OF the safe was re-
vealed In a shape little different from
/. that of the ordinary household strong
box. There were several account
books, ledgers and the like, together
with some packages OF docketed bills,
in the pigeon holes. The cash box,
itself q safe within a safe, showed q
blank face broken by a small combi-
nation dial. Behind this, in a Sc
creted compartment, the Maitland heir
looms languished, half forgotten OF
their needless owner.
The cash box combination offered
less difficulty than had the outer dial.
Maitland had 1t open In a twfnkling.
Then, brazenly lifting out the inner
framework bodily, he thrust q fun
bling hand into the aperture thus dis
closed and pressed the spring, re-
leasing the panel at the back. 1t dis
appeared as though by witchcraft,
and the splash II light from the bulls
eye discovered a canvas bag squatting
fat little canvas bag, considerably soiled
from much handling, such as Is used
by banks for coin, a sturdy, matter.of-
fact, everyday sort of canvas bag,
with nothing about 1t OF hauteur, no
air OF self-inportance or o~stentation,
to betray the fact that 1t was the re-
ceptacle of a small fortune.
At Maitland's ear. incredulous:
How did you guess?" she breathed.
He took thought and breath. both
briefly, and prevaricated shamelessly:
'Bribed the head clerk OF the safe
manufacturer who built this"
Rising, he passed over to the center
table, the girl following. STEADY with
the light" he whispered: and loosed
the string around the mouth of the
bag, pouring its contents, a glistening,
priceless, flaming, iridiscent treasure
horde, upon the table.
"Oh!" said a small voice at his side.
And again and again: "Oh, oh! OH"
Maitland himself was moved by the
wonder of 1t. The jewels seemed to
fill the room with a flashing, amazing,
coruscant glamour, rainbow-like. His
breath came hot and fast as he gazed
upon the trOve; a queens ransom, q
fortune %incalculable eve to its owner
AS for the girl, he thought that the
wonder Of 1t must have struck her
dumb. Not . 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 a p~artly-colored blur swim
ming against the impenetrable black
ness, before his eyes.
His lips opened; but a small hand
fell firmly upon his own and q tiny,
tremulous whisper shrilled in his ear.
"Hush-ah. hush!"
WHAT"
STEADY some one coming.
49,. the jewels"
He heard the dull musical clash OF
them as her hands swept them back
into the bag, and a 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 / 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 1t into his hands, was hate
full to him.
Forgive me- he began.
But listen!"
For a space he obeyed, the silence
at first seeming tremendous; then,
faint but distinct, he heard the tinkle
aud 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
OF her fingers steadied him. He
thought quickly.
Quick" he told her in the least Of
whispers. Leave by the window you
opened and wait for me by the motor
car"
mol"
There was no time to demonstrate
with her. Already he had slipped away,
shaping 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
was 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 q
panther stalking its prey.
Like a thunderclap from . clear sky
the glare of the light broke out from
the ceiling. Maitland paused, trans
fixed, on tiptoe, eyes in%credulous, 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-
ture for feature he was the counter
part of the man before him; in q word,
here was the real Anisty.
The wonder of 1t 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 n one in the
library.
For q mere second his pazs loft